Peripheral muscular ultrasound as outcome assessment tool in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation: An observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To report the first eight cases of critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hong Kong, describing the treatments and supportive care they received and their 28-day outcomes. DESIGN: Multicentre retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Three multidisciplinary intensive care units (ICUs) in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: All adult critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to ICUs in Hong Kong between 22 January and 11 February 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 28-day mortality. RESULTS: Eight out of 49 patients with COVID-19 (16%) were admitted to Hong Kong ICUs during the study period. The median age was 64.5 years (range, 42–70) with a median admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 6 (IQR, 4–7). Six patients (75%) required mechanical ventilation, six patients (75%) required vasopressors and two (25%) required renal replacement therapy. None of the patients required prone ventilation, nitric oxide or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The median times to shock reversal and extubation were 9 and 11 days respectively. At 28 days, one patient (12%) had died and the remaining seven (88%) all survived to ICU discharge. Only one of the survivors (14%) still required oxygen at 28 days. CONCLUSION: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 often require a moderate duration of mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support. Most of these patients recover and survive to ICU discharge with supportive care using lung protective ventilation strategies, avoiding excess fluids, screening and treating bacterial co-infection, and timely intubation. Lower rather than upper respiratory tract viral burden correlates with clinical severity of illness.

Download Full-text

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Target Attainment Based on Measured Versus Predicted Unbound Ceftriaxone Concentrations in Critically Ill Patients with Pneumonia: An Observational Cohort Study

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10050557 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 557

Author(s):

Matthias Gijsen ◽

Erwin Dreesen ◽

Ruth Van Daele ◽

Pieter Annaert ◽

Yves Debaveye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Renal Function ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Protein Binding ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Observational Cohort Study ◽

Target Attainment ◽

Binding Model ◽

Observational Cohort ◽

The Impact

The impact of ceftriaxone pharmacokinetic alterations on protein binding and PK/PD target attainment still remains unclear. We evaluated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment of unbound ceftriaxone in critically ill patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Besides, we evaluated the accuracy of predicted vs. measured unbound ceftriaxone concentrations, and its impact on PK/PD target attainment. A prospective observational cohort study was carried out in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe CAP. Ceftriaxone 2 g q24h intermittent infusion was administered to all patients. Successful PK/PD target attainment was defined as unbound trough concentrations above 1 or 4 mg/L throughout the whole dosing interval. Acceptable overall PK/PD target attainment was defined as successful target attainment in ≥90% of all dosing intervals. Measured unbound ceftriaxone concentrations (CEFu) were compared to unbound concentrations predicted from various protein binding models. Thirty-one patients were included. The 1 mg/L and 4 mg/L targets were reached in 26/32 (81%) and 15/32 (47%) trough samples, respectively. Increased renal function was associated with the failure to attain both PK/PD targets. Unbound ceftriaxone concentrations predicted by the protein binding model developed in the present study showed acceptable bias and precision and had no major impact on PK/PD target attainment. We showed suboptimal (i.e., <90%) unbound ceftriaxone PK/PD target attainment when using a standard 2 g q24h dosing regimen in critically ill patients with severe CAP. Renal function was the major driver for the failure to attain the predefined targets, in accordance with results found in general and septic ICU patients. Interestingly, CEFu was reliably predicted from CEFt without major impact on clinical decisions regarding PK/PD target attainment. This suggests that, when carefully selecting a protein binding model, CEFu does not need to be measured. As a result, the turn-around time and cost for ceftriaxone quantification can be substantially reduced.

Download Full-text