Practical methods for effective vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) surveillance: experience in a liver transplant surgical intensive care unit

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1178-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Y. Linfield ◽  
Shelley Campeau ◽  
Patil Injean ◽  
Aric Gregson ◽  
Fady Kaldas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Liver Transplant ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Point Prevalence ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Stool Samples ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the utility of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) surveillance by varying 2 parameters: admission versus weekly surveillance and perirectal swabbing versus stool sampling.DesignProspective, patient-level surveillance program of incident VRE colonization.SettingLiver transplant surgical intensive care unit (SICU) of a tertiary-care referral medical center with a high prevalence of VRE.PatientsAll patients admitted to the SICU from June to August 2015.MethodsWe conducted a point-prevalence estimate followed by admission and weekly surveillance by perirectal swabbing and/or stool sampling. Incident colonization was defined as a negative screen followed by positive surveillance. VRE was detected by culture on Remel Spectra VRE chromogenic agar. Microbiologically-confirmed VRE bloodstream infections (BSIs) were tracked for 2 months. Statistical analyses were calculated using the McNemar test, the Fisher exact test, the t test, and the χ2 test.ResultsIn total, 91 patients underwent VRE surveillance testing. The point prevalence of VRE colonization was 60.9%; VRE prevalence on admission was 30.1%. Weekly surveillance identified an additional 7 of 28 patients (25.0%) with incident colonization. VRE BSIs were more common in VRE-colonized patients than in noncolonized patients (8 of 43 vs 2 of 48; P=.028). In a direct comparison, perirectal swabs were more sensitive than stool samples in detecting VRE (64 of 67 vs 56 of 67; P=.023). Compliance with perirectal swabbing was 89% (201 of 226) compared to 56% (127 of 226) for stool collection (P≤0.001).ConclusionsWe recommend weekly VRE surveillance over admission-only screening in high-burden units such as liver transplant SICUs. Perirectal swabs had greater collection compliance and sensitivity than stool samples, making them the preferred methodology. Further work may have implications for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control.

scholarly journals Sonographic Assessment of Intravascular Fluid Estimate (SAFE) Score by Using Bedside Ultrasound in the Intensive Care Unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Killu ◽  
Victor Coba ◽  
Dionne Blyden ◽  
Semeret Munie ◽  
Darlene Dereczyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Scoring System ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Bedside Ultrasound ◽  
Volume Status ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Volume Score

Objective. The objective of the study was to use an ultrasound-based numerical scoring system for assessment of intravascular fluid estimate (SAFE) and test its validity. Methods. A prospective, observational study was carried out in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of an urban tertiary care teaching hospital. Patient’s intravascular volume status was assessed using the standard methods of heart rate, blood pressure, central venous pressure, cardiac output, lactate and saturation of venous oxygen, and others. This was compared with assessment using bedside ultrasound evaluation of the cardiac function, inferior vena cava, lungs, and the internal jugular vein. Applying a numerical scoring system was evaluated by Fisher’s exact testing and multinomial logistic model to predict the volume status based on ultrasound scores and the classification accuracy. Results. 61 patients in the ICU were evaluated. 21 (34.4% of total) patients diagnosed with hypovolemia, and their ultrasound volume score was −4 in 14 (66.7%) patients, −3 in 5 (23.8%) patients, and 0 in 2 (9.5%) patients (p<0.001). 18 (29.5% of total) patients diagnosed with euvolemia, and their ultrasound volume score was 0 in 11 (61.1%) patients, +1 in 4 (22.2%) patients, and −1 in 1 (5.6%) patient (p<0.001). 22 (36.1% of total) patients diagnosed with hypervolemia, and their ultrasound volume score was +4 in 4 (18.2%) patients, +3 in 15 (68.2%) patients, and  + 1 in 1 (4.6%) patient (p<0.001). We found a strong association between standard measures and the ultrasound score (p<0.001). Conclusion. Using the SAFE scoring system to identify the IVV status in critically ill patients significantly correlates with the standard measures. A SAFE score of −4 to −2 more likely represents hypovolemia, −1 to +1 more likely represents euvolemia, and +2 to +4 more likely to be hypervolemia.

scholarly journals A pilot study assessing the spiritual, emotional, physical/environmental, and physiological needs of mechanically ventilated surgical intensive care unit patients via eye tracking devices, head nodding, and communication boards

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin I Duffy ◽  
Jonah Garry ◽  
Lillian Talbot ◽  
David Pasternak ◽  
Ashley Flinn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Mechanically Ventilated ◽  
Head Nodding ◽  
Surgical Icu

BackgroundMechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are unable to communicate verbally. We sought to evaluate their needs via a communication board (CB) and a novel eye tracking device (ETD) that verbalizes selections made by gazing.MethodsThis was a pilot prospective study conducted in a tertiary care surgical ICU. Continuously mechanically ventilated adult surgical ICU patients with a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale score of −1 to +1, without cognitive impairment, were eligible. We asked patients four yes-or-no questions to assess basic needs regarding presence of pain, need for endotracheal suction, satisfactory room temperature, and position comfort. Patients were then asked if there was anything else that they wanted to communicate. All responses were confirmed by head nodding.ResultsThe median accuracy of the CB (100% (IQR 100%–100%)) for basic needs communication (yes/no questions) was comparable with that of the ETD (100% (IQR 68.8%–100%); p=0.14) in the 12 enrolled patients. Notably, 83% of patients desired to communicate additional information, ranging from spiritual (eg, desire for prayer/chaplain), emotional (eg, frustration, desire for comfort), physical/environmental (eg, television), to physiological (eg, thirst/hunger) needs.DiscussionThe majority of patients desired to communicate something other than basic needs. Unless specifically assessed via an assistive communication device (eg, CB or ETD), some of these other needs would have been difficult to discern.Level of evidenceIV therapeutic care/management.

Staphylococcus AureusRectal Carriage and its Association with Infections in Patients in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit and a Liver Transplant Unit

2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 495-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Squier ◽  
John D. Rihs ◽  
Kathleen J. Risa ◽  
Asia Sagnimeni ◽  
Marilyn M. Wagener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Liver Transplant ◽  
Nasal Carriage ◽  
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Liver Transplant Recipients

Background:The role of rectal carriage ofStaphylococcus aureusas a risk factor for nosocomialS. aureusinfections in critically ill patients has not been fully discerned.Methods:Nasal and rectal swabs forS. aureuswere obtained on admission and weekly thereafter until discharge or death from 204 consecutive patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit and liver transplant unit.Results:Overall, 49.5% (101 of 204) of the patients never harboredS. aureus, 21.6% (44 of 204) were nasal carriers only, 3.4% (7 of 204) were rectal carriers only, and 25.5% (52 of 204) were both nasal and rectal carriers. Infections due toS. aureusdeveloped in 15.7% (32 of 204) of the patients; these included 3% (3 of 101) of the non-carriers, 18.2% (8 of 44) of the nasal carriers only, 0% (0 of 7) of the rectal carriers only, and 40.4% (21 of 52) of the patients who were both nasal and rectal carriers (P= .001). Patients with both rectal and nasal carriage were significantly more likely to developS. aureusinfection than were those with nasal carriage only (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 7.85;P= .025). By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, the infecting rectal and nasal isolates were clonally identical in 82% (14 of 17) of the patients withS. aureusinfections.Conclusions:Rectal carriage represents an underappreciated reservoir forS. aureusin patients in the intensive care unit and liver transplant recipients. Rectal plus nasal carriage may portend a greater risk forS. aureusinfections in these patients than currently realized.

Candida auris outbreak involving liver transplant recipients in a surgical intensive care unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 3673-3679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Theodoropoulos ◽  
Barbara Bolstorff ◽  
Adel Bozorgzadeh ◽  
Christina Brandeburg ◽  
Melissa Cumming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Liver Transplant ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Transplant Recipients ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Liver Transplant Recipients

scholarly journals A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON DRUG USE OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 310
Author(s):  
Nimin Paul ◽  
Santhosh Kumar V
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Clavulanic Acid ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Total Drug ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care

 Objective: To identify the pattern of drug utilization of antimicrobials in prescriptions of patients admitted at medical intensive care unit (MICU) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU) department and to analyze the utilization of different classes of drugs.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in 10 bedded medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary care hospital, Adayar, from October 1st 2016 to March 1st 2016. The study was performed in 100 prescriptions. The relevant data on drug prescription of each patient were collected from in-patient records. The demographic data, disease data, and the utilization of different classes of antimicrobial agents (AMAs) were analyzed.Results: In MICU, a total of 648 drugs were prescribed during the period of stay and AMAs accounted for 15% of total drug. The average length of stay was found to be 8 (±8.73). The mean number of drugs received by patients is 11.6 ± 2 drugs. The most frequently prescribed AMAs were ceftriaxone followed by meropenem and clindamycin. Cephalosporin is commonly prescribed due to their relatively lower toxicity and broader spectrum activity. The generally prescribed AMA combination was amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (32.50%) and piperacillin + tazobactam (27.50%). The laboratory reported positive cultures for 30 patients. The most prevailing organisms were Escherichia coli (50%). In SICU, a total of 780 drugs were prescribed during the period of stay and AMAs accounted for 18% of total drug. An average of 5 (±2.0) drugs was prescribed for each patient and each prescription contains an average of 2 (±0.9) AMAs. The results indicated that ceftriaxone was the most commonly prescribed AMAs (22%), followed by meropenem (18%), ciprofloxacin (18%), and colistin (8%). A total of five AMA combination therapies were used in SICU. Among them, piperacillin+clavulanic acid (36.84%) was the most commonly prescribed combination. In the study, 30 (60 %) cases had microbial growth and have performed sensitivity test.Conclusion: A wide class and percentage of AMAs were prescribed in ICUs. There is a need of antimicrobial agent’s usage guidelines and restriction policies for the rational prescribing of antimicrobials in critically ill patients.

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