Description and predictive factors of infection in patients with chronic kidney disease admitted to the critical care unit

Predictive Value of Red Cell Distribution Width-to-Platelet Ratio Combined with Procalcitonin in 28-day Mortality for Patients with Sepsis

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the predictive value of erythrocyte distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) combined with procalcitonin (PCT) on 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis.

Methods

A total of 193 patients with sepsis admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2013 to January 2018 were selected as the study objects. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to understand the indicators related to the 28-day prognosis of patients, and the ROC curve was further drawn. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate the prognosis of patients.

Results

A total of 193 patients were enrolled and divided into the survivor group (=156) and nonsurvivor group (=37) according to the prognosis within 28 days. The median age was 62.5 years, and 64.7% were males. Multivariate analysis showed that PCT and RPR were independent risk factors for 28-day prognosis in sepsis patients. The area under the ROC curve of PCT and RPR were 0.894 and 0.861, respectively, and the cutoff values were 27.04 and 0.12, respectively. Survival curve analysis showed that PCT and RPR were associated with the 28-day prognosis of patients, and the combination of PCT and RPR had a better predictive effect.

Conclusions

PCT and RPR are independent predictors of sepsis prognosis. The combined application of PCT and RPR (PCT-RPR) can further improve the predictive performance and provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of sepsis patients.

To assess the impact of training about hospital infection control measures related to hemodialysis services on the knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs) at the teaching institution of Haryana

Background

Adequate knowledge among nursing professionals toward hospital infection control measures related to hemodialysis (HD) services is essential to decrease infection among patients.

Objective

This study assessed nursing professionals' knowledge about hospital infection control measures related to HD services and the effect of training interventions.

Settings and Designs

It was a single group, a pre-post-interventional study conducted on nursing professionals of a single apex medical college of Haryana.

Materials and Methods

A pretested questionnaire consisting of two parts was used as a study tool.

Statistical Analysis

Various statistical tests such as paired t-test and Pearson's correlation were used.

Results

The pre-intervention group had a lower mean knowledge score (mean knowledge = 90.2786, strongly disagree [SD] = 15.52682, standard error [SE] = 1.09518) and then the post-intervention mean knowledge score (mean knowledge = 137.5622, SD = 9.72252, SE = 0.68577).

Conclusions

The training program or educational intervention proved very useful for enhancing nursing professional's knowledge about hospital infection control measures related to HD services.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Roles of Procalcitonin and Other Tools in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Narrative Review

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is among the most common causes of death and one of the leading healthcare concerns worldwide. It can evolve into sepsis and septic shock, which have a high mortality rate, especially in critical patients and comorbidities. The definitions of sepsis were revised in the last decade as "life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection". Procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and complete blood count, including white blood cells, are among the most commonly analyzed sepsis-specific biomarkers also used in pneumonia in a broad range of studies. It appears to be a reliable diagnostic tool to expedite care of these patients with severe infections in the acute setting. PCT was found to be superior to most other acute phase reactants and indicators, including CRP as a predictor of pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis, and poor outcome, although conflicting results exist. In addition, PCT use is beneficial to judge timing for the cessation of antibiotic treatment in most severe infectious states. The clinicians should be aware of strengths and weaknesses of known and potential biomarkers in expedient recognition and management of severe infections. This manuscript is intended to present an overview of the definitions, complications, and outcomes of CAP and sepsis in adults, with special regard to PCT and other important markers.

Serum procalcitonin level is independently associated with mechanical ventilation and case-fatality in hospitalized COVID-19-positive US veterans-A potential marker for disease severity

The Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) has claimed over 6.8 million lives since first being reported in late 2019. The virus that causes COVID-19 disease is highly contagious and spreads rapidly. To date, there are no approved prognostic tools that could predict why some patients develop severe or fatal disease outcomes. Early COVID-19 studies found an association between procalcitonin (PCT) and hospitalization or duration of mechanical ventilation and death but were limited by the cohort sizes. Therefore, this study was designed to confirm the associations of PCT with COVID-19 disease severity outcomes in a large cohort. For this retrospective data analysis study, 27,154 COVID-19-positive US veterans with post-infection PCT laboratory test data and their disease severity outcomes were accessed using the VA electronic healthcare data. Cox regression models were used to test the association between serum PCT levels and disease outcomes while controlling for demographics and relevant confounding variables. The models demonstrated increasing disease severity (ventilation and death) with increasing PCT levels. For PCT serum levels above 0.20 ng/ml, the unadjusted risk increased nearly 2.3-fold for mechanical ventilation (hazard ratio, HR, 2.26, 95%CI: 2.11-2.42) and in-hospital death (HR, 2.28, 95%CI: 2.16-2.41). Even when adjusted for demographics, diabetes, pneumonia, antibiotic use, white blood cell count, and serum C-reactive protein levels, the risks remained relatively high for mechanical ventilation (HR, 1.80, 95%CI: 1.67-1.94) and death (HR, 1.76, 95%CI: 1.66-1.87). These data suggest that higher PCT levels have independent associations with ventilation and in-hospital death in veterans with COVID-19 disease, validating previous findings. The data suggested that serum PCT level may be a promising prognostic tool for COVID-19 severity assessment and should be further evaluated in a prospective clinical trial.

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin for bacterial infections in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) remains unclear.

Methods

We searched multiple databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) for studies published through August 2021 that evaluated the diagnostic performance of PCT in patients undergoing HD and having suspected bacterial infections. The bivariate fixed effects model was used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves.

Results

We identified a total of 1799 studies, of which seven diagnostic studies comprised 1444 patients and 430 bacterial infection episodes. Bivariate pooled sensitivity and specificity for PCT were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85–0.94) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.56–0.95), respectively. Furthermore, pooled DOR, PLR, NLR, and area under the curve (AUC) were 47 (95% CI: 11–209), 5.4 (95% CI: 1.7–16.9), 0.12 (95% CI: 0.07–0.20), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.94), respectively. We also compared the diagnostic accuracy of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP), and our results showed that the diagnostic accuracy parameters for PCT were significantly higher than those for CRP.

Conclusions

PCT is a useful marker for diagnosis of bacterial infections in patients undergoing HD at a cutoff value of 1.5 ng/ml.

Screening for Antimicrobial-Resistant Gram-negative bacteria in hospitalised patients, and risk of progression from colonisation to infection: Systematic review

BACKGROUND

Transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (AMR-GNB) among hospitalised patients can lead to new cases of carriage, infection and outbreaks, hence the need for early carrier identification. We aim to explore two key elements that may guide control policies for colonisation/infection in hospital settings: screening practices on admission to hospital wards and risk of developing infection from colonisation.

METHODS

We searched on PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases for studies published from 2010 up to 2021 reporting on adult patients hospitalised in high-income countries.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 11853 articles. After screening, 100 studies were included. Combining target patient groups and setting type, we identified six screening approaches. The most reported approach was all admitted patients to high-risk (HR) wards (49.4%). The overall prevalence of AMR-GNB was 13.8% (95%CI 9.3-19.0) with significant differences across regions and time. Risk of progression to infection among colonised patients was 11.0% (95%CI 8.0-14.3) and varied according to setting and pathogens' group (p value<0.0001), with higher values reported for Klebsiella species (18.1%; 95%CI 8.9-29.3).

CONCLUSIONS

While providing a comprehensive overview of the screening approaches, our study underlines the considerable burden of AMR-GNB colonisation and risk of progression to infection in hospitals by pathogen, setting and time.

Clinical utility of procalcitonin and its association with pathogenic microorganisms

In this review, we summarize the relationship of PCT with pathogens, evaluate the clinical utility of PCT in the diagnosis of clinical diseases, condition monitoring and evaluation, and guiding medical decision-making, and explore current knowledge on the mechanisms by which pathogens cause changes in PCT levels. The lipopolysaccharides of the microorganisms stimulate cytokine production in host cells, which in turn stimulates production of serum PCT. Pathogens have different virulence mechanisms that lead to variable host inflammatory responses, and differences in the specific signal transduction pathways result in variable serum PCT concentrations. The mechanisms of signal transduction have not been fully elucidated. Further studies are necessary to ascertain the PCT fluctuation range of each pathogen. PCT levels are helpful in distinguishing between certain pathogens, in deciding if antibiotics are indicated, and in monitoring response to antibiotics.

Procalcitonin in special patient populations: Guidance for antimicrobial therapy

PURPOSE

Procalcitonin (PCT) is an endogenous hormone that increases reliably in response to bacterial infection, and measurement of serum PCT levels is recommended to help guide antimicrobial therapy. The utility of PCT assessment in special patient populations (eg, patients with renal dysfunction, cardiac compromise, or immunocompromised states and those undergoing acute care surgery) is less clear. The evidence for PCT-guided antimicrobial therapy in special populations is reviewed.

SUMMARY

In the presence of bacterial infection, nonneuroendocrine PCT is produced in response to bacterial toxins and inflammatory cytokines, resulting in markedly elevated levels of serum PCT. Cytokine induction in nonbacterial inflammatory processes activated by acute care surgery may alter the interpretation of PCT levels. The reliability of PCT assessment has also been questioned in patients with renal dysfunction, cardiac compromise, or immunosuppression. In many special populations, serum PCT may be elevated at baseline and increase further in the presence of infection; thus, higher thresholds for diagnosing infection or de-escalating therapy should be considered, although the optimal threshold to use in a specific population is unclear. Procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial therapy may be recommended in certain clinical situations.

CONCLUSION

Procalcitonin may be a reliable marker of infection even in special populations with baseline elevations in serum PCT. However, due to unclear threshold values and the limited inclusion of special populations in relevant clinical trials, PCT levels should be considered along with clinical criteria, and antibiotics should never be initiated or withheld based on PCT values alone. Procalcitonin measurement may have a role in guiding de-escalation of antibiotic therapy in special populations; however, the clinician should be aware of disease states and concomitant therapies that may affect interpretation of results.

The Relationship between Serum Procalcitonin and Dialysis Adequacy in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background:

To detect the serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods:

We analyzed the relationship between the PCT Level and dialysis adequacy. We studied 120 peritoneal dialysis patients without signs of infection in Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital and 120 controls from Jan 2014 to Apr 2016. PCT and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected. 120 PD patients were divided into two groups according to the dialysis adequacy. A correlation analysis was processed between the PCT level and the total solute clearance (Kt/V). The value of PCT for identifying the dialysis adequacy in PD patients was assessed by ROC curve analysis.

Results:

PCT level in serum of PD group (0.29±0.24 ng/ml) was higher than that of the control group (0.02±0.01 ng/ml) (P<0.01). Compared with the inadequate dialysis group (0.5±0.37 ng/ml), the PCT Level of the adequate dialysis group (0.23±0.15 ng/ml) was lower (P<0.01). There were negative correlations between PCT and Kt/v(r=−0.451), Prealbumin (PA) (r=−0.258), Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR; r=−0.280), while there was positive correlation between PCT and Hypersensitive c-reactive protein (r=0.458) (P<0.01). At a serum PCT cut-off value of 0.283 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for identifying the dialysis adequacy in PD patients were 0.913 and 0.805 respectively. The serum levels of PCT in peritoneal dialysis patients were significantly higher than the levels in healthy controls.

Conclusion:

The serum level of PCT can be used as an indirect maker to evaluate the adequacy of dialysis.

Procalcitonin Monitoring as a Guide for Antimicrobial Therapy: A Review of Current Literature

Effective antimicrobial stewardship practices are increasingly essential to best utilize the current arsenal of antimicrobials for the shortest necessary duration to minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance, secondary infections, and health care costs. Monitoring of serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels represents an effective antimicrobial stewardship strategy to differentiate bacterial infections from viral infections and noninfectious inflammatory conditions. Current literature illustrates the merits of PCT monitoring in reducing duration of antibiotic therapy without detrimental effects on mortality or infection relapses. However, the interpretation of PCT levels can be challenging, especially in light of comorbid disease states that can elevate PCT levels. This review sheds light on the utility of PCT monitoring, as well as providing insight into the practical interpretation of PCT levels. Much of the current literature surrounding PCT monitoring consists of use among patients with lower respiratory tract infections or in the critically ill. Overall, studies have demonstrated shorter antibiotic therapy durations when PCT monitoring is utilized. No studies to date have found increased rates of mortality or infection relapses, suggesting that PCT monitoring is not only effective, but also safe when used as a guide for antimicrobial therapy. Nonetheless, many conditions were shown to elevate PCT serum concentrations, even in the absence of bacterial infections, which can make interpretation of PCT concentrations challenging. Two common conditions that affect the accurate interpretation of PCT levels are renal dysfunction and congestive heart failure. Limited studies have been performed in these populations, but current available data propose the need for higher PCT thresholds in those with renal dysfunction or congestive heart failure and support utilizing PCT trends to monitor clinical improvement from bacterial infections. Evidence also suggests that PCT monitoring is cost-effective, as long as the test is ordered judiciously. In summary, PCT monitoring represents a promising antimicrobial stewardship strategy to limit exposure to unnecessary antimicrobial therapy.

Novel applications for serum procalcitonin testing in clinical practice

INTRODUCTION

Procalcitonin has emerged as a reliable marker of acute bacterial infection in hospitalized patients and the assay has recently been incorporated into several clinical algorithms to reduce antimicrobial overuse, but its use in patients with end-organ dysfunction is controversial. Areas covered: In this review, the authors examine what is known about procalcitonin testing in patients with organ dysfunction, including those with end-stage renal disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cirrhosis, and explore how the assay is now being used in the management of non-infectious diseases. Expert commentary: Procalcitonin holds tremendous promise to identify a diverse set of medical conditions beyond those associated with acute bacterial infection, including post-surgical anastomotic leaks, acute kidney injury, and complications after intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors review recent studies examining procalcitonin in these areas and explore how the assay might be used to guide diagnosis and prognosis of non-infectious diseases in the near future.

Procalcitonin for the differential diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome after cardiac surgery

Background

This study was performed to assess the value of procalcitonin (PCT) for the differential diagnosis between infectious and non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) after cardiac surgery.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with SIRS after cardiac surgery between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2013 were retrospectively studied. A total of 142 patients with SIRS, infectious (n = 47) or non-infectious (n = 95), were included. The patients with infectious SIRS included 11 with sepsis, 12 with severe sepsis without shock, and 24 with septic shock.

Results

PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and the white blood cell (WBC) count were significantly higher in the infectious SIRS group than in the non-infectious SIRS group. PCT had the highest sensitivity and specificity for differential diagnosis, with a cut-off value for infectious SIRS of 0.47 ng/mL. PCT was more reliable than CRP in diagnosing severe sepsis without shock, but it was not useful for diagnosing septic shock. The PCT cut-off value for diagnosing severe sepsis without shock was 2.28 ng/mL.

Conclusions

PCT was a useful marker for the diagnosis of infectious SIRS after cardiac surgery. The optimal PCT cut-off value for diagnosing infectious SIRS was 0.47 ng/mL.