Alexander R. Levine

Noise Levels in Surgical ICUs Are Consistently Above Recommended Standards.

Objective:The equipment, monitor alarms, and acuity of patients in ICUs make it one of the loudest patient care areas in a hospital. Increased sound levels may contribute to worsened outcomes in these particularly vulnerable patients. Our objective was to determine whether ambient sound levels in surgical ICUs comply with recommendations established by the World Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency, and whether implementation of an overnight “quiet time” intervention is associated with lower ambient sound levels. Design:Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting:Two comparable 18-bed, surgical ICUs in a large, teaching hospital. Only one ICU had a formal overnight quiet time policy at the start of the study period. Measurements and Main Results:Sound levels were measured in 30-second blocks at preselected locations during the day and night over a period of 6 weeks using a simple, hand-held sound meter. All sound measurements in both units at all times exceeded recommended standards. Median minimum sound levels were lower at night in both units (50.8 and 50.3 vs 53.1 and 51.0 dB, p = 0.0003 and p = 0.009) and were similar between the two units (p = 0.52). The maximum overnight sound levels were statistically lower in the unit with the quiet time intervention implemented (62.5 vs 59.6 dB; p = 0.0040) and decreased overnight immediately after implementation of quiet time in the other unit (62.5 vs 56.1 dB; p < 0.0001). Maximum sound levels were lower inside patient rooms (52.2 vs 55.3 dB; p = 0.004), but minimum sound levels were similar (49.1 vs 49.2 dB; p = 0.23). Linear regression analysis showed that ICU census did not significantly influence sound levels. Conclusions:Ambient sound levels in the surgical ICUs were consistently above levels recommended by the World Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency at all times. The use of a formal quiet time intervention was associated with a significant, but clinically irrelevant reduction in the median maximum sound level at night. Our results suggest that excessive ambient noise in the ICU is largely attributable to environmental factors, and behavior modifications are unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Future investigations, as well as hospital designs, should target interventions toward ubiquitous noise sources such as ventilation systems, which may not traditionally be associated with patient care.

Evaluation of a vancomycin dosing nomogram based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation in intensive care unit patients

PURPOSE The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a vancomycin nomogram using actual body weight and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation to estimate renal function in intensive care unit patients. METHODS Retrospective evaluation (preimplementation group, n=57) was conducted from March 2011 to April 2011. Prospective evaluation was conducted after nomogram implementation (postimplementation group, n=60) from December 2011 to February 2012. RESULTS The percentage of patients with an initial vancomycin trough concentration 15 μg/mL or higher increased in the postimplementation group as compared with the preimplementation group (72% vs 39%, P=.0004). The postimplementation group also demonstrated an increase in the percentage of patients with initial trough concentration between 15 and 20 μg/mL (42% vs 19%, P=.0099), and no statistical difference in the percentage of patients with an initial trough greater than 20 μg/mL (30% vs 19%, P=.2041). There was no difference in nephrotoxicity in the postimplementation group compared with the preimplementation group (18% vs 17.5%, P=1.0). CONCLUSION Use of a vancomycin nomogram increased the percentage of initial vancomycin trough concentrations 15 μg/mL or higher in intensive care unit patients and was not associated with an increased occurrence of nephrotoxicity.

Oral midodrine treatment accelerates the liberation of intensive care unit patients from intravenous vasopressor infusions

PURPOSE Persistent low-level hypotension represents a barrier to discharging patients from the intensive care unit (ICU). Midodrine may be an effective adjunct to wean intravenous (IV) vasopressors and permit ICU discharge. We tested the hypothesis that midodrine, given to patients on IV vasopressors who otherwise met ICU discharge criteria, increased the magnitude of change in IV vasopressor rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective, observational study in 20 adult surgical ICU patients who met ICU discharge criteria except for an IV vasopressor requirement. We compared the change in phenylephrine equivalent rates during the day before midodrine to the change in phenylephrine equivalent rates after midodrine initiation and analyzed changes in total body fluid balance, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and white blood cell count during this period. RESULTS Patients received 41.0±33.4 μg/min of phenylephrine equivalents and the change in IV vasopressor rate (slope) decreased significantly from -0.62 μg/min per hour of phenylephrine equivalents before midodrine to -2.20 μg/min per hour following the initiation of midodrine treatment (P=.012). Change in total body fluid balance, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and white blood cell count did not correlate with change in IV vasopressor rate. CONCLUSION Midodrine treatment was associated with an increase in the magnitude of decline of the IV vasopressor rate. Oral midodrine may facilitate liberation of surgical ICU patients from an IV vasopressor infusion, and this may affect discharge readiness of patients from the ICU.

Daily vancomycin dose requirements as a continuous infusion in obese versus non-obese SICU patients

BackgroundLimited data are available assessing vancomycin concentrations in obese critically ill patients. Currently, there are no studies evaluating dosing requirements in this population who receive vancomycin administered as a continuous infusion (CI). The aim of this study was to assess whether there was a difference in the weight-based maintenance dose required to reach a therapeutic vancomycin concentration at 24 hours when given as a CI in obese versus non-obese critically ill patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adult obese patients admitted to the SICU between 2013 and 2015 receiving a vancomycin CI (CIV), and with 24-hour serum measurements were included. Obese patients (body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2) were matched with non-obese patients (BMI <30 kg/m2) based on renal function, age and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE)-II score at admission. All patients in this study received a loading dose of 25 mg/kg then a maintenance dose based on renal function according to the protocol. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The primary outcome was the weight-based total daily maintenance dose required to achieve a vancomycin level of 20 mg/L. The secondary endpoints included the achievement of a therapeutic level at 24 hours.ResultsTwenty-six matched pairs of patients met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 17 pairs had preserved renal function and 9 pairs required continuous venovenous hemofiltration. Mean BMI was 40.9 kg/m2 in obese and 24.8 kg/m2 in non-obese patients. To achieve a vancomycin concentration of 20 mg/L, the weight-based daily maintenance dose in obese patients was 25.6 mg/kg versus 43.8 mg/kg in non-obese patients (p <0.01). Therapeutic 24-hour levels were achieved in 24/26 obese versus 23/26 no-obese patients (p = 0.63). Mean 24-hour vancomycin level was 20.3 ± 3.81 mcg/ml in obese compared to 20.03 ± 3.79 mcg/ml in non-obese patients (p = 0.77). Mean daily maintenance doses required to achieve a level of 20 mcg/ml were 2961 ± 1670 mg in obese compared to 3189 ± 1600.69 mg in non-obese (p = 0.61).ConclusionsThe results of our study suggest that critically ill obese patients treated with CIV required a significantly lower maintenance dose per unit of body weight than non-obese patients to achieve the same target level.

Utility of initial procalcitonin values to predict urinary tract infection

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common reasons women seek treatment in the emergency department (ED). The biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) has gained popularity over the last decade to improve the diagnosis of bacterial infections and reduce unnecessary exposure to antibiotics. PCT has been extensively studied in patients with pneumonia and sepsis and may have additional role in UTI. Methods: A retrospective study of patients who presented to the ED in which a urinalysis test and a PCT level was obtained within the first 24 h of presentation. Signs and symptoms of UTI and urine cultures were reviewed to determine a positive diagnosis of UTI. The area under the receiver operating curve was used to calculate the test characteristics of PCT. Different breakpoints were analyzed to determine which PCT level corresponded to the highest sensitivity and specificity. Results: 293 patients were included in this single center, retrospective study. The AUC of PCT to predict UTI was 0.717; 95% CI: 0.643–0.791 (p < 0.001). A PCT threshold of 0.25 ng/ml corresponded to the best combination of sensitivity (67%) and specificity (63%), with a positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 26% and 91%, respectively. Conclusions: A PCT threshold <0.25 ng/ml was a strong predictor of the absence of UTI. The high negative predictive value of PCT may be useful as an adjunct to urinalysis results to rule out UTI and facilitate noninitiation or earlier discontinuation of empiric antibiotics.

Impact of a Multidisciplinary Bundle on Time to Antibiotic Administration in Septic SICU Patients.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate barriers to timely antibiotic administration in septic surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients and examine the impact of a multidisciplinary bundle on the time from prescription to antibiotic administration. Methods: This was a pre- and postintervention study that consisted of 3 phases: (1) preintervention phase, retrospective evaluation of data, (2) intervention implementation, and (3) a postintervention phase. A nurse survey was conducted to identify barriers to rapid antibiotic administration during phase 1. Based on this survey, multidisciplinary interventions included adding antibiotics to the automatic dispensing cabinet, educating monthly staff, and providing an antibiotic dosing table to all prescribers, which is attached to the computer workstations. Our multidisciplinary team consisted of the ICU medical directors, nurse managers, nurses, a critical care fellow, and ICU pharmacists. Results: The percentage of antibiotics that were received within 60 minutes was 26.3% in the pregroup versus 84.0% in the postgroup (P < .001). The mean total prescriber to patient time was 110 minutes in the pregroup versus 58.4 minutes in the postgroup (P < .001). Conclusion: We achieved a higher rate of timely antibiotic administration among septic SICU patients by implementing process changes based on barriers identified by the nurses.

A Collaborative Approach to Improve Consistent Use of Procalcitonin in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker that can help differentiate bacterial from viral infections and has been extensively studied in patients with sepsis and pneumonia to guide antibiotic therapy. However, there is poor adherence to prescribed algorithms when used to discontinue antibiotics in the real world. A quality improvement project was implemented to increase consistent use of PCT. Objective: To evaluate use of PCT and impact on antibiotic length of therapy (LOT) preimplementation and postimplementation of a quality improvement initiative. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Results: In all, 330 patients were included in this study. Following implementation of the quality improvement initiative, ordering PCT in the first 24 hours increased from 59.6% to 75.5% (P = 0.011). Documentation to discontinue antibiotics in patients with low initial PCT values increased from 13.2% to 28.6% (P = 0.100). Increased PCT use correlated with an overall mean reduction of 1.05 antibiotic days between cohorts (6.82 ± 3.88 vs 5.77 ± 3.43, P = 0.028). There was no difference in incidence of antibiotic-associated adverse effects or 30-day hospital readmission rates attributed to pneumonia. Conclusions: Consistent use of PCT was achieved through a collaborative effort with the clinical pharmacy and hospitalist staff. Increased use of PCT was associated with a significant reduction in antibiotic LOT among patients with LRTIs. When controlling for other factors, low initial PCT values had the strongest influence on discontinuing antibiotics within 72 hours in the intervention group.

Randomized controlled trial of different aspirin regimens for reduction of niacin-induced flushing

Purpose Results of a study to test the hypothesis that taking niacin simultaneously with different forms of aspirin would reduce the occurrence of niacin‐induced flushing are reported. Methods Traditionally, taking enteral absorbed aspirin 30 minutes before a niacin dose has been shown to reduce flushing by 30–50% relative to nonuse of aspirin. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of enteral absorbed and orally dissolved aspirin, taken at the same time as niacin, in reducing the frequency of moderate‐to‐severe flushing. In a prospective, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover trial, healthy adult male and female volunteers were asked to take aspirin or a placebo (both agents were taken in both orally dissolved and swallowed formulations) immediately before niacin administration. Subjects then self‐evaluated flushing symptoms on a validated scale. Results Simultaneous administration of swallowed aspirin and niacin reduced moderate‐to‐severe flushing events by a mean of 36.1%, from 2.35 to 1.5 events per subject (p = 0.003), relative to event rates with use of niacin alone. In a subset of subjects who had experienced moderate‐to‐severe flushing symptoms despite taking swallowed aspirin, flushing in response to subsequent niacin use was decreased by 20.5% (p = 0.05) with coadministration of orally dissolved aspirin and by 18.0% with a regimen containing both orally dissolved and swallowed aspirin (p = 0.03). Conclusion Novel regimens of niacin and aspirin, including orally dissolved aspirin, were effective in reducing niacin‐induced flushing in a small sample of healthy adult volunteers.