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Rationale: Selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) eradicate gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from the intestinal and respiratory tract in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but their effect on antibiotic resistance remains controversial. Objectives: We quantified the effects of SDD and SOD on bacterial ecology in 13 ICUs that participated in a study, in which SDD, SOD, or standard care was used during consecutive periods of 6 months (de Smet AM, Kluytmans JA, Cooper BS, Mascini EM, Benus RF, van der Werf TS, van der Hoeven JG, Pickkers P, Bogaers-Hofman D, van der Meer NJ, et al. N Engl J Med 2009;360:20-31). Methods: Point prevalence surveys of rectal and respiratory samples were performed once monthly in all ICU patients (receiving or not receiving SOD/SDD). Effects of SDD on rectal, and of SDD/SOD on respiratory tract, carriage of GNB were determined by comparing results from consecutive point prevalence surveys during intervention (6 mo for SDD and 12 mo for SDD/SOD) with consecutive point prevalence data in the pre- and postintervention periods. Measurements and Main Results: During SDD, average proportions of patients with intestinal colonization with GNB resistant to either ceftazidime, tobramycin, or ciprofloxacin were 5, 7, and 7%, and increased to 15, 13, and 13% postintervention (P < 0.05). During SDD/SOD resistance levels in the respiratory tract were not more than 6% for all three antibiotics but increased gradually (for ceftazidime; P < 0.05 for trend) during intervention and to levels of 10% or more for all three antibiotics postintervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions: SOD and SDD have marked effects on the bacterial ecology in an ICU, with rising ceftazidime resistance prevalence rates in the respiratory tract during intervention and a considerable rebound effect of ceftazidime resistance in the intestinal tract after discontinuation of SDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common complications after colorectal surgery. Oral non-absorbable antibiotic prophylaxis (OAP) can be administered preoperatively to reduce the risk of SSIs. Its efficacy without simultaneous mechanical cleaning is unknown., Methods: The Precaution trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted in six Dutch hospitals. Adult patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery were randomized to receive either a three-day course of preoperative OAP with tobramycin and colistin or placebo. The primary composite endpoint was the incidence of deep SSI or mortality within 30 days after surgery. Secondary endpoints included both infectious and non-infectious complications at 30 days and six months after surgery., Results: The study was prematurely ended due to the loss of clinical equipoise. At that time, 39 patients had been randomized to active OAP and 39 to placebo, which reflected 8.1% of the initially pursued sample size. Nine (11.5%) patients developed the primary outcome, of whom four had been randomized to OAP (4/39; 10.3%) and five to placebo (5/39; 12.8%). This corresponds to a risk ratio in the intention-to-treat analysis of 0.80 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-2.78). In the per-protocol analysis, the relative risk was 0.64 (95% CI 0.12-3.46)., Conclusions: Observational data emerging during the study provided new evidence for the effectiveness of OAP that changed both the clinical and medical ethical landscape for infection prevention in colorectal surgery. We therefore consider it unethical to continue randomizing patients to placebo. We recommend the implementation of OAP in clinical practice and continuing monitoring of infection rates and antibiotic susceptibilities., Trial Registration: The PreCaution trial is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register under NL5932 (previously: NTR6113) as well as in the EudraCT register under 2015-005736-17.

Scope: The aim of these guidelines is to provide recommendations for decolonizing regimens targeting multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriers in all settings., Methods: These evidence-based guidelines were produced after a systematic review of published studies on decolonization interventions targeting the following MDR-GNB: third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (3GCephRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), aminoglycoside-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (AGRE), fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (FQRE), extremely drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDRPA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), cotrimoxazole-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (CRSM), colistin-resistant Gram-negative organisms (CoRGNB), and pan-drug-resistant Gram-negative organisms (PDRGNB). The recommendations are grouped by MDR-GNB species. Faecal microbiota transplantation has been discussed separately. Four types of outcomes were evaluated for each target MDR-GNB:(a) microbiological outcomes (carriage and eradication rates) at treatment end and at specific post-treatment time-points; (b) clinical outcomes (attributable and all-cause mortality and infection incidence) at the same time-points and length of hospital stay; (c) epidemiological outcomes (acquisition incidence, transmission and outbreaks); and (d) adverse events of decolonization (including resistance development). The level of evidence for and strength of each recommendation were defined according to the GRADE approach. Consensus of a multidisciplinary expert panel was reached through a nominal-group technique for the final list of recommendations., Recommendations: The panel does not recommend routine decolonization of 3GCephRE and CRE carriers. Evidence is currently insufficient to provide recommendations for or against any intervention in patients colonized with AGRE, CoRGNB, CRAB, CRSM, FQRE, PDRGNB and XDRPA. On the basis of the limited evidence of increased risk of CRE infections in immunocompromised carriers, the panel suggests designing high-quality prospective clinical studies to assess the risk of CRE infections in immunocompromised patients. These trials should include monitoring of development of resistance to decolonizing agents during treatment using stool cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility results according to the EUCAST clinical breakpoints., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to assess the usability benefits of adding a bedside central control interface that controls all intravenous (IV) infusion pumps compared to the conventional individual control of multiple infusion pumps. Eighteen dedicated ICU nurses volunteered in a between-subjects task-based usability test. A newly developed central control interface was compared to conventional control of multiple infusion pumps in a simulated ICU setting. Task execution time, clicks, errors and questionnaire responses were evaluated. Overall the central control interface outperformed the conventional control in terms of fewer user actions (40±3 vs. 73±20 clicks, p<0.001) and fewer user errors (1±1 vs. 3±2 errors, p<0.05), with no difference in task execution times (421±108 vs. 406±119 seconds, not significant). Questionnaires indicated a significant preference for the central control interface. Despite being novice users of the central control interface, ICU nurses displayed improved performance with the central control interface compared to the conventional interface they were familiar with. We conclude that the new user interface has an overall better usability than the conventional interface.

Introduction: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is an important contributor to poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). Development of DCI is multifactorial, and inflammation, with or without infection, is one of the factors independently associated with development of DCI and poor outcome. We thus postulated that preventive antibiotics might be associated with a reduced risk of DCI and subsequent poor outcome in aSAH patients., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort-study in intensive care units (ICU) of three university hospitals in The Netherlands. We included consecutive aSAH patients with minimal ICU stay of 72 h who received either preventive antibiotics (SDD: selective digestive tract decontamination including systemic cefotaxime or SOD: selective oropharyngeal decontamination) or no preventive antibiotics. DCI was defined as a new hypodensity on CT with no other explanation than DCI. Hazard ratio's (HR) for DCI and risk ratio's (RR) for 28-day case-fatality and poor outcome at 3 months were calculated, with adjustment (aHR/aRR) for clinical condition on admission, recurrent bleeding, aneurysm treatment modality and treatment site., Results: Of 459 included patients, 274 received preventive antibiotics (SOD or SDD) and 185 did not. With preventive antibiotics, the aHR for DCI was 1.0 (95% CI 0.6-1.8), the aRR for 28-day case-fatality was 1.1 (95% CI 0.7-1.9) and the aRR for poor functional outcome 1.2 (95% CI 1.0-1.4)., Conclusions: Preventive antibiotics were not associated with reduced risk of DCI or poor outcome in aSAH patients in the ICU.

Introduction: This study was designed to determine the effect of 2 different potassium regulation strategies with different targets (within the reference range) on atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) in a cohort of intensive care unit patients after cardiac surgery., Methods: The GRIP-COMPASS study was a prospective double-blinded interventional study in 910 patients after cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valvular surgery). Patients were assigned to either the normal-low potassium target (nLP group, 4.0 mmol/L) or the normal-high potassium target (nHP group, 4.5 mmol/L) in alternating blocks of 50 patients. Potassium levels were regulated using a validated computer-assisted potassium replacement protocol (GRIP-II). The primary end point was the incidence of AF/AFL on a 12-lead electrocardiogram during the first postoperative week., Results: Of the 910 patients, 447 were assigned to the nLP group; and 463, to the nHP group, with no baseline differences between the 2 groups. The mean daily administered dose of potassium was 30 ± 23 mmol (nLP) versus 52 ± 27 mmol (nHP) (P < .001), which resulted in mean intensive care unit potassium concentration of 4.22 ± 0.36 mmol/L and 4.33 ± 0.34 mmol/L, respectively (P < .001). The incidence of AF/AFL after cardiac surgery did not differ: 38% in the nLP group and 41% in the nHP group. Also in several subgroups (eg, patients not known with prior AF/AFL or with valve surgery), there were no differences., Conclusions: There were no differences in incidence of AF/AFL with 2 potassium regulation strategies with different potassium targets and different amounts of potassium administered in patients after cardiac surgery., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies have shown that the use of selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) reduces mortality. However, fear for increasing multidrug resistance might prevent wide acceptance. A survey was performed among the units registered in the European Registry for Intensive Care (ERIC), in order to investigate the number of ICUs using SDD and the factors that prevented the use of SDD., Methods: One invitation to the electronic survey was sent to each ERIC unit. The survey focused on department characteristics (intensive care type, local resistance levels), local treatment modalities (antibiotic stewardship) and doctors' opinions (collaborative issues concerning SDD). All ICU's in countries participating in the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control resistance surveillance program were analysed., Results: Seventeen percent of the ICUs registered in the ERIC database used SDD prophylaxis. Most of these ICUs were located in the Netherlands or Germany. ICUs using SDD were four times more likely to use antibiotic stewardship. Also larger ICUs were more likely to use SDD. On the contrary, resistance to antibiotics was not related to the use of SDD. Also the doctor's opinion that SDD is proven in cluster-randomized trials was not a determinant for not using SDD., Conclusion: SDD is used in a minority of the European ICUs registered in the ERIC database. Larger ICUs and ICUs with a prudent antibiotic policy were more likely to use SDD. Neither antibiotic resistance nor the cluster randomized study design were determinants of the non-use of SDD.

Background: The occurrence of highly resistant microorganisms (HRMOs) is a major threat to critical care patients, leading to worse outcomes, need for isolation measures, and demand for second-line or rescue antibiotics. The aim of this study was to quantify the burden of HRMOs in an intensive care unit (ICU) for adult patients in a university hospital in the Netherlands. We evaluated local distribution of different HRMO categories and proportion of ICU-imported versus ICU- acquired HRMOs. Outcome of HRMO-positive patients versuscontrols was compared., Methods: In this prospective single-centre study, culture results of all ICU patients during a four-month period were recorded, as well as APACHE scores, ICU mortality and length of stay (LOS) in the ICU., Results: 58 of 962 (6.0%) patients were HRMO positive during ICU stay. The majority (60%) of those patients were HRMO positive on ICU admission. HRMO-positive patients had significantly higher APACHE scores, longer LOS and higher mortality compared with controls., Conclusions: Our study suggests that a large part of antibiotic resistance in the ICU is imported. This underscores the importance of a robust surveillance and infection control program throughout the hospital, and implies that better recognition of those at risk for HRMO carriage before ICU admission may be worthwhile. Only a small minority of patients with HRMO at admission did not have any known risk factors for HRMO.

Introduction: Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) have been shown to improve intensive care unit (ICU) patients' outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of long-term use of SDD and SOD on colistin and tobramycin resistance among gram-negative bacteria., Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of two consecutive multicentre cluster-randomised trials with crossover of interventions. SDD and SOD were alternately but continuously used during 7 years in five Dutch ICUs participating in two consecutive cluster-randomised trials. In both trials, to measure colistin and tobramycin resistance among gram-negative bacteria, rectal and respiratory samples were obtained monthly from all patients present in the ICU., Results: The prevalence of tobramycin resistance in respiratory and rectal samples decreased significantly during long-term use of SOD and SDD. (rectal samples risk ratio (RR) 0.35 (0.23 to 0.53); respiratory samples RR 0.48 (0.32 to 0.73), SDD compared to standard care). Colistin resistance in rectal and respiratory samples did not change (rectal samples RR 0.63 (0.29 to 1.38); respiratory samples RR 1.26 (0.35 to 4.57), SDD compared to standard care)., Conclusions: In this study, in a setting with low antimicrobial resistance rates, the prevalence of resistance against colistin and tobramycin among gram-negative isolates did not increase during a mean of 7 years of SDD or SOD use.

Purpose: Topical use of colistin as part of selective digestive decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) has been associated with improved patient outcome in intensive care units (ICU), yet little is known about the risks of colistin resistance. We quantified effects of selective decontamination on acquisition of colistin-resistant gram-negative bacteria (GNB) using data from a cluster-randomized study and a single-centre cohort., Methods: Acquisition of colistin-resistant GNB and conversion from susceptible to resistance in GNB was determined in respiratory samples [from patients receiving SDD (n = 455), SOD (n = 476), or standard care (SC) (n = 315)], and in rectal swabs from 1,840 SDD-patients. Genotyping of converting isolates was performed where possible., Results: The respiratory tract acquisition rates of colistin-resistant GNB were comparable during SDD, SOD, and SC and ranged from 0.7 to 1.1/1,000 patient-days at risk. Rectal acquisition rates during SDD were <3.3/1,000 days at risk. In patients with respiratory tract GNB carriage, conversion rates were 3.6 and 1.1/1,000 patient-days at risk during SDD and SC, respectively, (p > 0.05). In patients with rectal GNB carriage conversion rates during SDD were 5.4 and 3.2/1,000 days at risk and 15.5 and 12.6/1,000 days at risk when colonized with tobramycin-resistant GNB., Conclusions: Acquisition rates with colistin-resistant GNB in the respiratory tract were low and comparable with and without topical use of colistin. Rates of acquisition of colistin-resistant GNB during SDD were--in ICUs with low endemicity of antibiotic resistance--<2.5/1,000 days at risk, but were fivefold higher during persistent GNB colonization and 15-fold higher during carriage with tobramycin-resistant GNB.

Objective: To determine costs and effects of selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) as compared with standard care (ie, no SDD/SOD (SC)) from a healthcare perspective in Dutch Intensive Care Units (ICUs)., Design: A post hoc analysis of a previously performed cluster-randomised trial (NEJM 2009;360:20)., Setting: 13 Dutch ICUs., Participants: Patients with ICU-stay of >48 h that received SDD (n=2045), SOD (n=1904) or SC (n=1990)., Interventions: SDD or SOD., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Effects were based on hospital survival, expressed as crude Life Years Gained (cLYG). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated, with corresponding cost acceptability curves. Sensitivity analyses were performed for discount rates, costs of SDD, SOD and mechanical ventilation., Results: Total costs per patient were €41 941 for SC (95% CI €40 184 to €43 698), €40 433 for SOD (95% CI €38 838 to €42 029) and €41 183 for SOD (95% CI €39 408 to €42 958). SOD and SDD resulted in crude LYG of +0.04 and +0.25, respectively, as compared with SC, implying that both SDD and SOD are dominant (ie, cheaper and more beneficial) over SC. In cost-effectiveness acceptability curves probabilities for cost-effectiveness, compared with standard care, ranged from 89% to 93% for SOD and from 63% to 72% for SDD, for acceptable costs for 1 LYG ranging from €0 to €20 000. Sensitivity analysis for mechanical ventilation and discount rates did not change interpretation. Yet, if costs of the topical component of SDD and SOD would increase 40-fold to €400/day and €40/day (maximum values based on free market prices in 2012), the estimated ICER as compared with SC for SDD would be €21 590 per LYG. SOD would remain cost-saving., Conclusions: SDD and SOD were both effective and cost-saving in Dutch ICUs.

Objectives: Prevalences of cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are increasing globally, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). The effect of selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) on the eradication of cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from the intestinal tract is unknown. We quantified eradication rates of cephalosporin-resistant and cephalosporin-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae during SDD in patients participating in a 13 centre cluster-randomized study and from a single-centre cohort., Methods: All SDD patients colonized with Enterobacteriaceae in the intestinal tract at ICU admission were included. Cephalosporin resistance was defined as resistance to ceftazidime, cefotaxime or ceftriaxone and aminoglycoside resistance as resistance to tobramycin or gentamicin. Duration of rectal colonization was determined by screening twice weekly during ICU stay. Swabs were inoculated on selective medium supplemented with tobramycin or cefotaxime., Results: Five hundred and seven (17%) of 2959 SDD patients with at least one rectal sample were colonized with Enterobacteriaceae at ICU admission: 77 (15%) with cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and 50 (10%) with aminoglycoside-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Fifty-six (73%) patients colonized with cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were successfully decontaminated before ICU discharge, as were 343 (80%) patients colonized with cephalosporin-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.17). For aminoglycoside resistance, 31 (62%) patients were decontaminated, as were 368 patients (81%) colonized with aminoglycoside-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.01). On average, decolonization was demonstrated after 4 days if colonized with cephalosporin-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae and aminoglycoside-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, and after 5 and 5.5 days if colonized with cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and aminoglycoside-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, respectively (log-rank test P = 0.053 for cephalosporin resistance and P = 0.03 for aminoglycoside resistance). If eradication failed, no associations were found with increased resistance in time (P > 0.05 for all comparisons)., Conclusions: SDD can successfully eradicate cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from the intestinal tract.

Purpose of Review: This review discusses the relevant studies on selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) published between 2009 and mid-2011., Recent Findings: In a multicenter cluster-randomized cross-over study in the Netherlands, SDD and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) were associated with higher survival at day 28, with a lower incidence of ICU-acquired bacteremia and with less acquisition of respiratory tract colonization with antibiotic resistant pathogens, compared to standard care. A post-hoc analysis of this study suggests that SDD might be more effective in surgical patients and SOD in nonsurgical patients. In a randomized study perioperative use of SDD in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery was associated with lower incidences of anastomotic leakages. A Cochrane meta-analysis, not including any of the before mentioned studies, reported a reduction of respiratory tract infections in studies by using topical antibiotics only and higher survival rates when topical antibiotics were combined with parenteral antibiotics., Summary: Recent studies show that in ICUs with low levels of antibiotic resistance, SDD and SOD improved patient outcome and reduced infections and carriage with antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The effect in settings with higher levels of antibiotic resistance remains to be determined as well as the efficacy of SDD and SOD in specific patient groups.

Background: Selective digestive decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) are effective in improving survival in patients under intensive care. In this study possible differential effects in surgical and non-surgical patients were investigated., Methods: This was a post hoc subgroup analysis of data from a cluster-randomized multicentre trial comparing three groups (SDD, SOD or standard care) to quantify effects among surgical and non-surgical patients. The primary study outcome was 28-day mortality rate. Duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, and bacteraemia rates were secondary outcomes., Results: The subgroup analyses included a total of 2762 surgical and 3165 non-surgical patients. Compared with standard care, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for mortality were comparable in SDD-treated surgical and non-surgical patients: 0·86 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·69 to 1·09; P = 0·220) and 0·85 (0·70 to 1·03; P = 0·095) respectively. However, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay were significantly reduced in surgical patients who had SDD. SOD did not reduce mortality compared with standard treatment in surgical patients (adjusted OR 0·97, 0·77 to 1·22; P = 0·801); in non-surgical patients it reduced mortality (adjusted OR 0·77, 0·63 to 0·94; P = 0·009) by 16·6 per cent, representing an absolute mortality reduction of 5·5 per cent with number needed to treat of 18., Conclusion: Subgroup analysis found similar effects of SDD in reducing mortality in surgical and non-surgical ICU patients, whereas SOD reduced mortality only in non-surgical patients. The hypothesis-generating findings mandate investigation into mechanisms between different ICU populations., (Copyright © 2011 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Previously, we assessed selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) on survival and prevention of bacteraemia in patients in intensive-care units. In this analysis, we aimed to assess effectiveness of these interventions for prevention of respiratory tract colonisation and bacteraemia with highly resistant microorganisms acquired in intensive-care units., Methods: We did an open-label, clustered group-randomised, crossover study in 13 intensive-care units in the Netherlands between May, 2004, and July, 2006. Participants admitted to intensive-care units with an expected duration of mechanical ventilation of more than 48 h or an expected stay of more than 72 h received SOD (topical tobramycin, colistin, and amphotericin B in the oropharynx), SDD (SOD antibiotics in the oropharynx and stomach plus 4 days' intravenous cefotaxime), or standard care. The computer-randomised order of study regimens was applied by an independent clinical pharmacist who was masked to intensive-care-unit identity. We calculated crude odds ratios (95% CI) for rates of bacteraemia or respiratory tract colonisation with highly resistant microorganisms in patients who stayed in intensive-care units for more than 3 days (ie, acquired infection). This trial is registered at http://isrctn.org, number ISRCTN35176830., Findings: Data were available for 5927 (>99%) of 5939 patients, of whom 5463 (92%) were in intensive-care units for more than 3 days. 239 (13%) of 1837 patients in standard care acquired bacteraemia after 3 days, compared with 158 (9%) of 1758 in SOD (odds ratio 0·66, 95% CI 0·53-0·82), and 124 (7%) of 1868 in SDD (0·48, 0·38-0·60). Eight patients acquired bacteraemia with highly resistant microorganisms during SDD, compared with 18 patients (with 19 episodes) during standard care (0·41, 0·18-0·94; rate reduction [RR] 59%, absolute risk reduction [ARR] 0·6%) and 20 during SOD (0·37, 0·16-0·85; RR 63%, ARR 0·7%). Of the patients staying in intensive-care units for more than 3 days, we obtained endotracheal aspirate cultures for 881 (49%) patients receiving standard care, 886 (50%) receiving SOD, and 828 (44%) receiving SDD. 128 (15%) patients acquired respiratory tract colonisation with highly resistant microorganisms during standard care, compared with 74 (8%) during SDD (0·58, 0·43-0·78; RR 38%, ARR 5·5%) and 88 (10%) during SOD (0·65, 0·49-0·87; RR 32%, ARR 4·6%). Acquired respiratory tract colonisation with Gram-negative bacteria or cefotaxime-resistant and colistin-resistant pathogens was lowest during SDD., Interpretation: Widespread use of SDD and SOD in intensive-care units with low levels of antibiotic resistance is justified., Funding: None., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Selective digestive tract decontamination aims to eradicate gram-negative bacteria in both the intestinal tract and respiratory tract and is combined with a 4-day course of intravenous cefotaxime. Selective oropharyngeal decontamination only aims to eradicate respiratory tract colonization. In a recent study, selective digestive tract decontamination and selective oropharyngeal decontamination were associated with lower day-28 mortality, when compared to standard care. Furthermore, selective digestive tract decontamination was associated with a lower incidence of intensive care unit-acquired bacteremia caused by gram-negative bacteria. We quantified the role of intestinal tract carriage with gram-negative bacteria and intensive care unit-acquired gram-negative bacteremia., Design: Data from a cluster-randomized and a single-center observational study., Setting: Intensive care unit in The Netherlands., Patients: Patients with intensive care unit stay of >48 hrs that received selective digestive tract decontamination (n = 2,667), selective oropharyngeal decontamination (n = 2,166) or standard care (n = 1,945)., Interventions: Selective digestive tract decontamination or selective oropharyngeal decontamination., Measurements and Main Results: Incidence densities (episodes/1000 days) of intensive care unit-acquired gram-negative bacteremia were 4.5, 3.0, and 1.4 during standard care, selective oropharyngeal decontamination, and selective digestive tract decontamination, respectively, and the daily risk for developing intensive care unit-acquired gram-negative bacteria bacteremia increased until days 36, 33, and 31 for selective digestive tract decontamination, standard care, and selective oropharyngeal decontamination and was always lowest during selective digestive tract decontamination. Rectal colonization with gram-negative bacteria was present in 26% and 71% of patient days during selective digestive tract decontamination and selective oropharyngeal decontamination, respectively (p < .01). Irrespective of interventions, incidence densities of intensive care unit-acquired gram-negative bacteremia was 4.5 during patient days with both intestinal and respiratory tract gram-negative bacteria carriage. These incidence densities reduced with 33% (to 3.1) during days with intestinal gram-negative bacteria carriage only and with another 45% (to 1.0) during days without gram-negative bacteria carriage at both sites., Conclusions: Respiratory tract decolonization was associated with a 33% and intestinal tract decolonization was associated with a 45% reduction in the occurrence of intensive care unit-acquired gram-negative bacteremia.

Introduction: Use of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) in intensive care patients has been controversial for years. Through regular questionnaires we determined expectations concerning SDD (effectiveness) and experience with SDD and SOD (workload and patient friendliness), as perceived by nurses and physicians., Methods: A survey was embedded in a group-randomized, controlled, cross-over multicenter study in the Netherlands in which, during three 6-month periods, SDD, SOD or standard care was used in random order. At the end of each study period, all nurses and physicians from participating intensive care units received study questionnaires., Results: In all, 1024 (71%) of 1450 questionnaires were returned by nurses and 253 (82%) of 307 by physicians. Expectations that SDD improved patient outcome increased from 71% and 77% of respondents after the first two study periods to 82% at the end of the study (P = 0.004), with comparable trends among nurses and physicians. Nurses considered SDD to impose a higher workload (median 5.0, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high)) than SOD (median 4.0) and standard care (median 2.0). Both SDD and SOD were considered less patient friendly than standard care (medians 4.0, 4.0 and 6.0, respectively). According to physicians, SDD had a higher workload (median 5.5) than SOD (median 5.0), which in turn was higher than standard care (median 2.5). Furthermore, physicians graded patient friendliness of standard care (median 8.0) higher than that of SDD and SOD (both median 6.0)., Conclusions: Although perceived effectiveness of SDD increased as the trial proceeded, both among physicians and nurses, SOD and SDD were, as compared to standard care, considered to increase workload and to reduce patient friendliness. Therefore, education about the importance of oral care and on the effects of SDD and SOD on patient outcomes will be important when implementing these strategies., Trial Registration: ISRCTN35176830.

Objective: To determine the incidence rates of hospital acquired infections (HAI) during the first 14 days after ICU discharge after treatment during ICU-stay with Selective Decontamination of the Digestive tract (SDD), Selective Oropharyngeal Decontamination (SOD) or Standard Care (SC)., Design: Prospective observational study., Setting: ICUs in two tertiary care hospitals., Patients: Patients discharged from the ICU to the ward., Interventions: None., Measurements and Results: Post-ICU incidences of HAI per 1,000 days at risk were 11.2, 12.9 and 8.3 for patients that had received SDD (n = 296), SOD (n = 286) or SC (n = 289) respectively in ICU, yielding relative risks, as compared to SC, of 1.49 (CI(95) 0.9-2.47) for SOD and 1.44 (CI(95) 0.87-2.39) for SDD. Incidences of surgical site infections (per 100 surgical procedures) were 4 after SC and 11.8 and 8 after SOD and SDD (p = 0.04). Among patients that succumbed in the hospital after ICU-stay (n = 58) eight (14%) had developed HAI after ICU discharge; 3 of 21 after SDD, 3 of 15 after SOD and 2 of 22 after SC., Conclusions: Incidences of HAI in general wards tended to be higher in patients that had received either SDD or SOD during ICU-stay, but it seems unlikely that these infections have an effect on hospital mortality rates.

Background: Selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) are infection-prevention measures used in the treatment of some patients in intensive care, but reported effects on patient outcome are conflicting., Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of SDD and SOD in a crossover study using cluster randomization in 13 intensive care units (ICUs), all in The Netherlands. Patients with an expected duration of intubation of more than 48 hours or an expected ICU stay of more than 72 hours were eligible. In each ICU, three regimens (SDD, SOD, and standard care) were applied in random order over the course of 6 months. Mortality at day 28 was the primary end point. SDD consisted of 4 days of intravenous cefotaxime and topical application of tobramycin, colistin, and amphotericin B in the oropharynx and stomach. SOD consisted of oropharyngeal application only of the same antibiotics. Monthly point-prevalence studies were performed to analyze antibiotic resistance., Results: A total of 5939 patients were enrolled in the study, with 1990 assigned to standard care, 1904 to SOD, and 2045 to SDD; crude mortality in the groups at day 28 was 27.5%, 26.6%, and 26.9%, respectively. In a random-effects logistic-regression model with age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score, intubation status, and medical specialty used as covariates, odds ratios for death at day 28 in the SOD and SDD groups, as compared with the standard-care group, were 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 0.99) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.97), respectively., Conclusions: In an ICU population in which the mortality rate associated with standard care was 27.5% at day 28, the rate was reduced by an estimated 3.5 percentage points with SDD and by 2.9 percentage points with SOD. (Controlled Clinical Trials number, ISRCTN35176830.), (2009 Massachusetts Medical Society)

Purpose of Review: The aim of this article is to review relevant studies on the topic of selective decontamination of the digestive tract published in 2006 and 2007., Recent Findings: The only recently published randomized controlled selective decontamination of the digestive tract study failed to demonstrate a benefit of selective decontamination on survival among trauma patients. In fact, two new meta-analyses of selective decontamination of the digestive tract studies were presented: one demonstrated reduced incidences of Gram-negative bacteraemia; in the other no reduction in fungaemia was found. Although selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been associated with increased selection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), transmission of MRSA was controlled in a Spanish unit when using selective decontamination in combination with topical vancomycin. Several randomized studies and one meta-analysis suggest that oropharyngeal decontamination with antiseptics is also highly effective in preventing respiratory tract infection in critically ill patients., Summary: The evidence that selective decontamination of the digestive tract improves patient outcome in mixed ICU patients is still based upon meta-analysis and two single centre studies in MRSA-naïve settings. Larger and preferably multicentre studies are needed to confirm these observations. Further remaining questions are whether oropharyngeal decontamination alone is as effective as the full selective decontamination of the digestive tract regimen and whether selective decontamination could be applied successfully in settings with high levels of antibiotic resistance.

Objective: To determine the effect of oral decontamination with either chlorhexidine (CHX, 2%) or the combination chlorhexidine-colistin (CHX-COL, 2%-2%) on the frequency and the time to onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia in Intensive Care patients., Design: Double blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, randomised trial., Methods: Consecutive ICU patients needing at least 48 h of mechanical ventilation were enrolled in a randomized trial with 3 arms: CHX, CHX-COL, and placebo (PLAC). The trial medication was administered in the oral cavity every 6 h. Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained daily and analysed quantitatively for Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Endotracheal colonisation was monitored twice weekly. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed on the basis of a combination of clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria., Results: Of 385 patients included, 130 received PLAC, 127 CHX and 128 CHX-COL. Baseline characteristics in the three groups were comparable. The daily risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia was reduced in both treatment groups compared to PLAC: 65% (HR= 0.352; 95% CI: 0.160-0.791; p = 0.012) for CHX and 55% (HR= 0.454; 95%/ CI: 0.224-0.925; p = 0.030) for CHX-COL. CHX-COL provided a significant reduction in oropharyngeal colonisation with both Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms, whereas CHX significantly affected only colonisation with Gram-positive microorganisms. There were no differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU-stay or ICU-survival., Conclusion: Oral decontamination of the oropharyngeal cavity with chlorhexidine or the combination chlorhexidine-colistin reduced the incidence and the time to onset ofventilator-associated pneumonia.

Increasing antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria has recently renewed interest in colistin as a therapeutic option. The increasing use of colistin necessitates the availability of rapid and reliable methods for colistin susceptibility testing. We compared seven methods of colistin susceptibility testing (disk diffusion, agar dilution on Mueller-Hinton [MH] and Isosensitest agar, Etest on MH and Isosensitest agar, broth microdilution, and VITEK 2) on 102 clinical isolates collected from patient materials during a selective digestive decontamination or selective oral decontamination trial in an intensive-care unit. Disk diffusion is an unreliable method to measure susceptibility to colistin. High error rates and low levels of reproducibility were observed in the disk diffusion test. The colistin Etest, agar dilution, and the VITEK 2 showed a high level of agreement with the broth microdilution reference method. Heteroresistance for colistin was observed in six Enterobacter cloacae isolates and in one Acinetobacter baumannii isolate. This is the first report of heteroresistance to colistin in E. cloacae isolates. Resistance to colistin in these isolates seemed to be induced upon exposure to colistin rather than being caused by stable mutations. Heteroresistant isolates could be detected in the broth microdilution, agar dilution, Etest, or disk diffusion test. The VITEK 2 displayed low sensitivity in the detection of heteroresistant subpopulations of E. cloacae. The VITEK 2 colistin susceptibility test can therefore be considered to be a reliable tool to determine susceptibility to colistin in isolates of genera that are known not to exhibit resistant subpopulations. In isolates of genera known to (occasionally) exhibit heteroresistance, an alternative susceptibility testing method capable of detecting heteroresistance should be used.

This review presents data from laboratory studies and clinical trials indicating the efficacy of the "Noradrenergic Strategy" for enhancing recovery after cortical injury. Short-term acute treatment combining Physical Therapy (PT) with drugs increasing noradrenaline (NA) levels enhances recovery of hemiplegia in both laboratory studies and clinical trials which also report improved aphasia recovery. Importantly these effects endure even when treatment is initiated months after stroke onset. The hypothesized mechanisms included modulation of neuronal processes underlying "spontaneous" recovery since drugs reducing NA levels slow spontaneous recovery. The effect of some drugs change with time after sensorimotor cortex (SMCx) injury. Drugs reducing NA levels, including clonidine and prazosin, and GABA receptor agonists at doses having little effect early after injury, when administered to animals or stroke patients after "complete recovery" transiently reinstate the original symptoms. Reinstatement by prazosin remains unchanged after repeated testing for over six months in rat, and the deficits can be as severe as the first days after injury. This suggests "completed" recovery is an inaccurate label for an enduring "fragile" state. This transient reinstatement of symptoms may be useful for distinguishing causal from corollary relationships between symptoms and physiological processes proposed as mechanisms for recovery of function.

For patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) the most important objective of mechanical ventilation is opening and keeping open the alveoli to achieve adequate oxygenation, without further damaging the lungs or negatively affecting the circulation. Alveolar recruitment is achieved by making use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). The best PEEP level is that with which the largest improvement in oxygen transport and lung compliance is achieved, without a decrease in the stroke volume of the left ventricle. In addition to the usual volume-controlled ventilation with PEEP, pressure-limited ventilation is also possible. In this a preselected pressure is never exceeded, whereas a maximum inspiratory airflow at the start of inspiration provides more opportunity for gaseous exchange. The oxygenation can possibly be further improved by increasing the inspiration-expiration ratio. As a result of the reduced expiratory period the alveoli which tend to collapse at the end of a normal expiration are kept open. Mechanical ventilation with a lower tidal volume decreases mortality. Ventilation in a prone position increases the end-expiratory lung volume and reduces the intrapulmonary shunt and the regional differences in the degree of ventilation. These factors possibly contribute to preventing ventilation-induced lung damage. Administration of natural surfactant during the ventilation of patients with ARDS seems to be a highly promising strategy; the clinical effectiveness still needs to be demonstrated.

Between December 1999 and June 2000, an outbreak caused by Acinetobacter emerged on the neurosurgical intensive care unit of our hospital. It was shown using automated ribotyping using Eco RI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis that the outbreak was caused by spread of a single strain, which was identified by ribotyping and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis as Acinetobacter DNA group 13TU (sensu Tjernberg and Ursing). The outbreak strain, which showed no antibiotic resistance, was identified in 23 patients, five of whom developed an infection. The organism was also isolated from various environmental sites. Cross-transmission among patients continued despite contact isolation of colonized patients and reinforcement of basic disinfection procedures. Eventually, after implementation of additional stringent measures such as cohorting of positive patients and daily disinfection of the floor, the outbreak was brought under control. This study demonstrates that apart from Acinetobacter baumanii, Acinetobacter 13TU strains, even when they are fully susceptible, may cause outbreaks that are difficult to control. Correct identification to the species level of Acinetobacter by genotypic methods is necessary to get insight in the importance of the different Acinetobacter genomic species in hospital epidemiology., (Copyright 2002 The Hospital Infection Society.)

The physical structure of fodder beets, raw potatoes, ensiled pressed sugar beet pulp, ensiled brewers grains, and corn cob silage was evaluated in diets containing concentrates and either corn silage or grass silage as the roughage source. In one series of experiments, the chewing activity of eight cows was measured over 4 d. The beet pulp and fodder beets were added to the two roughage sources at two ratios [20:80 and 35:65, dry matter (DM) basis]. Potatoes, brewers grains, and corn cob silage were fed in a fixed amount (5 to 6 kg of DM) with corn silage. The chewing indexes (eating and ruminating time per kilogram of DM ingested) for fodder beets and beet pulp averaged 34.3 and 32.3 min/kg of DM, respectively, and were hardly affected by the nature of the roughage or by the inclusion ratio. The chewing indexes for potatoes, brewers grains, and corn cob silage were 23.7, 56.6, and 41.6 min/kg of DM, respectively. In another series of experiments using 8 to 11 cows, the ratio of roughage to concentrates was lowered weekly by 5 percentage units, and the critical rough-age portion of the diet was determined (i.e., the amount just before a lack of physical structure was observed). The roughage source was either fed alone or supplemented with about 4 kg of DM of the experimental feed. The critical roughage portion of the diet decreased when the experimental feeds were added; the decrease was greatest with ensiled pressed beet pulp and was lowest with corn cob silage.

The use of CO2 to create and maintain a pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery may lead to hypercarbia and acidosis. CO2 is also insufflated into the preperitoneal space to create and maintain a pneumopreperitoneum for laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. This study examined the influence of CO2 pneumopreperitoneum on the development of hypercarbia and acidosis assessed with continuous intraarterial blood gas monitoring. Changes in blood gas values were measured with both continuous intraarterial and intermittent blood gas monitoring. Over a 4-mo period, blood gas values of 14 patients undergoing laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (pneumopreperitoneum) were compared with those of 13 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (pneumoperitoneum) in a tertiary referral center. Additionally, heart rate and blood pressure were measured during stable ventilation at constant insufflation pressure. Pneumopreperitoneum resulted in a significantly faster development of hypercarbia (P = 0.023) and acidosis (P = 0.027) than pneumoperitoneum. These results were not explained when corrected for changes in hemodynamic and ventilatory variables using analysis of covariance. We conclude that the more rapid development of hypercarbia and acidosis during pneumopreperitoneum can be explained by increased CO2 absorption through an increasing gas exchange area during the procedure and through a larger wound bed.

Objective: To describe the first experiences with transfemoral aortic endoprostheses for treatment of aortic aneurysms in the Netherlands., Setting: University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands., Method: Patient selection was based on information presented on CT and angiography films. Only patients with an asymptomatic aneurysm and non-dilated aortic segments both distal from the renal arteries and proximal to the aortic bifurcation were selected. Of 71 patients screened only nine candidates were selected., Results: The placement of the endoprosthesis was initially successful in all patients. The duration of the operation varied from 60 to 160 min. An intimal lesion of the common femoral artery occurred in one patient. In three cases leakage of contrast material outside the prosthesis but inside the aneurysm was seen on the postoperative CT angiogram. In one patient the endoprosthesis had to be replaced by a conventional aortic tube graft on the second postoperative day. After the procedure the patients stayed in hospital for another 3 to 20 days (median: 5)., Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of infrarenal abdominal aneurysm is a promising technique. The main advantages to the patient are that laparotomy is not necessary and that the hospital stay is reduced.