OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the risk factors for LOS.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of all VLBW and ELBW infants who were hospitalized in the NICU between January 2011 and December 2013. According to the presence or absence of LOS, these infants were divided into LOS group and non-LOS group. The incidence and mortality rates of LOS, common pathogenic bacteria, and risk factors for LOS were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 226 VLBW and ELBW infants, 117 (51.8%) developed LOS, among whom 45 had a confirmed diagnosis of LOS and 72 had a clinical diagnosis of LOS. The LOS group had a significantly higher mortality rate than the non-LOS group [13.7% (16/117) vs 4.6% (5/109); P<0.05]. Bacterial culture found 51 strains of pathogenic bacteria, among which 32 (63%) were Gram-negative bacteria, 16 (31%) were Gram-positive bacteria, and 3 (6%) were fungi. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, small for gestational age (SGA), duration of parenteral nutrition, peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement, and mechanical ventilation were independent risk factors for LOS in VLBW and ELBW infants (OR=0.84, 1.59, 1.34, 3.11, and 4.55 respectively; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLOS has high incidence and mortality rates in VLBW and ELBW infants. Common pathogenic bacteria of LOS are Gram-negative bacteria. Low gestational age, long duration of parenteral nutrition, SGA, PICC placement, and mechanical ventilation may increase the risk of LOS in VLBW and ELBW infants.

Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are at risk for critical events leading to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Coagulopathy in cirrhotic patients is complex and can lead to bleeding as well as thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate bleeding complications in critically ill patients with LC admitted to a medical ICU (MICU). METHODS: All adult patients admitted to our MICU with a diagnosis of LC from January 2006 to December 2012 were retrospectively assessed. Patients with major bleeding at the time of MICU admission were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 205 patients were included in the analysis. The median patient age was 62 years, and 69.3% of the patients were male. The most common reason for MICU admission was acute respiratory failure (45.4%), followed by sepsis (27.3%). Major bleeding occurred in 25 patients (12.2%). The gastrointestinal tract was the most common site of bleeding (64%), followed by the respiratory tract (20%). In a multivariate analysis, a low platelet count at MICU admission (odds ratio [OR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 0.99) and sepsis (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 1.04 to 67.05) were independent risk factors for major bleeding. The ICU fatality rate was significantly greater among patients with major bleeding (84.0% vs. 58.9%, respectively; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Major bleeding occurred in 12.2% of critically ill cirrhotic patients admitted to the MICU. A low platelet count at MICU admission and sepsis were associated with an increased risk of major bleeding during the MICU stay. Further study is needed to better understand hemostasis in critically ill patients with LC.
Aged ; Blood Platelets ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/blood/diagnosis/*etiology/mortality ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood/*complications/diagnosis/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Count ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Tract Diseases/blood/diagnosis/*etiology/mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis/blood/complications ; Time Factors

Wound sepsis is one of the main causes of death in patients with severe burn and trauma. The high incidence of burn wound sepsis in children is attributed to their imperfect immune system function, poor resistance against infection, and the weakened skin barrier function after burn. The key to reduce the mortality of pediatric patients with burn wound sepsis is to enhance the understanding of its etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic criteria, in order to improve its early diagnosis and treatment.
Burns ; complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Child ; Humans ; Sepsis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; mortality ; therapy ; Skin ; microbiology ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Wound Infection ; mortality ; prevention & control ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemiological characteristics of inhalation injury and to summarize the clinical application experience of diagnostic standard of burn of larynx.

METHODSMedical records of 443 patients with inhalation injury admitted to our burn unit from January 1999 to June 2013 were analyzed, including gender, age, severity of inhalation injury, complications and diseases before injury; total area and that of full-thickness burn injury, admission time after burn, and burn condition of larynx of patients with different degrees of inhalation injury; treatment and outcome including rate, time, and complication of tracheotomy, mortality, and cause of death. Data were processed with nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and chi-square test. The relationship between severity of inhalation injury and total burn area, degree of burn of larynx, tracheotomy rate, and mortality was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS(1) Among the patients, there were 353 (79.7% ) male and 90 (20.3% ) female, with the ratio of male to female 4:1. There were 64 (14.4%) patients younger than or equal to 20 years, 203 (45.8%) patients older than 20 years and younger than or equal to 40 years, 144 (32.5%) patients older than 40 years and younger than or equal to 60 years, and 32 (7.2%) patients older than 60 years. The numbers of patients with mild, moderate, and severe inhalation injury were respectively 297, 108, and 38. Seven patients suffered from complications, and 21 patients had diseases before injury. There were statistically significant differences among the patients with different degree of inhalation injury in regard to total burn area and full-thickness burn area (with H values respectively 73.752 and 142.830, P values below 0.01), while no statistically significant difference was observed in admission time after burn ( H = 1.528, P > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that severity of inhalation injury was positively correlated with total burn area (r = 0.399, P < 0.001). Among the patients with mild inhalation injury, incidences of patients with mild, moderate, and severe burn of larynx were respectively 68.0% (202/297), 32.0% (95/297), and 0, and those among the patients with moderate inhalation injury were respectively 0,53.7% (58/108), and 46.3% (50/108). There were statistically significant differences in degree of burn of larynx of patients with different degree of inhalation injury (χ2 = 336.703, P < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that severity of burn of larynx was positively correlated with severity of inhalation injury (r = 0.700, P < 0.001). (2) The rate of tracheotomy was 37.02% (164/443). The rates of tracheotomy in patients with mild, moderate, and severe inhalation injury were respectively 10.44% (31/297), 87.96% (95/108), and 100.00% (38/38), χ2 = 271.654, P < 0.001. Correlation analysis showed that the rate of tracheotomy was positively correlated with severity of inhalation injury (r = 0.784, P < 0.001). Tracheotomy was done mainly within 6 h post burn (63.4%, 104/164). The incidence rate of complication of tracheotomy was 5.5% (9/164). (3) Thirty-one patients died, with a mortality rate of 7.00%. The mortality rates of patients with mild, moderate, and severe inhalation injury were respectively 1.01% (3/297), 12.96% (14/108), and 36.84% (14/38), H = 74.273, P < 0.001. It was found that the mortality was positively correlated with severity of inhalation injury (r = 0.371, P < 0.001). The causes of death of the patients were respectively sepsis (14, 45.2%), respiratory failure (7, 22.6%), airway obstruction (2, 6.5%), airway hemorrhage (2, 6.5%), cerebral hemorrhage (2, 6.5%), cardiac accident (2, 6.5%), and diabetes insipidus (1, 3.2%), and 1 (3.2%) patient quit treatment and discharged from hospital for economic reason.

CONCLUSIONSAmong the patients with inhalation injury, male is dominated in number, and the young adults formed the highest constituent ratio. The severity of inhalation injury was correlated with total burn area, severity of burn of larynx, tracheotomy rate, and mortality. With the guidance of diagnostic criteria of burn of larynx and indication of tracheotomy, the risk of laryngeal obstruction can be eliminated. The early preventive tracheotomy can decrease the difficulty and risk of the operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery ; Burn Units ; Burns ; Burns, Inhalation ; complications ; mortality ; surgery ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Sepsis ; epidemiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Distribution ; Tracheotomy ; methods ; Young Adult

Knowledge of clinical demographics and outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients is important but there are few prospectively collected data in Korea. The objective of the present study was to describe the current status of mechanically ventilated patients in Korea as of 2010. We analyzed the data of Korean patients (275 patients in 12 Korean intensive care units [ICU]) participating in a multinational prospective cohort study on mechanical ventilation. The most common indication for mechanical ventilation was pneumonia (23%). Pressure-limited ventilation modes were preferred over volume-cycled ventilation modes. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation was used in only seven (2%) patients as the initial ventilatory support. Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 7 days and ICU mortality was 36%. The multiple logistic regression model revealed that the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) score at ICU admission (odds ratio [OR], 1.034; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001-1.036; P=0.033), peak pressure (OR, 1.054; 95% CI, 1.016-1.095; P=0.006), and the number of failed organs (OR, 2.132; 95% CI, 1.634-2.781; P<0.001) were independently associated with ICU mortality. This study provides a snapshot of current practice of mechanical ventilation in Korea.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units/*statistics & numerical data ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; *Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency/*diagnosis/epidemiology/mortality ; Sepsis/etiology ; Severity of Illness Index

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Additionally, we explored whether the severity of AKI affects on the clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively in a single center. Among 5680 patients who visited emergency department from January to December 2010, 992 patients with sepsis and septic shock were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups, patients who developed AKI or not, to compare the baseline characteristics, and laboratory and physiologic data. Patients with AKI were subdivided according to its stages for survival analysis. RESULTS: AKI was developed in 57.7% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that development of septic AKI was associated with older age, pre-existing chronic kidney disease, use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, presence of shock, positive blood culture results, and low white blood cell and platelet counts. Hospital mortality was higher in AKI group. Crude Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated reduced 30-day survival rate was significantly associated with the severity of acute kidney injury. CONCLUSION: The development of septic AKI was associated with poor clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the severity of AKI was associated with increased mortality.
Acute Kidney Injury/*etiology/mortality ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis/*complications/*mortality ; Shock, Septic/*complications/*mortality ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study risk factors for the occurrence of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) in children with sepsis.

METHODSA nest case-control study was employed. According to intra-abdominal pressures (IAP) measured by cystometry, 119 children with sepsis were classified into normal IAP (control, n = 80) and IAH groups (n = 39). Risk factors for the occurrence of IAH were investigated by monovariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSMonovariable analysis showed that there were significant differences in pediatric critical illness score (PCIS), procalcitonin (PCT) level, PaCO(2), blood lactate level, rates of intestinal or intra-abdominal infection, ascites, gastrointestinal dysfunction, mechanical ventilation, shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) between the IAH and control groups (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that decreased PCIS, MODS, shock, gastrointestinal dysfunction and ascites were major risk factors for the occurrence of IAH.

CONCLUSIONSChildren with sepsis who have decreased PCIS, MODS, shock, gastrointestinal dysfunction and ascites are at risk for the occurrence of IAH.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; complications ; mortality

BACKGROUNDHospitalized patients often have higher rate of vitamin D deficiency than healthy people. Vitamin D levels below normal are associated with hospital stay, increased incidence of adverse prognosis and increased mortality of a number of diseases. Whether there is a relationship between vitamin D levels and infection or sepsis in the critically ill is still unclear. This study will explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and risk of infection, assessment for disease severity, and predictor of mortality.

METHODSTo evaluate the value of vitamin D in intensive care unit (ICU) cases to sepsis, severity and prognosis assessment, high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry were used to measure the concentrations of vitamin D in sera of critically ill patients. The serum samples were drawn within the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

RESULTSThe study included 206 people, 50 healthy controls, 51 ICU control patients and 105 ICU diagnosed with sepsis. Critically ill ICU patients (ICU sepsis and ICU control group) had lower vitamin D concentration than normal people, but septic patients showed no significant reduction of vitamin D concentration when compared with critically ill patients with no positive etiological evidence. For assessment of disease severity, there were very low negative correlations between APACHE II, SAPS II and SOFA scores and vitamin D level. Additionally, patients of different 25-(OH)D levels showed no difference whether in terms of 28-day survival (X(2) = 1.78, P = 0.776) or 90-day survival (X(2) = 4.12, P = 0.389). Multivariate Logistic regression demonstrated that APECHE II and SAPS II scores were independent risk factors to deaths caused by sepsis.

CONCLUSIONClinically, serum concentration of vitamin D is not an indicator for diagnosis and assessment in critically ill patients (ClinicalTrial.gov identifier NCT01636232).

APACHE ; Adult ; Aged ; Critical Illness ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk ; Sepsis ; blood ; etiology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Vitamin D ; blood

This study was designed to investigate the incidence, causes, and outcomes of new-onset thrombocytopenia (NOT) in Korean intensive care units (ICUs). A prospective cohort study was conducted in medical ICUs of Samsung Medical Center between August 2010 and February 2011. All newly admitted patients were included if they stayed in the ICU for more than 48 hr and did not have thrombocytopenia upon admission. A total of 186 patients were included. NOT developed in 37.1%. Most common cause of NOT was sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation (66.7%), followed by drug-induced thrombocytopenia (18.8%), and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (2.9%). IgG-specific antibody to platelet factor 4/heparin was positive in 2.4% among patients treated with heparin, and thrombosis occurred in two patients. Twenty eight-day mortality was higher in patients that developed NOT compared to those that did not develop NOT (39.1% vs 12%, P < 0.001). NOT increased the odds ratio of 28-day mortality and was an independent risk factor for mortality (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.32-9.38; P = 0.012). In conclusion, NOT is common and is an independent risk factor for mortality in Korean ICU patients. Therefore, clinicians should make every effort to correct the causes of NOT.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation/complications ; Female ; Heparin/immunology ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Factor 4/immunology ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis/complications ; Survival Analysis ; Thrombocytopenia/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality ; Thrombosis/etiology

This study was designed to investigate the incidence, causes, and outcomes of new-onset thrombocytopenia (NOT) in Korean intensive care units (ICUs). A prospective cohort study was conducted in medical ICUs of Samsung Medical Center between August 2010 and February 2011. All newly admitted patients were included if they stayed in the ICU for more than 48 hr and did not have thrombocytopenia upon admission. A total of 186 patients were included. NOT developed in 37.1%. Most common cause of NOT was sepsis with disseminated intravascular coagulation (66.7%), followed by drug-induced thrombocytopenia (18.8%), and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (2.9%). IgG-specific antibody to platelet factor 4/heparin was positive in 2.4% among patients treated with heparin, and thrombosis occurred in two patients. Twenty eight-day mortality was higher in patients that developed NOT compared to those that did not develop NOT (39.1% vs 12%, P < 0.001). NOT increased the odds ratio of 28-day mortality and was an independent risk factor for mortality (OR 3.52; 95% CI 1.32-9.38; P = 0.012). In conclusion, NOT is common and is an independent risk factor for mortality in Korean ICU patients. Therefore, clinicians should make every effort to correct the causes of NOT.
Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation/complications ; Female ; Heparin/immunology ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Factor 4/immunology ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis/complications ; Survival Analysis ; Thrombocytopenia/*epidemiology/etiology/mortality ; Thrombosis/etiology