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Abstract Background Acute brain injured (ABI) patients are at high risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). However, incidence, risk factors and effects on outcome of VAP are not completely elucidated in this population. The primary aim of this study was to determine the incidence of VAP in a cohort of ABI patients. The secondary objectives included the identification of risk factors for development of VAP, and the impact of VAP on clinical outcomes. Clinical outcomes were defined as intensive care unit length of stay (ICU-LOS), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and ICU mortality. Methods Pre-planned sub-analysis of the Extubation strategies in Neuro-Intensive care unit (ICU) patients and associations with Outcomes (ENIO) international multi-center prospective observational study. Patients with available data on VAP, who received at least 48 h of IMV and ICU-LOS ≥ 72 h were included. Results Out of 1512 patients included in the ENIO study, 1285 were eligible for this analysis. The prevalence of VAP was 39.5% (33.7 cases /1000 ventilator-days), with a high heterogeneity across countries and according to the type of brain injury. VAP was significantly more frequent in male patients, in those with smoke habits and when intraparenchymal probe (IP), external ventricular drain (EVD) or hypothermia (p

Abstract Background Lung involvement in inflammatory bowel diseases usually follows colitis. However, the time to lung involvement onset varies depending on the case, and pulmonary lesions are usually not parallel to exacerbations of the colitis. Case presentation A 67-year-old Asian woman with a 38-year history of ulcerative colitis presented to our hospital with a complaint of prolonged dry cough for 2 months. The colitis had remained quiescent for > 35 years with low-dose salazosulfapyridine treatment. Chest computed tomography indicated circumferential thickening of the tracheal wall, while bronchoscopy examination revealed widespread erythematous edema and diffuse narrowing of the bronchial lumen. Biopsy of the bronchial mucosa showed submucosal lymphocytic infiltration. She was diagnosed with ulcerative-colitis-related tracheobronchitis and successfully treated with corticosteroids. Conclusions Tracheobronchitis, in our case, occurred despite the longest remission period previously reported. Careful follow-up is necessary for the early recognition and treatment of pulmonary disease in patients with ulcerative colitis, regardless of the disease duration and long-term remission of colitis.

Abstract Tracheo‐bronchitis is an uncommon but important extra‐intestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease. Our case demonstrates radiological and bronchoscopic evidence of tracheo‐bronchitis secondary to Crohn's disease with pathology‐proven granulomatous inflammation. This case highlights the importance of investigating airway involvement in patients with Crohn's disease and new respiratory symptoms.

Abstract We herein report the cases of three patients with chest symptoms or fever and diffuse wall thickening of the trachea and main bronchi on chest CT. They were diagnosed with various causes of inflammations of the trachea and main bronchi using bronchial or tracheal biopsy specimens and flexible bronchoscopy.

Abstract Background Differentiating Ventilator-Associated Tracheobronchitis (VAT) from Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) may be challenging for clinicians, yet their management currently differs. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) to differentiate VAT and VAP. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis based on the data from 2 independent prospective cohorts. Patients of the TAVeM database with a diagnosis of VAT (n = 320) or VAP (n = 369) were included in the derivation cohort. Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Centre of Lille University Hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2017 who had a diagnosis of VAT (n = 70) or VAP (n = 139) were included in the validation cohort. The accuracy of the CPIS to differentiate VAT from VAP was assessed within the 2 cohorts by calculating sensitivity and specificity values, establishing the ROC curves and choosing the best threshold according to the Youden index. Results The areas under ROC curves of CPIS to differentiate VAT from VAP were calculated at 0.76 (95% CI [0.72–0.79]) in the derivation cohort and 0.67 (95% CI [0.6–0.75]) in the validation cohort. A CPIS value ≥ 7 was associated with the highest Youden index in both cohorts. With this cut-off, sensitivity and specificity were respectively found at 0.51 and 0.88 in the derivation cohort, and at 0.45 and 0.89 in the validation cohort. Conclusions A CPIS value ≥ 7 reproducibly allowed to differentiate VAT from VAP with high specificity and PPV and moderate sensitivity and NPV in our derivation and validation cohorts.

Abstract Background The extra-intestinal manifestation of tracheobronchitis is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we present a case of UC-related tracheobronchitis wherein the positive clinical effects of infliximab are demonstrated. Case presentation We report the case of a 39-year old woman who presented with a chronic productive cough on a distant background of surgically managed ulcerative colitis (UC). Our patient failed to achieve a satisfactory clinical improvement despite treatment with high dose inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and azathioprine. Infliximab therapy was commenced and was demonstrated to achieve macroscopic and symptomatic remission of disease. Conclusions We present the first case report documenting the benefits of infliximab in UC-related tracheobronchitis.

Andrés Martín-Aspas, Francisca M Guerrero-Sánchez, Francisco García-Colchero, Sebastián Rodríguez-Roca, José-Antonio Girón-González Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Instituto para la Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias Biomédicas de Cádiz (INiBICA), Cádiz, Spain Objectives: The objectives of this study were to detect those characteristics that were specifically associated with infection or colonization by Acinetobacter baumannii, describe the clinical manifestations of those patients in whom the infection was detected in intensive care unit (ICU) or non-ICU wards, and analyze the prognosis-associated factors in patients from whom A. baumannii was isolated.Patients and methods: A sample of 122 patients from whom A. baumannii was recovered during an endemic period in a teaching hospital was included. Only those cases in which A. baumannii was recovered as the unique microbe were considered. Demographic data; ward of admission; intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for infection or colonization; chronic underlying condition severity, as evaluated by the McCabe classification or Charlson index and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score; and clinical manifestations were analyzed to differentiate specific characteristics of colonized or infected patients. Factors independently associated with the mortality at 30 days were also analyzed by Cox regression.Results: A total of 73 (60%) patients were colonized and 49 (40%) individuals were infected with A. baumannii. A non-fatal McCabe class (when compared to ultimately and rapidly fatal), days of hospitalization prior to isolation of A. baumannii, and present ICU admission were associated with the diagnosis of infection. The more frequent clinical picture was respiratory infection (tracheobronchitis, 16 [33%] cases; pneumonia, 27 [55%] cases). Mortality at 30 days was 24% (n=29). A non-fatal McCabe class (Exp[B] 2.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–5.66, p=0.039) and the absence of infection (Exp[B] 2.75, 95% CI 1.18–6.38, p=0.019) were independently associated with survival.Conclusion: Parameters associated with infection by A. baumannii in an endemic situation are the admission at ICU and the number of days of hospitalization. Mortality of patients from whom A. baumannii was isolated was independently influenced by the chronic underlying basal state and the presence of infection by A. baumannii. Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, colonization, infection, mortality, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, care unit

Abstract Background Laryngectomees run the risk of developing severe respiratory tract infections especially during the winter and when they do not wear a stoma cover. A case of severe tracheobronchitis in a laryngectomee is presented that illustrates the risks and difficulties encountered in managing this infection in a neck breather. Case presentation A 76-year-old Caucasian man, a laryngectomee, presented with bacterial tracheobronchitis and conjunctivitis due to beta-lactamase-producing nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. He was febrile (38.9 °C; 102.0 F), and had repeated episodes of hypertension. He was treated with levofloxacin 500 mg/day, ciprofloxacin eye drops, acetaminophen, and guaifenesin. Humidification of his trachea and the airway was sustained by insertions of saline into the stoma as well as breathing humidified air. The main challenge was to maintain the patency of his airway as the mucus was very dry and viscous and tended to stick to the walls of his trachea and the stoma. His condition improved within 7 days and he had a complete recovery. Conclusions Maintaining the patency of the airway in laryngectomees who suffer from lower respiratory tract infection is of utmost importance as the mucus can be very dry and viscous and can stick to the walls of the trachea and the stoma.

In the present paper the laboratory isolation and identification of Bordatella bronchiseptica, the causative agent of canine tracheobronhitis, is described. A dog which suffered persistent cough, loss of appetite and fever was previously unsucceffully treated with antibiotics, which is why nasal swabs were taken and sent for microbiological assessment. The isolation of the causative agent was performed on routinely used standard solid growth mediums. The final identification of the isolate was done with MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight) and real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) assays. Therapy based on the results of the antibiogram lead to successful recovery. The necessity of cooperation of veterinary clinicians and veterinary microbiologists for timely and reliable identification of the microbe(s) and selection of antimicrobials based on the results of the susceptibility testing is emphasized. The significance of the collaboration between microbiological veterinary laboratories and those dealing with human material is underlined. These can provide precise identification of zoonotic agents.

The article has summarized the global practice of the lung graft assessment with defining the absolute and relative criteria of donor lung suitability. The authors have presented their own experience of fiberoptic bronchoscopy 115 potential donors in the period from 2010 to 2015. The results of endoscopic examination of donor lungs were reviewed to determine the degree of the bronchial mucosa inflammation. A therapeutic fiberoptic bronchoscopy allowed clearing the bronchial lumen from pathologic contents and adequate preparing the lung graft in 29.6% of cases.

Objectives: To determine the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on incidence, microbiology, and outcomes of ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (VA-LRTI). Methods: Planned ancillary analysis of TAVeM study, including 2960 consecutive adult patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) > 48 h. COPD patients (n = 494) were compared to non-COPD patients (n = 2466). The diagnosis of ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was based on clinical, radiological and quantitative microbiological criteria. Results: No significant difference was found in VAP (12% versus 13%, p = 0.931), or VAT incidence (13% versus 10%, p = 0.093) between COPD and non-COPD patients. Among patients with VA-LRTI, Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were significantly more frequent in COPD patients as compared with non-COPD patients. However, COPD had no significant impact on multidrug-resistant bacteria incidence. Appropriate antibiotic treatment was not significantly associated with progression from VAT to VAP among COPD patients who developed VAT, unlike non-COPD patients. Among COPD patients, patients who developed VAT or VAP had significantly longer MV duration (17 days (9−30) or 15 (8−27) versus 7 (4−12), p < 0.001) and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (24 (17−39) or 21 (14−40) versus 12 (8−19), p < 0.001) than patients without VA-LRTI. ICU mortality was also higher in COPD patients who developed VAP (44%), but not VAT(38%), as compared to no VA-LRTI (26%, p = 0.006). These worse outcomes associated with VA-LRTI were similar among non-COPD patients. Conclusions: COPD had no significant impact on incidence or outcomes of patients who developed VAP or VAT.

Background and Aims: Respiratory complications are of major concern after intracranial procedures. The objective of the study was to assess the incidence of respiratory complications in the initial 72 hours after elective craniotomies and to identify the associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing elective craniotomies were studied prospectively. Information pertinent to history, physical examinations, investigation reports, perioperative events and outcome at discharge of the patients were recorded. Occurrence of any sign or symptom of respiratory system, need for reintubation/increased ventilatory support within 72 hours of surgery were considered as post-operative respiratory complication. Relationships of numerical variables and categorical variables with post-operative respiratory complications (PRCs) were assessed via T test and Chi-square (or Fisher’s exact). Multivariate analysis using multiple logistic regression was performed for finding independent risk factors for respiratory complications. Results: Out of 961 patients, 137 (14.3%) patients developed PRC within 72 hours of surgery. Ninety-nine (10.3%) patients developed purulent tracheobronchitis. The patients who had PRC had longer hospital stays and poor Glasgow Outcome Scale at hospital discharge. The variables found as independent risk factors were tachycardia, blood transfusion in the intraoperative period and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) deterioration, hypokalemia and fever in the post-operative period. Conclusions: Respiratory complications within first 72 hours of elective craniotomies were common and were associated with prolonged hospital stay and poor neurological outcome. The variables which were found as independent risk factors were tachycardia, blood transfusion in the intraoperative period and GCS deterioration, hypokalemia and fever in the post-operative period.

Abstract The management of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) presents many difficulties because of the heterogeneity of the disease; the way the immunocompromised host and the aggressive ICU environment interact is only partially discovered, the available biomarkers for diagnosis are not sufficient to ensure prompt differentiation between sick patients and patients at risk, the microbiological cultures require invasive techniques and time consuming methods. A translational medicine and bio‐informatics approach can enable the identification of the main players of pathology, which may represent novel therapeutic targets or biomarker candidates. Analysis of proteome i.e. allows to individuate proteins that act as biomarkers, for patient‐centered research strategies. Similarly, the genomic approach has proved useful to individuate those patients who are prone to develop VAP, and, in the future, we could be able to immunomodulate their responses to save them from nosocomial infections.

A case of invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus niger in a lung transplant recipient is described. The patient presented hyperglycemia starting postoperatively, with other complications such as cytomegalovirus infection. The associated predisposing factors and other implications are discussed. Aspergillus niger seems to be a fungal species of low virulence that requires the presence of a severely immunosuppressed host to cause invasive disease.Descreve-se um caso de aspergilose invasiva causada por Aspergillus niger em um paciente transplantado de pulmão com quadros hiperglicêmicos desde o pós-operatório e outras complicações como infecção por citomegalovírus. Os fatores predisponentes associados e outras implicações são discutidos. Aspergillus niger parece ser uma espécie fúngica de baixa virulência, necessitando a presença de um hospedeiro gravemente imunodeprimido para causar doença invasiva.