Early lung ultrasonography predicts the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome in blunt trauma patients

Weissella strains are currently being used for biotechnological and probiotic purposes [1]. While, Weissella hellenica found in flounder intestine had probiotic effects [2], certain species from this genus are opportunistic pathogens in humans. Apart from being implicated in disease in farmed rainbow trout [3], Weissella has been found to cause the following disease in humans.1. endocarditis [4,5]2. bacteraemia [6]3. prosthetic joint infection [7]Whole genome sequences ‘find several virulence determinants such as collagen adhesins, aggregation sub- stances, mucus-binding proteins, and hemolysins in some species’, as well as antibiotic resistance-encoding genes [8]. Caution is warranted in selecting of Weissella strains as starter cultures or probiotics, if at all, since the other option, Lactobacillus, are rarely involved in human disease.Here, the analysis of the lung microbiota in critically ill trauma patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome [9] shows (Accid:ERR1992912) shows complete colonization of Weissella (Fig 1). While, the study mentions ‘significant enrichment of potential pathogens including Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, Prevotella, Haemophilus and Treponema’, there is no reference to the Weissella genus. The percentages of Weissella strains are :confusa=81, soli=7 ,hellenica=5 ,diestrammenae=2. I believe this is the first reported case of Weissella causing ARDS in humans.

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Early Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusion and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome after Trauma

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/aln.0b013e3181948a97 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 110 (2) ◽

pp. 351-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

Onuma Chaiwat ◽

John D. Lang ◽

Monica S. Vavilala ◽

Jin Wang ◽

Ellen J. MacKenzie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽

Respiratory Distress ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Red Blood Cell Transfusion ◽

Thoracic Injury ◽

National Study ◽

Trauma Patients

Background Transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) is a risk factor for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in trauma patients. Yet, there is a paucity of information regarding the risk of ARDS with incremental PRBCs exposure. Methods For this retrospective analysis, eligible patients from National Study on Costs and Outcomes of Trauma were included. Our main exposure was defined as units of PRBCs transfused during the first 24 h after admission. The main outcome was ARDS. Results A total of 521 (4.6%) of 14070 patients developed ARDS, and 331 patients (63.5%) who developed ARDS received PRBCs transfusion. Injury severity, thoracic injury, polytrauma, and pneumonia receiving more than 5 units of fresh frozen plasma and 6-10 units of PRBCs were independent predictors of ARDS. Patients receiving more than 5 units of PRBCs had higher risk of developing ARDS (patients who received 6-10 units: adjusted odds ratio 2.5, 95% CI 1.12-5.3; patients who received more than 10 units: odds ratio 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.4). Each additional unit of PRBCs transfused conferred a 6% higher risk of ARDS (adjusted odds ratio 1.06; 95% CI 1.03-1.10). Conclusions Early transfusion of PRBCs is an independent predictor of ARDS in adult trauma patients. Conservative transfusion strategies that decrease PRBC exposure by even 1 unit may be warranted to reduce the risk of ARDS in injured patients.

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