Objective To investigate the significance of optimization of bedside Gram staining of sputum smear in the early diagnosis and antimicrobial treatment for ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP)patients. Methods The data of patients with VAP undergoing mechanical ventilation over 48 hours in the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from June 2009 to June 2014 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not bedside Gram staining of sputum smear was used or not. The sputum samples from lower respiratory tract of all VAP patients were collected daily with tracheal catheter. In empirical examination group(from June 2009 to December 2011,n=43),the patients received antibiotics at the time of onset of VAP, selection of antibiotics depended on the information of bacterial epidemiology of the intensive care unit(ICU),and also existence of high risk factors of multi-drug resistant bacteria. In target treatment group(from January 2012 to June 2014,n=43),the patients received antibiotics according to the results of bedside instant sputum smear examination and empirical antibiotic regime. The correlation between the results of sputum smear examination and culture result was analyzed. The levels of body temperature,white blood cell(WBC)count,procalcitonin(PCT)level,and high sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP)were measured on the 1st day and 3rd day. The length of antibiotics treatment, duration of mechanical ventilation,and the time of ICU stay were recorded for both groups. Results There were 512 qualified sputum specimens for culture,from which 336 pathogens were found,and 358 strains of pathogenic bacteria were found from microscopic examination of 512 qualified sputum smear. The coincidence rate of results of bedside examination of sputum smear and that of sputum culture was 78.32%(401/512). The diagnostic acumen of the former was 85.42%(287/336),specificity was 64.77%(114/176),positive predictive value was 80.17%(287/358),and negative predictive value was 74.03%(114/154). On the 1st day,no statistical differences in infection index between the two groups could be found,but on the 3rd day,the results were significantly improved in both groups. Compared with the empirical treatment group,the body temperature,WBC,PCT and hs-CRP in the target treatment group were significantly lower〔body temperature(℃):36.83±0.69 vs. 37.64±0.71,WBC(×109/L):7.91±2.75 vs. 9.66±3.39,PCT(μg/L):7.14±3.89 vs. 10.14±4.32,hs-CRP(mg/L):12.24±6.28 vs. 15.54±5.94,P<0.05 or P<0.01〕. Compared with the empirical treatment group,the time of antibiotics use(days:6.00±2.55 vs. 9.20±3.46), the duration of mechanical ventilation(days:5.00±1.73 vs. 7.00±1.94),and the length of ICU stay(days:7.43±1.72 vs. 12.57±4.16)were significantly shortened(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions The results of bedside sputum examination and sputum culture showed a good correlation,and the former is helpful in early diagnosis and treatment of VAP. The result of high quality sputum smear in significant in guiding the first choice of antibiotics,reduce the time of antibiotic use,shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay,and improve the outcome of the patients.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)combined with laparoscopy for the treatment of colorectal cancer in the elderly and its effects on proinflammatory factors and immune responses.Methods:A total of 158 elderly patients with colorectal cancer treated with surgery were retrospectively analyzed.According to different treatment methods, they were divided into the control group(76 cases)and the study group(82 cases). The control group received traditional open surgery and routine perioperative care.The study group received laparoscopic radical resection of colorectal cancer plus perioperative ERAS.Surgery parameters, complications, postoperative immune function and proinflammatory factor levels were compared between the two groups.Results:The operation duration of the study group was significantly longer than that of the control group[(128.5±33.7)min vs.(117.4±28.7)min, t=2.220, P=0.028], whereas the intraoperative blood loss[(100.8±20.5)ml vs.(250.7±62.3)ml, t=20.621, P<0.01]and the incision length[(4.5±1.2)cm vs.(17.5±3.0)cm, t=36.243, P<0.01]were significantly less than those in the control group.The time to first flatus[(2.0±0.9)d vs.(3.8±1.8)d, t=8.037, P<0.01], time to first defecation[(2.8±0.8)d vs.(4.5±1.1)d, t=11.167, P<0.01], time to first ambulation[(1.2±0.2)d vs.(3.8±1.3)d, t=17.888, P<0.01]and hospitalization length[(7.1±0.2)d vs.(11.4±2.2)d, t=17.625, P<0.01]were also significantly shorter than those in the control group.The incidences of surgical site infections(2.4% vs.10.5%, χ2=4.351, P=0.037), abdominal distension(7.3% vs.19.7%, χ2=5.279, P=0.023)and intestinal obstruction(9.8% vs.22.4%, χ2=4.711, P=0.030)in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group.The levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after surgery( t= 9.612, 7.300, 5.446, 8.762, 12.138, 15.370, 10.186, 10.432, 13.512, respectively, all P<0.05). The levels of CD3 + , CD4 + and CD4 + /CD8 + in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after surgery( t= 2.128, 2.957, 2.313, 2.914, 2.937, 2.809, 5.089, 5.623, 5.409, respectively, P<0.05 for all), and the levels of CD8 + were significantly lower than those of the control group( t= 2.008, 2.580, 4.902, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopy combined with ERAS for the treatment of colorectal cancer in the elderly can reduce surgical injury and complications and mitigate inflammatory responses with little impact on immune responses.