Prolonged vs short-term infusion of ß-lactam antibiotics for the treatment of febrile neutropenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimisation of the use of ß-lactam antibiotics (BLA) via prolonged infusions in life-threatening complications such as febrile neutropenia (FN) is still controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the efficacy of this strategy in onco-haematological patients with FN. METHODS: A systematic search was performed of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, World Health Organization, and ClinicalTrials.gov, from database inception until December 2022. The search included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that compared prolonged vs short-term infusions of the same BLA. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were defervescence, requirement of vasoactive drugs, length of hospital stay and adverse events. Pooled risk ratios were calculated using random effects models. RESULTS: Five studies were included, comprising 691 episodes of FN, mainly in haematological patients. Prolonged infusion was not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (pRR 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.47-1.48). Nor differences were found in secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The limited data available did not show significant differences in terms of all-cause mortality or significant secondary outcomes in patients with FN receiving BLA in prolonged vs. short-term infusion. High-quality RCTs are needed to determine whether there are subgroups of FN patients who would benefit from prolonged BLA infusion.

Evaluation of head-of-bed elevation compliance in critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation in a polyvalent intensive care unit

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate head-of-bed elevation (HOBE) compliance in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients during different time periods, in order to identify factors that may influence compliance and to compare direct-observation compliance with checklist-reported compliance. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective observational study was carried out in a polyvalent Intensive Care Unit. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients with MV and no contraindication for semi-recumbency were studied. Intervention and variables: HOBE was observed during four periods of one month each for one year, the first period being blinded. HOBE was measured with an electronic device three times daily. Main variables were HOBE, type of airway device, type of bed, nursing shift, day of the week and checklist-reported compliance. No patient characteristics were collected. RESULTS: During the four periods, 2639 observations were collected. Global HOBE compliance was 24.0%, and the median angle head-of-bed elevation (M-HOBE) was 24.0° (IQR 18.8-30.0). HOBE compliance and M-HOBE by periods were as follows: blinded period: 13.8% and 21.1° (IQR 16.3-24.4); period 1: 25.5% and 24.3° (IQR 18.8-30.2); period 2: 22.7% and 24.4° (IQR 18.9-29.6); and period 3: 31.4% and 26.7° (IQR 21.3-32.6) (p < 0.001). An overestimation of 50-60% was found when comparing self-reported compliance using a checklist versus direct-observation compliance (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found the presence of an endotracheal tube (ET) and bed without HOBE measuring device to be independently associated to greater compliance (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although compliance increased significantly during the study period, it was still not optimal. Checklist-reported compliance significantly overestimated HOBE compliance. The presence of an ET and a bed without HOBE measuring device was associated to greater compliance

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar el cumplimiento de la elevación de la cabecera de la cama (ECC) en pacientes atendidos con ventilación mecánica (MV) durante distintos periodos de tiempo con el fin de identificar los factores que pueden influir sobre el cumplimiento y comparar el cumplimiento evaluado mediante observación directa con el cumplimiento evaluado mediante lista de verificación. DISEÑO Y ÁMBITO: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional y prospectivo en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente. PACIENTES: Se estudió a todos los pacientes consecutivos atendidos con MV y en los que no estaba contraindicada la reclinación parcial. Intervención y variables: Se observó la ECC durante 4 periodos de un mes a lo largo de un año, el primero de ellos con enmascaramiento. Se midió la ECC mediante un dispositivo electrónico 3 veces al día. Las variables principales fueron ECC, tipo de dispositivo para las vías respiratorias, tipo de cama, turno de enfermería, día de la semana y cumplimiento notificado mediante lista de verificación. No se recopilaron las características de los pacientes. RESULTADOS: Se recopilaron 2.639 observaciones durante los 4 periodos. La tasa global de cumplimiento con la ECC fue del 24.0%, mientras que la mediana del ángulo de elevación de la cabecera de la cama (M-ECC) fue de 24.0° (IQR 18.8–30.0). El cumplimiento con la ECC y la M-ECC por cada periodo fue: periodo con enmascaramiento: 13.8% y 21.1° (IQR 16.3-24.4); periodo 1: 25.5% y 24.3° (IQR 18.8-30.2); periodo 2: 22.7% y 24.4° (IQR 18.9-29.6); y periodo 3: 31.4% y 26.7° (IQR 21.3-32.6) (p < 0.001). Se observó una sobreestimación del 50-60% al comparar el cumplimiento autoevaluado por medio de una lista de verificación frente al cumplimiento evaluado mediante observación directa (p < 0.001). Un análisis de regresión logística multivariante concluyó que la presencia de un tubo endotraqueal (TE) y de una cama sin dispositivo de medición de ECC se asociaban de manera independiente a un mayor cumplimiento (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONES: Si bien el cumplimiento aumentó de manera significativa durante el periodo del estudio, seguía sin ser el óptimo. El cumplimiento evaluado mediante lista de verificación sobreestimó de manera significativa el cumplimiento de la ECC. La presencia de un TE y una cama sin dispositivo de medición de ECC se asociaba a un mayor cumplimiento

Evaluation of head-of-bed elevation compliance in critically ill patients under mechanical ventilation in a polyvalent intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate head-of-bed elevation (HOBE) compliance in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients during different time periods, in order to identify factors that may influence compliance and to compare direct-observation compliance with checklist-reported compliance. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective observational study was carried out in a polyvalent Intensive Care Unit. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients with MV and no contraindication for semi-recumbency were studied. INTERVENTION AND VARIABLES: HOBE was observed during four periods of one month each for one year, the first period being blinded. HOBE was measured with an electronic device three times daily. Main variables were HOBE, type of airway device, type of bed, nursing shift, day of the week and checklist-reported compliance. No patient characteristics were collected. RESULTS: During the four periods, 2639 observations were collected. Global HOBE compliance was 24.0%, and the median angle head-of-bed elevation (M-HOBE) was 24.0° (IQR 18.8-30.0). HOBE compliance and M-HOBE by periods were as follows: blinded period: 13.8% and 21.1° (IQR 16.3-24.4); period 1: 25.5% and 24.3° (IQR 18.8-30.2); period 2: 22.7% and 24.4° (IQR 18.9-29.6); and period 3: 31.4% and 26.7° (IQR 21.3-32.6) (p<0.001). An overestimation of 50-60% was found when comparing self-reported compliance using a checklist versus direct-observation compliance (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found the presence of an endotracheal tube (ET) and bed without HOBE measuring device to be independently associated to greater compliance (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although compliance increased significantly during the study period, it was still not optimal. Checklist-reported compliance significantly overestimated HOBE compliance. The presence of an ET and a bed without HOBE measuring device was associated to greater compliance.

Evaluación del cumplimiento de la elevación de la cabecera de la cama en pacientes críticamente enfermos sometidos a ventilación mecánica en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente / Evaluation of the compliance with the elevation of the head of the bed in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in a polyvalent intensive care unit

Objetivos. Evaluar el cumplimiento de la elevación de la cabecera de la cama (ECC) en pacientes atendidos con ventilación mecánica (MV) durante distintos periodos de tiempo con el fin de identificar losfactores que pueden influir sobre el cumplimientoy comparar el cumplimiento evaluado mediante observación directa con el cumplimiento evaluado mediante lista de verificación...

Determinants of prescription and choice of empirical therapy for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The objectives of this study were to assess the determinants of empirical antibiotic choice, prescription patterns and outcomes in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)/ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in Europe. We performed a prospective, observational cohort study in 27 intensive care units (ICUs) from nine European countries. 100 consecutive patients on mechanical ventilation for HAP, on mechanical ventilation>48 h or with VAP were enrolled per ICU. Admission category, sickness severity and Acinetobacter spp. prevalence>10% in pneumonia episodes determined antibiotic empirical choice. Trauma patients were more often prescribed non-anti-Pseudomonas cephalosporins (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.50-4.78). Surgical patients received less aminoglycosides (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.49). A significant correlation (p<0.01) was found between Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score and carbapenem prescription. Basal Acinetobacter spp. prevalence>10% dramatically increased the prescription of carbapenems (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.0-6.1) and colistin (OR 115.7, 95% CI 6.9-1,930.9). Appropriate empirical antibiotics decreased ICU length of stay by 6 days (26.3±19.8 days versus 32.8±29.4 days; p=0.04). The antibiotics that were prescribed most were carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam and quinolones. Median (interquartile range) duration of antibiotic therapy was 9 (6-12) days. Anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agents were prescribed in 38.4% of VAP episodes. Admission category, sickness severity and basal Acinetobacter prevalence>10% in pneumonia episodes were the major determinants of antibiotic choice at the bedside. Across Europe, carbapenems were the antibiotic most prescribed for HAP/VAP.