Risk factors for early-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on first and third postoperative days: associated with severe pneumonia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing surgeries

Severe postoperative pneumonia can increase the risk of poor outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed to explore the associations of preoperative or postoperative inflammatory markers calculated from blood cell counts with severe pneumonia. This retrospective study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University from January 2019 to June 2023. The associations of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) with severe pneumonia were analyzed. There were 159 patients with pneumonia and 21 patients without pneumonia. There were 41 patients with severe pneumonia and 118 patients with non-severe pneumonia. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR on the first postoperative (OR = 2.574, 95%CI: 1.035-6.403, p = 0.042) and third postoperative days (OR = 4.296, 95%CI: 1.699-10.860, p = 0.002) were associated with severe pneumonia in aSAH patients. Among patients ≥ 60 years, SIRI on the preoperative day (OR = 7.430, 95%CI: 1.443-38.251, p = 0.016) and NLR on the third postoperative day (OR = 4.748, 95%CI: 1.286-17.801, p = 0.020) were associated with severe pneumonia. Among patients < 60 years, NLR on the first postoperative day (OR = 24.149, 95%CI: 3.476-167.747, p = 0.001) was associated with severe pneumonia. The NLR on the first and third postoperative days were possibly associated with severe pneumonia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing clipping or embolization surgeries. Dynamic detection of NLR during early perioperative period may help clinicians to predict the development of severe pneumonia.

Constructing a Nomogram Model to Estimate the Risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia for Elderly Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) causes heavy losses in terms of finances, hospitalization, and death for elderly patients in the intensive care unit (ICU); however, the risk is difficult to evaluate due to a lack of reliable assessment tools. We aimed to create and validate a nomogram to estimate VAP risk to provide early intervention for high-risk patients.

METHODS

Between January 2016 and March 2021, 293 patients from a tertiary hospital in China were retrospectively reviewed as a training set. Another 84 patients were enrolled for model validation from April 2021 to February 2022. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed to select predictors, and a nomogram model was constructed. The calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility of the nomogram were verified. Finally, a web-based online scoring system was created to make the model more practical.

RESULTS

The predictors were hypoproteinemia, long-term combined antibiotic use, intubation time, length of mechanical ventilation, and tracheotomy/intubation. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.937 and 0.925 in the training and validation dataset, respectively, suggesting the model exhibited effective discrimination. The calibration curve demonstrated high consistency with the observed result and the estimated values. Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically applicable.

CONCLUSIONS

We have created a novel nomogram model that can be utilized to anticipate VAP risk in elderly ICU patients, which is helpful for healthcare professionals to detect patients at high risk early and adopt protective interventions.

Efficacy of Acetylcysteine and Selenium in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients: A Prospective, Multicenter, Single Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients have oxidative stress results in inflammation, tissue degeneration and neuronal damage. These deleterious effects cause aggravation of the perihematomal edema (PHE), vasospasm, and even hydrocephalus. We hypothesized that antioxidants may have a neuroprotective role in acute aneurysmal SAH (aSAH) patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, multicenter randomized (single blind) trial between January 2017 and October 2019, investigating whether antioxidants (acetylcysteine and selenium) have the potential to improve the neurologic outcome in aSAH patients. The antioxidant patient group received antioxidants of acetylcysteine (2,000 mg/day) and selenium (1,600 µg/day) intravenously (IV) for 14 days. These drugs were administrated within 24 hours of admission. The non-antioxidant patient group received a placebo IV.

RESULTS

In total, 293 patients were enrolled with 103 patients remaining after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. No significant differences were observed in the baseline characteristics between the antioxidant (n = 53) and non-antioxidant (n = 50) groups. Among clinical factors, the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay was significantly shortened in patients who received antioxidants (11.2, 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.7-14.5 vs. 8.3, 95% CI, 6.2-10.2 days, P = 0.008). However, no beneficial effects were observed on radiological outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, antioxidant treatment failed to show the reduction of PHE volume, mid-line shifting, vasospasm and hydrocephalus in acute SAH patients. A significant reduction in ICU stay was observed but need more optimal dosing schedule and precise outcome targets are required to clarify the clinical impacts of antioxidants in these patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0004628.

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.

Dysphagia screening and pneumonia after subarachnoid hemorrhage: Findings from the Chinese stroke center alliance

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dysphagia is common and is associated with aspiration pneumonia. However, little is known about the prevalence of and factors influencing dysphagia screening (DS) and pneumonia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

We used data on SAH patients admitted to 1476 hospitals from the China Stroke Center Alliance (CSCA) from August 2015 to July 2019 to analyze the rates of DS and pneumonia. We then conducted univariate and multivariable analyses to examine the relationship between DS and pneumonia.

RESULTS

Among 4877 SAH patients who were eligible for DS and had complete data on pneumonia status, 3527 (72.3%) underwent DS, and 1006 (20.6%) developed pneumonia. Compared with patients without pneumonia, patients with pneumonia were older (mean: 63.4 vs. 57.8 years of age), had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores at admission (mean: 13.5 vs. 14.3), were more likely to have dysphagia (15.2% vs. 3.3%), and were more likely to have undergone aneurysm isolation (19.1% vs. 10.0%). In multivariable analyses, factors independently associated with a higher risk of pneumonia were dysphagia [odds ratio (OR), 3.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.85-4.98], age (OR, 1.50 per 10-year increase; 95% CI, 1.40-1.60), male sex (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02-1.49), arrival at the hospital by emergency medical services (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.16-1.58), nimodipine treatment (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.11-1.81), endovascular embolization of aneurysms (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03-1.47), cerebral ventricular shunt placement (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.41-3.54), and treatment at a higher grade hospital (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.21-1.71).

CONCLUSION

More than a quarter of patients with SAH did not have documented DS, while one-fifth developed pneumonia. DS performance was associated with a lower risk of pneumonia. Randomized controlled trials may be needed to determine the effectiveness of DS.

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.

Neurocritical care management of poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage: Unjustified nihilism to reasonable optimism

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Historically, overall outcomes for patients with high-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have been poor. Generally, between physicians, either reluctance to treat, or selectivity in treating such patients has been the paradigm. Recent studies have shown that early and aggressive care leads to significant improvement in survival rates and favorable outcomes of grade V SAH patients. With advancements in both neurocritical care and end-of-life care, non-treatment or selective treatment of grade V SAH patients is rarely justified. Current paradigm shifts towards early and aggressive care in such cases may lead to improved outcomes for many more patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a detailed review of the current literature regarding neurointensive management strategies in high-grade SAH, discussing multiple aspects. We discussed the neurointensive care management protocols for grade V SAH patients.

RESULTS

Acutely, intracranial pressure control is of utmost importance with external ventricular drain placement, sedation, optimization of cerebral perfusion pressure, osmotherapy and hyperventilation, as well as cardiopulmonary support through management of hypotension and hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Advancements of care in SAH patients make it unethical to deny treatment to poor Hunt and Hess grade patients. Early and aggressive treatment results in a significant improvement in survival rate and favorable outcome in such patients.

Antibiotic resistance and sensitivity pattern of Metallo-β-Lactamase Producing Gram-Negative Bacilli in ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit of a public medical school hospital in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection in intensive care units (ICU), accounting for 25% of all ICU infections. Antimicrobial resistance is increasing and becoming a significant health problem worldwide, increasing hospital length of stay, mortality and costs. Identifying antibiotic resistance patterns in VAP is important as this can cause outbreaks in ICUs. To date, there have been limited studies assessing this in Bangladesh. Consequently, the primary objective of this research was to study the species of bacterial growth and to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns of Metallo-β-Lactamase (MBL) producing gram-negative bacilli among ICU patients with VAP in a public medical school hospital, Bangladesh. In addition, identify the factors associated with a positive culture to provide future guidance.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study performed in the Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Mueller Hinton agar plates were used for antibiotic sensitivity testing by the Kirby-Buer disc diffusion test.

RESULTS

Among 105 clinically suspected VAP cases, qualitative cultures were positive in 95 (90%) of them. The most common bacteria identified were Acinetobacter spp. (43.2%), Klebsiella spp. (20%) and Pseudomonas spp. (18.9%). A positive culture was not associated with patients' age or gender. Among 41 isolated Acinetobacter spp., 38 (92.7%) were resistant to gentamicin followed by 36 (87.8%) to ceftriaxone. Among 24 isolated Klebsiella spp., 22 (83.3%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Among 18 isolated Pseudomonas spp., 16 (88.8%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 13 (72.2%) were resistant to ceftriaxone. Among nine isolated E. coli, all were resistant to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. All four Proteus spp. (100%) isolated were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Additionally, phenotype MBL producing was 65.22% and genotype was 45.65% among imipenem resistant pathogens. Imipenem resistant pathogens were sensitive to amoxyclav, amikacin¸ azithromycin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, colistin and gentamycin.

CONCLUSION

A positive culture was detected in 90% of VAP patients, but it was not associated with the patients' age and gender. The most common bacteria identified were Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp., where the majority of these were resistant to ceftriaxone. The results are being used to provide future guidance on the empiric management of VAP in this hospital.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes Related to Ventilator-Associated Events in Neurocritically Ill Patients

Background

The prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes related to the ventilator-associated event(s) (VAE) in neurocritically ill patients are unknown and examined in this study.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed on neurocritically ill patients at a 413-bed level 1 trauma and stroke center who received three or more days of mechanical ventilation to describe rates of VAE, describe characteristics of patients with VAE, and examine the association of VAE on ventilator days, mortality, length of stay, and discharge to home.

Results

Over a 5-year period from 2014 through 2018, 855 neurocritically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation were identified. A total of 147 VAEs occurred in 130 (15.2%) patients with an overall VAE rate of 13 per 1000 ventilator days and occurred across age, sex, BMI, and admission Glasgow Coma Scores. The average time from the start of ventilation to a VAE was 5 (range 3–48) days after initiation of mechanical ventilation. Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions, VAEs met criteria for a ventilator-associated condition in 58% of events (n = 85), infection-related VAE in 22% of events (n = 33), and possible ventilator-associated pneumonia in 20% of events (n = 29). A most common trigger for VAE was an increase in positive end-expiratory pressure (84%). Presence of a VAE was associated with an increase in duration of mechanical ventilation (17.4[IQR 20.5] vs. 7.9[8.9] days, p < 0.001, 95% CI 7.86–13.92), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (20.2[1.1] vs. 12.5[0.4] days, p < 0.001 95% CI 5.3–10.02), but not associated with in-patient mortality (34.1 vs. 31.3%. 95% CI 0.76–1.69) or discharge to home (12.7% vs. 16.3%, 95% 0.47–1.29).

Conclusions

VAE are prevalent in the neurocritically ill. They result in an increased duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay, but may not be associated with in-hospital mortality or discharge to home.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12028-019-00910-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Risk Factors of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Critically III Patients

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a hospital acquired pneumonia that occurs more than 48 h after mechanical ventilation, is a common complication of mechanical ventilation with a high mortality rate. VAP can cause patients to have difficulty weaning off the ventilator and to stay in the hospital longer, which results in a huge financial burden to patients and a huge demand for medical resources. Several strategies, such as drugs including chlorhexidine, β-lactam antibiotics and probiotics, have been used to prevent VAP in clinic. The incidence and the mortality rate of VAP have been decreased with the development of preventative strategies in the past decades, but VAP remains one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections and death in the intensive care unit. Current challenges in the management of VAP involved the lack of a gold standard for diagnosis, the absence of effective preventative strategies, and the rise in antibiotic resistance. Therefore, in order to reduce the incidence of VAP and improve the outcome of patients with mechanical ventilation, it is necessary to clarify the risk factors of VAP for clinical prevention and control of VAP. This paper reviews the international risk factors of VAP occurrence reported in recent years, including patient characteristics, increased mechanical ventilation time and prolonged length of hospital stay, disorders of consciousness, burns, comorbidities, prior antibiotic therapy, invasive operations, gene polymorphisms, and mentions the corresponding preventive measures. Each factor is not only an independent risk factor of VAP, but also has an influence on each other. A better understanding of risk factors for VAP is helpful for predicting the occurrence of VAP, improving the prevention and control of VAP, and reducing the morbidity and mortality rates of patients with VAP.