Comparing Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Units and General Wards: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Background: The admission of critically ill patients to intensive care unit (ICU) plays a crucial role in reducing mortality. However, the scarcity of available ICU beds presents a significant challenge. In resource-limited settings, the outcomes of critically ill patients, particularly those who are not accepted for ICU admission, have been a topic of ongoing debate and contention. Objective: This study aimed to explore the outcomes and factors associated with ICU admission and mortality among critically ill patients in Thailand. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled critically ill adults indicated for medical ICU admission. Patients were followed for 28 days regardless of whether they were admitted to an ICU. Data on mortality, hospital length of stay, duration of organ support, and factors associated with mortality and ICU admission were collected. Results: Of the 180 patients enrolled, 72 were admitted to ICUs, and 108 were cared for in general wards. The ICU group had a higher 28-day mortality rate (44.4% vs 20.4%; P=0.001), but other outcomes of interest were comparable. Multivariate analysis identified alteration of consciousness, norepinephrine use, and epinephrine use as independent predictors of 28-day mortality. Higher body mass index (BMI), higher APACHE II score, and acute kidney injury were predictive factors associated with ICU acceptance. Conclusion: Among patients indicated for ICU admission, those who were admitted had a higher 28-day mortality rate. Higher mortality was associated with alteration of consciousness and vasopressor use. Patients who were sicker and had higher BMI were more likely to be admitted to an ICU.

Continuous Vancomycin Infusion versus Intermittent Infusion in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Vancomycin is the best-choice medication for methicillin-resistant staphylococcal and enterococcal infections, which are major problems in intensive care units (ICUs). Intermittent infusion is standard for vancomycin, although delayed therapeutic target achievement and supra- and subtherapeutic levels are concerns. A recently proposed alternative with superior therapeutic target achievement is continuous infusion. Objective: To compare the benefits of continuous (CVI) and intermittent (IVI) vancomycin infusion. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used propensity score-matched historical controls and adult patients in medical and surgical ICUs for whom vancomycin was indicated. The experimental group received CVI for ≥ 48 hours. Data on patients receiving IVI between January 2018 and October 2020 were reviewed. Capability to achieve serum vancomycin therapeutic targets (48 and 96 hours), episodes of supra- and subtherapeutic levels, treatment success, mortality, and incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) were analyzed before and after one-to-two propensity score matching. Results: The CVI group had 31 patients, while the unmatched IVI group had 125. More CVI patients achieved the therapeutic target within 48 hours (54.8% vs 25.6%; P=0.002). CVI patients had a higher median number of supratherapeutic episodes (2 vs 1; P=0.007) but a lower median for subtherapeutic episodes (0 vs 1; P=0.003). Other outcomes demonstrated no differences. After propensity score matching, target achievement within 48 hours (54.8% vs 22.6%; P=0.002) and fewer subtherapeutic episodes (0 vs 1; P=0.014) remained significant. Conclusion: CVI's rapid therapeutic target achievement and fewer subtherapeutic episodes make it superior to IVI. No differences in treatment success, mortality, or AKI are evident.

Active monotherapy and combination therapy for extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Data on treatment regimens and outcomes of extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDR-PA) pneumonia are currently limited. A 6-year retrospective cohort study of adult patients diagnosed with XDR-PA pneumonia was conducted between January 2011 and December 2016. All XDR-PA isolates were susceptible to colistin and/or fosfomycin alone. Some XDR-PA isolates, which had minimum inhibitory concentrations for doripenem of 4 or 8 mg/L, were considered to be susceptible to 4-h prolonged infusion therapy with high-dose doripenem. Definite treatment regimens were categorized into three groups: inactive therapy, active monotherapy and active combined two-drug therapy. Outcomes were compared between the three groups. In total, 136 patients were included, and 37% had ventilator-associated pneumonia. Twenty-two, 74 and 40 patients received inactive therapy, active monotherapy and active combined two-drug therapy, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the three groups. Rates of 28-day survival and microbiological cure were significantly higher in patients who received active combined two-drug therapy compared with those who received active monotherapy and inactive therapy [90% vs 51% vs 0% (P<0.001) and 90% vs 54% vs 0% (P<0.001), respectively]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a survival benefit of those who received active combined two-drug therapy over those who received active monotherapy and inactive therapy. Predictors for 28-day mortality were no infectious diseases (ID) consultations [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 10.93; P<0.001], and receipt of inactive therapy (aOR 42.07; P<0.001) or active monotherapy (aOR 6.63; P=0.002) compared with receipt of active combined two-drug therapy. Active combined two-drug therapy was associated with better survival compared with active monotherapy for XDR-PA pneumonia. ID consultation was associated with a reduction in mortality.