Arzu Dogru

Risk factors, characteristics, and outcomes of candidemia in an adult intensive care unit in Turkey

HighlightsThis brief report shows risk factors of candidemia in the intensive care unit in our country.Determining the risk factors associated with candidemia may lead to the quick diagnosis, identification of prevention measures and early antifungal therapy that may reduce mortality rates.All countries should know their risk factors for candidemia especially in the intensive care unit and they should apply many prevention measure to reduce this infection. &NA; Thirty‐six patients with candidemia and 37 control patients were included consecutively to determine the characteristics of candidemia episodes. The patients with candidemia had higher mortality with higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores and frequency of use of a central venous catheter, total parenteral nutrition, and broad‐spectrum antibiotics; chronic renal failure with replacement therapy; and longer stay in an intensive care unit. Candida albicans was the predominant species followed by Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis. All isolates of C glabrata were itraconazole‐resistant.

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus prevalences among first time blood donors in Istanbul, Turkey, 2004–2011

OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine the yearly change rates of the HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV test results and their positivity rates obtained from the 68,393 donors who applied and donated blood for the first time at the Blood Center of the hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the ELISA method, screening tests were applied to the blood samples obtained from blood donors, and the HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV positivity rates were calculated at the end of year eight. However, HBsAg and anti-HCV positivities showed a decreased tendency of positivity in years. RESULTS A total of 68,393 donations were received within eight years. Seroprevalences for anti-HIV, HBsAg and anti-HCV tests were, respectively 0.01%, 1.54% and 0.38%. HBsAg and anti-HCV positivities showed a decreased tendency of positivity in years.

Development and validation of a modified quick SOFA scale for risk assessment in sepsis syndrome

Sepsis is a severe clinical syndrome owing to its high mortality. Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score has been proposed for the prediction of fatal outcomes in sepsis syndrome in emergency departments. Due to the low predictive performance of the qSOFA score, we propose a modification to the score by adding age. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study among regional referral centers from various regions of the country. Participants recruited data of patients admitted to emergency departments and obtained a diagnosis of sepsis syndrome. Crude in-hospital mortality was the primary endpoint. A generalized mixed-effects model with random intercepts produced estimates for adverse outcomes. Model-based recursive partitioning demonstrated the effects and thresholds of significant covariates. Scores were internally validated. The H measure compared performances of scores. A total of 580 patients from 22 centers were included for further analysis. Stages of sepsis, age, time to antibiotics, and administration of carbapenem for empirical treatment were entered the final model. Among these, severe sepsis (OR, 4.40; CIs, 2.35–8.21), septic shock (OR, 8.78; CIs, 4.37–17.66), age (OR, 1.03; CIs, 1.02–1.05) and time to antibiotics (OR, 1.05; CIs, 1.01–1.10) were significantly associated with fatal outcomes. A decision tree demonstrated the thresholds for age. We modified the quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (mod-qSOFA) score by adding age (> 50 years old = one point) and compared this to the conventional score. H-measures for qSOFA and mod-qSOFA were found to be 0.11 and 0.14, respectively, whereas AUCs of both scores were 0.64. We propose the use of the modified qSOFA score for early risk assessment among sepsis patients for improved triage and management of this fatal syndrome.

The risk factors of colistin methanesulfonate associated nephrotoxicity.

Purpose: The risk factors of colistin methanesulfonate (CMS) associated nephrotoxicity are important. Our study attempts look into the prevalence of CMS-associated nephrotoxicity in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), and related risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between September 2010 and April 2012 on 55 patients who underwent CMS treatment. Nephrotoxicity risk was defined based on the Risk Injury Failure Loss End-stage kidney disease criteria. Results: Fifty-five patients included in the study. A total of 22 (40%) patients developed nephrotoxicity. The correlation was detected between nephrotoxicity and patients over 65 with a high Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. APACHE II score was revealed an independent risk factor for nephrotoxicity. Conclusion: Advanced age and a high APACHE II score are significant risk factors in the development of nephrotoxicity at ICUs following CMS use. Patient selection and close monitoring are critical when starting CMS treatment.

Etiology, incidence and risk factors of ventilator associated pneumonia in an intensive care unit of a training and research hospital in Istanbul

SUMMARY In this prospective study, we aimed to identify the factors associated with the development of ventilator- associated pneumonia (VAP) and examine the etiology, and incidence of VAP. Between November 2007 and June 2008, 148 patients who required mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 hours were evaluated. VAP was observed in 54 patients (36 %). Mechanical ventilator utilizationrate was 0.87, and VAP rate in 1000 ventilator days was 22.88. The most common three microorganisms cultured from tracheal aspirates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=19), Acinetobacter spp.(n=11), and Staphylococcus aureus (n=10). Of the 21 risk factors evaluated, 7 factors identified were independently associated with VAP (p<0.05) such as shock, coma (p<0.0006), antibiotic usage for at least 1 month prior to admission (p<0.04), nasogastric tube insertion (p<0.01), invasive procedures such as bronchoscopy, tracheotomy (p<0.0001), reintubation (p<0.017), intubation lasting for more than 5 days (p<0.0001), and smoking (p<0.014). Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for VAP to minimize the risk of VAP, patient care should be individualized, and procedures like bronchoscopy, reintubation must be performed and followed up cautiously. Besides these, data about the potential microorganisms and those resistant to antibiotics will guide the empirical therapy.

Etiology, incidence and risk factors of ventilator associated pneumonia in a training and research hospital intensive care unit in Istanbul

SUMMARY In this prospective study, we aimed to identify the factors associated with the development of ventilator- associated pneumonia (VAP) and examine the etiology, and incidence of VAP. Between November 2007 and June 2008, 148 patients who required mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 hours were evaluated. VAP was observed in 54 patients (36 %). Mechanical ventilator and VAP utilization rates were 0.87 and 22.88 in 1000 ventilator days, respectively. The most common three microorganisms cultured from tracheal aspirates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=19), Acinetobacter species (n=11) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=10). Of the 21 risk factors evaluated, 7 factors identified were independently associated with VAP (p<0.05): shock, coma (p<0.0006), antibiotic usage for at least 1 month prior to admission (p<0.04), nasogastric tube insertion (p<0.01), invasive procedures such as bronchoscopy, tracheotomy (p<0.0001), reintubation (p<0.017), intubation more than 5 days (p<0.0001), and smoking (p<0.014). Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for VAP to minimize the risk of VAP. Also patient care should be individualized, and procedures like bronchoscopy, and reintubation must be performed and followed up cautiously. Besides these, data about the potential microorganisms and resistance of antibiotics to them will guide the empirical therapy.