Diagnostic efficacy of serum procalcitonin, C-reactive protein concentration and clinical pulmonary infection score in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Clinical effect of antibiotic combined with fiber bronchoscope perfusion in treatment of pneumonia after severe cerebral hemorrhage

To explore the curative effect of antibiotic combined with mucosolvan perfusion under fiber bronchoscope in treatment of pneumonia after severe cerebral hemorrhage. The clinical data of 120 patients with pneumonia after severe cerebral hemorrhage admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected. All patients were divided into the lavage group and perfusion group by random number method, with 60 patients in each group. Patients in the lavage group received antibiotics combined with mucosolvan lavage therapy under fiber bronchoscope, while patients in the perfusion group received antibiotics combined with mucosolvan perfusion therapy under fiber bronchoscope. Clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), arterial blood gas index, clinical symptom improvement, and hospitalization costs were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. CPIS scores were improved after treatment in both groups (P < .05), and CPIS scores of patients in the perfusion group were lower than those in the lavage group at 3, 5, and 7 days after treatment (P < .05). The blood oxygen saturation and partial arterial oxygen pressure of the perfusion group were all higher than those of the lavage group (P < .05), while the partial carbon dioxide pressure was lower than that of the lavage group (P < .05). In the perfusion group, the duration of cough, adequacy of fever, disappearance of rhonchus in the lungs, and the length of hospital stay were less than those in the lavage group (P < .05). The hospitalization costs of perfusion group were lower than that of lavage group (P < .05). The combination of antibiotics and mucosolvan infusion therapy under fiber bronchoscope can effectively improve the clinical efficacy, reduce the hospitalization cost, and improve the prognosis of patients with pneumonia after severe cerebral hemorrhage.

ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021

BACKGROUND

The joint committee of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine/Japanese Respiratory Society/Japanese Society of Respiratory Care Medicine on ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline has created and released the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021.

METHODS

The 2016 edition of the Clinical Practice Guideline covered clinical questions (CQs) that targeted only adults, but the present guideline includes 15 CQs for children in addition to 46 CQs for adults. As with the previous edition, we used a systematic review method with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system as well as a degree of recommendation determination method. We also conducted systematic reviews that used meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy and network meta-analyses as a new method.

RESULTS

Recommendations for adult patients with ARDS are described: we suggest against using serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels to identify bacterial pneumonia as the underlying disease (GRADE 2D); we recommend limiting tidal volume to 4-8 mL/kg for mechanical ventilation (GRADE 1D); we recommend against managements targeting an excessively low SpO2 (PaO2) (GRADE 2D); we suggest against using transpulmonary pressure as a routine basis in positive end-expiratory pressure settings (GRADE 2B); we suggest implementing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for those with severe ARDS (GRADE 2B); we suggest against using high-dose steroids (GRADE 2C); and we recommend using low-dose steroids (GRADE 1B). The recommendations for pediatric patients with ARDS are as follows: we suggest against using non-invasive respiratory support (non-invasive positive pressure ventilation/high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy) (GRADE 2D), we suggest placing pediatric patients with moderate ARDS in the prone position (GRADE 2D), we suggest against routinely implementing NO inhalation therapy (GRADE 2C), and we suggest against implementing daily sedation interruption for pediatric patients with respiratory failure (GRADE 2D).

CONCLUSIONS

This article is a translated summary of the full version of the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021 published in Japanese (URL: https://www.jsicm.org/publication/guideline.html ). The original text, which was written for Japanese healthcare professionals, may include different perspectives from healthcare professionals of other countries.

ARDS clinical practice guideline 2021

BACKGROUND

The joint committee of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine/Japanese Respiratory Society/Japanese Society of Respiratory Care Medicine on ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline has created and released the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021.

METHODS

The 2016 edition of the Clinical Practice Guideline covered clinical questions (CQs) that targeted only adults, but the present guideline includes 15 CQs for children in addition to 46 CQs for adults. As with the previous edition, we used a systematic review method with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system as well as a degree of recommendation determination method. We also conducted systematic reviews that used meta-analyses of diagnostic accuracy and network meta-analyses as a new method.

RESULTS

Recommendations for adult patients with ARDS are described: we suggest against using serum C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels to identify bacterial pneumonia as the underlying disease (GRADE 2D); we recommend limiting tidal volume to 4-8 mL/kg for mechanical ventilation (GRADE 1D); we recommend against managements targeting an excessively low SpO₂ (PaO₂) (GRADE 2D); we suggest against using transpulmonary pressure as a routine basis in positive end-expiratory pressure settings (GRADE 2B); we suggest implementing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for those with severe ARDS (GRADE 2B); we suggest against using high-dose steroids (GRADE 2C); and we recommend using low-dose steroids (GRADE 1B). The recommendations for pediatric patients with ARDS are as follows: we suggest against using non-invasive respiratory support (non-invasive positive pressure ventilation/high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy) (GRADE 2D); we suggest placing pediatric patients with moderate ARDS in the prone position (GRADE 2D); we suggest against routinely implementing NO inhalation therapy (GRADE 2C); and we suggest against implementing daily sedation interruption for pediatric patients with respiratory failure (GRADE 2D).

CONCLUSIONS

This article is a translated summary of the full version of the ARDS Clinical Practice Guideline 2021 published in Japanese (URL: https://www.jrs.or.jp/publication/jrs_guidelines/). The original text, which was written for Japanese healthcare professionals, may include different perspectives from healthcare professionals of other countries.

C/MIC > 4: A Potential Instrument to Predict the Efficacy of Meropenem

This prospective study aimed to explore the determinants of meropenem trough concentration (Ctrough) in patients with bacterial pneumonia and to investigate the association between its concentration and efficacy. From January 2019 to December 2019, patients with pulmonary infections were prospectively enrolled from the intensive care unit. Factors affecting the meropenem trough concentration were analyzed, and a multiple linear regression model was constructed. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship between Ctrough and clinical efficacy. A total of 64 patients were enrolled, in whom 210 meropenem concentrations were measured. Of the total, 60.9% (39/64) were considered clinically successful after treatment. Ctrough may increase with increased blood urea nitrogen, albumin, and concomitant antifungal use. By contrast, concentration may decrease with increased endogenous creatinine clearance rate. Six variables, including Ctrough/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 4, were associated with the efficacy of meropenem. There was an independent correlation between Ctrough/MIC > 4 and efficacy after fully adjusting for confounding factors. Based upon renal function indexes, it is possible to predict changes in meropenem concentration and adjust the dosage precisely and individually. Ctrough/MIC > 4 is a potential instrument to predict successful treatment with meropenem.

Values of PCT and STREM-1 combined with clinical pulmonary infection score for the prognostic evaluation of elderly patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia

Objective: To explore the values of PCT and STREM-1 combined with clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) for evaluating ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in elderly patients.

Methods: A total of 120 eligible patients were selected as VAP group, and 60 other patients without VAP were selected as control group. According to APACHE II scores, VAP group was divided into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. The correlations of PCT, STREM-1, and CPIS with APACHE II score were analyzed. The values of PCT and STREM-1 combined with CPIS for evaluating prognosis were analyzed using ROC curves.

Results: In the VAP group, serum PCT and STREM-1 levels and CPIS after mechanical ventilation significantly exceeded those of the control group and before mechanical ventilation (P<0.05). These values were higher in the high-risk group than in medium- and low-risk groups (P<0.05). They were positively correlated with APACHE II score (P<0.001). These values of the death group were significantly higher than those of the survival group 1, 3, 5, and 7 d after treatment (P<0.05). AUC of PCT and STREM-1 combined with CPIS for assessing prognosis was 0.892 (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Serum PCT and STREM-1 levels and CPIS significantly increase in elderly patients with VAP, which rise with aggravation. Their combination has higher values for prognostic evaluation.

Systematic review of studies investigating ventilator associated pneumonia diagnostics in intensive care

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important diagnosis in critical care. VAP research is complicated by the lack of agreed diagnostic criteria and reference standard test criteria. Our aim was to review which reference standard tests are used to evaluate novel index tests for suspected VAP.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search using electronic databases and hand reference checks. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, and web of science were searched from 2008 until November 2018. All terms related to VAP diagnostics in the intensive treatment unit were used to conduct the search. We adopted a checklist from the critical appraisal skills programme checklist for diagnostic studies to assess the quality of the included studies.

RESULTS

We identified 2441 records, of which 178 were selected for full-text review. Following methodological examination and quality assessment, 44 studies were included in narrative data synthesis. Thirty-two (72.7%) studies utilised a sole microbiological reference standard; the remaining 12 studies utilised a composite reference standard, nine of which included a mandatory microbiological criterion. Histopathological criteria were optional in four studies but mandatory in none.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly all reference standards for VAP used in diagnostic test research required some microbiological confirmation of infection, with BAL culture being the most common reference standard used.

Procalcitonin in the Assessment of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common nosocomial infection, associated with considerable mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients; however, its diagnosis and management remain challenging since clinical assessment is often poorly reliable. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the role of PCT in the diagnosis and management of critical ill patients affected by VAP.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the evidence published over the last 10 years and currently available in medical literature search databases (Pubmed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Libraries) and searching clinical trial registries. We regarded as predefined outcomes the role of PCT in diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, antibiotic discontinuation and prognosis. The Open Science Framework Registration number was doi.org/10.17605/OSF.

IO/ZGFKQ RESULTS

761 articles were retrieved and a total of 18 studies (n° of patients = 1774) were selected and analyzed according to inclusion criteria. In this 2020 update, the systematic review showed that currently, conflicting and inconclusive data are available about the role of PCT in the diagnosis of VAP and in the prediction (i) of the efficacy of antibiotic therapy, and (ii) of the clinical outcome. These studies, instead, seem to agree on the utility of PCT in the management of antibiotic therapy discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently there is insufficient evidence to support the role of PCT in the routine assessment of patients with VAP. The value of the results published appears to be limited by the deep methodological differences that characterize the various studies available at the present being.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, a Possible Biomarker of Multiorgan Failure and Mortality in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) leads to increased patients’ mortality and medical expenditure. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a role in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation and infection. Therefore, the plasma concentration of MCP-1 was assessed and correlated with the clinical course in VAP patients. This retrospective observational study recruited 45 healthy volunteers, 12 non-VAP subjects, and 30 VAP patients. The diagnostic criteria for VAP were based on the American Thoracic Society guidelines, and the level of plasma MCP-1 was determined by ELISA. Plasma MCP-1 concentration was significantly elevated in the acute stage in VAP patients when compared with the control (p < 0.0001) and non-VAP patient groups (p = 0.0006). Subsequently, it was remarkably decreased following antibiotic treatment. Moreover, plasma MCP-1 concentration was positively correlated with indices of pulmonary dysfunction, including the lung injury score (p = 0.02) and the oxygenation index (p = 0.02). When patients with VAP developed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), their plasma MCP-1 concentrations were significantly higher than those of patients who did not develop ARDS (p = 0.04). Moreover, plasma MCP-1 concentration was highly correlated with organ failure scores, including simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II, p < 0.0001), sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA, p < 0.0001), organ dysfunctions and/or infection (ODIN, p < 0.0001), predisposition, insult response and organ dysfunction (PIRO, p = 0.005), and immunodeficiency, blood pressure, multilobular infiltrates on chest radiograph, platelets and hospitalization 10 days before onset of VAP (IBMP-10, p = 0.004). Our results demonstrate that plasma MCP-1 is an excellent marker for recognizing VAP when the cut-off level is set to 347.18 ng/mL (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.936, 95% CI = 0.863–0.977). In conclusion, MCP-1 not only could be a biological marker related to pulmonary dysfunction, organ failure, and mortality in patients with VAP, but also could be used for early recognition of VAP.