Novel Approaches to Hasten Detection of Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in the Intensive Care Unit

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 454-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cristina Vazquez Guillamet ◽  
Jason P. Burnham ◽  
Marin H. Kollef
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Acinetobacter Species ◽  
Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

AbstractAntibiotic resistance is recognized as a key determinant of outcome in patients with serious infections influencing empiric antibiotic practices especially for critically ill patients. Within the intensive care unit (ICU), nosocomial infections and increasingly community-onset infections are caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Escalating rates of antibiotic resistance adds substantially to the morbidity, mortality, and cost related to infections treated in the ICU. Both gram-positive organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and extended spectrum β-lactamase producing organisms, are urgent threats. The rising rates of antimicrobial resistance have resulted in routine empiric administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics by clinicians to critically ill patients even when bacterial infection is microbiologically absent. Moreover, new broad-spectrum antibiotics are a challenge to use effectively while avoiding emergence of further resistance. Use of rapid diagnostic technologies (RDTs) will likely provide an important methodology for achieving this important balance. There is an urgent need for integrating the administration of new and existing antibiotics with RDTs in a way that is safe, cost-effective, applicable in all countries, and sustainable.

scholarly journals Incidence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in tracheal secretions from critically ill patients in the intensive care unit

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Berki Ádám-József ◽  
Benkő Csongor ◽  
Székely Edit ◽  
Szász Izabella Éva ◽  
Vas Krisztina Eszter
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Cell Counts

Abstract Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a severe nosocomial infection that affects the disease course of critically ill patients. Awareness of potential pathogens is essential for prevention, early detection, and proper treatment, as well. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we investigated the tracheal secretions collected from critically ill patients with the aim to detect the occurrence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We examined the bacteriological culture results of the tracheal secretions of the patients hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit of Tîrgu Mureș Emergency Clinical County Hospital between 1st November 2017 and 31st January 2018. Admission diagnoses and comorbidities were recorded, and white blood cell counts were monitored. We determined the quality of the lower respiratory samples by microscopic examination and the results of the microbiological tests, taking into account the germ count of pathogens and the antibiotic-resistance pheno-type. During the three months, 194 samples were received from 107 patients for bacteriological examination. After the first sample collection 34 (31.77%) tracheal secretions were positive for pathogens, while in the remaining samples normal upper respiratory bacterial flora was found. From the 34 positive samples, 22 were colonizing pathogens and 30 were isolated in a clinically significant amount. Predominantly Staphylococcus aureus (n=14; 26.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=9; 17.3%), Escherichia coli (n=8.1%) and other Gram-negative bacteria (n=21; 40.4%) were identified. Among these strains 38 (73.07%) were not multidrug-resistant. The rate of positivity of individual sampling showed a positive correlation with the average duration of hospital stay (p=0.0016; r=0.8740). A total of 26 patients developed early-onset or late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia. Potential risk factors for infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria were found. We can conclude that recently admitted patients in the intensive care unit are rarely carriers of multidrug-resistant bacteria, but become colonized or infected with multidrug-resistant strains during long-term intensive care.

scholarly journals Treatment of a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient with the Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity Filter

TH Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. e134-e138
Author(s):  
Anke Pape ◽  
Jan T. Kielstein ◽  
Tillman Krüger ◽  
Thomas Fühner ◽  
Reinhard Brunkhorst
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Pharmacological Therapy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Special Patient

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a serious impact on health and economics worldwide. Even though the majority of patients present with moderate and mild symptoms, yet a considerable portion of patients need to be treated in the intensive care unit. Aside from dexamethasone, there is no established pharmacological therapy. Moreover, some of the currently tested drugs are contraindicated for special patient populations like remdesivir for patients with severely impaired renal function. On this background, several extracorporeal treatments are currently explored concerning their potential to improve the clinical course and outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19. Here, we report the use of the Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter, which is licensed in the European Union for the removal of pathogens. Authorization for emergency use in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit with confirmed or imminent respiratory failure was granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 17, 2020.A 53-year-old Caucasian male with a severe COVID-19 infection was treated with a Seraph Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion after clinical deterioration and commencement of mechanical ventilation. The 70-minute treatment at a blood flow of 200 mL/minute was well tolerated, and the patient was hemodynamically stable. The hemoperfusion reduced D-dimers dramatically.This case report suggests that the use of Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion might have positive effects on the clinical course of critically ill patients with COVID-19. However, future prospective collection of data ideally in randomized trials will have to confirm whether the use of Seraph 100 Microbind Affinity filter hemoperfusion is an option of the treatment for COVID-19.

scholarly journals Bereavement interventions to support informal caregivers in the intensive care unit: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephana J. Moss ◽  
Krista Wollny ◽  
Therese G. Poulin ◽  
Deborah J. Cook ◽  
Henry T. Stelfox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Bereavement Support ◽  
Complex Needs ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Background Informal caregivers of critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICUs) experience negative psychological sequelae that worsen after death. We synthesized outcomes reported from ICU bereavement interventions intended to improve informal caregivers’ ability to cope with grief. Data sources MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO from inception to October 2020. Study selection Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of bereavement interventions to support informal caregivers of adult patients who died in ICU. Data extraction Two reviewers independently extracted data in duplicate. Narrative synthesis was conducted. Data synthesis Bereavement interventions were categorized according to the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence three-tiered model of bereavement support according to the level of need: (1) Universal information provided to all those bereaved; (2) Selected or targeted non-specialist support provided to those who are at-risk of developing complex needs; and/or (3) Professional specialist interventions provided to those with a high level of complex needs. Outcome measures were synthesized according to core outcomes established for evaluating bereavement support for adults who have lost other adults to illness. Results Three studies of ICU bereavement interventions from 31 ICUs across 26 hospitals were included. One trial examining the effect of family presence at brain death assessment integrated all three categories of support but did not report significant improvement in emotional or psychological distress. Two other trials assessed a condolence letter intervention, which did not decrease grief symptoms and may have increased symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and a storytelling intervention that found no significant improvements in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, or complicated grief. Four of nine core bereavement outcomes were not assessed anytime in follow-up. Conclusions Currently available trial evidence is sparse and does not support the use of bereavement interventions for informal caregivers of critically ill patients who die in the ICU.

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