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Purpose Patients with hematologic malignancies are increasingly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) when life-threatening events occur. We sought to report outcomes and prognostic factors in these patients. Patients and Methods Ours was a prospective, multicenter cohort study of critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disease status were collected after 3 to 6 months. Results Of the 1,011 patients, 38.2% had newly diagnosed malignancies, 23.1% were in remission, and 24.9% had received hematopoietic stem-cell transplantations (HSCT, including 145 allogeneic). ICU admission was mostly required for acute respiratory failure (62.5%) and/or shock (42.3%). On day1, 733 patients (72.5%) received life-supporting interventions. Hospital, day-90, and 1-year survival rates were 60.7%, 52.5%, and 43.3%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, cancer remission and time to ICU admission less than 24 hours were associated with better hospital survival. Poor performance status, Charlson comorbidity index, allogeneic HSCT, organ dysfunction score, cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, malignant organ infiltration, and invasive aspergillosis were associated with higher hospital mortality. Mechanical ventilation (47.9% of patients), vasoactive drugs (51.2%), and dialysis (25.9%) were associated with mortality rates of 60.5%, 57.5%, and 59.2%, respectively. On day 90, 80% of survivors had no HRQOL alterations (physical and mental health similar to that of the overall cancer population). After 6 months, 80% of survivors had no change in treatment intensity compared with similar patients not admitted to the ICU, and 80% were in remission. Conclusion Critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies have good survival, disease control, and post-ICU HRQOL. Earlier ICU admission is associated with better survival.

Acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS) caused by the destruction of malignant cells leads to metabolic abnormalities, which may either remain isolated (biological ATLS) or subsequently lead to renal dysfunction (clinical ATLS). We compared hospital and 6-month survival in patients with ATLS with hematological malignancies with or without acute renal injury. Sixty-three patients (median age, 50 years; range, 32-64) were included with ATLS. Twenty-eight had no ARI (including 17 (61%) who subsequently required dialysis) whereas 35 had an ATLS-related ARI (including 31 (89%) who required dialysis). Acute leukemia (n = 28) and lymphoma (n = 30) were the main malignancies. All patients had high tumor burdens. Hospital and 6-month mortality rates were significantly lower in patients without ARI (7% and 21%, respectively) than in the ATLS-related renal injury group (51% and 66%). After adjustment for acute disease severity, presence of ARI at ICU admission was associated with higher hospital mortality (odds ratio, 10.41; 95% confidence interval, 2.01-19.170; p = 0.005) and 6-month mortality (odds ratio, 5.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-54.66; p = 0.006), compared to patients without renal injury. Our study suggests that in patients with ATLS, ICU management when acute renal injury is present is associated with higher short- and long-term mortality.

Objective To assess the etiologies and outcome of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in HIV-infected patients over the first decade of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) use. Methods Retrospective study of all HIV-infected patients (n = 147) admitted to a single intensive care unit (ICU) for ARF between 1996 and 2006. Results ARF revealed the diagnosis of HIV infection in 43 (29.2%) patients. Causes of ARF were bacterial pneumonia (n = 74), Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP, n = 52), other opportunistic infections (n = 19), and noninfectious pulmonary disease (n = 33); the distribution of causes did not change over the 10-year study period. Two or more causes were identified in 33 patients. The 43 patients on ART more frequently had bacterial pneumonia and less frequently had opportunistic infections (P = 0.02). Noninvasive ventilation was needed in 49 patients and endotracheal intubation in 42. Hospital mortality was 19.7%. Factors independently associated with mortality were mechanical ventilation [odds ratio (OR) = 8.48, P

The current trend to manage critically ill hematologic patients admitted with acute respiratory failure is to perform noninvasive ventilation to avoid endotracheal intubation. However, failure of noninvasive ventilation may lead to an increased mortality.Retrospective study to determine the frequency of noninvasive ventilation failure and identify its determinants.Medical intensive care unit in a University hospital.All consecutive patients with hematologic malignancies admitted to the intensive care unit over a 10-yr period who received noninvasive ventilation.A total of 99 patients were studied. Simplified Acute Physiology Score II at admission was 49 (median, interquartile range, 39-57). Fifty-three patients (54%) failed noninvasive ventilation and required endotracheal intubation. Their PaO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly lower (175 [101-236] vs. 248 [134-337]) and their respiratory rate under noninvasive ventilation was significantly higher (32 breaths/min [30-36] vs. 28 [27-30]). Forty-seven patients (89%) who failed noninvasive ventilation required vasopressors. Hospital mortality was 79% in those who failed noninvasive ventilation, and 41% in those who succeeded. Patients who failed noninvasive ventilation had a significantly longer intensive care unit stay (13 days [8-23] vs. 5 [2-8]) and a significantly higher rate of intensive care unit-acquired infections (32% compared with 7%). Factors independently associated with noninvasive ventilation failure by multivariate analysis were respiratory rate under noninvasive ventilation, longer delay between admission and noninvasive ventilation first use, need for vasopressors or renal replacement therapy, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.Failure of noninvasive ventilation occurs in half the critically ill hematologic patients and is associated with an increased mortality. Predictors of noninvasive ventilation failure might be used to guide decisions regarding intubation.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a risk factor for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). We sought whether a severe deficiency in ADAMTS13, the enzyme specifically involved in the cleavage of von Willebrand factor, was associated with specific presenting features and outcome in HIV-associated TMA. In this prospective, multicentre, case-control study, 29 patients of 236 in the French Network on TMA had an HIV-associated TMA. Seventeen patients with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (ADAMTS135% HIV(+) group) were compared to 12 patients with a detectable ADAMTS13 activity (ADAMTS13or=5% HIV(+) group). HIV(+) patients were also compared to 62 patients with idiopathic TMA, either with (45 patients, ADAMTS135% idiopathic group) or without (17 patients, ADAMTS13or=5% idiopathic group) severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. ADAMTS135% HIV(+) patients had less AIDS-related complications than ADAMTS13or=5% HIV(+) patients (23.5% versus 91.6%, respectively, P = 0.0005) and their median CD4(+) T cell count was higher (P = 0.05). TMA-associated death rate was higher in ADAMTS13or=5% HIV(+) patients than in ADAMTS135% HIV(+) patients (50% versus 11.7%, respectively, P = 0.04). In ADAMTS135% patients, TMA-associated death rate was comparable between HIV(+) and idiopathic patients (15.5% in idiopathic patients, P-value was non-significant). By contrast, TMA-associated death rate in ADAMTS13or=5% HIV(+) patients was higher than in idiopathic patients (11.7% in idiopathic patients, P = 0.04). In conclusion, HIV-associated TMA with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency have less AIDS-related complications and a higher CD4(+) T cell count. TMA prognosis is better and comparable to this of idiopathic forms.

Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is common in patients with HIV infection but may also occur in patients with other causes of immunodeficiency, including hematologic and solid malignancies. Methods To better describe the clinical picture of PCP as to maintain a high level of suspicion in adequate cases, we studied 56 cancer patients with PCP and compared them to 56 cancer patients with bacterial pneumonia. Results Among 56 PCP patients, 44 patients (78.6%) had hematologic malignancies (18 recipients of bone marrow transplantation) and 12 patients had solid tumors. The time since diagnosis was 24 months (range, 4 to 49 months). All patients with solid tumors and 20 patients (45.4%) with hematologic malignancies were receiving steroids. Only six patients were receiving PCP prophylaxis. The main symptoms were fever (85.7%), dyspnea (78.6%), and cough (57.1%). Time from symptom onset was 7 days (range, 3 to 14 days). PCP presented as severe pneumonia (Pa o 2 , 58 mm Hg [range, 50 to 70 mm Hg]) with bilateral interstitial infiltrates (80.4%) and bilateral ground-glass attenuation (89.3%) by CT. Of the 24 ICU patients (42.9%), 16 patients (19.6%) required mechanical ventilation. Eleven patients (19.6%) died. Compared to 56 patients with bacterial pneumonia, PCP patients were more likely to have non-Hodgkin lymphoma and be receiving long-term steroids; they had longer times since diagnosis, longer symptom duration, higher frequencies of fever and of diffuse lung disease (diffuse crackles, bilateral infiltrates, and hypoxemia), higher frequency of ground-glass opacities, and lower frequency of pleural involvement. Conclusions PCP presents as subacute, febrile, hypoxemic, and diffuse pulmonary involvement in patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies receiving long-term steroids.

Background Thrombocytopenia is common in ICU patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible links between declining platelet counts early in the ICU stay and survival. Methods All patients who were admitted to the ICU for at least 5 days and had no thrombocytopenia at the time of admission were included in the study. A multivariable logistic regression model, with hospital mortality as the outcome variable, was built. Results We included 1,077 patients in the study. At ICU admission, the median platelet count was not significantly different in survivors (256 × 10 9 cells/L; interquartile range [IQR], 206 to 330 × 10 9 cells/L) and nonsurvivors (262 × 10 9 cells/L; 211 to 351 × 10 9 cells/L). Median simplified acute physiology scores II (SAPS II) at ICU admission was worse in nonsurvivors than in survivors (50 [IQR, 37 to 63] vs 37 [IQR, 27 to 48], respectively; p Conclusion In patients who spend > 5 days in the ICU and have normal platelet counts at ICU admission, a decline in platelet counts provides prognostic information. This parameter deserves to be included in new scoring systems.

International audience; OBJECTIVE: A European Union Directive provides for the designation of a surrogate who can consent to or refuse inclusion of an incapacitated patient in research studies. The accuracy with which surrogates consent to research on behalf of patients has not been evaluated in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was conducted in ten ICUs of the French Famirea study group between July and October 2004. Two hypothetical studies were simultaneously submitted to the patient, surrogate, and physician at the time that the patient was discharged to a ward. One study involved minimal risk and the other greater-than-minimal risk to the patients. RESULTS: With the minimal risk study there was patient-surrogate discrepancy in 32% of cases and patient-physician discrepancy in 25%. Corresponding figures with the greater-than-minimal risk study were 42% and 46%. None of the collected variables differed significantly between cases with and without patient-surrogate discrepancy. CONCLUSIONS: Family members designated to serve as surrogate decision makers may fail to accurately consent to research for critically ill patients in one-third to nearly one-half of cases.

Providing family members with clear, honest, and timely information is a major task for intensive care unit physicians. Time spent informing families has been associated with effectiveness of information but has not been measured in specifically designed studies.To measure time spent informing families of intensive care unit patients.One-day cross-sectional study in 90 intensive care units in France.Clocked time spent by physicians informing the families of each of 951 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit during a 24-hr period.Median family information time was 16 (interquartile range, 8-30) mins per patient, with 20% of the time spent explaining the diagnosis, 20% on explaining treatments, and 60% on explaining the prognosis. One third of the time was spent listening to family members. Multivariable analysis identified one factor associated with less information time (room with more than one bed) and seven factors associated with more information time, including five patient-related factors (surgery on the study day, higher Logistic Organ Dysfunction score, coma, mechanical ventilation, and worsening clinical status) and two family-related factors (first contact with family and interview with the spouse). Median information time was 20 (interquartile range, 10-39) mins when three factors were present and 106.5 (interquartile range, 103-110) mins when five were present.This study identifies factors associated with information time provided by critical care physicians to family members of critically ill patients. Whether information time correlates with communication difficulties or communication skills needs to be evaluated. Information time provided by residents and nurses should be studied.

An increased proportion of deaths occur in the intensive care unit (ICU). We performed this prospective study in 41 ICUs to determine the prevalence and determinants of complicated grief after death of a loved one in the ICU. Relatives of 475 adult patients were followed up. Complicated grief was assessed at 6 and 12 months using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (cut-off score >25). Relatives also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 3 months, and the Revised Impact of Event Scale for post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms at 3, 6 and 12 months. We used a mixed multivariate logistic regression model to identify determinants of complicated grief after 6 months. Among the 475 patients, 282 (59.4%) had a relative evaluated at 6 months. Complicated grief symptoms were identified in 147 (52%) relatives. Independent determinants of complicated grief symptoms were either not amenable to changes (relative of female sex, relative living alone and intensivist board certification before 2009) or potential targets for improvements (refusal of treatment by the patient, patient died while intubated, relatives present at the time of death, relatives did not say goodbye to the patient, and poor communication between physicians and relatives). End-of-life practices, communication and loneliness in bereaved relatives may be amenable to improvements. End-of-life care and communication in the ICU are associated with the prevalence of complicated grief

To study both the pathophysiologic and the prognostic value of ADAMTS13 in thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs), we enrolled a cohort of 35 adult patients combining a first acute episode of TMA, an undetectable (below 5%) ADAMTS13 activity in plasma, and no clinical background such as sepsis, cancer, HIV, and transplantation. All patients were treated by steroids and plasma exchange, and an 18-month follow-up was scheduled. Remission was obtained in 32 patients (91.4%), and 3 patients died (8.6%) after the first attack. At presentation, ADAMTS13 antigen was decreased in 32 patients (91.4%), an ADAMTS13 inhibitor was detectable in 31 patients (89%), and an anti-ADAMTS13 IgG/IgM/IgA was present in 33 patients (94%). The 3 decedent patients were characterized by the association of several anti-ADAMTS13 Ig isotypes, including very high IgA titers, while mortality was independent of the ADAMTS13 inhibitor titer. In survivors, ADAMTS13 activity in remission increased to levels above 15% in 19 patients (59%) but remained undetectable in 13 patients (41%). Six patients relapsed either once or twice (19%) during the follow-up. High levels of inhibitory anti-ADAMTS13 IgG at presentation were associated with the persistence of an undetectable ADAMTS13 activity in remission, the latter being predictive for relapses within an 18-month delay.

Purpose Because the overall outcome of critically ill hematologic patients has improved, we evaluated the short-term and long-term outcomes of the poor risk subgroup of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients and Methods This was a retrospective multicenter study of allogeneic HSCT recipients admitted to the ICU between 1997 and 2003. Results Two hundred nine critically ill allogeneic HSCT recipients were included in the study. Admission in the ICU occurred during the engraftment period (≤ 30 days after transplantation) for 70 of the patients and after the engraftment period for 139 patients. The overall in-ICU, in-hospital, 6-month, and 1-year survival rates were 48.3%, 32.5%, 27.2%, and 21%, respectively. Mechanical ventilation was required in 122 patients and led to a dramatic decrease in survival rates, resulting in in-ICU, in-hospital, 6-month, and 1-year survival rates of 18%, 15.6%, 14%, and 10.6%, respectively. Mechanical ventilation, elevated bilirubin level, and corticosteroid treatment for the indication of active graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were independent predictors of death in the whole cohort. In the subgroup of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, associated organ failures, such as shock and liver dysfunction, were independent predictors of death. ICU admission during engraftment period was associated with acceptable outcome in mechanically ventilated patients, whereas patients with late complications of HSCT in the setting of active GVHD had a poor outcome. Conclusion Extensive unlimited intensive care support is justified for allogeneic HSCT recipients with complications occurring during the engraftment period. Conversely, initiation or maintenance of mechanical ventilation is questionable in the setting of active GVHD.

Background Recovery of Candida from the respiratory tract of a critically ill patient receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) usually indicates colonization rather than infection of the respiratory tract. However, interactions between Candida and bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas, have been reported. Thus, Candida colonization of the respiratory tract may predispose to bacterial ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods In a multicenter study of immunocompetent critically ill patients receiving MV for > 2 days, we compared the incidence of pneumonia in patients with and without (exposed/unexposed) respiratory-tract Candida colonization, matched on study center, admission year, and MV duration. Results Over the 4-year study period, of the 803 patients meeting study inclusion criteria in the six study centers, 214 patients (26.6%) had respiratory tract Candida colonization. Candida albicans was the most common species (68.7%), followed by Candida glabrata (20.1%) and Candida tropicalis (13.1%). Extrapulmonary Candida colonization was more common in exposed patients (39.7% vs 8.3%, p=0.01). Exposed patients had longer ICU and hospital stays but similar mortality to unexposed patients. The matched exposed/unexposed nested cohort study identified bronchial Candida colonization as an independent risk factor for pneumonia (24.1% vs 17.6%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94 to 2.68; p=0.0860); the risk increase was greatest for Pseudomonas pneumonia (9% vs 4.8%; adjusted OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.00 to 4.92; p=0.049). Conclusions Candida colonization of the respiratory tract is common in patients receiving MV for > 2 days and is associated with prolonged ICU and hospital stays, and with an increased risk of Pseudomonas VAP.

Purpose To evaluate the outcome of cancer patients considered for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients and Methods Prospective, one-year hospital-wide study of all cancer and hematology patients, including bone marrow transplantation patients, for whom admission to the ICU was requested. Results Of the 206 patients considered for ICU admission, 105 patients (51%) were admitted. Of the 101 patients who were not admitted, 54 patients (26.2%) were considered too sick to benefit, and 47 patients (22.8%) were considered to be too well to benefit from the ICU. Of these 47 patients, 13 patients were admitted later. Survival rates after 30 and 180 days were significantly associated with admission status (P < .0001). Remission of the malignancy (odds ratio [OR], 3.37; 95% CI, 1.25 to 9.07) was independently associated with ICU admission, whereas poor chronic health status (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.74) and solid tumor (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.78) were associated with ICU refusal. In admitted patients, 30-day and 6-month survival rates were 54.3% and 32.4%, respectively. Of the patients considered too sick to benefit from ICU admission, 26% were alive on day 30 and 16.7% on day 180. Among patients considered too well to benefit, the 30-day survival rate was a worrisome 78.7%. Calibration of the Mortality Probability Model (the only score available at triage) was of limited value for predicting 30-day survival (area under the curve, 0.62). Conclusion Both the excess mortality in too-well patients later admitted to the ICU and the relatively good survival in too-sick patients suggest the need for a broader admission policy.

Objective: To evaluate the opinions of intensive care unit staff and family members about family participation in decisions about patients in intensive care units in France, a country where the approach of physicians to patients and families has been described as paternalistic. Design: Prospective multiple-center survey of intensive care unit staff and family members. Setting: Seventy-eight intensive care units in university-affiliated hospitals in France. Patients: We studied 357 consecutive patients hospitalized in the 78 intensive care units and included in the study starting on May 1, 2001, with five patients included per intensive care unit. Interventions: We recorded opinions and experience about family participation in medical decision making. Comprehension, satisfaction, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores were determined in family members. Measurements and Main Results: Poor comprehension was noted in 35% of family members. Satisfaction was good but anxiety was noted in 73% and depression in 35% of family members. Among intensive care unit staff members, 91% of physicians and 83% of nonphysicians believed that participation in decision making should be offered to families; however, only 39% had actually involved family members in decisions. A desire to share in decision making was expressed by only 47% of family members. Only 15% of family members actually shared in decision making. Effectiveness of information influenced this desire. Conclusion: Intensive care unit staff should seek to determine how much autonomy families want. Staff members must strive to identify practical and psychological obstacles that may limit their ability to promote autonomy. Finally, they must develop interventions and attitudes capable of empowering families.

To identify predictors of 30-day mortality in critically ill cancer patients with septic shock.Retrospective study over a 6-year period.Twelve-bed medical intensive care unit (ICU).Eighty-eight patients (55 men, 33 women) aged 55 (43.5-63) years admitted to the ICU for septic shock.None.Eighty (90.9%) patients had hematological malignancies and eight (9.1%) had solid tumors; 47 patients (53.4%) were neutropenic, 19 (21.6%) were hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients, and 27 (30.7%) were in remission. Microbiologically documented infections were found in 60 (68.2%) patients. The Simplified Acute Physiologic Score II (SAPS II) and Logistic Organ Dysfunction (LOD) scores at ICU admission were 66 (47-89) and 7 (5-10), respectively, and the LOD score on day 3 was 8 (4-10). Sixty-eight (78.1%) patients received invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), 12 (13.6%) noninvasive MV, 22 (25%) dialysis. Thirty-day mortality was 65.5% (57/88). By multivariable analysis, mortality was higher when time to antibiotic treatment was2 h [odds ratio (OR), 7.05; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.17-42.21] and when DLOD (day 3-day 1 LOD score/day 3 LOD score) was high (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.44-8.39); mortality was lower when admission occurred between 1998 and 2000 (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.05-0.98) and when initial antibiotics were adapted (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.06-0.09).Earlier ICU admission and antibiotic treatment of critically ill cancer patients with septic shock is associated with higher 30-day survival. The LOD score change on day 3 as compared to admission is useful for predicting survival.

Acute respiratory failure revealing acute monocytic leukemia is rare. We report 20 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with three remarkable features: (1) rapidly progressive respiratory distress revealing acute leukemia, (2) monocytic leukemia, and (3) respiratory status deterioration after chemotherapy initiation. The median age was 50 years (17-72 years), and respiratory symptoms started 2 days (0-15 days) before ICU admission. The median leukocyte count was 98,250/mm3 (800-529,000), with circulating monocytic cells in all of the patients but one. Bone marrow examination was diagnostic of monocytic leukemia in all patients. At presentation, respiratory rate was 33 (18-50) per minute, and PaO2 on room air was 44.5 mm Hg (30-60). Chest radiographs revealed unilateral alveolar infiltrates (n = 1), bilateral alveolar infiltrates with (n = 3) or without (n = 11) pleural effusion, or diffuse interstitial infiltrates (n = 5). Alveolar hemorrhage was the main bronchoalveolar lavage finding, with monocytic cells retrieved from four patients. Respiratory function deteriorated after cancer chemotherapy initiation in all patients. Of the 15 patients who required mechanical ventilation, 10 died. Leukemic pulmonary infiltration as the first manifestation of acute monocytic leukemia should be recognized, and intensive management should be provided in anticipation of the respiratory function deterioration seen consistently after chemotherapy initiation.

OBJECTIVE Potentially fatal pulmonary toxicity is a dreaded complication of bleomycin. Increased use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients receiving chemotherapy has been paralleled by an increased incidence of bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity. We investigated whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (25 microg x kg(-1) x day(-1), 4 days) enhanced endotracheal bleomycin-induced (5 mg/kg) acute lung injury and fibrosis in rats. SETTING University laboratory. SUBJECTS Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS We compared the effects of alveolar instillation of bleomycin in rats treated with either granulocyte colony-stimulating factor or saline. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Mortality was 25% with bleomycin only and 50% with bleomycin + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor increased alveolar neutrophil recruitment, pulmonary edema, and lung myeloperoxidase activity on day 4. Lung static compliance on day 15 was severely decreased with bleomycin alone and showed a further significant decrease when granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was added (controls, 3.85 +/- 0.14 mL/kPa; bleomycin, 1.44 +/- 0.06 mL/kPa; and bleomycin + granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, 0.65 +/- 0.09 mL/kPa; control vs. bleomycin, p

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) has been associated with a large number of underlying diseases. We conducted a descriptive, retrospective study including all TMA adult patients admitted to our ICU, with a particular interest in infectious episodes as a trigger of TMA.All adult patients (30) with a diagnosis of TMA admitted to the medical ICU at Saint-Louis Hospital (Paris, France) between 1992 and 1998 were retrospectively included.All patients with clinical and microbiological evidence of bacterial infection were treated with intravenous antibiotics. The specific treatment of TMA consisted in solvent/detergent-treated plasma administration by plasma exchange or high volume plasma infusion (30 ml/kg per day) in fractionated doses.Among the 30 adult patients studied, TMA in 16 (53%) was associated with microbiologically documented infection. An acute infection was found in 8/9 patients with an HIV-related TMA, in 2/6 patients with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related TMA and in 3/6 patients with TMA associated with other disorders. In three patients, an acute infectious disease was the only cause associated with the TMA. Four other patients had clinical manifestations suggesting an infection process but without bacteriological documentation. Escherichia coli was isolated in 7/16 cases and verotoxin was found in the stools of two other patients. All patients were treated with plasma administration and those with evidence of infection were systematically and intensively treated with antibiotics. Eventually 8 patients died (27%), 20 (67%) reached complete remission and 2 partial remission.Bacterial infections are commonly observed amongst TMA patients hospitalized in ICUs and may act as a trigger of this disease. Screening for infection is a requirement in patients with TMA, either idiopathic or associated with other conditions.

There are few data on Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in critically ill human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients. Improved knowledge of the presenting symptoms of and prognostic factors for PCP may help to reduce the high mortality rate associated with PCP in such patients. We retrospectively studied 39 consecutive patients with acute PCP-related respiratory failure and malignancy who were treated at 2 intensive care units (ICUs) during a 10-year period. Univariate logistic regression identified the following 8 predictors of mortality at 30 days after patient admission to the ICU (30-day mortality rate, 33%): complete remission of the malignancy (odds ratio [OR], 0.18), receipt of >1 course of antimalignancy chemotherapy (OR, 17.2), involvement of 4 lobes noted on a chest radiograph (OR, 5), >15% neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] fluid specimens (OR, 6), Organ System Failure score (OR, 7.33), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (OR, 1.12), and the need for either mechanical ventilation (OR, 63) or vasopressors (OR, 25.9). Studies are needed to determine whether aggressive monitoring and treatment of patients with >15% neutrophils in BAL fluid specimens can improve the outcome of critically ill patients with malignancy and PCP.

OBJECTIVE Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is widely prescribed to hasten recovery from cancer chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and has been reported to induce pulmonary toxicity. However, circumstances and mechanisms of this toxicity remain poorly known. DESIGN To reproduce a routine situation in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, we investigated the mechanisms underlying granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced exacerbation of alpha-naphthylthiourea-related pulmonary edema. SETTING Laboratory research unit. SUBJECTS Male specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS The effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor given alone or after alpha-naphthylthiourea used to induce acute lung injury were investigated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Lung injury was assessed based on neutrophil sequestration (myeloperoxidase activity in lung tissue) and influx into alveolar spaces (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell quantification) and on edema formation (wet/dry lung weight ratio) and alveolar protein concentration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta were measured in serum, lung homogenates, and isolated alveolar macrophage supernatants. In control rats, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (25 microg/kg) significantly elevated circulating neutrophil counts without producing alveolar recruitment or pulmonary edema. alpha-Naphthylthiourea significantly increased the wet/dry lung weight ratio (4.68 +/- 0.04 vs. 4.38 +/- 0.07 in controls, p=.04) and induced alveolar protein leakage. Adding granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to alpha-naphthylthiourea exacerbated pulmonary edema, causing neutrophil sequestration in pulmonary vessels, significantly increasing lung myeloperoxidase activity (12.7 +/- 2.0 mOD/min/g vs. 1.1 +/- 0.4 mOD/min/g with alpha-naphthylthiourea alone; p

Although neutropenia recovery is associated with a high risk of deterioration of respiratory condition, no studies designed to identify risk factors for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in this situation have been published.Medical ICU in a French teaching hospital.We conducted a study to describe critically ill cancer patients with ARDS during neutropenia recovery (defined as the 7-day period centered on the day the neutrophil count rose above 1000/mm3 [day 0]) and to compare them with critically ill cancer patients without ARDS during neutropenia recovery.None.During a 10-yr period, 62 critically ill cancer patients recovered from neutropenia, of whom 21 experienced ARDS during neutropenia recovery, with a median time of -1 days (-2.5-1) between day 0 and ARDS. In-ICU mortality in these 21 patients was 61.9%. As compared with non-ARDS patients, ARDS patients were less likely to have myeloma and more likely to have leukemia/lymphoma treated with adriamycin, a history of pneumonia before neutropenia, and a neutropenia duration10 days; they had a shorter time since malignancy diagnosis and a longer time from chemotherapy to neutropenia. Neither the leukocyte counts on day 0 nor those during the 6-day neutropenia recovery period were predictive of ARDS.Patients with acute respiratory failure after prolonged neutropenia complicated by pneumonia are at increased risk for ARDS.

Resume Le besoin therapeutique dans les infections a pneumocoques doit etre defini precisement de maniere a situer la place des nouveaux antibiotiques disponibles. Il doit etre confronte aux donnees de l'evaluation de ces nouveaux produits, tant au plan microbiologique qu'au plan clinique. Aux preoccupations d'efficacite et de tolerance s'ajoute maintenant celle des conditions dans lesquelles se developpe la resistance du pneumocoque a certaines classes d'antibiotiques, comme les macrolides ou les fluoroquinolones.

Comprehension and satisfaction are relevant criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of information provided to family members of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We performed a prospective randomized trial in 34 French ICUs to compare comprehension of diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and satisfaction with information provided by ICU caregivers, in ICU patient family representatives who did (n = 87) or did not (n = 88) receive a family information leaflet (FIL) in addition to standard information. An FIL designed specifically for this study was delivered at the first visit of the family representative: it provided general information on the ICU and hospital, the name of the ICU physician caring for the patient, a diagram of a typical ICU room with the names of all the devices, and a glossary of 12 terms commonly used in ICUs. Characteristics of the ICUs, patients, and family representatives were similar in the two groups. The FIL reduced the proportion of family members with poor comprehension from 40.9% to 11.5% (p < 0.0001). In the representatives with good comprehension, the FIL was associated with significantly better satisfaction (21 [18 to 24, quartiles] versus 27 [24 to 29, quartiles], p = 0.01). These results indicate that ICU caregivers should consider using an FIL to improve the effectiveness of the information they impart to families.

Study objectives: To assess the impact of routine thoracentesis on diagnostic assessment and therapeutic measures in patients with clinically documented pleural effusions. Design and setting: Prospective, 1-year, three-center study in medical ICU (MICU) patients with physical and radiographic evidence of pleural effusion. Patients: Of 1,351 patients admitted to three MICUs during the study period, 113 patients had physical and radiographic evidence of pleural effusion, yielding an annual incidence of 8.4%. Intervention: Routine thoracentesis in 82 patients without contraindications to thoracentesis. Measurements and results: Twenty patients (24.4%) had a transudate, 35 patients (42.7%) had an infectious exudate (parapneumonic, n 21; empyema, n 14), and 27 patients (32.9%) had a noninfectious exudate. Laboratory parameters including the leukocyte count, the neutrophil percentage in pleural fluid, and the fluid/serum protein and lactate dehydrogenase ratios differed significantly among the three groups. Thoracentesis yielded improvements in the diagnosis and/or treatment in 46 patients (56%): the presumptive (prethoracentesis) diagnosis was changed in 37 patients (32 patients with certain benefit and 5 patients with probable benefit from thoracentesis), of whom 27 patients received a change in treatment based on the new diagnosis; 9 other patients received a change in treatment although the diagnosis remained the same. The only complications were pneumothorax in six patients (7%), all with a favorable outcome after drainage. Conclusion: Infection was the main cause of pleural effusions detected based on physical and radiographic findings in our MICU population. Routine thoracentesis proved a simple and safe means of improving the diagnosis and treatment. (CHEST 2002; 121:178–184)

H uman granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) is the most important regulatory cytokine that is capable of stimulating the production of neutrophils from committed hematopoietic progenitor cells both in vitro and in vivo.1,2 G-CSF both increases neutrophil counts and enhances and primes many neutrophil functions, suggesting a role for this growth factor in host defenses not only in neutropenic patients but also in many non-neutropenic immunocompromised patients. G-CSF is widely prescribed in cancer patients to hasten recovery from chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cells for autologous bone marrow transplantation.3 The prevention or decreased duration of cytotoxic drug-induced neutropenia is ascribable to the quantitative stimulating effect of G-CSF on granulopoiesis.4 G-CSF therapy has considerably improved the safety of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, most notably in patients with lymphoma, in whom decreased treatment-related mortality, higher complete remission rates, and longer disease-free survival times have been reported.5–7 In addition to shortening the duration of neutropenia and hospitalization, G-CSF reduces the incidence of infectious episodes in patients with lymphoma, and even in those with leukemia or solid tumors.8–11 Moreover, as compared to autologous bone-marrow transplantation, autologous G-CSF-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (with or without cyclophosphamide) was associated with shorter times to platelet and neutrophil recovery and with earlier hospital discharge.3 Treatment with G-CSF is also increasingly used as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy in non-neutropenic patients who have various critical conditions, such as community-acquired pneumonia, complicated diabetes mellitus, brain injury, burns, and even neonatal bacterial sepsis.12–17 In these indications, the qualitative effects of G-CSF therapy regulate neutrophil survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation.18–22 Adverse events have been ascribed to G-CSF in both healthy volunteers and patients. These effects occurred in approximately 30% of cases and consisted mainly of bone pain, headache, and fatigue.23 Pulmonary adverse effects ascribed to G-CSF include cough, dyspnea, and interstitial or alveolar pulmonary infiltrates with mild-to-severe blood gas level deterioration. A few cases of ARDS have been reported. G-CSF treatment is being more and more widely used in immunocompromised patients with or without neutropenia. Therefore, the number of patients exposed to a high risk of G-CSF-related pulmonary toxicity may be increasing. Underreporting undoubtedly occurs. Because fatal cases of G-CSF-related ARDS have occurred, all cases of G-CSF-related *From the INSERM U 492, Universite Paris XII, Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, France; Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionelles, Hopital Henri Mondor, Paris, France; Assistance Publique, Hopitaux de Paris, France; Service de Reanimation Medicale, Hopital Saint Louis, Paris, France. This review was supported by a grant from Aventis Pharma France. Manuscript received February 13, 2001; revision accepted April 24, 2001. Correspondence to: Elie Azoulay, MD, Faculte de Medecine de Creteil, 8, rue du General Sarrail, 94010 Creteil, France; e-mail: elie.azoulay@creteil.inserm.fr opinions/hypotheses

Design: Recommendations for triage to intensive care units (ICUs) have been issued but not evaluated. Setting: In this prospective, multicenter study, all patients granted or refused admission to 26 ICUs affiliated with the French Society for Critical Care were included during a 1-month period. Characteristics of participating ICUs and patients, circumstances of triage, and description of the triage decision with particular attention to compliance with published recommendations were recorded. Results: During the study period, 1,009 patients were and 283 were not admitted to the participating ICUs. Refused patients were more likely to be older than 65 yrs (odds ratio [OR], 3.53; confidence interval [CI], 1.98-5.32) and to have a poor chronic health status (OR, 3.09; CI, 2.05-4.67). An admission diagnosis of acute respiratory or renal failure, shock, or coma was associated with admission, whereas chronic severe respiratory and heart failure or metastatic disease without hope of remission were associated with refusal (OR, 2.24; CI, 1.38-3.64). Only four (range, 0-8) of the 20 recommendations for triage to ICU were observed; a full unit and triage over the phone were associated with significantly poorer compliance with recommendations (0 [0-2] vs. 6 [2-9], p = .0003; and 1 [0-6] vs. 6 [1-9], p

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the opinions of intensivists regarding pleural effusions in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1,032 intensivists, who were members of the French Society of Critical Care. Results: Four hundred thirty-one questionnaires (41.7%) were returned. Overall, the respondents' estimated the incidence of pleural effusion in ICU patients to be 22.19 ± 17%, whereas 37 ± 27% considered that exploratory thoracentesis was likely to determine the cause of the effusion, and 17.36 ± 16% considered that its results were likely to result in a change in their therapeutic attitude. Sixty-five (15%) physicians, chiefly pulmonologists, performed exploratory thoracentesis routinely (Group 1). Compared with those who did not perform routine thoracentesis (Group 2), they ascribed a higher proportion of pleural effusions to infection (31.3% vs. 13.5%) and were more likely to consider that exploratory thoracentesis had a diagnostic and therapeutic contribution (51.2% vs. 34% and 23% vs. 16%, respectively). In addition to the respiratory medicine subspecialty, the practice of routine exploratory thoracentesis was significantly related to seniority, to the frequency of the suspicion of an infectious cause in the physician's practice, and to his or her appreciation of the risks associated with exploratory thoracentesis. Physicians from Group 1 were also more likely to describe exploratory thoracentesis as a noninvasive procedure. Conclusions: The beliefs and attitudes of intensivists regarding pleural effusions and exploratory thoracentesis are divergent. This may be due to the lack of precise guidelines on the topic and prompt the design of further studies to establish precisely the epidemiology and causes of pleural effusions in ICU patients. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company

Objectives: To clarify the patterns of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) that should result in a high index of suspicion, to increase the chances of early therapy and to identify predictors of 30-day mortality. Patients and methods: Retrospective, 7-year study in two medical intensive care units (ICUs). All patients admitted with pulmonary TB were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory data at admission and events within 48 h of admission were collected. Predictors of 30-day mortality were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The study included 99 patients with a median age of 41 years. Immunodeficiency was present in 60 patients, including 38 with AIDS. Fifty-nine patients had pulmonary TB alone, 22 also had extrapulmonary TB and 18 had miliary. All 99 patients were admitted for acute respiratory failure, some also with shock (20), neurologic disorders (18) or acute renal failure (10). Mechanical ventilation was needed in 50 patients; 22 patients met criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The 30-day mortality rate was 26.2%. Four factors independently predicted mortality: a time from symptom onset to treatment of more than 1 month (OR, 3.49; CI, 1.20–10.20), the number of organ failures (OR, 3.15; CI, 1.76–5.76), a serum albumin level above 20 g/l (OR, 3.96; CI, 1.04–15.10), and a larger number of lobes involved on chest radiograph (OR, 1.83; CI, 1.12–2.98). Conclusion: Delayed clinical suspicion and treatment of active pulmonary TB with respiratory failure may contribute to the persistently high mortality rates in ICU patients with these diseases.

Plasma infusion (PI) and plasma exchange (PE) are the most efficient treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), allowing achievement of complete remission in 60 to 90% of cases. Life-threatening bleeding, related to severe thrombocytopenia, is one of the main complications of the disease. Thrombocytopenia may also preclude invasive procedures such as splenectomy, which may be required during the management of TTP. Platelet concentrates transfusions are usually thought to worsen the disease, especially if not associated with the appropriate treatment of this latter, and thus should be avoided. We report hereon 2 patients with TTP who experienced a surgical procedure i.e., a cholecystectomy for a cholecystitis, and a splenectomy for a refractory TTP. In both patients, the surgical procedure was preceded by a 60 mL/kg plasma exchange with solvent/detergent treated plasma as replacement fluid, followed by platelet transfusion, with a corrected count increment of 57.1% (Patient 1) and 69.3% (Patient 2). Using this sequential treatment, the patients did not experience any deterioration of their status. Both patients had a favorable outcome after surgery. However, until such a procedure will be validated on a larger series of patients, it should be restricted to patients presenting with a refractory life-threatening thrombocytopenia and/or requiring surgery or any kind of invasive procedure. Am. J. Hematol. 68:198-201, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We determined the prevalence and indicators of infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) by performing a retrospective analysis of 123 episodes of DKA (in 113 patients) managed in a medical ICU between 1990 and 1997. In univariate analysis, features associated with infection were female sex, neurological symptoms at admission, fever during the week before admission, a need for colloids, a high blood lactate level at admission, and lack of complete clearance of ketonuria within 12 h. Multivariate analysis identified 3 independent predictors of infection: female sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.31; confidence interval [CI], 1.05-5.35), neurological symptoms at admission (OR, 2.83; CI, 1.18-6.8), and lack of complete clearance of ketonuria within 12 h (OR, 3.73; CI, 1.58-9.09). Infection is the leading trigger of DKA in ICU patients. Neurological symptoms at admission and lack of complete clearance of ketonuria within 12 h are useful warning signals of infection.

Reagent strips have not yet been tested for use in the diagnosis of infectious pleural effusions. A reagent strip was used to evaluate 82 patients with pleural effusions: 20 patients had transudative effusions, 35 had infectious exudative effusions (empyema in 14 and parapneumonic effusion in 21), and 27 had noninfectious exudative effusions. Pleural fluid protein, as evaluated by the reagent strip, proved accurate for the detection of exudative effusions (sensitivity, 93.1%; specificity, 50%; positive predictive value, 84.3%; negative predictive value, 71.5%; odds ratio [OR], 6.77; and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87-24). The reagent strip leukocyte esterase test effectively detected infectious exudative effusions (sensitivity, 42.8%; specificity, 91.3%; positive predictive value, 88.2%; negative predictive value, 51.2%; OR, 4.46; and 95% CI, 1.2-16.4). Pleural pH was significantly predicted by the reagent strip but was of no assistance in categorization of exudative effusions as infectious or noninfectious. Compared with physical, laboratory, and microbiological data, the reagent strip was as accurate for estimation of percentages of infectious and noninfectious exudative effusions. Thus, reagent strips may be a rapid, easy-to-use, and inexpensive technique for discriminating transudative from exudative pleural effusions and for categorizing exudative pleural effusions as infectious or noninfectious.

But de l'etude : Mesurer l'adequation entre les filieres d'arrivee des patients aux services des urgences et les capacites de soins d'un hopital. Protocole : Etude prospective pendant 3 mois du lieu d'admission de tous les patients. Un patient admis pouvait etre hospitalise sur place ou transfere, directement ou apres transit en unite d'hospitalisation de courte duree. Les motifs de transfert etaient : 1) absence de la specialite requise sur place ; 2) lit indisponible ; 3) patient suivi dans un autre etablissement. Lieu de l'etude : Services des urgences d'un hopital universitaire parisien. Selection des patients : Nous avons defini trois filieres : les patients autonomes qui decident ou consulter sans le conseil d'un medecin, les patients conseilles par un medecin et les patients deprendants de secours institutionnels (pompiers...). Critere de jugement : Nous avons estime que la filiere la moins adaptee aux capacites de soins de l'hopital etait a l'origine du taux de transferts le plus grand. Resultats : Parmi 7 620 consultants, nous avons admis 1 509 patients : 50% etaient autonomes, 29% conseilles et 21% dependants. parmi les admis, 33% etaient secondairement transferes. Les motifs de transfert etaient : specialite absente sur place (63%), lit indisponible (31%), suivi ailleurs (6%). Les filieres des patients dependants et autonomes presentaient les plus grands taux de transfert (respectivement 42 et 34%), en majorite pour absence de specialite requise sur place. Les patients conseilles etaient egalement transferes frequemment (25%), en majorite pour lit indisponible. Conclusions : Dans cette etude, un tiers des patients etaient transferes apres admission par les services des urgences. Aucune filiere d'arrivee n'etait reellement adaptee aux capacites de soins de l'hopital. Pour reduire le nombre de transfert secondaires, les hopitaux d'un meme secteur doivent mieux faire connaitre leurs specificites et complementarites a la population et a l'ensemble des acteurs prehospitaliers de la chaine de soins.

International audience; Colonization of the digestive tract has been supposed to be the source of many hospital-acquired infections, especially nosocomial pneumonia. To assess the relationship between oropharyngeal and gastric colonization and subsequent occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia, we prospectively studied 86 ventilated, intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Oropharyngeal or gastric colonizations were detected and quantified on admission and twice weekly during ICU stay. When nosocomial pneumonia was suspected on clinical grounds (new chest X-ray infiltrate and purulent tracheal secretions), diagnosis was assessed on fiberoptic bronchoscopy with quantitative cultures of a protected specimen brush sampling and/or a plugged telescoping catheter sampling yielding > or = 10(3) cfu/ml of at least one microorganism. Bacterial strains responsible for colonization and infection (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus) were compared using pulsed-field electrophoresis. A total of 31 cases (36%) of pneumonia were diagnosed. Oropharyngeal colonization, detected either on admission or from subsequent samples, was a predominant factor of nosocomial pneumonia as compared with gastric colonization. For instance, oropharyngeal colonization with A. baumannii yielded a 7.45-fold estimated increased risk of pneumonia as compared with patients not yet or not identically colonized (p = 0.0004). DNA genomic analysis demonstrated that an identical strain was isolated from oropharyngeal or gastric samples and bronchial samples in all but three cases of pneumonia, due to S. aureus. These findings provide better knowledge of the pathophysiology of nosocomial pneumonia in mechanically ventilated patients.

Respiratory viruses (RVs) are ubiquitous pathogens that represent a major cause of community‐acquired pneumonia and chronic pulmonary diseases exacerbations. However, their contribution to acute respiratory failure events requiring intensive care unit admission in the era of rapid multiplex molecular assay deserves further evaluation. This study investigated the burden of viral infections in non immunocompromised patients admitted to the intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure using a multiplex molecular assay. Patients were investigated for RVs using immunofluoresence testing and a commercial multiplex molecular assay, and for bacteria using conventional culture. Half the patients (34/70, 49%) had a documented RVs infection. No other pathogen was found in 24 (71%) patients. Viral infection was detected more frequently in patients with obstructive respiratory diseases (64% vs. 29%; P = 0.0075). Multiplex molecular assay should be considered as an usefull diagnostic tool in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with acute respiratory failure, especially those with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. J. Med. Virol. 86:1198–1202, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Growing antibiotic bacterial resistance and high levels of antibiotic use have lead Health Authorities to promote surveillance networks, education of health workers and the general public, and good antimicrobial practice. Interesting results have been obtained in France. However increasing risks for the public health, due to expanding bacterial resistance, should result in increased efforts in the field of antibiotic practice.

Control of bacterial resistance and proper use of antibiotics in human health : have we done enough ? In France, antibiotic overuse and increasing bacterial resistance led the health authorities to launch concerted actions in 2001, to promote the surveillance of bacterial resistance, provide detailed information to health professionals and the general public, and promote the proper use of antibiotics in human medicine, both in community practices and in healthcare facilities. However, even though this policy has borne fruit, results are still insufficient given the burden of bacterial resistance on public health and on medical advances. The policy must therefore be vigorously reinforced, both in human and in animal health., En France, un usage immodéré des antibiotiques et l’essor des résistances bactériennes ont conduit les autorités de santé à mettre en place, en 2001, des actions concertées visant à promouvoir la surveillance des résistances et des consommations, à mieux informer les professionnels de la santé et le grand public, et à promouvoir un bon usage des antibiotiques en santé humaine, tant en ville que dans les établissements de soins. Néanmoins, même si cette politique a porté ses fruits, les résultats sont encore insuffisants au regard des risques que fait peser la résistance bactérienne sur la santé publique et sur les progrès de la médecine. Elle doit donc être vigoureusement renforcée, tant en santé humaine qu’animale., Schlemmer Benoît. Maitrise des résistances bactériennes et bon usage des antibiotiques en santé humaine. En avons-nous fait assez? : le bon usage des antibiotiques. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 165 n°2, 2012. Séance thématique: Le bon usage des antibiotiques. pp. 109-112.

To determine whether the survival gains achieved in critically ill cancer patients in recent years exist in the subset with neutropenia and severe sepsis or septic shock.Retrospective 11-yr study (1998-2008).Medical intensive care unit in a teaching hospital.Four hundred twenty-eight intensive care unit patients with cancer, neutropenia, and severe sepsis or septic shock. The primary outcome was hospital mortality.The main underlying diseases were acute leukemia (35.7%), lymphoma (31.7%), and solid tumors (16.5%). Two hundred thirty-seven (55.5%) patients had microbiologically documented infections, 141 (32.9%) clinically documented infections, and 50 (11.9%) fever of unknown origin. Acute noninfectious conditions were diagnosed in 175 of 428 (41%) patients, including 26 of 50 (52%) patients with fever of unknown origin, 66 of 141 (47%) patients with clinically documented infections, and 83 of 237 (35%) patients with microbiologically documented infections. Early indwelling catheter removal was performed routinely in the 107 (25%) patients without clinical evidence of a septic focus at intensive care unit admission. Early beta-lactam plus aminoglycoside therapy was used in 391 (91.3%) patients. Hospital mortality was 49.8%. Hospital mortality decreased from 58.7% (108 of 184) in 1998-2003 to 43% in 2004-2008 (105 of 244, p = .006). Multivariate analysis identified nine independent predictors of hospital mortality, of which six were associated with higher mortality (older age; need for vasopressors; neurologic, respiratory, or hepatic dysfunction; and acute noninfectious condition) and three with lower mortality (intensive care unit admission after 2003, combination antibiotic therapy including an aminoglycoside, and early indwelling catheter removal).In neutropenic patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, survival improved over time. Aminoglycoside use and early catheter removal in patients with undocumented sepsis may improve survival. Acute noninfectious conditions are associated with increased mortality, underlining the need for thorough and repeated clinical assessments.

End-of-life decisions are based on objective and subjective criteria. Previous studies identified substantial subjective biases during end-of-life decision-making. We evaluated whether in-ICU patient's birthday influenced management decisions.We used a case-control design in which patients spending their birthday in the ICU (cases) were matched to controls on center, gender, age, severity, type of admission, and length of ICU stay before birthday.12 ICUs in French hospitals.The cases and controls were patients with ICU admissions48 h over a 10-year period.None.Compared with the 1,042 controls, the 223 cases were more often trauma patients and received a larger number and longer durations of life-sustaining interventions. This increased intensity of life support occurred after, but not before, the birthday. The cases had longer ICU stay lengths. ICU and hospital mortality were not different between the two groups. End-of-life decisions were made in 22% and 24% of cases and controls, respectively. However, these decisions were made later in the cases than in the controls (18 [5-33] versus 9 [3-19] days).Our finding that patients who spent their birthday in the ICU received a higher intensity of life-sustaining care and had longer ICU stays but did not have significantly different mortality rates compared with the controls suggests the use of nonbeneficial interventions. Staff members caring for patients whose birthdays fall during the ICU stay should be aware that this feature can bias end-of-life decisions, leading to an inappropriate level of care.

Relatives often lack important information about intensive care unit patients. High-quality information is crucial to help relatives overcome the often considerable situational stress and to acquire the ability to participate in the decision-making process, most notably regarding the appropriate level of care. We aimed to develop a list of questions important for relatives of patients in the intensive care unit.This was a multicenter study. Questions asked by relatives of intensive care unit patients were collected from five different sources (literature, panel of 28 intensive care unit nurses and physicians, 1-wk survey of nurses and 1-wk survey of physicians in 14 intensive care units, and in-depth interviews with 14 families). After a qualitative analysis (framework approach and thematic analysis), questions were rated by 22 relatives and 14 intensive care unit physicians, and the ratings were analyzed using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering.The five sources produced 2,135 questions. Removal of duplicates and redundancies left 443 questions, which were distributed among nine predefined domains using a framework approach ("diagnosis," "treatment," "prognosis," "comfort," "interaction," "communication," "family," "end of life," and "postintensive care unit management"). Thematic analysis in each domain led to the identification of 46 themes, which were reworded as 46 different questions. Ratings by relatives and physicians showed that 21 of these questions were particularly important for relatives of intensive care unit patients.This study increases knowledge about the informational needs of relatives of intensive care unit patients. This list of questions may prove valuable for both relatives and intensive care unit physicians as a tool for improving communication in the intensive care unit.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cancer patients is a dreadful complication that causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Moreover, AKI may preclude optimal cancer treatment by requiring a decrease in chemotherapy dosage or by contraindicating potentially curative treatment. The pathways leading to AKI in cancer patients are common to the development of ARF in other conditions. However, AKI may also develop because of etiologies arising from cancer treatment, such as nephrotoxic chemotherapy agents, or the disease itself, including post-renal obstruction, compression or infiltration, and metabolic or immunological mechanisms.

Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that is endemic in North, Central, and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Contamination occurs via the inhalation of aerosols containing the mycelial phase of H. capsulatum. Pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis may occur in immunocompromised hosts, including, in rare cases, patients with hematological malignancies. Pulmonary histoplasmosis may be the first manifestation of the hematological malignancy or may appear as an opportunistic infection following immunosuppressive therapy. Symptoms include fatigue, a fever, and a dry cough. Other complications consist of arthritis, pericarditis, and mediastinal syndromes (mediastinal granuloma, mediastinal fibrosis, broncholithiasis). The diagnosis relies on culturing, histopathology, and antigen and antibody tests. The galactomannan test may be positive in patients with disseminated histoplasmosis. Diagnostic criteria for histoplasmosis have been proposed by the Mycoses Study Group and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC/MSG). Amphotericin B and itraconazole are the best-evaluated drugs for the treatment of histoplasmosis and should be used as first-line therapy. Guidelines for the management of patients with histoplasmosis were recently endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their relatives after an intensive care unit stay.Prospective multicenter study.Nineteen French intensive care units.One hundred twenty-six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who survived an intensive care unit stay and 102 relatives.None.Patients and relatives were interviewed at intensive care unit discharge and 90 days later to assess symptoms of anxiety and depression using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms using the Impact of Event Scale (IES). At intensive care unit discharge, 90% of patients recollected traumatic psychological events in the intensive care unit. At day 90, we were able to conduct telephone interviews with 53 patients and 47 relatives. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores indicated symptoms of anxiety and depression in 52% and 45.5% of patients at intensive care unit discharge and in 28.3% and 18.9% on day 90, respectively. Corresponding prevalence in relatives were 72.2% and 25.7% at intensive care unit discharge and 40.4% and 14.9% on day 90, respectively. The Impact of Event Scale indicated posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms in 20.7% of patients and 29.8% of relatives on day 90. Peritraumatic dissociation assessed using the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire was independently associated with posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms in the patients and relatives. Previous intensive care unit experience and recollection of bothersome noise in the intensive care unit predicted posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms in the patients.Psychiatric symptoms were found to be common in a group of 126 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who survived an intensive care unit stay and their relatives at intensive care unit discharge and 90 days later. Peritraumatic dissociation at intensive care unit discharge was found to independently predict posttraumatic stress disorder-related symptoms in this sample of patients and relatives.

Respiratory events are common in hematology and oncology patients and manifest as hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (ARF) in up to half the cases. Identifying the cause of ARF is crucial. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (FO-BAL) is an invasive test that may cause respiratory deterioration. Recent noninvasive diagnostic tests may have modified the risk/benefit ratio of FO-BAL.To determine whether FO-BAL in cancer patients with ARF increased the need for intubation and whether noninvasive testing alone was not inferior to noninvasive testing plus FO-BAL.We performed a multicenter randomized controlled trial with sample size calculations for both end points. Patients with cancer and ARF of unknown cause who were not receiving ventilatory support at intensive care unit admission were randomized to early FO-BAL plus noninvasive tests (n = 113) or noninvasive tests only (n = 106). The primary end point was the number of patients needing intubation and mechanical ventilation. The major secondary end point was the number of patients with no identified cause of ARF.The need for mechanical ventilation was not significantly greater in the FO-BAL group than in the noninvasive group (35.4 vs. 38.7%; P = 0.62). The proportion of patients with no diagnosis was not smaller in the noninvasive group (21.7 vs. 20.4%; difference, -1.3% [-10.4 to 7.7]).FO-BAL performed in the intensive care unit did not significantly increase intubation requirements in critically ill cancer patients with ARF. Noninvasive testing alone was not inferior to noninvasive testing plus FO-BAL for identifying the cause of ARF. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00248443).

International audience; RATIONALE: Pneumocystis jiroveci polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has higher sensitivity than conventional stains but cannot distinguish colonization from infection. METHODS: We compared P jiroveci PCR and conventional stains in HIV-uninfected immunocompromised patients. RESULTS: Among the 448 patients, 296 (66%) patients had hematologic malignancies; 72 (16.1%), bone marrow transplants; 44 (9.8%), solid tumors; 21 (4.7%), renal transplants; and 15 (3.4%) were taking immunosuppressants for systemic diseases. Diagnostic strategy consisted of BAL in 351 patients and induced sputum (IS) in 97 patients. Conventional pneumocystic pneumonia (PCP) stain was positive in 39 (8.7%) patients, including 34 with positive PCR. In addition, PCR was positive in 32 patients, including 21 with complete follow-up, of whom 14 were diagnosed with probable or definitive PCP (a 36% increase). PCR was 87.2% sensitive and 92.2% specific; positive and negative predictive values were 51.5% and 98.7%, respectively. Sensitivity and negative predictive value were 100% on IS. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-uninfected immunocompromised patients with acute pulmonary infiltrates, P jiroveci PCR correlates with clinical evidence of PCP. A negative PCR allows withdrawing anti-PCP therapy.