Acute bacterial meningitis in the intensive care unit and risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes: retrospective study

A retrospective analysis of 20,178 adult neurological infection admissions to United Kingdom critical care units from 2001 to 2020

BACKGROUND

Neurological infection is an important cause of critical illness, yet little is known on the epidemiology of neurological infections requiring critical care.

METHODS

We analysed data on all adults with proven or probable neurological infection admitted to UK (NHS) critical care units between 2001 and 2020 reported to the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre. Diagnoses, physiological variables, organ support and clinical outcomes were analysed over the whole period, and for consecutive 5-year intervals within it. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified using a backward stepwise regression model.

RESULTS

We identified 20,178 critical care admissions for neurological infection. Encephalitis was the most frequent presentation to critical care, comprising 6725 (33.3%) of 20,178 cases. Meningitis- bacterial, viral or unspecified cases - accounted for 10,056 (49.8%) of cases. In-hospital mortality was high, at 3945/19,765 (20.0%) overall. Over the four consecutive 5-year periods, there were trends towards higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission, longer critical care admissions (from median 4 [IQR 2-8] to 5 days [IQR 2-10]), and reduced in-hospital mortality (from 24.9 to 18.1%). We identified 12 independent predictors of in-hospital death which when used together showed good discrimination between patients who die and those who survive (AUC = 0.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Admissions with neurological infection to UK critical care services are increasing and the mortality, although improving, remains high. To further improve outcomes from severe neurological infection, novel approaches to the evaluation of risk stratification, monitoring and management strategies are required.

Characteristics and prognostic factors of bacterial meningitis in the intensive care unit: a prospective nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Patients with bacterial meningitis can be severely ill necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Here, we describe clinical features and prognostic factors of adults with bacterial meningitis admitted to the ICU in a nationwide prospective cohort study.

METHODS

We prospectively assessed clinical features and outcome of adults (age > 16 years) with community-acquired bacterial meningitis included in the MeninGene study between March 1, 2006 and July 1, 2022, that were initially admitted to the ICU. We identified independent predictors for initial ICU admission and for unfavourable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score between 1-4) by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 2709 episodes of bacterial meningitis were included, of which 1369 (51%) were initially admitted to the ICU. We observed a decrease in proportion of patients being admitted to the ICU during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 (decreased to 39%, p = 0.004). Median age of the 1369 patients initially admitted to the ICU was 61 years (IQR 49-69), and the rates of unfavourable outcome (47%) and mortality (22%) were high. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we observed a trend towards an increase in unfavourable outcome. Prognostic factors predictive for initial ICU admission were younger age, immunocompromised state, male sex, factors associated with pneumococcal meningitis, and those indicative of systemic compromise. Independent predictors for unfavourable outcome in the initial ICU cohort were advanced age, admittance to an academic hospital, cranial nerve palsies or seizures on admission, low leukocyte count in blood, high C-reactive protein in blood, low CSF: blood glucose ratio, listerial meningitis, need for mechanical ventilation, circulatory shock and persistent fever. 204 of 1340 episodes (15%) that were initially not admitted to the ICU were secondarily transferred to the ICU. The rates of unfavourable outcome (66%) and mortality (30%) in this group were high.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis are admitted to the ICU, and the unfavourable outcome and mortality rates of these patients remain high. Patients that are initially admitted to non-ICU wards but secondarily transferred to the ICU also had very high rates of unfavourable outcome.

Guidelines for the Acute Treatment of Cerebral Edema in Neurocritical Care Patients

BACKGROUND

Acute treatment of cerebral edema and elevated intracranial pressure is a common issue in patients with neurological injury. Practical recommendations regarding selection and monitoring of therapies for initial management of cerebral edema for optimal efficacy and safety are generally lacking. This guideline evaluates the role of hyperosmolar agents (mannitol, HTS), corticosteroids, and selected non-pharmacologic therapies in the acute treatment of cerebral edema. Clinicians must be able to select appropriate therapies for initial cerebral edema management based on available evidence while balancing efficacy and safety.

METHODS

The Neurocritical Care Society recruited experts in neurocritical care, nursing, and pharmacy to create a panel in 2017. The group generated 16 clinical questions related to initial management of cerebral edema in various neurological insults using the PICO format. A research librarian executed a comprehensive literature search through July 2018. The panel screened the identified articles for inclusion related to each specific PICO question and abstracted necessary information for pertinent publications. The panel used GRADE methodology to categorize the quality of evidence as high, moderate, low, or very low based on their confidence that the findings of each publication approximate the true effect of the therapy.

RESULTS

The panel generated recommendations regarding initial management of cerebral edema in neurocritical care patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, bacterial meningitis, and hepatic encephalopathy.

CONCLUSION

The available evidence suggests hyperosmolar therapy may be helpful in reducing ICP elevations or cerebral edema in patients with SAH, TBI, AIS, ICH, and HE, although neurological outcomes do not appear to be affected. Corticosteroids appear to be helpful in reducing cerebral edema in patients with bacterial meningitis, but not ICH. Differences in therapeutic response and safety may exist between HTS and mannitol. The use of these agents in these critical clinical situations merits close monitoring for adverse effects. There is a dire need for high-quality research to better inform clinicians of the best options for individualized care of patients with cerebral edema.

Prognostic factors among critically ill patients with community-acquired acute bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury

OBJECTIVE

To investigate prognostic factors among critically ill patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury.

METHODS

A retrospective study including patients admitted to a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil diagnosed with community-acquired bacterial meningitis complicated with acute kidney injury. Factors associated with death, mechanical ventilation and use of vasopressors were investigated.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were included, with a mean age of 41.6 ± 15.5 years; 56% were males. Mean time between intensive care unit admission and acute kidney injury diagnosis was 5.8 ± 10.6 days. Overall mortality was 53.7%. According to KDIGO criteria, 10 patients were classified as stage 1 (24.4%), 18 as stage 2 (43.9%) and 13 as stage 3 (31.7%). KDIGO 3 significantly increased mortality (OR = 6.67; 95%CI = 1.23 - 36.23; p = 0.028). Thrombocytopenia was not associated with higher mortality, but it was a risk factor for KDIGO 3 (OR = 5.67; 95%CI = 1.25 - 25.61; p = 0.024) and for mechanical ventilation (OR = 6.25; 95%CI = 1.33 - 29.37; p = 0.02). Patients who needed mechanical ventilation by 48 hours from acute kidney injury diagnosis had higher urea (44.6 versus 74mg/dL, p = 0.039) and sodium (138.6 versus 144.1mEq/L; p = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

Mortality among critically ill patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury is high. Acute kidney injury severity was associated with even higher mortality. Thrombocytopenia was associated with severer acute kidney injury. Higher urea was an earlier predictor of severer acute kidney injury than was creatinine.

Low TT4 as a predictor of poor outcomes in severe encephalitis: a multivariate analysis of 94 patients

BACKGROUND

To investigate the prognostic value of acute thyroid function in patients with severe encephalitis.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed information from patients with severe encephalitis from June 2012 to June 2017. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we examined predictors of poor outcomes in these patients after 6 months.

RESULTS

A total of 94 patients with severe encephalitis were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that patients with good or poor outcomes had significantly different total thyroxine (TT4) (P = 0.012) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) (P = 0.049) levels, mechanical ventilation requirements (P < 0.001), pulmonary infection complications (P = 0.001), lengths of neurological intensive care unit (P = 0.003) and total hospital (P = 0.012) stay, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) (P = 0.005) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (P = 0) scores. The results of multivariate analysis suggested the following factors to be associated with a poor outcome: a low TT4 level (OR 0.303, 95% CI 0.100-0.923) and a low GCS score (OR 0.683, 95% CI 0.506-0.923).

CONCLUSIONS

Low TT4 has a predictive value for the adverse outcomes of severe encephalitis; further study is needed for verification.

Targeted temperature management in the ICU: Guidelines from a French expert panel

Over the recent period, the use of induced hypothermia has gained an increasing interest for critically ill patients, in particular in brain-injured patients. The term "targeted temperature management" (TTM) has now emerged as the most appropriate when referring to interventions used to reach and maintain a specific level temperature for each individual. TTM may be used to prevent fever, to maintain normothermia, or to lower core temperature. This treatment is widely used in intensive care units, mostly as a primary neuroprotective method. Indications are, however, associated with variable levels of evidence based on inhomogeneous or even contradictory literature. Our aim was to conduct a systematic analysis of the published data in order to provide guidelines. We present herein recommendations for the use of TTM in adult and paediatric critically ill patients developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method. These guidelines were conducted by a group of experts from the French Intensive Care Society (Société de réanimation de langue française [SRLF]) and the French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société francaise d'anesthésie réanimation [SFAR]) with the participation of the French Emergency Medicine Association (Société française de médecine d'urgence [SFMU]), the French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies (Groupe francophone de réanimation et urgences pédiatriques [GFRUP]), the French National Association of Neuro-Anesthesiology and Critical Care (Association nationale de neuro-anesthésie réanimation française [ANARLF]), and the French Neurovascular Society (Société française neurovasculaire [SFNV]). Fifteen experts and two coordinators agreed to consider questions concerning TTM and its practical implementation in five clinical situations: cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, stroke, other brain injuries, and shock. This resulted in 30 recommendations: 3 recommendations were strong (Grade 1), 13 were weak (Grade 2), and 14 were experts' opinions. After two rounds of rating and various amendments, a strong agreement from voting participants was obtained for all 30 (100%) recommendations, which are exposed in the present article.

Targeted temperature management in the ICU: guidelines from a French expert panel

Over the recent period, the use of induced hypothermia has gained an increasing interest for critically ill patients, in particular in brain-injured patients. The term “targeted temperature management” (TTM) has now emerged as the most appropriate when referring to interventions used to reach and maintain a specific level temperature for each individual. TTM may be used to prevent fever, to maintain normothermia, or to lower core temperature. This treatment is widely used in intensive care units, mostly as a primary neuroprotective method. Indications are, however, associated with variable levels of evidence based on inhomogeneous or even contradictory literature. Our aim was to conduct a systematic analysis of the published data in order to provide guidelines. We present herein recommendations for the use of TTM in adult and paediatric critically ill patients developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method. These guidelines were conducted by a group of experts from the French Intensive Care Society (Société de Réanimation de Langue Française [SRLF]) and the French Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société Francaise d’Anesthésie Réanimation [SFAR]) with the participation of the French Emergency Medicine Association (Société Française de Médecine d’Urgence [SFMU]), the French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies (Groupe Francophone de Réanimation et Urgences Pédiatriques [GFRUP]), the French National Association of Neuro-Anesthesiology and Critical Care (Association Nationale de Neuro-Anesthésie Réanimation Française [ANARLF]), and the French Neurovascular Society (Société Française Neurovasculaire [SFNV]). Fifteen experts and two coordinators agreed to consider questions concerning TTM and its practical implementation in five clinical situations: cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, stroke, other brain injuries, and shock. This resulted in 30 recommendations: 3 recommendations were strong (Grade 1), 13 were weak (Grade 2), and 14 were experts’ opinions. After two rounds of rating and various amendments, a strong agreement from voting participants was obtained for all 30 (100%) recommendations, which are exposed in the present article.