MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly recruited and then further randomly divided into two groups of 50 patients each. The first group used the POC PCT test along with the standard sepsis parameter monitoring, while the second group had the standard monitoring only (C-reactive protein [CRP] level, total white count, temperature and tracheal aspirate culture). Serial PCT test results and CRP levels were monitored on days 1, 3, 7 and 9. The patients were followed up for 28-day mortality.
RESULTS: Eighty-five patients completed the trial, of whom 43 were in the PCT group and 42 were in the control group. The PCT group had a significantly lower mean (SD) antibiotic treatment duration (10.28 [2.68] days) than the control group (11.52 [3.06]). The mean (SD) difference was -1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.48 to 0.01; t-statistic [df] = -1.997 [83]; P = 0.049). The PCT group also had a higher number of antibiotic-free days alive during the 28 days after VAP onset than the control group (mean [SD], 10.79 [7.61] vs. 8.72 [6.41]). The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was the sole factor for the decrease in duration after VAP onset (regression coefficient β [95% CI], -0.70 [-1.19 to -0.20]; P = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS: The POC procalcitonin test can reduce the antibiotic treatment duration in patients with VAP.
METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2019 with adult patients presenting evidence of sepsis who were admitted to the ICU. Parameters were assessed in the ICU to determine the association with all-cause ICU mortality and prolonged stay.
RESULTS: Out of 607 adults, 292 with sepsis were admitted to the ICU in 2019, with a mean age of 50.98 (standard deviation [SD] = 17.75) years old. There was, thus, a 48% incidence of sepsis. Mortality was observed in 78 patients (mortality rate = 26.7%) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.7, 32.2). Patients with higher Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores had lower odds of ICU mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.98; P = 0.019), while patients with higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores had higher odds (adjusted OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.35; P < 0.001). Eighty patients (37.4%) who survived had prolonged ICU stays (95% CI: 30.9, 44.2). Patients with higher albumin levels had lower odds of a prolonged ICU stay (adjusted OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90, 0.98; P = 0.006) and patients on renal replacement therapy had higher odds of a prolonged ICU stay (adjusted OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.74, 7.12; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Our study identified a sepsis prevalence of 48% and an ICU mortality rate of 26.7% among adult patients admitted to the ICU. GCS and SOFA scores were the most important factors associated with ICU mortality.
METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in the Critical Care Unit of HPUSM from September 2019 to March 2021. Eligible participants included patients with a positive blood culture recorded after 48 hours of admission to hospital.
RESULTS: There was a total of 250 patients, whose positive blood cultures were isolated. The main isolated organisms were Klebsiella pneumonia (23.6%), Pseudomonas spp. (19.2%), Escherichia coli (12.8%) and Acinetobacter sp. (9.2%). The mortality of hospital-acquired BSI was 27.6%. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.09; p < 0.001], cases with extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) (adjusted OR = 5.57; 95% CI: 2.04, 15.21; p = 0.001), with multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms (adjusted OR = 14.70; 95% CI: 3.97, 54.48; p < 0.001) and those with a sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score > 11 (adjusted OR = 4.16; 95% CI: 1.31, 13.19; p = 0.015) had statistically significant associations with treatment failure. Factors significantly associated with 28-day mortality included age (adjusted OR: 1.06: 95% CI; 1.03, 1.09; p < 0.001), MDR organisms (adjusted OR = 14.70; 95% CI: 3.97, 54.48; p < 0.001) and SOFA score > 11 (adjusted OR = 4.16; 95% CI: 1.31, 13.19; p = 0.015).
CONCLUSION: The elderly, ESBL, MDR organisms and high SOFA scores were associated with treatment failure and 28-day mortality in hospital-acquired BSI.
METHODS: A questionnaire-based interventional study was conducted with 458 HCW from 5 hospitals in Malaysia. A 26-item self-administered questionnaire was distributed online as a preintervention test. Respondents then went through website-based educational materials followed by a post-intervention questionnaire.
RESULTS: A total of 345 (75.3%) respondents completed the tests. Their attitude toward organ donation was positive preintervention. After the intervention, respondents expressed an increase willingness to donate their own organs (P = .008) and their relatives' organs (P < .001) after death; were more willing to adopt organ donation as part of end-of-life care (P =.002); were more comfortable talking to relatives about organ donation (P =.001); and expressed an increase consideration to execute the action at any time (P =.001). There was increased willingness to admit to the intensive care unit for facilitating organ donation (P =.007); to employ the same resources to maintain a potential brain-dead donor (P < .001); and to support organ donation in case they or their relatives were diagnosed with end-stage organ failure (P =.008). However, there was an increase in negative attitudes regarding the association between organ donation with health care failure (P =.004) and with pain (P =.003). Positive attitude scores were higher after the intervention (P < .001).
CONCLUSION: An educational website-based intervention was able to improve the attitudes of HCWs toward organ donation.
Discussion: The scenario is made worst if the aspiration causes acute hypoxemic respiratory failure immediately post intubation. However, in the event of desaturation, the quick decision to proceed with bronchoscopy is a challenging task to the anesthesiologist without knowing the causes.
Case presentation: We present a case of a 12-year-old boy who had a difficult-to-ventilate scenario post transferring and immediately connected to ventilator in operation theatre (OT) from portable ventilator from the emergency department. She was successfully managed by bronchoscopy.
Conclusion: Special attention should be given to the difficult-to-ventilate scenario post intubation of traumatic brain injury patient prior to operation. Prompt diagnosis and bronchoscope-assisted removal of foreign body was found to be a successful to reduce morbidity and mortality.