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Glucocorticoid (GC) use is often the mainstay of treatment in many pulmonary, autoimmune, allergic, and oncologic diseases, along with organ transplantation. Short-term and long-term GC use is estimated to be around 1% to 2% worldwide. It has been associated with significant infectious complications such as streptococcus and influenza, mycobacterial infections, and opportunistic infections, specifically Pneumocystis pneumonia, invasive fungal infections, and strongyloidiasis. It is important to use minimal effective dose for the shortest duration to minimize complications. This review summarizes the prevalence of steroid prescriptions, mechanisms, manifestations, and mitigation strategies of pulmonary immunocompromise in patients on chronic and high-dose steroid therapies., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have no commercial or financial conflicts of interest or funding sources to report., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

While rare, necrotizing pneumonia is a severe and potentially life-threatening manifestation of lung parenchyma infection. Initially documented in the 1940s, it was a significant contributor to mortality rates in both adults and children, with figures reaching up to 45%. Despite being a disease described in the literature for decades, data on the management of necrotizing pneumonia remain limited. Most available information comes from retrospective observational cohort studies. This article aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the existing literature on the subject.

Background: Pneumonia is a frequent complication of solid organ transplantation that adversely impacts both graft and recipient survival. There is a paucity of data on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in transplant recipients, particularly the long term outcomes. We conducted a study to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pneumonia in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients to those in non-transplant (NT) recipients., Material and Methods: Clinical characteristics were abstracted from electronic medical records. Outcomes included time to hospital discharge, short and long-term mortality. Inverse-propensity score weights were assigned to account for between-group differences. Adjusted analysis included a weighted logistic regression. Results were reported as odds ratios with a corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI)., Results: A total of 7449 patients were admitted with CAP. Patients were divided into two groups: SOT recipients 42 (0.56 %) and NT recipients 7396 (99.2 %). SOT recipients were younger, more commonly males, with higher prevalence of comorbidities. After accounting for inverse-propensity score weighting, the odds of mortality were higher in SOT recipients in hospital, at 30 days and at 1 year. The magnitude of increase in mortality for SOT recipients was greatest at 1 year with 1.41 (95 % CI: 1.38-1.44) times higher odds., Conclusion: In patients with CAP, SOT recipients are younger, more commonly male and have more co-morbidities compared with NT recipients. They also have higher 1 year mortality after adjustment. Clinicians must be vigilant toward the pronounced long-term mortality risk among these patients and ensure continued follow-up care for them., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Long-COVID is a multisystem disease that can lead to significant impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Following COVID-19 infection, abnormalities on pulmonary function tests (PFT) are common. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate for any correlation between PFT abnormalities and impairment in HRQoL scores following COVID-19 infection., Methods: This is an analysis of a prospective cohort of patients in Louisville, KY who were infected with COVID-19. Data collected included demographics, past medical history, laboratory tests, PFTs, and several HRQoL questionnaires such as the EuroQol 5 Dimension HRQoL questionnaire (EQ-5D-5 L), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Descriptive statistics were performed, comparing PFTs (normal vs abnormal) and time since COVID-19 infection (3- vs 6- vs ≥ 12 months)., Results: There were no significant differences in FEV1, FVC, or the percentage of patients with abnormal PFTs over time after COVID-19 infection. Following COVID-19, patients with normal PFTs had worse impairment in mobility HRQoL scores and change in GAD-7 scores over time. There were no differences over time in any of the HRQoL scores among patients with abnormal PFTs., Conclusions: Among patients with an abnormal PFT, there was no temporal association with HRQoL scores as measured by EQ-5D-5 L, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PCL-5. Among patients with a normal PFT, mobility impairment and anxiety may be associated with COVID-19 infection. Following COVID-19 infection, impairment in HRQoL scores is not completely explained by the presence of abnormalities on spirometry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This work was supported by Gilead Sciences COMMIT COVID-19 RFP Program [grant number IN-US-983–6063]; National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences [grant number U18TR003787]; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [grant number P30 (P30ES030283)]; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute 1R01HL158779–01; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 1R01AI172873–01. Otherwise, all authors declare no other conflicts of interest in relation to this work., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the longitudinal effects of COVID-19 on major vascular structures and parameters and clinical outcomes., Design: Observational prospective trial., Setting: Post-COVID-19 research clinic established by University of Louisville Division of Infectious Diseases., Participants: The study population consisted of 72 post-COVID-19 individuals and 11 non-COVID-19 infected participants in the control group. The participants were recruited from adult hospitals and from the community. The enrollment started in October 2020 and follow-up periods were at 3, 6, and 12 months from their initial COVID-19 diagnosis., Interventions: The participants were interviewed for medical and COVID-19 infection history. Samples of white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and D-dimer were taken at each visit. Certified sonographers performed vascular ultrasound on the study participants., Measurements and Main Results: Median intima-media thickness (IMT) was increased in mild/asymptomatic (0.80 mm) and severe/critical (0.90 mm) groups when compared with controls (0.60 mm; P < .001 for both groups). In the asymptomatic/mild group, 6-month median IMT (0.88 mm) was increased, compared with the 3-month group (0.75 mm), with P = .026. Increased age was associated with decreased mean arterial blood velocities (cm/s): common carotid ( r = -0.236, P = .032), internal carotid ( r = -0.208, P = .048), and subclavian artery mean velocity ( r = -0.357, P = .003). We did not find any instance of deep vein thrombosis. Median D-dimer, CRP, and WBC in the control group differed from asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 group ( P = .026, .011, and .003, respectively). Moreover, WBC in the asymptomatic/mild group and moderate COVID-19 group differed from severe/critical group ( P = .025 and P = .027, respectively); CRP also differed between asymptomatic/mild group and severe/critical group ( P = .014)., Conclusions: There were differences in intima-media lumen thickness (IMT), arterial velocities, and inflammatory markers in post-COVID-19 patients. There was no instance of deep vein thrombosis in this post-COVID-19 study cohort. The increased IMT might infer atherosclerosis, which has shown to increase cardiovascular risks. It is not yet known whether the increase in IMT due to COVID should be treated in the same way as non-COVID-19 atherosclerosis-through statins, for example-or whether regular cardiovascular risk reduction would be useful. Clinical trial and mechanistic studies should be performed to further our understanding of COVID-19-related vascular pathologies., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The clinical presentation of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can vary widely among patients. While many individuals with mild symptoms can be managed as outpatients with excellent outcomes, there is a distinct subgroup of patients who present with severe CAP. In these cases, the mortality rate can reach approximately 25% within 30 days and even up to 50% within a year. It is crucial to focus attention on these patients who are at higher risk. Among the various definitions of severe CAP found in the literature, one commonly used criterion is the requirement for admission to intensive care unit. Notable epidemiological characteristics of these patients include the impact of acute cardiovascular diseases on clinical outcomes and the enduring, independent effect of pneumonia on long-term outcomes. Factors such as pathogen virulence, the presence of comorbidities, and the host response are important contributors to the pathogenesis of severe CAP. In these patients, the host response may be dysregulated and compartmentalized. Gaining a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of severe CAP will provide a foundation for the development of new therapies for this condition. This manuscript aims to review the definition, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of severe CAP, shedding light on important aspects that can aid in the improvement of patient care and outcomes., Competing Interests: Dr. Cavallazzi reports grants from Medpace Inc/Clarametyx Bioscience outside the submitted work.Dr. Ramirez reports grants from Pfizer, personal fees from Pfizer, and personal fees from Parateck outside the submitted work., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Influenza and other respiratory viruses are commonly identified in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and in immunocompromised patients with pneumonia. Clinically, it is difficult to differentiate viral from bacterial pneumonia. Similarly, the radiological findings of viral infection are in general nonspecific. The advent of polymerase chain reaction testing has enormously facilitated the identification of respiratory viruses, which has important implications for infection control measures and treatment. Currently, treatment options for patients with viral infection are limited but there is ongoing research on the development and clinical testing of new treatment regimens and strategies., Competing Interests: Disclosure R.Cavallazzi: Site investigator for a study that aims to assess the safety of a monoclonal antibody for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The epidemiology and outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in immunocompromised hosts (ICHs) are not well defined. The objective of this study was to define the epidemiology and outcomes of CAP in ICHs as compared with non-ICHs., Methods: This ancillary study included a prospective cohort of hospitalized adult Louisville residents with CAP from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. An ICH was defined per the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Geospatial epidemiology explored associations between ICHs hospitalized with CAP and income level, race, and age. Mortality for ICHs and non-ICHs was evaluated during hospitalization and 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after hospitalization., Results: A total of 761 (10%) ICHs were identified among 7449 patients hospitalized with CAP. The most common immunocompromising medical conditions or treatments were advanced-stage cancer (53%), cancer chemotherapy (23%), and corticosteroid use (20%). Clusters of ICHs hospitalized with CAP were found in areas associated with low-income and Black or African American populations. Mortality by time point for ICHs vs non-ICHs was as follows: hospitalization, 9% vs 5%; 30 days, 24% vs 11%; 6 months, 44% vs 21%; and 1 year, 53% vs 27%, respectively., Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 10 hospitalized patients with CAP is immunocompromised, with advanced-stage cancer being the most frequent immunocompromising condition, as seen in half of all patients who are immunocompromised. Risk for hospitalization may be influenced by socioeconomic disparities and/or race. ICHs have a 2-fold increase in mortality as compared with non-ICHs., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a primary pathogen in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objective of this study was to define the epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia in Louisville, Kentucky, and to estimate the burden of pneumococcal pneumonia in the United States (US). This study was nested in a prospective population-based cohort study of all adult residents in Louisville, Kentucky, who were hospitalized with CAP from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. In hospitalized patients with CAP, urinary antigen detection of 24 S. pneumoniae serotypes (UAD-24) was performed. The annual population-based pneumococcal pneumonia incidence was calculated. The distribution of S. pneumoniae serotypes was characterized. Ecological associations between pneumococcal pneumonia and income level, race, and age were defined. Mortality was evaluated during hospitalization and at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after hospitalization. Among the 5402 CAP patients with a UAD-24 test performed, 708 (13%) patients had pneumococcal pneumonia. The annual cumulative incidence was 93 pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations per 100,000 adults (95% CI = 91-95), corresponding to an estimated 226,696 annual pneumococcal pneumonia hospitalizations in the US. The most frequent serotypes were 19A (12%), 3 (11%), and 22F (11%). Clusters of cases were found in areas with low incomes and a higher proportion of Black or African American population. Pneumococcal pneumonia mortality was 3.7% during hospitalization, 8.2% at 30 days, 17.6% at 6 months, and 25.4% at 1 year after hospitalization. The burden of pneumococcal pneumonia in the US remains significant, with an estimate of more than 225,000 adults hospitalized annually, and approximately 1 out of 4 hospitalized adult patients dies within 1 year after hospitalization.

Background: Hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and associated comorbidities are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications. The magnitude of effect of cardiovascular complications and the role of prior comorbidities on clinical outcomes are not well defined., Research Question: What is the impact of cardiovascular complications on mortality in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP? What is the impact of comorbidities and other risk factors on the risk of developing cardiovascular complications and mortality in these patients?, Study Design and Methods: This cohort study included 1,645 hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP. Cardiovascular complications were evaluated. The clinical course during hospitalization was described by using a multistate model with four states: (1) hospitalized with no cardiovascular complications; (2) hospitalized with cardiovascular complications; (3) discharged alive; (4) and dead. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the impact of prior comorbid conditions on transitions between these states. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs are reported., Results: Cardiovascular complications occurred in 18% of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 CAP. The mortality rate in this group was 45% vs 13% in patients without cardiovascular complications. Male subjects (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.03-1.68), older adults (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.75), and patients with congestive heart failure (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18-2.15), coronary artery disease (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.00-1.79), atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.06-1.95), direct admissions to the ICU (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.36-2.32), and Pao 2 /Fio 2  < 200 (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.11-1.92) were more likely to develop cardiovascular complications following hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 CAP; however, these factors are not associated with increased risk of death following a cardiovascular complication., Interpretation: Prior comorbidities, older age, male sex, severity of illness, and hypoxemia are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Once patients develop cardiovascular complications, the risk of death is extremely high. Cardiovascular complications are the primary drivers of mortality in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

SARS-CoV-2 and influenza are primary causes of viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Both pathogens have exhibited high transmissibility and are recognized causes of pandemics. Controversy still exists regarding the clinical outcomes between patients hospitalized with CAP due to these viruses. This secondary analysis identified patients with either influenza or SARS-CoV-2 infections from three cohorts of patients hospitalized for CAP. Clinical outcomes between patients with CAP due to influenza or due to SARS-CoV-2 were evaluated. Primary outcomes included length of stay and in-hospital mortality. To account for population differences between cohorts, each case of influenza CAP was matched to two controls with SARS-CoV-2 CAP. Matching criteria included sex, age, and nursing home residency. Stratified cox-proportional hazards regression or conditional logistic regression were used where appropriate. A total of 259 patients with influenza CAP were matched to two controls with SARS-CoV-2 CAP, totaling to 518 controls. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP were 2.23 times more likely to remain hospitalized at any point in time (95% confidence interval: 1.77-2.80), and had 3.84 times higher odds of dying in-hospital (95% confidence interval: 1.91-7.76) when compared to patients with influenza CAP. After matching and adjusting for confounding variables, patients admitted with SARS-CoV-2 CAP had consistently worse outcomes in comparison to their influenza CAP counterparts. This information can help clinicians decide on the level of care needed for patients with confirmed infections due to these pathogens. Additionally, estimates of disease burden can inform individuals at-risk for poor clinical outcomes, and further highlight the importance of effective preventative strategies.

The spectrum of disease severity and the insidiousness of clinical presentation make it difficult to recognize patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at higher risk of worse outcomes or death when they are seen in the early phases of the disease. There are now well-established risk factors for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. These should be factored in when assessing the prognosis of these patients. However, a more precise prognostic assessment in an individual patient may warrant the use of predictive tools. In this manuscript, we conduct a literature review on the severity of illness scores and biomarkers for the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Several COVID-19-specific scores have been developed since the onset of the pandemic. Some of them are promising and can be integrated into the assessment of these patients. We also found that the well-known pneumonia severity index (PSI) and CURB-65 (confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, BP, age ≥ 65 years) are good predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. While neither the PSI nor the CURB-65 should be used for the triage of outpatient versus inpatient treatment, they can be integrated by a clinician into the assessment of disease severity and can be used in epidemiological studies to determine the severity of illness in patient populations. Biomarkers also provide valuable prognostic information and, importantly, may depict the main physiological derangements in severe disease. We, however, do not advocate the isolated use of severity of illness scores or biomarkers for decision-making in an individual patient. Instead, we suggest the use of these tools on a case-by-case basis with the goal of enhancing clinician judgment., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a devastating impact on morbidity and mortality around the world. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 has a characteristic tropism for the cardiovascular system by entering the host cells and binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, which are expressed in different cells, particularly endothelial cells. This endothelial injury is linked by a direct intracellular viral invasion leading to inflammation, microthrombosis, and angiogenesis. COVID-19 has been associated with acute myocarditis, cardiac arrhythmias, new onset or worsening heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and thromboembolic disease. This review summarizes key relevant literature regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures related to cardiovascular complications in the setting of COVID-19., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Lower respiratory infections include acute bronchitis, influenza, community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbation of COPD and acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis. They are a major cause of death worldwide and often affect the most vulnerable: children, elderly and the impoverished. In this paper, we review the clinical presentation, diagnosis, severity assessment and treatment of adult outpatients with lower respiratory infections. The paper is divided into sections on specific lower respiratory infections, but we also dedicate a section to COVID-19 given the importance of the ongoing pandemic. Lower respiratory infections are heterogeneous entities, carry different risks for adverse events, and require different management strategies. For instance, while patients with acute bronchitis are rarely admitted to hospital and generally do not require antimicrobials, approximately 40% of patients seen for community-acquired pneumonia require admission. Clinicians caring for patients with lower respiratory infections face several challenges, including an increasing population of patients with immunosuppression, potential need for diagnostic tests that may not be readily available, antibiotic resistance and social aspects that place these patients at higher risk. Management principles for patients with lower respiratory infections include knowledge of local surveillance data, strategic use of diagnostic tests according to surveillance data, and judicious use of antimicrobials., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: R. Cavallazzi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J.A. Ramirez reports grants or contracts from Pfizer (institutional payment for research); consulting fees from Dompe (personal payment); and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Paratek (personal payment), all outside the submitted work., (Copyright ©The authors 2022.)

Background: The Confusion, Urea > 7 mM, Respiratory Rate ≥ 30 breaths/min, BP < 90 mm Hg (Systolic) or < 60 mm Hg (Diastolic), Age ≥ 65 Years (CURB-65) score and the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) are well-established clinical prediction rules for predicting mortality in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). SARS-CoV-2 has emerged as a new etiologic agent for CAP, but the role of CURB-65 score and PSI have not been established., Research Question: How effective are CURB-65 score and PSI at predicting in-hospital mortality resulting from SARS-CoV-2 CAP compared with non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP? Can these clinical prediction rules be optimized to predict mortality in SARS-CoV-2 CAP by addition of procalcitonin and D-dimer?, Study Design and Methods: Secondary analysis of two prospective cohorts of patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP or non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP from eight adult hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky., Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 19% for patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP and 6.5% for patients with non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP. For the PSI score, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis resulted in an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.78-0.86) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.77-0.80) for patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP, respectively. For the CURB-65 score, ROC analysis resulted in an AUC of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.75-0.84) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.77) for patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP, respectively. In SARS-CoV-2 CAP, the addition of D-dimer (optimal cutoff, 1,813 μg/mL) and procalcitonin (optimal cutoff, 0.19 ng/mL) to PSI and CURB-65 score provided negligible improvement in prognostic performance., Interpretation: PSI and CURB-65 score can predict in-hospital mortality for patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP comparatively. In patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP, the inclusion of either D-dimer or procalcitonin to PSI or CURB-65 score did not improve the prognostic performance of either score. In patients with CAP, regardless of cause, PSI and CURB-65 score remain adequate for predicting mortality in clinical practice., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have poor outcomes in the setting of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The primary objective is to compare outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 CAP and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP in patients with COPD. The secondary objective is to compare outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 CAP with and without COPD., Methods: In this analysis of two observational studies, three cohorts were analyzed: (1) patients with COPD and SARS-CoV-2 CAP; (2) patients with COPD and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP; and (3) patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP without COPD. Outcomes included length of stay, ICU admission, cardiac events, and in-hospital mortality., Results: Ninety-six patients with COPD and SARS-CoV-2 CAP were compared to 1129 patients with COPD and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP. 536 patients without COPD and SARS-CoV-2 CAP were analyzed for the secondary objective. Patients with COPD and SARS-CoV-2 CAP had longer hospital stay (15 vs 5 days, p < 0.001), 4.98 higher odds of cardiac events (95% CI: 3.74-6.69), and 7.31 higher odds of death (95% CI: 5.36-10.12) in comparison to patients with COPD and non-SARS-CoV-2 CAP. In patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP, presence of COPD was associated with 1.74 (95% CI: 1.39-2.19) higher odds of ICU admission and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.05-2.05) higher odds of death., Conclusion: In patients with COPD and CAP, presence of SARS-CoV-2 as an etiologic agent is associated with more cardiovascular events, longer hospital stay, and seven-fold increase in mortality. In patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP, presence of COPD is associated with 1.5-fold increase in mortality., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: A challenging aspect of the care for patients with acute respiratory failure is their nutrition management. This manuscript consists of a literature review on nutrition therapy in non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure receiving high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation., Recent Findings: Studies show that non-intubated patients with acute respiratory failure either on non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula are largely underfed in the initial phase of their hospitalization. Although data is limited, the available evidence suggests the feasibility of initiating oral diet in the majority of these patients in the early phase. Initial evaluation includes mental status evaluation, the Yale swallowing screening protocol, and an assessment of severity of illness. The goal should be to initiate oral diet within 24 h. If patient cannot initiate oral diet, the reason for not initiating oral diet should dictate the next step. For instance, if the reason is failure of the swallow screening, further evaluation with fiberoptic endoscopy is warranted. The inability to provide oral diet for a patient in respiratory distress may a harbinger of failure of non-invasive oxygen therapy and should prompt consideration for endotracheal intubation. We suggest placement of a small-bore feeding tube for enteral nutrition if patient is unable receive oral diet after 48 h., Conclusions: The nutrition management of these patients is better provided by a multidisciplinary team in a protocolized manner., (© 2021. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel viral pathogen that causes a clinical disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although most COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or involve mild upper respiratory tract symptoms, a significant number of patients develop severe or critical disease. Patients with severe COVID-19 commonly present with viral pneumonia that may progress to life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients with COVID-19 are also predisposed to venous and arterial thromboses that are associated with a poorer prognosis. The present study identified the emergence of a low-density inflammatory neutrophil (LDN) population expressing intermediate levels of CD16 (CD16Int) in patients with COVID-19. These cells demonstrated proinflammatory gene signatures, activated platelets, spontaneously formed neutrophil extracellular traps, and enhanced phagocytic capacity and cytokine production. Strikingly, CD16Int neutrophils were also the major immune cells within the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, exhibiting increased CXCR3 but loss of CD44 and CD38 expression. The percentage of circulating CD16Int LDNs was associated with D-dimer, ferritin, and systemic IL-6 and TNF-α levels and changed over time with altered disease status. Our data suggest that the CD16Int LDN subset contributes to COVID-19-associated coagulopathy, systemic inflammation, and ARDS. The frequency of that LDN subset in the circulation could serve as an adjunct clinical marker to monitor disease status and progression.

The obesity paradox postulates that increased body mass index (BMI) is protective in certain patient populations. We aimed to investigate the association of BMI and different weight classes with outcomes in hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This cohort study is a secondary data analysis of the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study database, a prospective study of hospitalised adult patients with CAP from June, 2014, to May, 2016, in Louisville, KY, USA. BMI as a predictor was assessed both as a continuous and categorical variable. Patients were categorised as weight classes based on World Health Organization definitions: BMI of <18.5 kg·m -2 (underweight), BMI of 18.5 to <25 kg·m -2 (normal weight), BMI of 25.0 to <30 kg·m -2 (overweight), BMI of 30 to <35 kg·m -2 (obesity class I), BMI of 35 to <40 kg·m -2 (obesity class II), and BMI of ≥40 kg·m -2 (obesity class III). Study outcomes, including time to clinical stability, length of stay, clinical failure and mortality, were assessed in hospital, at 30 days, at 6 months and at 1 year. Clinical failure was defined as the need for noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation or vasopressors within 1 week of admission. Patient characteristics and crude outcomes were stratified by BMI categories, and generalised additive binomial regression models were performed to analyse the impact of BMI as a continuous variable on study outcomes adjusting for possible confounding variables. 7449 patients were included in the study. Median time to clinical stability was 2 days for every BMI group. There was no association between BMI as a continuous predictor and length of stay <5 days (chi-squared=1.83, estimated degrees of freedom (EDF)=2.74, p=0.608). Clinical failure was highest in the class III obesity group, and higher BMI as a continuous predictor was associated with higher odds of clinical failure. BMI as a continuous predictor was significantly associated with 30-day (chi-squared=39.97, EDF=3.07, p<0.001), 6-month (chi-squared=89.42, EDF=3.44, p<0.001) and 1-year (chi-squared=83.97, EDF=2.89, p<0.001) mortalities. BMI ≤24.14 kg·m -2 was a risk factor whereas BMI ≥26.97 kg·m -2 was protective for mortality at 1-year. The incremental benefit of increasing BMI plateaued at 35 kg·m -2 . We found a protective benefit of obesity on mortality in CAP patients. However, we uniquely demonstrate that the association between BMI and mortality is not linear, and no incremental benefit of increasing BMI levels is observed in those with obesity classes II and III., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: R.Y. Kim has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: C. Connor has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: S. Furmanek has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: J.A. Ramirez has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: R. Cavallazzi has nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©ERS 2021.)

Infective endocarditis is associated with a variety of clinical signs, but its association with multisystem vasculitis is rarely reported. A high index of suspicion is necessary to differentiate a primary autoimmune vasculitis from an infectious cause as the wrong treatment can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. We present a 71-year-old female patient with negative blood cultures, on antibiotics for recent bacteraemia, who presented with cutaneous and renal leucocytoclastic vasculitis. Workup revealed a vegetation adjacent to her right atrial pacemaker lead consistent with infective endocarditis and her vasculitis completely resolved with appropriate antibiotics., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: Sepsis is associated with high morbidity and mortality and high healthcare costs. We hypothesized that a multifaceted quality improvement project would lead to an improvement in compliance with the sepsis "bundles.", Design: Patients presenting to the emergency department that met criteria for sepsis at triage triggered notification of an emergency department physician and the sepsis response team in order to facilitate timely completion of the 3-hour bundles. The primary outcome was compliance with the seven sepsis bundle components. Secondary outcomes included all-cause inhospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and time in the emergency department., Setting: The study was conducted at a 404-bed tertiary academic medical center over a 2-year period., Patients or Subjects: The study included patients that presented to the emergency department that met criteria for sepsis., Measurements or Main Results: The study included 163 patients. Overall compliance with the sepsis bundle was 79% (95% CI, 72-84%). There was significant improvement in comparison with the hospital's historical compliance of 37% ( p < 0.001). Compliance with the individual bundle components ranged from 80% to 100%. Sixteen patients died (10%) in the hospital. There was no statistically significant difference between the compliant and noncompliant groups regarding the secondary outcomes of length of stay or inhospital mortality., Conclusions: This study found that implementation of a sepsis response team can improve compliance with completion of sepsis bundles. This indicates that it is feasible to implement a multidisciplinary quality initiative to improve timely treatment of patients with sepsis at an academic center using a resident-driven sepsis response team., Competing Interests: The authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.)

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines have improved the treatment and outcomes of patients with CAP, primarily by standardization of initial empirical therapy. But current society-published guidelines exclude immunocompromised patients., Research Question: There is no consensus regarding the initial treatment of immunocompromised patients with suspected CAP., Study Design and Methods: This consensus document was created by a multidisciplinary panel of 45 physicians with experience in the treatment of CAP in immunocompromised patients. The Delphi survey methodology was used to reach consensus., Results: The panel focused on 21 questions addressing initial management strategies. The panel achieved consensus in defining the population, site of care, likely pathogens, microbiologic workup, general principles of empirical therapy, and empirical therapy for specific pathogens., Interpretation: This document offers general suggestions for the initial treatment of the immunocompromised patient who arrives at the hospital with pneumonia., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: A paucity of studies have assessed the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that require ICU admission. We conducted a study on this group of patients with the primary objective of defining the incidence, epidemiology, and mortality rate of CAP in the ICUs in Louisville, Kentucky. The secondary objective was to estimate the number of patients who were hospitalized and the number of deaths that were associated with CAP in ICU in the United States., Research Questions: What is epidemiology of CAP in the ICU in Louisville, Kentucky, and the projected incidence in the United States?, Study Design and Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective population-based cohort study. The setting was all nine adult hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual incidence of CAP in the ICU per 100,000 adults was calculated for the whole adult population of Louisville. The number of patients who were hospitalized because of CAP in ICU in the United States was estimated by multiplying the Louisville incidence rate of CAP in ICU by the 2014 US adult population., Results: From a total of 7,449 unique patients who were hospitalized with CAP, 1,707 patients (23%) were admitted to the ICU. The incidence of CAP in the ICU was 145 cases per 100,000 population of adults. Cases of CAP in the ICU were clustered in patients from areas of the city with high poverty. The mortality rate of patients with CAP in ICU was 27% at 30 days and 47% at one year. In the United States, the estimated number of patients who were hospitalized with CAP requiring the ICU was 356,326 per year, and the estimated number of deaths at 30 days and one year were 96,206 and 167,474, respectively., Interpretation: Almost one in five patients who are hospitalized with CAP requires intensive care. Poverty is associated with CAP in the ICU. Nearly one-half of patients with CAP in the ICU will die within one year. Because of its significant burden, CAP in the ICU should be a high priority in research agenda and health policy., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Obesity has been shown to have a paradoxical benefit in a number of conditions, but the long-term effects in obesity after chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is still unclear. In this study, the effects of obesity on short- and long-term outcomes after a COPD exacerbation were evaluated. This was a secondary analysis of the Rapid Empiric Treatment with Oseltamivir Study (RETOS): a prospective, randomized, unblinded clinical trial. Patients were included in the study if they were hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD. Obesity was noted as patients with BMI >30. Clinical outcomes of time to clinical stability, length of stay, and mortality were compared. A total of 301 patients were included in the study, 122 (41%) patients were obese. There was no significant difference in the length of stay and time to clinical stability between patients with and without obesity. Mortality for patients with and without obesity was 3% and 3% at 30 days, 7% and 18% at six months, and 8% and 28% at one year, respectively. After adjusting with multivariable regression analysis, patients with obesity had a significant reduction in odds of dying at one year (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.58; p  = .004) and at six months (aOR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.09-0.89; p  = .031). Our study showed that obesity was associated with reduced mortality at one year and six months after a COPD exacerbation. Although patients with obesity had higher rates of comorbidities, they had reduced mortality at one year after multivariable regression analysis.

Purpose of Review: The aim of this study was to discuss the literature on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)., Recent Findings: Well designed studies show that COPD is the strongest risk factor for development of CAP. Lung microbiome, abnormal lung immunity and pathogen virulence are important components of the pathogenesis of CAP in COPD. The cause of CAP in patients with COPD is similar to that of non-COPD patients. However, patients with COPD are at an increased risk of infection by Gram-negative bacilli, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Empiric treatment regimens for CAP in COPD should contemplate the most common pathogens, and consideration should be given for the coverage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus depending on the severity of CAP, severity of COPD or prior isolation of these pathogens. COPD has not been consistently shown to be an independent risk factor for worse short-term outcomes in patients with CAP. In a long-term study, COPD is associated with worse outcomes in these patients., Summary: Research focused on lung microbiome and abnormal lug immunity in patients with COPD should be prioritized. Further clinical research should try to consolidate the role of additional treatment approaches such as immunomodulating medications in COPD patients with CAP.

Objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important complication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to define incidence, and outcomes of COPD patients hospitalized with pneumonia in the city of Louisville, and to estimate the burden of disease in the US population., Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective population-based cohort study of residents in Louisville, Kentucky, 40 years old and older, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. All adults hospitalized with CAP were enrolled. The annual incidence of pneumonia in COPD patients in Louisville was calculated and the total number of adults with COPD hospitalized in the United States was estimated. Clinical outcomes included time to clinical stability (TCS), length of hospital stay (LOS) and mortality., Results: From a Louisville population of 18 246 patients with COPD, 3419 pneumonia hospitalizations were documented during the 2-year study. The annual incidence was 9369 patients with pneumonia per 100 000 COPD population, corresponding to an estimated 506 953 adults with COPD hospitalized due to pneumonia in the United States. The incidence of CAP in patients without COPD was 509 (95% CI 485-533) per 100 000. COPD patients had a median (interquartile range) TCS and LOS of 2 (1-4) and 5 (3-9) days respectively. The mortality of COPD patients during hospitalization, at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year was 193 of 3419 (5.6%), 400 of 3374 (11.9%), 816 of 3363 (24.3%) and 1104 of 3349 (33.0%), respectively., Conclusions: There was an annual incidence of 9369 cases of hospitalized CAP per 100 000 COPD patients in the city of Louisville. This was an approximately 18-fold greater incidence of CAP in COPD patients than in those without COPD., (Copyright © 2019 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: After hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), patients' clinical course may progress to clinical improvement, clinical failure, or nonresolving pneumonia. The epidemiology and outcomes of patients with CAP according to clinical course has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to characterize the incidence and outcomes for each clinical course of hospitalized patients with CAP., Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study. Clinical course was classified as improvement, failure, and nonresolving. Objective criteria were used to define improvement and failure during the first week of hospitalization. If neither group of criteria were met, the course was classified as nonresolving. Incidence for each clinical course was calculated. Mortality was evaluated at different time points through the first year. P < .05 was considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 7,449 patients were hospitalized with CAP during the study period. Improvement was documented in 5,732 patients (77%), failure was documented in 1,458 patients (20%), and nonresolving CAP was documented in 259 patients (3%). Mortality at 30 days was 6% for those who improved, 34% for those who failed, and 34% for those with nonresolving pneumonia. Mortality at 1 year was 23%, 52%, and 51%, respectively., Conclusions: This study shows that > 75% of hospitalized patients with CAP will reach clinical improvement. One of two patients with clinical failure or nonresolving CAP may die 1 year after hospitalization. Understanding the pathogenesis of long-term mortality is critical to developing interventions., (Copyright © 2019 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multiple criteria have been proposed to define community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) severity and predict ICU admission. Validity studies have found differing results. We tested four models to assess severe CAP built upon the criteria included in the 2007 IDSA/ATS guidelines, hypothesizing that a model providing different weights for each individual criterion may be of better predictability., Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study of adult hospitalizations for CAP at nine hospitals in Louisville, KY from June 2014 to May 2016. Four models were tested. Model 1: original 2007 IDSA/ATS criteria. Model 2: modified IDSA/ATS criteria by removing multilobar infiltrates and changing BUN threshold to ≥30 mg/dL; adding lactate level >2 mmol/L and requirement of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV). CAP was severe with 1 major criterion or 3 minor criteria. Model 3: same criteria as model 2, CAP was severe with 1 major criterion or 4 minor criteria. Model 4: multiple regression analysis including the modified criteria as described in models 2 and 3 with a score assigned to each variable according to the magnitude of association between variable and need for ICU., Results: 8284 CAP hospitalizations were included. 1458 (18%) required ICU. Model 4 showed highest prediction of need for ICU with an area under the curve of 0.91, highest accuracy, specificity, positive predictive value, and agreement among models., Conclusion: Assigning differential weights to clinical predictive variables generated a score with accuracy that outperformed the original 2007 IDSA/ATS criteria for severe CAP and ICU admission., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is controversy regarding the mean arterial pressure (MAP) goals that should be targeted in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS.) We conducted a study to assess different MAP targets in HRS in the intensive care unit (ICU)., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled pilot trial. ICU patients had target mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 85 mmHg (control arm) or 65-70 mmHg (study arm). Urine output and serum creatinine were trended and recorded., Results: A total of 18 patients were enrolled. The day four urine output in the high and low MAP group was 1194 (SD = 1249) mL/24 h and 920 (SD = 812) mL/24 h, respectively. The difference in day four - day one urine output was -689 (SD = 1684) mL/24 h and 272 (SD = 582) mL/24 h for the high and low MAP groups. The difference in serum creatinine at day four - day one was -0.54 (SD = 0.63) mg/dL and - 0.77 (SD = 1.14) mg/dL in the high and low MAP groups, respectively., Conclusion: In this study, we failed to prove non-inferiority between a low and high target MAP in patients with HRS., Trial Registration: This trial was registered with and approved by the University of Louisville Internal Review Board and hospital research review committees (IRB # 14.1190). The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (ID # NCT02789150). The IRB committee roster 7/21/2014-2/26/2015 is registered with IORG (IORG # IORG0000147; OMB # 0990-0279) and is available at http://louisville.edu/research/humansubjects/about-the-irb/rosters/RosterEffective20140721thru20150226.pdf., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Influenza and other respiratory viruses are commonly identified in patients with community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and in immunocompromised patients with pneumonia. Clinically, it is difficult to differentiate viral from bacterial pneumonia. Similarly, the radiological findings of viral infection are nonspecific. The advent of polymerase chain reaction testing has enormously facilitated the identification of respiratory viruses, which has important implications for infection control measures and treatment. Currently, treatment options for patients with viral infection are limited, but there is ongoing research on the development and clinical testing of new treatment regimens and strategies., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Volume resuscitation is of utmost importance in the treatment of shock. It is imperative that this resuscitation be guided using a reliable method of ascertaining volume status to avoid the ill-effects of hypovolemia while also avoiding those of over-resuscitation. There are numerous tools and methods available in this era to aid the bedside physician in guiding volume resuscitation, many of which will be described in this review of literature. The methods to assess preload responsiveness are broadly divided into static and dynamic measurements. Static measurements involve 'snapshot' estimations of preload. Dynamic measurements rely on fluctuations in heart-lung interactions or a simulated volume challenge to predict whether increasing preload by volume loading will be beneficial. Dynamic measurements are favored over static measurements, however the conditions to be met for most dynamic measurements to be valid leave these methods to be used reliably in a very discrete critically-ill population. This issue is overcome by utilizing maneuvers that have been developed to assess fluid responsiveness that liberalize the conditions required for most dynamic measurements, such as passive leg raising, end expiratory occlusion, and mini-fluid boluses. This review of literature highlights the differences between static and dynamic measurements of fluid responsiveness, and proposes a guide to choosing the most reliable methods of ascertaining volume responsiveness individualized to each patient., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The diagnosis of asthma is not always straightforward and can be even more challenging in older adults. Asthma is ideally confirmed by demonstration of variable expiratory airflow limitation. However, many patients with asthma do not demonstrate airflow obstruction nor show bronchodilator reversibility. We aimed to investigate predictors for a positive bronchial challenge test with methacholine in older adults being evaluated for asthma., Methods: This is a diagnostic accuracy study with a cross-sectional design. Participants ≥60 years with suspected asthma and a negative postbronchodilator response on spirometry were included. All participants underwent a methacholine challenge test (MCT). We assessed the value of standard asthma screening questions and additional clinical questions to predict the MCT results. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to assess the variables independently impacting the odds of a positive MCT result., Results: Our study included 71 participants. The majority were female (n = 52, 73.2%) and the average age was 67.0 years. Those with a positive MCT (n = 55, 77.5%) were more likely to have wheezing or coughing due to allergens (n = 51, 92.7% vs. n = 12, 75.0%; P = 0.004) and difficulty walking several blocks (n = 14, 25.5% vs. n = 1, 6.3%, P = 0.009). After adjustment, having wheezing or coughing due to allergens (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 1.7-7.8, P = 0.012) remained the only significant independent predictor of a positive MCT., Conclusions: In older adults with suspected asthma, questioning about wheezing or coughing due to allergens provides a modest independent value to predict a MCT result in those who previously had a negative postbronchodilator response on spirometry., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Guideline-discordant care of COPD is not uncommon. Further, there is a push to incorporate quality improvement (QI) training into internal medicine (IM) residency curricula. This study compared quality of care of COPD patients in an IM residents' clinic and a pulmonary fellows' clinic and, subsequently, the results of a quality improvement program in the residents' clinic. Pre-intervention rates of quality measure adherence were compared between the IM teaching clinic ( n = 451) and pulmonary fellows' clinic ( n = 177). Patient encounters in the residents' teaching clinic after quality improvement intervention ( n = 119) were reviewed and compared with pre-intervention data. Prior to intervention, fellows were significantly more likely to offer smoking cessation counseling ( p = 0.024) and document spirometry showing airway obstruction ( p < 0.001). Smoking cessation counseling, pneumococcal vaccination, and diagnosis of COPD by spirometry were targets for QI. A single-cycle, resident-led QI project was initiated. After, residents numerically improved in the utilization of spirometry (66.5% vs. 74.8%) and smoking cessation counseling (81.8% vs. 86.6%), and significantly improved rates of pneumococcal vaccination ( p = 0.024). One cycle of resident-led QI significantly improved the rates of pneumococcal vaccination, with numerical improvement in other areas of COPD care.

Background: Determining volume responsiveness in critically ill patients is challenging. We sought to determine if passive leg raise (PLR) induced changes in pulsed wave Doppler of the carotid artery flow time could predict fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients., Materials and Methods: Medical intensive care unit patients ≥18 years old with a radial arterial line and FloTrac/Vigileo monitor in place were enrolled. Pulsed wave Doppler of the carotid artery was performed to measure the change in carotid flow time (CFT C ) in response to a PLR. Patients were categorized as fluid responders if stroke volume increased by ≥15% on a Vigileo monitor. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of CFT C to detect a change in response to a PLR. We also calculated the percentage increase in CFT C that could predict fluid responsiveness., Results: We enrolled 22 patients. Using an increase of ≥24.6% in the CFT C in response to PLR to predict fluid responsiveness there was a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 92%, positive likelihood ratio of 7.2, negative likelihood ratio of 0.4, positive predictive value of 86%, negative predictive value of 73% and receiver operating characteristic of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.54-0.96)., Conclusions: CFT C performs well compared to stroke volume measurements on a Vigileo monitor. The use of CFT C is highlighted in resource-limited environments and when time limits the use of other methods. CFTc should be validated in a larger study with more operators against a variety of hemodynamic monitors., (Copyright © 2018 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We investigated whether early enteral nutrition alone may be sufficient prophylaxis against stress-related gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in mechanically ventilated patients., Materials and Methods: Prospective, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, exploratory study that included mechanically ventilated patients in medical ICUs of two academic hospitals. Intravenous pantoprazole and early enteral nutrition were compared to placebo and early enteral nutrition as stress-ulcer prophylaxis. The incidences of clinically significant and overt GI bleeding were compared in the two groups., Results: 124 patients were enrolled in the study. After exclusion of 22 patients, 102 patients were included in analysis: 55 patients in the treatment group and 47 patients in the placebo group. Two patients (one from each group) showed signs of overt GI bleeding (overall incidence 1.96%), and both patients experienced a drop of >3 points in hematocrit in a 24-hour period indicating a clinically significant GI bleed. There was no statistical significant difference in the incidence of overt or significant GI bleeding between groups (p=0.99)., Conclusion: We found no benefit when pantoprazole is added to early enteral nutrition in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. The routine prescription of acid-suppressive therapy in critically ill patients who tolerate early enteral nutrition warrants further evaluation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The beneficial effect of macrolides for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in combination with beta-lactams may be due to their anti-inflammatory activity. In patients with pneumococcal meningitis, the use of steroids improves outcomes only if they are administered before beta-lactams. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes in hospitalized patients with CAP when macrolides were administered before, simultaneously with, or after beta-lactams., Methods: Secondary data analysis of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization (CAPO) International Cohort Study database. Study groups were defined based on the sequence of administration of macrolides and beta-lactams. The study outcomes were time to clinical stability (TCS), length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality. Accelerated failure time models were used to evaluate the adjusted impact of sequential antibiotic administration and time-to-event outcomes, while a logistic regression model was used to evaluate their adjusted impact on mortality., Results: A total of 99 patients were included in the macrolide before group and 305 in the macrolide after group. Administration of a macrolide before a beta-lactam compared to after a beta-lactam reduced TCS (3 vs. 4 days, p = .011), LOS (6 vs. 7 days, p = .002) and mortality (3 vs. 7.2%, p = .228)., Conclusions: The administration of macrolides before beta-lactams was associated with a statistically significant decrease in TCS and LOS and a non-statistically significant decrease in mortality. The beneficial effect of macrolides in hospitalized patient with CAP may occur only if administered before beta-lactams.

Background: The best predictors of short- and medium-term mortality of cirrhotic patients receiving intensive care support are unknown., Methods: We conducted meta-analyses from 13 studies (2523 cirrhotics) after selection of original articles and response to a standardized questionnaire by the corresponding authors. End-points were in-ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month mortality in ICU survivors. A total of 301 pooled analyses, including 95 analyses restricted to 6-month mortality among ICU survivors, were conducted considering 249 variables (including reason for admission, organ replacement therapy, and composite prognostic scores)., Results: In-ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month mortality was 42.7, 54.1, and 75.1%, respectively. Forty-eight patients (3.8%) underwent liver transplantation during follow-up. In-ICU mortality was lower in patients admitted for variceal bleeding (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.36-0.59; p < 0.001) and higher in patients with SOFA > 19 at baseline (OR 8.54; 95% CI 2.09-34.91; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.93). High SOFA no longer predicted mortality at 6 months in ICU survivors. Twelve variables related to infection were predictors of in-ICU mortality, including SIRS (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.64-3.65; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.57), pneumonia (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.47-3.22; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.69), sepsis-associated refractory oliguria (OR 10.61; 95% CI 4.07-27.63; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.76), and fungal infection (OR 4.38; 95% CI 1.11-17.24; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.85). Among therapeutics, only dopamine (OR 5.57; 95% CI 3.02-10.27; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.68), dobutamine (OR 8.92; 95% CI 3.32-23.96; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.86), epinephrine (OR 5.03; 95% CI 2.68-9.42; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.77), and MARS (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.22-3.53; p = 0.007; PPV = 0.58) were associated with in-ICU mortality without heterogeneity. In ICU survivors, eight markers of liver and renal failure predicted 6-month mortality, including Child-Pugh stage C (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.44-4.10; p < 0.001; PPV = 0.57), baseline MELD > 26 (OR 3.97; 95% CI 1.92-8.22; p < 0.0001; PPV = 0.75), and hepatorenal syndrome (OR 4.67; 95% CI 1.24-17.64; p = 0.022; PPV = 0.88)., Conclusions: Prognosis of cirrhotic patients admitted to ICU is poor since only a minority undergo liver transplant. The prognostic performance of general ICU scores decreases over time, unlike the Child-Pugh and MELD scores, even recorded in the context of organ failure. Infection-related parameters had a short-term impact, whereas liver and renal failure had a sustained impact on mortality.

We conducted a retrospective chart review to examine the efficacy of adenotonsillectomy for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children. Our study population was made up of 85 patients-58 boys and 27 girls, aged 1 to 17 years (mean: 6.9 ± 4.4)-with severe OSA who had undergone adenotonsillectomy and pre- and postoperative attended polysomnography (PSG) over a 4-year period. Severe OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of >10 events per hour of sleep. Patients who had an underlying genetic or craniofacial anomaly were excluded. In addition to demographic and PSG data, we compiled information on selected characteristics of patients according to postoperative residual AHIs of ≤5 and >5. Finally, information on body mass index z score was available on 72 patients; the mean score was 1.55 ± 1.51, with 36 patients (50.0%) fulfilling the criteria for obesity. In the group as a whole, we found that adenotonsillectomy resulted in a significant reduction in AHI from 35.4 to 7.1 (p < 0.001). We also found an improvement in mean oxygen saturation nadir from 75.2 to 85.5 (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, only 8 patients (9.4%) achieved an AHI of ≤1; AHIs were >1 to ≤5 in 39 patients (45.9%), >5 to ≤10 in 24 patients (28.2%), and >10 in 14 patients (16.5%). A significantly higher proportion of boys had a residual AHI of >5 after surgery compared with those whose postoperative AHI was ≤5 (78.9 vs. 59.6%; p = 0.04). We conclude that adenotonsillectomy leads to a significant improvement in sleep-disordered breathing in children with severe OSA, but residual disease is common so close postoperative follow-up is essential.

Background: Understanding the burden of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is critical to allocate resources for prevention, management, and research. The objectives of this study were to define incidence, epidemiology, and mortality of adult patients hospitalized with CAP in the city of Louisville, and to estimate burden of CAP in the US adult population., Methods: This was a prospective population-based cohort study of adult residents in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. Consecutive hospitalized patients with CAP were enrolled at all adult hospitals in Louisville. The annual population-based CAP incidence was calculated. Geospatial epidemiology was used to define ecological associations among CAP and income level, race, and age. Mortality was evaluated during hospitalization and at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after hospitalization., Results: During the 2-year study, from a Louisville population of 587499 adults, 186384 hospitalizations occurred. A total of 7449 unique patients hospitalized with CAP were documented. The annual age-adjusted incidence was 649 patients hospitalized with CAP per 100000 adults (95% confidence interval, 628.2-669.8), corresponding to 1591825 annual adult CAP hospitalizations in the United States. Clusters of CAP cases were found in areas with low-income and black/African American populations. Mortality during hospitalization was 6.5%, corresponding to 102821 annual deaths in the United States. Mortality at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year was 13.0%, 23.4%, and 30.6%, respectively., Conclusions: The estimated US burden of CAP is substantial, with >1.5 million unique adults being hospitalized annually, 100000 deaths occurring during hospitalization, and approximately 1 of 3 patients hospitalized with CAP dying within 1 year., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)