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Background: Patients with chronic intestinal failure (CIF) are at increased risk of developing renal impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and assess risk factors for renal impairment, including patients with all mechanisms of CIF. Methods: This was a cohort study of patients initiated on HPN between March 1, 2015, and March 1, 2020, at a national UK IF Reference Centre. Patients were followed from their first discharge with HPN until HPN cessation or the end of follow‐up on December 31, 2021. Results: There were 357 patients included in the analysis. Median follow‐up time was 4.7 years. At baseline, >40% of patients had renal impairment, with 15.4% fulfilling the criteria for CKD. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decreased significantly during the first year after initiation of HPN from 93.32 ml/min/1.73 m2 to 86.30 ml/min/1.73 m2 at the first year of follow‐up (P = 0.002), with sequential stabilization of renal function. Increased age at HPN initiation and renal impairment at baseline were associated with decreased eGFR. By the end of follow‐up, 6.7% patients developed renal calculi and 26.1% fulfilled the criteria for CKD. Conclusion: This is the largest study of renal function in patients receiving long‐term HPN. After the first year following HPN initiation, the rate of decline in eGFR was similar to that expected in the general population. These findings should reassure patients and clinicians that close monitoring of renal function can lead to good outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) complications are frequently reported in patients receiving home parenteral support (HPS). Compromised CVC integrity or breakage is one such issue. Repairing such breakages can potentially avoid costly and risky catheter replacements. Methods: We completed a retrospective descriptive cohort study using a prospectively maintained data set, in a national UK intestinal failure reference center. Repair success, CVC longevity, and catheter‐related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) rates after repair were the primary outcome measures. Results: A total of 763 patients received HPS. There were 137 CVC repairs: 115 (84%) tunneled CVCs and 22 peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) attempted in 72 patients. Of the 137 attempts at CVC repair, 120 (88%) were deemed to be successful, allowing a median duration of subsequent CVC use of 336 days following repair (range 3–1696 days), which equates to 99,602 catheter days of HPS infusion. Three patients had a CRBSI within 90 days of repair, and patients required admission to the hospital for refeeding on 14 occasions following repair, such that hospitalization was avoided in 103/120 (86%) occasions following successful CVC repair. There was no increase in the recorded rate of CRBSIs in patients undergoing CVC repair compared with the CRBSI rates of all HPS‐dependent patients under our care during the study period (0.03 vs 0.344/1000 catheter days, respectively). Conclusion: This is the largest single‐center experience to demonstrate that CVCs, including PICCs, used for the administration of HPS can be safely repaired, prolonging CVC longevity without leading to an increased risk of CRBSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A fungal‐related catheter‐related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is less frequent than those induced by bacteria. In the past, a single episode of fungal CRBSI has been used as a marker of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) failure and thus a possible indication for intestinal transplantation. Methods: Survival outcomes were assessed from a prospectively maintained database of patients initiated on HPN for underlying chronic intestinal failure between 1993 and 2018, with a censoring date of December 31, 2020. Cox regression was performed to assess predictors of mortality with univariable and multivariable analysis. Results: A total of 1008 patients were included in the study, with a total of 1 364 595 catheter days. There were 513 CRBSI events recorded in 262 patients, equating to a CRBSI rate of 0.38/1000 catheter days. A total of 38/262 (14.5%) patients had at least one episode of fungal CRBSI, whereas 216/262 (82.4%) had at least one bacterial but no fungal CRBSI. The median time between HPN initiation and the first CRBSI episode was 20.6 months (95% confidence interval, 16.5–24.1). Episodes of fungal or bacterial CRBSI and the number of CRBSI episodes were not associated with increased mortality. Overall, 15 CRBSI‐related deaths were observed in the observation period (0.01 CRBSI deaths/1000 catheter days), two of these were fungal in origin. Conclusion: The occurrence of a fungal CRBSI does not increase the risk of death compared with patients who have bacterial CRBSI or those without a CRBSI event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Catheter‐related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) remain the commonest complication associated with home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Although the management outcomes of CRBSIs have been extensively reported by specialized intestinal failure (IF) centers, there are minimal data reporting CRBSI outcomes for HPN‐dependent patients admitted to nonspecialized hospitals. Method: This was an observational study from a prospectively maintained database of CRBSIs in HPN‐dependent patients managed outside of a specialized IF center. Results: Three hundred and six patients from a total cohort of 1066 HPN‐dependent patients suffered from 489 CRBSI events from 2003 to 2021; after 2017, 71 of these events were managed at the patient's local, nonspecialized hospital and the remainder at the specialized IF center. From 2017 to 2021, salvage of the central venous catheter (CVC) with antimicrobial therapy was attempted in 32 out of 71 (45.1%) patients admitted to the nonspecialized hospital, with successful salvage recorded in 23 (71.8%) cases. Notably, CVC salvage was attempted more commonly (77 out of 103 [74.8%]; P = 0.004 vs nonspecialized hospital), with a better salvage success rate (64 out of 77 [83.1%] P = 0.01 vs nonspecialized hospital) in patients who were admitted to the specialized IF center. Conclusion: In some instances, CRBSIs can be effectively managed when patients presenting to a nonspecialized hospital; however, overall salvage is more likely to be successful in the specialized setting. Further development of clinical and educational networks between IF centers and patients' local hospitals aimed at standardizing care may lead to improved CRBSI outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although international guidelines support the use of commercially available multichamber bags (MCBs), the majority of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in the United Kingdom has been compounded PN, tailored to the patient. However, national capacity limitations in aseptic facilities have necessitated the increased use of MCBs. There are no studies evaluating the appropriateness or benefits of using a "hybrid" regimen incorporating both MCBs and compounded PN in patients already established on compounded HPN. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional audit evaluation conducted on September 1, 2021, at a national United Kingdom reference center. All HPN‐dependent adults prescribed HPN for chronic intestinal failure were assessed by a multidisciplinary team for their potential of being switched to a "hybrid" regimen of MCBs and compounded PN. Results: Of 180 patients currently receiving compounded HPN that included intravenous nitrogen with glucose ± lipid, 65 (36.1%) were deemed clinically suitable for a hybrid PN regimen, with minimal variance in PN constituents per week (volume 0%, non‐nitrogen kilocalories 0%, nitrogen 0%, fat −0.2%, glucose 0%, sodium 0%, potassium 0%, calcium 0%, magnesium 0%, and phosphate −0.1%) and requiring no additional central venous catheter manipulations. The potential reduction in compounded PN would reduce by 3627 bags per year, equating to a cost saving of £141,453 per year (equivalent to $178,885). Conclusion: Wider use of hybrid MCB/compounded HPN regimens could lead to a reduction in the need for compounded PN to be produced by aseptic facilities. Further evaluation of acceptability and tolerance of hybrid regimens by patients already receiving compounded HPN is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of bloodstream infections may be increased in hospitalized patients receiving ready‐made parenteral nutrition (PN) multichamber bags (MCBs) compared with customized PN; however, as highlighted in recent international guidelines, there are no comparable data relating to home PN (HPN). Methods: Data from a prospectively maintained database were analyzed to compare incidence rates of catheter‐related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) between patients receiving customized HPN compared with MCB HPN at a national UK referral center between May 2018 and August 2020. Results: Sixty patients with chronic intestinal failure were commenced on MCBs and 45 received customized HPN for a total of 5914 and 7641 catheter days, respectively. No difference in CRBSI incidence was found (0.51/1000 catheter days for MCBs, 0.39/1000 catheter days for customized HPN; incidence rate ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.26–6.37). Eighteen patients were switched from customized HPN to MCB HPN. The study period covered 7401 catheter days receiving customized HPN and 4834 days on MCBs. No significant change was noted in the CRBSI rates following this switch (0.27/1000 catheter days receiving customized HPN vs 0.21/1000 catheter days on MCBs; incidence rate ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.12–14.3). Conclusion: The use of MCBs for HPN patients is not associated with an increased risk of CRBSI. This study will inform international guidelines and provide reassurance for the continued, safe use of MCB HPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a life‐saving therapy for patients with chronic intestinal failure but can be associated with a degree of psychological distress. The factors associated with the need for antidepressants (ADs) in this cohort have not yet been described. Methods: The study involved prospective data collection from patients attending an HPN clinic at a national intestinal failure referral center. Patients requiring HPN as a result of active malignancy were excluded. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to AD usage; demographic, anthropometric, socioeconomic characteristics, and intravenous supplementation (IVS) regimens were compared between groups. Results: A total of 184 patients were recruited between July 2018 and April 2019, with an overall prevalence of AD use of 41.7% (70/168 patients). Daily mean IVS volume was significantly higher among patients taking AD ("AD" group; 2125.48 ± 991.8 ml/day, "no‐AD" group; 1828.54 ± 847.0 ml/day, P =.039), with the proportion of patients needing high‐volume IVS (≥3000 ml/day) being 3 times higher in the AD group (20.0%(14/70 patients) vs 6.1% (6/98 patients), P =.006). The average energy IVS infusion per day was similar between the groups. Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate that AD use correlates with higher IVS volume rather than energy requirements in HPN patients, suggesting that high IVS volume requirements may be better associated with the patient's disease burden. Early and tailored mental health intervention may be beneficial in those with high IVS volume requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antidepressant drugs, which are widely used in palliative care patients for both management of psychiatric disorders and non‐psychiatric symptoms, may cause a cluster of distressing symptoms on discontinuation. In dying patients, cessation of oral intake may occur either temporarily or permanently for reasons related to disease or its treatment, as well as in the days before death. We examined antidepressant use in palliative care patients by risk of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADDS). Strategies for reducing the risk of ADDS, and for managing it that should occur, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a recognized complication of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Central venous access devices (CVADs) are essential for the delivery of long-term parenteral nutrition (PN), yet there are no published data as to the prevalence, characteristics and outcomes of IE in this population.Methods: A prospectively maintained database of patients with intestinal failure (IF) types 2 and 3, managed by a national intestinal failure center between January 2010 and December 2018, was analyzed retrospectively and relevant factors extracted from case records.Results: A total of 745 patients with IF and CVADs in situ on admission, or placed during their stay, were admitted over the duration of this study, 640 with type 2 IF and 105 with type 3 IF. Two hundred eighty-two echocardiograms were performed to investigate potential IE associated with a CLABSI event. Four cases of IE were identified in the entire cohort of 782,666 catheter days (IE incidence rate: 0.005 per 1000 catheter days and 187 per 100,000 person-years for the entire cohort; 0.048 per 1000 inpatient catheter days for acute type 2 IF, 0.0026 per 1000 outpatient catheter days [ie, 99 per 100,000 person-years for outpatients with type 3 IF]).Conclusion: IE is rare in the type 3 IF population and a rare consequence of CLABSI in inpatient acute type 2 IF. However, mortality and morbidity are high. Routine echocardiography may not be warranted for investigation of CLABSI unless there is a high risk of IE or a virulent organism is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]