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Influenza has significant morbidity and mortality. Some experts consider infection with influenza B as milder than that with influenza A. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A or B in 2017–2018 influenza season. All hospitalized patients between October 2017 and April 2018 with laboratory-confirmed influenza A and B were included. The primary composite outcomes were pneumonia/myocarditis/encephalitis, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were 30-/90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and readmission rates. The study included 201 influenza A and 325 influenza B. For the primary composite outcome, no significant difference was demonstrated between influenza A and B. Rates of mortality were similar at 30 and 90 days. Influenza A had higher pneumonia rates and mechanical ventilation. On multivariate analysis, higher Charlson's score, hypoalbuminemia, and vasopressor use were associated with 30-day mortality, while infection with either influenza A or B was not. Influenza A was associated with higher pneumonia and mechanical ventilation rates. However, influenza B resulted with similar 30-day mortality rate as influenza A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic escalations are frequently guided by fever persistence. Unnecessary antibiotic escalation is associated with resistance induction. We examined whether fever persistence is associated with adverse outcomes among medical inpatients with sepsis. In a single-center prospective cohort study, we included consecutive medical inpatients with suspected or documented bacterial infections. Data were collected on days 0, 2, 4, and 30 days from episode onset. We examined the association between fever persistence at 4 days and 30-day mortality on univariate and multivariate analysis. Inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment (IAET) was defined for patients with microbiologically documented infections (MDIs). Odds ratios (ORs) are presented with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 1,621 patients were included. Among patients with MDIs, 38/206 (18.4 %) given appropriate empiric therapy had continued fever on day 4, compared to 64/231 (27.7 %) of patients receiving IAET, OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.37-0.93. Fever persistence was not associated with mortality after adjustment for other risk factors. Among patients with presumed sepsis who did not have MDIs, persistent fever was significantly associated with 30-day mortality on a multivariate analysis, adjusted OR 2.77 (95 % CI 1.78-4.31). Other risk factors for mortality included older age, nosocomial infections, malignancy, dyspnea, shock, decreased albumin, and elevated creatinine. For patients with MDIs, fever persistence for up to 4 days is a marker of IAET, but is not associated with mortality, and should not, in itself, trigger antibiotic escalation. For patients without MDIs, fever persistence should trigger careful re-evaluation, as it is associated with mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a feared complication during hospitalization. The practice of administering pharmacological prophylaxis is highly endorsed despite failure of studies to show reduction in mortality.Aim: To determine the benefit of VTE prophylaxis in acutely ill medical patients with sepsis.Methods: A prospective cohort, with enrollment between January 2010 and April 2011. Patients were detected in four medicine departments at a university-affiliated hospital and followed for 90 days for pre-specified outcomes. We included all septic patients at high VTE risk defined by Padua score ≥ 4. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Incidence of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or major bleeding episodes at 30 and 90 days, and 90-day mortality were secondary outcomes.Results: A total of 1540 patients were identified, of which 720 (55%) were at high risk for VTE and included. A total of 213 (29.6%) patients received prophylaxis. VTE occurred in 6 control patients and 2 treated (0.9 and 1.2%, respectively, RR 0.79, CI: 0.16–3.95). Major bleeding events occurred in 4 (0.8%) control and 7 (3.3%) treated patients (RR 4.1, CI: 1.24–14.08, P = 0.01). After adjusting for covariates, VTE prophylaxis conferred no 30- or 90-day mortality benefit (OR 1.24, CI: 0.79–1.93 and OR 1.47, CI: 0.99–2.17, respectively). Lack of significant benefit with prophylaxis persisted after propensity-score matching (OR for 30-day mortality 1.01, CI: 0.66–1.55).Conclusions: In acutely ill inpatients with sepsis, no significant benefit was demonstrated for VTE prophylaxis, with higher rates of bleeding. The risk-benefit ratio of this intervention should be carefully examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]