Is ventilated hospital-acquired pneumonia a worse entity than ventilator-associated pneumonia?

A Non-Contact Privacy Protection Bed Angle Estimation Method Based on LiDAR

Accurate bed angle monitoring is crucial in healthcare settings, particularly in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), where improper bed positioning can lead to severe complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. Traditional camera-based solutions, while effective, often raise significant privacy concerns. This study proposes a non-intrusive bed angle detection system based on LiDAR technology, utilizing the Intel RealSense L515 sensor. By leveraging time-of-flight principles, the system enables real-time, privacy-preserving monitoring of head-of-bed elevation angles without direct visual surveillance. Our methodology integrates advanced techniques, including coordinate system transformation, plane fitting, and a deep learning framework combining YOLO-X with an enhanced A2J algorithm. Customized loss functions further improve angle estimation accuracy. Experimental results in ICU environments demonstrate the system's effectiveness, with an average angle detection error of less than 3 degrees.

Prognostic Impact of Early Appropriate Antimicrobial Therapy in Critically Ill Patients With Nosocomial Pneumonia Due to Gram-Negative Pathogens: A Multicenter Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether early appropriate antimicrobial therapy (EAAT) is associated with improved outcomes in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilated HAP (vHAP), or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) involving Gram-negative bacteria (GNB).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study based on prospectively collected data.

SETTING

Thirty-two-French ICUs (OutcomeRéa network).

PATIENTS

All patients with a first HAP, vHAP, or VAP due to GNB during their ICU stay.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The relationship between EAAT and day 28 all-cause mortality (primary endpoint) was explored through Cox proportional-hazard models, with subgroup analyses according to pneumonia types, causative GNB, features of EAAT, and the occurrence of septic shock at pneumonia diagnosis. The course of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score values, the clinical cure rate at day 14, and the time to mechanical ventilation (MV) weaning and ICU discharge after pneumonia diagnosis were investigated as secondary endpoints. Among the 804 included patients, 495 (61.6%) received EAAT (single-drug, 25.4%; combination, 36.2%). Day 28 mortality was 32.6%. EAAT was not independently associated with this outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.67-1.12). This result was confirmed in subgroup analyses as in a second model considering all episodes of pneumonia occurring during the ICU stay. EAAT was not associated with a faster decrease in SOFA score values (p = 0.11), a higher day 14 clinical cure rate (overall, 43.7%), or a shorter MV duration (cause-specific hazard ratio [HR] for extubation, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.69-1.01) or ICU stay (cause-specific HR for discharge alive, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72-1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, EAAT was not associated with a reduced day 28 mortality, a faster resolution of organ failure, a higher day 14 clinical cure rate, or a shorter time to MV weaning or ICU discharge in critically ill patients with HAP, vHAP, or VAP due to GNB. However, a prognostic benefit from EAAT cannot be ruled out due to lack of statistical power.

COVID-19 vs. non-COVID-19 related nosocomial pneumonias: any differences in etiology, prevalence, and mortality?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review explores the similarities and differences between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related and non-COVID-related nosocomial pneumonia, particularly hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). It critically assesses the etiology, prevalence, and mortality among hospitalized patients, emphasizing the burden of these infections during the period before and after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies highlight an increase in nosocomial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant rise in cases involving severe bacterial and fungal superinfections among mechanically ventilated patients. These infections include a higher incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), complicating treatment and recovery. Notably, COVID-19 patients have shown a higher prevalence of VAP than those with influenza or other respiratory viruses, influenced by extended mechanical ventilation and immunosuppressive treatments like corticosteroids.

SUMMARY

The findings suggest that COVID-19 has exacerbated the frequency and severity of nosocomial infections, particularly VAP. These complications not only extend hospital stays and increase healthcare costs but also lead to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Understanding these patterns is crucial for developing targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies to manage and mitigate nosocomial infections during regular or pandemic care.

Effect of varying cuff sizes with identical inner diameter on endotracheal intubation in critically ill adults: A sealed tracheal controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The present study aims to determine the impact of different cuff diameters on the cuff pressure of endotracheal tubes (ETTs) when the trachea is adequately sealed.

METHODS

In the present single-center clinical trial, adult patients who underwent cardiothoracic surgery were assigned to use ETTs from 2 brands (GME and GZW). The primary endpoint comprised of the following: cuff diameter, inner diameter of the ETT, manufacturer, and the number of subjects with tracheal leakage when the cuff pressure was 30 cm H2O.

RESULTS

A total of 298 patients were assigned into 2 groups, based on the 2 distinct brands of ETTs: experimental group (n = 122, GME brand) and control group (n = 176, GZW brand). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. However, the cuff diameter was significantly smaller in the control group, when compared to the experimental group (P = .001), and the incidence of tracheal leakage was significantly higher in the control group (P = .001). Furthermore, the GME brand ETT had a significantly larger cuff diameter, when compared to the GZW brand ETT.

CONCLUSION

The cuff size would mismatch the tracheal area in clinical practice. Therefore, chest computed tomography is recommended to routinely evaluate the tracheal cross-sectional area during anesthesia, in order to ensure the appropriate cuff size selection.

Hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia in critically ill patients: from research to clinical practice

INTRODUCTION

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) represents a significant cause of mortality among critically ill patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Timely and precise diagnosis is imperative to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes. However, the diagnostic process is challenged by test limitations and a wide-ranging list of differential diagnoses, particularly in patients exhibiting escalating oxygen requirements, leukocytosis, and increased secretions.

AREAS COVERED

This narrative review aims to update diagnostic modalities, facilitating the prompt identification of nosocomial pneumonia while guiding, developing, and assessing therapeutic interventions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted utilizing the MEDLINE/PubMed database from 2013 to April 2024.

EXPERT OPINION

An integrated approach that integrates clinical, microbiological, and imaging tools is paramount. Progress in diagnostic techniques, including novel molecular methods, the expanding utilization and accuracy of bedside ultrasound, and the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, coupled with an improved comprehension of lung microbiota and host-pathogen interactions, continues to enhance our capability to accurately and swiftly identify HAP and its causative agents. This advancement enables the refinement of treatment strategies and facilitates the implementation of precision medicine approaches.

Risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia in hip fracture patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence and risk factors for Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in hip fracture patients by meta-analysis.

METHODS

Systematically searched 4 English databases and 4 Chinese databases from inception until October 20, 2022. All studies involving risk factors of HAP in patients with hip fractures will be considered. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The results were presented through Review Manager 5.4 with the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

Of 35 articles included in this study, the incidence of HAP was 8.9%. 43 risk factors for HAP were initially included, 23 were eventually involved in the meta-analysis, and 21 risk factors were significant. Among them, the 4 most frequently mentioned risk factors were as follows: Advanced age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.10), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.83-4.19), time from injury to operation (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12), time from injury to operation ≥ 48 hours (OR 3.59, 95% CI 2.88-4.48), and hypoalbuminemia < 3.5g/dL (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.15-3.36).

DISCUSSION

Hip fracture patients diagnosed with COPD have a 3.44 times higher risk of HAP compared to the general hip fracture patients. The risk of HAP also increases with age, with patients over 70 having a 2.34-fold higher risk and those over 80 having a 2.98-fold higher risk. These findings highlight the need for tailored preventive measures and timely interventions in vulnerable patient populations. Additionally, hip fracture patients who wait more than 48 hours for surgery have a 3.59-fold higher incidence of HAP. This emphasizes the importance of swift surgical intervention to minimize HAP risk. However, there are limitations to consider in this study, such as heterogeneity in selected studies, inclusion of only factors identified through multivariate logistic regression, and the focus on non-randomized controlled trial studies.

Single-drug versus combination antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia due to Gram-negative pathogens: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

KEY MESSAGES

In this study including 391 critically ill patients with nosocomial pneumonia due to Gram-negative pathogens, combination therapy was not associated with a reduced hazard of death at Day 28 or a greater likelihood of clinical cure at Day 14. No over-risk of AKI was observed in patients receiving combination therapy.

BACKGROUND

The benefits and harms of combination antimicrobial therapy remain controversial in critically ill patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilated HAP (vHAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) involving Gram-negative bacteria.

METHODS

We included all patients in the prospective multicenter OutcomeRea database with a first HAP, vHAP or VAP due to a single Gram-negative bacterium and treated with initial adequate single-drug or combination therapy. The primary endpoint was Day-28 all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were clinical cure rate at Day 14 and a composite outcome of death or treatment-emergent acute kidney injury (AKI) at Day 7. The average effects of combination therapy on the study endpoints were investigated through inverse probability of treatment-weighted regression and multivariable regression models. Subgroups analyses were performed according to the resistance phenotype of the causative pathogens (multidrug-resistant or not), the pivotal (carbapenems or others) and companion (aminoglycosides/polymyxins or others) drug classes, the duration of combination therapy (< 3 or ≥ 3 days), the SOFA score value at pneumonia onset (< 7 or ≥ 7 points), and in patients with pneumonia due to non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria, pneumonia-related bloodstream infection, or septic shock.

RESULTS

Among the 391 included patients, 151 (38.6%) received single-drug therapy and 240 (61.4%) received combination therapy. VAP (overall, 67.3%), vHAP (16.4%) and HAP (16.4%) were equally distributed in the two groups. All-cause mortality rates at Day 28 (overall, 31.2%), clinical cure rate at Day 14 (43.7%) and the rate of death or AKI at Day 7 (41.2%) did not significantly differ between the groups. In inverse probability of treatment-weighted analyses, combination therapy was not independently associated with the likelihood of all-cause death at Day 28 (adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73-1.77; P = 0.56), clinical cure at Day 14 (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI 0.53-1.20; P = 0.27) or death or AKI at Day 7 (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI 0.71-1.63; P = 0.73). Multivariable regression models and subgroup analyses provided similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial combination therapy exerts no independent impact on Day-28 mortality, clinical cure rate at Day 14, and the hazard of death or AKI at Day 7 in critically ill patients with mono-bacterial HAP, vHAP or VAP due to Gram-negative bacteria.

Risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia in hip fracture patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systematically assess the incidence and risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in hip fracture patients by meta-analysis.

METHODS

Systematically searched four English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web Of Science) and four Chinese databases (CNKI, CQVIP, Sinomed, and WAN FANG) from inception until 20 November 2023. All studies involving risk factors of HAP in patients with hip fractures were considered. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The results were presented with the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

RESULTS

Of 35 articles (337,818 patients) included in this study, the incidence of HAP was 89 per 1000 cases. Twenty-three risk factors were eventually involved in the meta-analysis, and 21 risk factors were significant. Our study has identified four significant risk factors (advanced age, preoperative time, COPD, and hypoalbuminemia) associated with HAP, as follows: Advanced age as a continuous variable (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.10), Advanced age > 70 years (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.77-3.09), Advanced age > 80 years (OR 2.98, 95% CI 2.06-4.31), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.83-4.19), Time from injury to operation as a continuous variable (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.07-1.12), Time from injury to operation ≥48 h (OR 3.59, 95% CI 2.88-4.48), Hypoalbuminemia < 3.0 g/dL (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.93-4.73), and Hypoalbuminemia < 3.5 g/dL (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.15-3.36). However, it is important to note that all the studies included in our research were retrospective in nature, which introduces certain limitations to the level of evidence and the ability to establish causal inferences.

DISCUSSION

Patients who have suffered hip fractures are at an increased risk of developing postoperative hospital-acquired pneumonia, which can lead to prolonged hospital stays and adverse clinical outcomes. Consequently, the identification of these risk factors offers novel insights and methodologies for healthcare professionals in terms of both prevention and treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registration number: INPLASY2022100091.

Management of pneumonia in the critically ill

Pneumonias continue to be major public health issues and are commonly encountered in the intensive care setting. The most common types of pneumonia leading to critical illness include severe community acquired pneumonia, hospital acquired pneumonia, and ventilator associated pneumonia. Early evaluation, diagnosis, and escalation to appropriate levels of care are imperative to improving survival. Treatment remains challenging with the need to balance antibiotic stewardship and minimizing patient harm. As evidenced in the most recent society guidelines, the identification of risk factors for severe disease and the causative pathogens are crucial in guiding the most appropriate therapy.

European Network for ICU-Related Respiratory Infections (ENIRRIs): a multinational, prospective, cohort study of nosocomial LRTI

PURPOSE

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are the most frequent infectious complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We aim to report the clinical characteristics of ICU-admitted patients due to nosocomial LRTI and to describe their microbiology and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted in 13 countries over two continents from 9th May 2016 until 16th August 2019. Characteristics and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT), ICU hospital-acquired pneumonia (ICU-HAP), HAP that required invasive ventilation (VHAP), and HAP in patients transferred to the ICU without invasive mechanical ventilation were collected. The clinical diagnosis and treatments were per clinical practice and not per protocol. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the study groups.

RESULTS

1060 patients with LRTI (72.5% male sex, median age 64 [50-74] years) were included in the study; 160 (15.1%) developed VAT, 556 (52.5%) VAP, 98 (9.2%) ICU-HAP, 152 (14.3%) HAP, and 94 (8.9%) VHAP. Patients with VHAP had higher serum procalcitonin (PCT) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Patients with VAP or VHAP developed acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, or septic shock more often. One thousand eight patients had microbiological samples, and 711 (70.5%) had etiological microbiology identified. The most common microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.4%) and Klebsiella spp (14.4%). In 382 patients (36%), the causative pathogen shows some antimicrobial resistance pattern. ICU, hospital and 28-day mortality were 30.8%, 37.5% and 27.5%, respectively. Patients with VHAP had the highest ICU, in-hospital and 28-day mortality rates.

CONCLUSION

VHAP patients presented the highest mortality among those admitted to the ICU. Multidrug-resistant pathogens frequently cause nosocomial LRTI in this multinational cohort study.

Non-ventilator-associated ICU-acquired pneumonia (NV-ICU-AP) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD: From the French OUTCOMEREA cohort

BACKGROUND

Non-ventilator-associated ICU-acquired pneumonia (NV-ICU-AP), a nosocomial pneumonia that is not related to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), has been less studied than ventilator-associated pneumonia, and never in the context of patients in an ICU for severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), a common cause of ICU admission. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with NV-ICU-AP occurrence and assess the association between NV-ICU-AP and the outcomes of these patients.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the French ICU database, OutcomeRea™. Using survival analyses with competing risk management, we sought the factors associated with the occurrence of NV-ICU-AP. Then we assessed the association between NV-ICU-AP and mortality, intubation rates, and length of stay in the ICU.

RESULTS

Of the 844 COPD exacerbations managed in ICUs without immediate IMV, NV-ICU-AP occurred in 42 patients (5%) with an incidence density of 10.8 per 1,000 patient-days. In multivariate analysis, prescription of antibiotics at ICU admission (sHR, 0.45 [0.23; 0.86], p = 0.02) and no decrease in consciousness (sHR, 0.35 [0.16; 0.76]; p < 0.01) were associated with a lower risk of NV-ICU-AP. After adjusting for confounders, NV-ICU-AP was associated with increased 28-day mortality (HR = 3.03 [1.36; 6.73]; p < 0.01), an increased risk of intubation (csHR, 5.00 [2.54; 9.85]; p < 0.01) and with a 10-day increase in ICU length of stay (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

We found that NV-ICU-AP incidence reached 10.8/1000 patient-days and was associated with increased risks of intubation, 28-day mortality, and longer stay for patients admitted with AECOPD.

Determinants of Mortality for Ventilated Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is the most common hospital-acquired infection, accounting for 22% of all nosocomial infections. The available studies to date have not attempted to assess whether confounding factors may account for the observed difference in mortality for the two forms of nosocomial pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation, namely ventilated HAP (vHAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

OBJECTIVES

To determine if vHAP is an independent predictor of mortality among patients with nosocomial pneumonia.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, between 2016 and 2019. Adult patients with a pneumonia discharge diagnosis were screened and patients diagnosed with vHAP and VAP were included. All patient data was extracted from the electronic health record.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality (ACM).

RESULTS

One thousand one-hundred twenty unique patient admissions were included (410 vHAP, 710 VAP). Thirty-day ACM was greater for patients with vHAP compared with VAP (37.1% vs 28.5%; p = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis identified vHAP (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.51-2.07), vasopressor use (AOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.94-2.82), Charlson Comorbidity Index (1-point increments) (AOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.18-1.24), total antibiotic treatment days (1-d increments) (AOR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.14), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (1-point increments) (AOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06) as independent predictors of 30-day ACM. The most common bacterial pathogens identified as causes of vHAP and VAP were Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacterales species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this single-center cohort study with low rates of initial inappropriate antibiotic therapy, vHAP had greater 30-day ACM compared with VAP after adjusting for potential confounding variables including disease severity and comorbidities. This finding suggests that clinical trials enrolling patients with vHAP need to account for this outcome difference in their trial design and data interpretation.

Last Resort Antibiotics Costs and Reimbursement Analysis of Real-Life ICU Patients with Pneumonia Caused by Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Germany

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) cause serious infections and aggravate disease progression. Last resort antibiotics are effective against MDR-GNB and are reimbursed by flat rates based on German diagnosis-related groups (G-DRG). From a hospital management perspective, this analysis compared hospital reimbursement for last resort antibiotics with their acquisition costs to outline potential funding gaps. Retrospective analyses based on medical charts and real-life reimbursement data included patients with pneumonia due to MDR-GNB treated in intensive care units (ICU) of a German tertiary care hospital (University Hospital Cologne) between January 2017 and December 2020. Drug-associated hospital reimbursement of G-DRG was compared with drug acquisition costs based on preliminarily approved last resort antibiotics (cefiderocol, ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam) according to label. Funding gaps were determined for the treatment of Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and mixed infections, respectively. Most of the 31 patients were infected with Enterobacterales (n = 15; 48.4%) and P. aeruginosa (n = 13; 41.9%). Drug-associated G-DRG reimbursement varied from 44.50 EUR (mixed infection of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales) to 2265.27 EUR (P. aeruginosa; mixed infection of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales). Drug acquisition costs ranged from 3284.40 EUR in ceftazidime-avibactam (minimum duration) to 15,827.01 EUR for imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam (maximum duration). Underfunding was found for all MDR-GNB, reaching from 1019.13 EUR (P. aeruginosa; mixed infection of P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales) to 14,591.24 EUR (Enterobacterales). This analysis revealed the underfunding of last resort antibiotics in German hospital treatment. Insufficient reimbursement implies less research in this field, leading to a more frequent use of inappropriate antibiotics. The cycle closes as this contributes to the development of multi-drug resistant bacteria.

Outcomes in participants with failure of initial antibacterial therapy for hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia prior to enrollment in the randomized, controlled phase 3 ASPECT-NP trial of ceftolozane/tazobactam versus meropenem

BACKGROUND

Ceftolozane/tazobactam, a combination antibacterial agent comprising an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin and β-lactamase inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) in adults. Participants in the ASPECT-NP trial received ceftolozane/tazobactam (3 g [2 g ceftolozane/1 g tazobactam] every 8 h) or meropenem (1 g every 8 h). Participants failing prior antibacterial therapy for the current HABP/VABP episode at study entry had lower 28-day all-cause mortality (ACM) rates with ceftolozane/tazobactam versus meropenem treatment. Here, we report a post hoc analysis examining this result.

METHODS

The phase 3, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multicenter, noninferiority trial compared ceftolozane/tazobactam versus meropenem for treatment of adults with ventilated HABP/VABP; eligibility included those failing prior antibacterial therapy for the current HABP/VABP episode at study entry. The primary and key secondary endpoints were 28-day ACM and clinical response at test of cure (TOC), respectively. Participants who were failing prior therapy were a prospectively defined subgroup; however, subgroup analyses were not designed for noninferiority testing. The 95% CIs for treatment differences were calculated as unstratified Newcombe CIs. Post hoc analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the impact of baseline characteristics and treatment on clinical outcomes in the subgroup who were failing prior antibacterial therapy.

RESULTS

In the ASPECT-NP trial, 12.8% of participants (93/726; ceftolozane/tazobactam, n = 53; meropenem, n = 40) were failing prior antibacterial therapy at study entry. In this subgroup, 28-day ACM was higher in participants who received meropenem versus ceftolozane/tazobactam (18/40 [45.0%] vs 12/53 [22.6%]; percentage difference [95% CI]: 22.4% [3.1 to 40.1]). Rates of clinical response at TOC were 26/53 [49.1%] for ceftolozane/tazobactam versus 15/40 [37.5%] for meropenem (percentage difference [95% CI]: 11.6% [- 8.6 to 30.2]). Multivariable regression analysis determined concomitant vasopressor use and treatment with meropenem were significant factors associated with risk of 28-day ACM. Adjusting for vasopressor use, the risk of dying after treatment with ceftolozane/tazobactam was approximately one-fourth the risk of dying after treatment with meropenem.

CONCLUSIONS

This post hoc analysis further supports the previously demonstrated lower ACM rate for ceftolozane/tazobactam versus meropenem among participants who were failing prior therapy, despite the lack of significant differences in clinical cure rates.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov registration NCT02070757 . Registered February 25, 2014, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02070757 .

The risk of inappropriate empiric treatment and its outcomes based on pathogens in non-ventilated (nvHABP), ventilated (vHABP) hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated (VABP) bacterial pneumonia in the US, 2012-2019

Background

Inappropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment (IET) contributes to worsened outcomes. While IET’s differential impact across types of nosocomial pneumonia (NP: non-ventilated [nvHABP], ventilated [vHABP] hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated [VABP] bacterial pneumonia) is established, its potential interaction with the bacterial etiology is less clear.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study in the Premier Healthcare Database using an administrative algorithm to identify NP. We paired respective pathogens with empiric treatments. Antimicrobial coverage was appropriate if a drug administered within 2 days of infection onset covered the recovered organism(s). All other treatment was IET.

Results

Among 17,819 patients with NP, 26.5% had nvHABP, 25.6% vHABP, and 47.9% VABP. Gram-negative (GN) organisms accounted for > 50% of all infections. GN pathogens were ~ 2 × as likely (7.4% vHABP to 10.7% nvHABP) to engender IET than Gram-positive (GP, 2.9% vHABP to 4.9% nvHABP) pathogens. Although rare (5.6% nvHABP to 8.3% VABP), GN + GP infections had the highest rates of IET (6.7% vHABP to 12.9% nvHABP). Carbapenem-resistant GNs were highly likely to receive IET (33.8% nvHABP to 40.2% VABP). Hospital mortality trended higher in the IET group, reaching statistical significance in GN + GP vHABP (47.8% IET vs. 29.3% non-IET, p = 0.016). 30-day readmission was more common with IET (16.0%) than non-IET (12.6%, p = 0.024) in GN VABP. Generally post-infection onset hospital length of stay and costs were higher with IET than non-IET.

Conclusions

IET is ~ 2 × more common in GN than GP infections. Although the magnitude of its impact varies by NP type, IET contributes to worsened clinical and economic outcomes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-022-07755-y.

Inappropriate Empiric Therapy Impacts Complications and Hospital Resource Utilization Differentially Among Different Types of Bacterial Nosocomial Pneumonia: A Cohort Study, United States, 2014-2019

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) remains a costly complication of hospitalization fraught with subsequent complications and augmented resource utilization. Consisting of ventilated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (vHABP), nonventilated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (nvHABP), and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), each may respond differently to inappropriate empiric treatment (IET). We explored whether IET affects the three pneumonia types differently.

DESIGN

A multicenter, retrospective cohort study within the Premier Research database.

SETTING

Acute care hospitals in the United States.

PATIENTS

Patients with three types of NP were identified based on a previously published International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition/International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition Clinical Modification algorithm.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We compared the impact of IET on hospital costs, length of stay (LOS), and development of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), extubation failure (EF), and reintubation (RT). Marginal effects were derived from multivariable regression analyses. IET was present if no drug covering the organism recovered from the index culture was administered within 2 days of the culture date. Among 17,819 patients who met the enrollment criteria, 26.5% had nvHABP, 25.6% vHABP, and 47.9% VABP. Compared with non-IET, IET was associated with increased mean unadjusted hospital LOS across all NP types: nvHABP 12.5 versus 21.1, vHABP 16.7 versus 19.2, and VABP 18.6 versus 21.4 days. The adjusted marginal hospital LOS (4.9 d) and costs ($13,147) with IET were the highest in nvHABP. Incident CDI was rare and similar across NP types (2.4% nvHABP to 3.6% VABP). Both EF and RT were more common with IET in VABP (EF, 15.4% vs 19.2%; RT, 6.2% vs 10.4%), but not vHABP (EF, 15.1% vs 17.7%; RT, 8.1% vs 9.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although IET is relatively uncommon, it affects resource utilization and the risk of complications differently across NP types. The impact of IET is greatest on both LOS and costs in nvHABP and is greater on VABP than vHABP in terms of EF and RT.

Microbiology, empiric therapy and its impact on the outcomes of nonventilated hospital-acquired, ventilated hospital-acquired, and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia in the United States, 2014-2019

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether microbiology profiles and the impact of inappropriate empiric treatment differ in the setting of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia that requires subsequent mechanical ventilation (vHABP) versus one that does not (nvHABP) versus ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP).

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective cohort study within Premier Research database, 2014-2019.

METHODS

We identified cases based on a previously published International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision/Tenth Revision Clinical Modification (ICD-9/ICD-10-CM) algorithm, and we compared the 3 groups with respect to the bacterial pathogens isolated from their blood, sputum, or lower airway samples, and their respective rates of exposure to inappropriate empiric treatment. Using regression modeling we computed the effect of inappropriate empiric treatment on outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 17,819 patients who met enrollment criteria, 26.5% had nvHABP, 25.6% vHAPB, and 47.9% VABP. S. aureus (majority methicillin-susceptible) was the most frequently isolated organism, followed P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli with variations across the conditions. Rates of carbapenem resistance were highest in VABP (9.1%) and to third-generation cephalosporins in vHABP (14.9%). Patients with nvHABP were most likely to receive inappropriate empiric treatment (8.5%). Although inappropriate empiric treatment was associated with an increase in adjusted postinfection-onset hospital length of stay (2.3 days) and cost ($12,142), its greatest magnitude was in the nvHABP group (4.9 days, $13,147).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial microbiologic differences exist among populations who suffer nvHABP, vHABP, and VABP, and inappropriate empiric treatment significantly worsens utilization outcomes. Given the moderate rates of carbapenem resistance and third-generation cephalosporin resistance, all patients require empiric coverage for a range of bacteria, including those targeting extended-spectrum β-lactamase and carbapenem resistance where appropriate.

The Influence of Atrial Fibrillation on In-Hospital Mortality in People with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: An Observational, Sex-Stratified Study

(1) Background: The study aimed to analyze the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) prior to hospital admission (“prevalent”) and new-onset AF diagnosed during hospital admission (“incident”) on in-hospital mortality (IHM) in women and men who developed hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in Spain (2016−2019). (2) Methods: We used the Spanish Register of Specialized Care-Basic Minimum Database. (3) Results: We analyzed 38,814 cases of HAP (34.6% women; 13.5% ventilator-associated). Prevalent AF was coded in 19.9% (n = 7742), and incident AF in 5.5% (n = 2136) of HAP. Crude IHM was significantly higher for prevalent AF (34.22% vs. 27.35%, p < 0.001) and for incident AF (35.81% vs. 28.31%, p < 0.001) compared to no AF. After propensity score matching, IHM among women and men with prevalent AF was higher than among women and men with no AF (among women, 32.89% vs. 30.11%, p = 0.021; among men, 35.05% vs. 32.46%, p = 0.008). Similarly, IHM among women and men with incident AF was higher than among women and men with no AF (among women, 36.23% vs. 29.90%, p = 0.013; among men, 35.62% vs. 30.47%; p = 0.003). Sex was associated with a higher IHM only in people with incident AF (for female, OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.01−1.57). (4) Conclusions: Both prevalent and incident AF were associated with higher IHM in people who developed HAP. Female sex was associated with a higher IHM in incident AF.

"HAP and VAP after Guidelines"

Nosocomial pneumonia is associated with worsened prognosis when diagnosed in intensive care unit (ICU), ranging from 12 to 48% mortality. The incidence rate of ventilation-acquired pneumonia tends to decrease below 15/1,000 intubation-day. Still, international guidelines are heterogeneous about diagnostic criteria because of inaccuracy of available methods. New entities have thus emerged concerning lower respiratory tract infection, namely ventilation-acquired tracheobronchitis (VAT), or ICU-acquired pneumonia (ICUAP), eventually requiring invasive ventilation (v-ICUAP), according to the type of ventilation support. The potential discrepancy with non-invasive methods could finally lead to underdiagnosis in almost two-thirds of non-intubated patients. Delayed diagnostic could explain in part the 2-fold increase in mortality of penumonia when invasive ventilation is initiated. Here we discuss the rationale underlying this new classification.Many situations can lead to misdiagnosis, even more when the invasive mechanical ventilation is initiated. The chest radiography lacks sntivity and specificity for diagnosing pneumonia. The place of chest computed tomography and lung ultrasonography for routine diagnostic of new plumonary infiltrate remain to be evaluated.Microbiological methods used to confirm the diagnostic can be heterogeneous. The development of molecular diagnostic tools may improve the adequacy of antimicrobial therapies of ventilated patients with pneumonia, but we need to further assess its impact in non-ventilated pneumonia.In this review we introduce distinction between hospital-acquired pneumonia according to the localization in the hospital and the oxygenation/ventilation mode. A clarification of definition is the first step to develop more accurate diagnostic strategies and to improve the patients' prognosis.

Nutritional Status Disorders and Selected Risk Factors of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in Patients Treated in the Intensive Care Ward-A Retrospective Study

Introduction: The development of pneumonia in patients treated in intensive care wards is influenced by numerous factors resulting from the primary health condition and co-morbidities. The aim of this study is the determination of the correlation between nutritional status disorders and selected risk factors (type of injury, epidemiological factors, mortality risk, inflammation parameters, age, and gender) and the time of pneumonia occurrence in patients mechanically ventilated in intensive care wards. Material and method: The study included 121 patients with injuries treated in the intensive care ward who had been diagnosed with pneumonia related to mechanical ventilation. The data were collected using the method of retrospective analysis of patients’ medical records available in the electronic system. Results: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurred more frequently in patients over 61 years of age (40.4%), men (67.8%), after multiple-organ injury (45.5%), and those with a lower albumin level (86%), higher CRP values (83.5%), and leukocytes (68.6%). The risk of under-nutrition assessed with the NRS-2002 system was confirmed in the whole study group. The statistical analysis demonstrated a correlation between the leukocytes level (p = 0.012) and epidemiological factors (p = 0.035) and the VAP contraction time. Patients infected with Staphylococcus aureus had 4% of odds for the development of late VAP in comparison to Acinetobacter baumannii (p < 0.001), whereas patients infected by any other bacteria or fungi had about four times lower odds of the development of late VAP in comparison to Acinetobacter baumannii (p = 0.02). Patients with results in APACHE from 20 to 24 and from 25 to 29 had 13% and 21%, respectively, odds of the development of late VAP in comparison to patients with APACHE II scores ranging from 10 to 19 (respectively, p = 0.006; p = 0.028). Conclusions: The development of VAP is impacted by many factors, the monitoring of which has to be included in prophylactics and treatment.

Incidence, Outcomes and Sex-Related Disparities in Pneumonia: A Matched-Pair Analysis with Data from Spanish Hospitals (2016-2019)

(1) Background: the purpose of this study is to analyze the incidence and in-hospital mortality (IHM) of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) needing hospital admission and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in Spain (2016–2019). (2) Methods: using the Spanish Register of Specialized Care-Basic Minimum Database, we estimated the incidence of CAP and HAP. We matched each woman with a man with an identical age, according to comorbidities. (3) Results: we analyzed 518,838 cases of CAP and 38,705 cases of HAP, and 5192 ventilator-associated HAPs (13.4%). The incidence of CAP increased over time in both men (from 384.5 to 449.8 cases/105 population) and women (from 244.9 to 301.2 cases/105 population). Men showed a 47% higher adjusted incidence of CAP than women. The incidence of HAP increased over time in both men (from 302.3 to 342.2 cases/105 population) and women (from 139.2 to 167.6 cases/105 population). Men showed a 98% higher adjusted incidence of HAP than women. IHM was higher in men admitted for CAP than in women (12.9% vs. 12.2%; p < 0.001), but not in men who developed HAP (28.9% vs. 28.0%; p = 0.107). Men admitted for CAP (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.10–1.15) and men who developed HAP (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01–1.10) had higher IHM than women. (4) Conclusions: men had higher incidence rates of CAP and HAP than women. Men admitted for CAP and men who developed HAP had higher IHM than women.

Ceftolozane/tazobactam versus meropenem in patients with ventilated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia: subset analysis of the ASPECT-NP randomized, controlled phase 3 trial

Background

Ceftolozane/tazobactam is approved for treatment of hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) at double the dose approved for other infection sites. Among nosocomial pneumonia subtypes, ventilated HABP (vHABP) is associated with the lowest survival. In the ASPECT-NP randomized, controlled trial, participants with vHABP treated with ceftolozane/tazobactam had lower 28-day all-cause mortality (ACM) than those receiving meropenem. We conducted a series of post hoc analyses to explore the clinical significance of this finding.

Methods

ASPECT-NP was a multinational, phase 3, noninferiority trial comparing ceftolozane/tazobactam with meropenem for treating vHABP and VABP; study design, efficacy, and safety results have been reported previously. The primary endpoint was 28-day ACM. The key secondary endpoint was clinical response at test-of-cure. Participants with vHABP were a prospectively defined subgroup, but subgroup analyses were not powered for noninferiority testing. We compared baseline and treatment factors, efficacy, and safety between ceftolozane/tazobactam and meropenem in participants with vHABP. We also conducted a retrospective multivariable logistic regression analysis in this subgroup to determine the impact of treatment arm on mortality when adjusted for significant prognostic factors.

Results

Overall, 99 participants in the ceftolozane/tazobactam and 108 in the meropenem arm had vHABP. 28-day ACM was 24.2% and 37.0%, respectively, in the intention-to-treat population (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference: 0.2, 24.8) and 18.2% and 36.6%, respectively, in the microbiologic intention-to-treat population (95% CI 2.5, 32.5). Clinical cure rates in the intention-to-treat population were 50.5% and 44.4%, respectively (95% CI − 7.4, 19.3). Baseline clinical, baseline microbiologic, and treatment factors were comparable between treatment arms. Multivariable regression identified concomitant vasopressor use and baseline bacteremia as significantly impacting ACM in ASPECT-NP; adjusting for these two factors, the odds of dying by day 28 were 2.3-fold greater when participants received meropenem instead of ceftolozane/tazobactam.

Conclusions

There were no underlying differences between treatment arms expected to have biased the observed survival advantage with ceftolozane/tazobactam in the vHABP subgroup. After adjusting for clinically relevant factors found to impact ACM significantly in this trial, the mortality risk in participants with vHABP was over twice as high when treated with meropenem compared with ceftolozane/tazobactam.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02070757. Registered 25 February, 2014, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02070757.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03694-3.

Noninvasive ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy for severe community-acquired pneumonia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We review the evidence on the use of noninvasive respiratory supports (noninvasive ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy) in patients with acute respiratory failure because of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

RECENT FINDINGS

Noninvasive ventilation is strongly advised for the treatment of hypercapnic respiratory failure and recent evidence justifies its use in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure when delivered by helmet. Indeed, such interface allows alveolar recruitment by providing high level of positive end-expiratory pressure, which improves hypoxemia. On the other hand, high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy is effective in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure and some articles support its use in patients with hypercapnia. However, early identification of noninvasive respiratory supports treatment failure is crucial to prevent delayed orotracheal intubation and protective invasive mechanical ventilation.

SUMMARY

Noninvasive ventilation is the first-line therapy in patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure because of pneumonia. Although an increasing amount of evidence investigated the application of noninvasive respiratory support to hypoxemic respiratory failure, the optimal ventilatory strategy in this setting is uncertain. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation delivered by helmet and high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy appear as promising tools but their role needs to be confirmed by future research.

Nosocomial Pneumonia in the Era of Multidrug-Resistance: Updates in Diagnosis and Management

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP), including hospital-acquired pneumonia in non-intubated patients and ventilator-associated pneumonia, is one of the most frequent hospital-acquired infections, especially in the intensive care unit. NP has a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and health care costs, especially when the implicated pathogens are multidrug-resistant ones. This narrative review aims to critically review what is new in the field of NP, specifically, diagnosis and antibiotic treatment. Regarding novel imaging modalities, the current role of lung ultrasound and low radiation computed tomography are discussed, while regarding etiological diagnosis, recent developments in rapid microbiological confirmation, such as syndromic rapid multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction panels are presented and compared with conventional cultures. Additionally, the volatile compounds/electronic nose, a promising diagnostic tool for the future is briefly presented. With respect to NP management, antibiotics approved for the indication of NP during the last decade are discussed, namely, ceftobiprole medocaril, telavancin, ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and meropenem/vaborbactam.

Strategies for implementation of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of nosocomial infections in critically ill patients

INTRODUCTION

Intensive Care Units (ICU) are among the hospital wards exhibiting the highest prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and resulting impact on patient outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs play a pivotal role in promoting interventions tailored to optimize infection diagnosis and treatment in the final attempt to limit unnecessary antimicrobial use and development of resistance.

AREAS COVERED

A narrative review of the literature was carried out to summarize the available evidence and develop a set of actions that should be considered for integration into the ICU stewardship framework. Four questions were addressed: how AMR surveillance can inform antibiotic policy in ICU; whether pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) principles and the use of procalcitonin should be incorporated as a standard practice in ICU AMS programs to optimize antibiotic treatment and to drive antibiotic discontinuation; which criteria should drive treatment duration of ICU-associated infections.

EXPERT OPINION

In this review we aim to highlight that the ICU must be considered in its own right. Each ICU has its own characteristics depending on the country, on the local antibiotic resistance profile, on the patients feature and the severity of infection.