Factors associated with pneumonia in post–cardiac arrest patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia

Recovery and Survival of Patients After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Literature Review Showcasing the Big Picture of Intensive Care Unit-Related Factors

As an important public health issue, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) requires several stages of high quality medical care, both on-field and after hospital admission. Post-cardiac arrest shock can lead to severe neurological injury, resulting in poor recovery outcome and increased risk of death. These characteristics make this condition one of the most important issues to deal with in post-OHCA patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Also, the majority of initial post-resuscitation survivors have underlying coronary diseases making revascularization procedure another crucial step in early management of these patients. Besides keeping myocardial blood flow at a satisfactory level, other tissues must not be neglected as well, and maintaining mean arterial pressure within optimal range is also preferable. All these procedures can be simplified to a certain level along with using targeted temperature management methods in order to decrease metabolic demands in ICU-hospitalized post-OHCA patients. Additionally, withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy as a controversial ethical topic is under constant re-evaluation due to its possible influence on overall mortality rates in patients initially surviving OHCA. Focusing on all of these important points in process of managing ICU patients is an imperative towards better survival and complete recovery rates.

Effectiveness and safety of early postpyloric feeding during therapeutic hypothermia in patients with large hemispheric infarction: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

What kind of feeding should be provided during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in patients with large hemispheric infarction (LHI) is not clear. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective observational study to determine whether providing early postpyloric feeding (PPF) (<24 h after admission) is beneficial or harmful for patients with this condition.

METHODS

This study retrospectively screened 78 patients with LHI who were treated with TH from one neurological intensive care unit (ICU). The patients were receiving either early PPF (n = 52) or early parenteral nutrition (PN) (n = 26). Data regarding 30-day mortality, neurological outcome, nutrition-related laboratory indicators, ICU hospitalization time, mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and complications were collected.

RESULTS

A greater number of patients who received early PPF had favorable neurologic outcome than those who received early PN (57.7% vs 30.7%, P = 0.025). The early PPF group had a lower severity of pulmonary infection than the early PN group, as measured by the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (7.33 ± 0.96 vs 9.42 ± 2.11, P = 0.006). The total protein and hemoglobin levels in the early PPF group were higher than those in the early PN group (59.56 ± 5.09 vs 56.52 ± 7.94 g/L, P = 0.046; 131.06 ± 19.58 vs 122.07 ± 17.72 g/L, P = 0.045). The MV duration and ICU hospitalization time were shorter in the early PPF group (13 [9;21] vs 21 [14;30] days, P = 0.006; 28 [22;36] vs 34 [33;51] days, P = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections, 30-day mortality, or nutrition intolerance between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Early PPF is an effective and safe enteral nutrition method for patients with LHI receiving TH.

Hypothermia and its role in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest

Background

Patients suffering cardiac arrest resulting from ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are at very high risk of death. In addition to reperfusion strategies, therapeutic hypothermia is recommended for cardiac arrest patients who remain unconscious after resuscitation. However, data analysis of the impact of therapeutic hypothermia on survival showed inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the benefits of therapeutic hypothermia in STEMI patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Methods

Patients with STEMI who received CPR were identified after nationwide German inpatient data (2005-2019) were screened. These patients were stratified for therapeutic hypothermia. The impact of hypothermia on mortality and adverse in-hospital outcomes was analyzed.

Results

Overall, 133,070 inpatients with STEMI and CPR (53.3% aged ≥70 years; 34% females) were recorded in Germany between 2005 and 2019, of which 12.3% (16,386 patients) underwent therapeutic hypothermia. Females (23.8 vs. 35.4%, p < 0.001) and patients aged ≥70 years (34.9 vs. 55.9%, p < 0.001) were less frequently treated with therapeutic hypothermia. The in-hospital case fatality rate was lower for STEMI with CPR and subsequent therapeutic hypothermia than for treatment without therapeutic hypothermia (53.5 vs. 66.7%, p < 0.001). Therapeutic hypothermia was independently associated with a reduced in-hospital case fatality rate {OR 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.86], p < 0.001}. In addition, therapeutic hypothermia was associated with an increased risk for stroke (OR 1.37 [95% CI 1.25-1.49], p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR 1.75 [95% CI 1.68-1.82], p < 0.001), and acute kidney injury (OR 2.21 [95% CI 2.07-2.35], p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Therapeutic hypothermia is associated with a survival benefit for STEMI patients after cardiac arrest.

Association of multiple rib fractures with the frequency of pneumonia in the post-resuscitation period

Purpose

Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation is associated with a high incidence of chest wall injuries. However, few studies have examined chest wall injury as a risk factor for respiratory complications after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Therefore, herein, we investigated the association of multiple rib fractures on the incidence of post-resuscitation pneumonia.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective cohort study enrolled adult, nontraumatic, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who maintained circulation for more than 48 h between June 2015 and May 2019. Rib fractures were evaluated by computed tomography on the day of hospital admission. The association with newly developed pneumonia within 7 days of hospitalisation was analysed using a Fine-Gray proportional hazards regression model adjusted for the propensity score of multiple rib fractures estimated from age, sex, presence of witnessed status, bystander CPR, initial rhythm, and total CPR time and for previously reported risk factors for pneumonia (therapeutic hypothermia and prophylactic antibiotics).

Results

Overall, 683 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were treated; 87 eligible cases were enrolled for analysis. Thirty-two (36.8%) patients had multiple rib fractures identified on computed tomography, and 35 (40.2%) patients developed pneumonia. The presence of multiple rib fractures was significantly associated with a higher incidence of pneumonia, consistently both with and without adjustment for background factors (unadjusted hazard ratio 4.63, 95% confidence interval: 2.35–9.13, p < 0.001; adjusted hazard ratio 4.03, 95% confidence interval: 2.08–7.82, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Multiple rib fractures are independently associated with the development of pneumonia after successful resuscitation.

Extravascular Cooling of Blood Using a Concentrated Thermoelectric Cooling Probe

Thermal therapies have strong potential for improving outcomes for patients suffering from cardiac arrest, neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or medically refractory intracranial hypertension. We propose a novel tool to manipulate blood temperature through extravascular thermoelectric heat exchange of blood vessel walls and flowing blood. This tool is a concentrated cooling probe with several thermoelectric units combined to focus cooling at the application site. Using this tool, we aim to achieve desired levels of temperature control and potentially reduce complications associated with traditional intravascular or systemic thermal therapies. Leveraging the feedback control, speed, and reversible operation of thermoelectric cooling modules, the device can adapt to cool or heat as desired. Pre-clinical testing on rodent models confirmed rapid, significant reduction of intravenous jugular blood temperature when a prototype device was brought in contact with the left carotid artery (change in blood temperature of -4.74 ± 2.9 °C/hr and -4.29 ± 1.64 °C/hr for 0 °C and -5 °C cooling trials respectively). Declines in rectal temperature were also noted, but at lesser magnitudes than for jugular blood (0 °C: -3.09 ± 1.29 °C/hr; -5 °C: -2.04 ± 1.08), indicating proof-of-concept of thermoelectric extravascular blood cooling within a relatively localized region of the body. With further improvements in the technique, there is potential for selective organ cooling via reduction in flowing blood temperature.

Early Bronchoscopy Improves Extubation Rates after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) frequently receive a bronchoscopy after being admitted to the ICU. We investigated the optimal timing and the outcome in these patients.

METHODS

All patients who suffered from OHCA and were treated in our ICU from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The data were collected from the patients' medical files, and included duration of mechanical ventilation, antibiotics, microbiological test results and neurological outcome. The outcome was the effect of early bronchoscopy (≤48 h after administration) on the rate of intubated patients on day five and day seven.

RESULTS

From January 2013 to December 2018, 190 patients were admitted with OHCA. Bronchoscopy was performed in 111 patients out of the 164 patients who survived the first day. Late bronchoscopy >48 h was associated with higher rates of intubation on day five (OR 4.94; 95% CI 1.2-36.72, 86.7% vs. 55.0%, p = 0.036) and day seven (OR 4.96; 95% CI 1.38-24.69; 80.0% vs. 43.3%, p = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that patients who suffered from OHCA might have a better outcome if they receive a bronchoscopy early after hospital admission. Our data suggests an association of early bronchoscopy with a shorter intubation period.

Outcomes associated with delayed enteral feeding after cardiac arrest treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and targeted temperature management

INTRODUCTION

While early enteral nutrition is generally preferred in critically ill patients, the optimal timing of feeding among refractory cardiac arrest patients is unknown. We examined the association between timing of enteral nutrition and patient survival and safety outcomes in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who were treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 142 consecutive patients presenting with OHCA due to ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia treated with ECPR and targeted temperature management (TTM). Neurologically favorable survival and clinical outcomes were compared between patients who received early enteral nutrition (<48 h after admission to the intensive care unit) and patients receiving delayed enteral nutrition (initiated >48 h after admission).

RESULTS

Enteral nutrition was initiated in 90/142 (63%) patients. Early enteral nutrition was provided in 34/90 (38%) while delayed nutrition occurred in 56/90 (62%). In adjusted analysis including patients who received nutrition, delayed enteral feeding was associated with increased odds of neurologically favorable survival (29 vs 54%, CI 1.04-7.25, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in the incidence of pneumonia (18 vs 27%, p = 0.16), gastrointestinal bleeding (5.9 vs 3.6%, p = 0.42), intestinal ischemia (5.9 vs 5.4%, p = 0.90), ileus (12 vs 11%, p = 0.98), or need for tracheostomy (15 vs 20%, p = 0.81) between early and late feeding groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients with refractory OHCA treated with ECPR and TTM, delayed enteral nutrition was associated with improved neurologically favorable survival. Adverse events related to enteral feeding were not associated with timing of feeding initiation.

The Relationship Between the Decreased Rate of Initial Blood Glucose and Neurologic Outcomes in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Receiving Therapeutic Hypothermia

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors is associated with poor outcomes. However, in the control of initial hyperglycemia, an adequate strategy to improve patients' neurologic outcomes remains undetermined. Prior to the establishment of such strategy, we need to determine whether a decreased rate of initial blood glucose (BG) affects patient outcomes.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-five adult non-traumatic OHCA survivors treated with therapeutic hypothermia between April 2007 and December 2011 were enrolled in this single-center retrospective cohort study. Based on the cerebral performance category (CPC) at 6 months after OHCA, study populations were categorized as "Good CPC group" (favorable outcome, CPC1 and CPC2) and "Poor CPC group" (unfavorable outcome, CPC3-CPC5). Variables related to BG were obtained, and the rate of BG change was calculated.

RESULTS

In the Good CPC group, the time required to attain target BG levels was shorter [7.4 (2.97-18.13) vs. 13.17 (7.55-27.0) h, p < 0.001], and the average rate of glucose decrease until the attainment of target BG levels was faster [17.06 (6.67-34.49) vs. 8.33 (4.26-18.55) mg/dl/h, p = 0.005] than in the Poor CPC group. Using multivariate analysis, the faster rate (odds ratio 1.074; 95% confidence interval 1.029-1.12; p = 0.001) and the shorter time (odds ratio 13.888; 95% confidence interval 2.271-84.906; p = 0.004) required to attain target BG levels were independently related to favorable neurologic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Faster rates of initial BG decrease and the shorter time required to attain target BG levels were associated with favorable neurologic outcome in survivors of OHCA receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Prophylactic versus clinically-driven antibiotics in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest-A randomized pilot study

AIM

To investigate benefits of prophylactic antibiotics in comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

METHODS

Patients without evidence of tracheobronchial aspiration on admission bronchoscopy were randomized to prophylactic Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid 1.2g every 8h (P) or clinically-driven antibiotics (C) administered if signs of infection developed during initial 7days of intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

RESULTS

Among 83 patients enrolled between September 2013 and February 2015, tracheobronchial aspiration was documented in 23 (28%). Accordingly, 60 patients were randomized. Percentage of patients on antibiotics between days 1-5 was significantly greater in P group. White blood count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin (PCT) and CD 64 significantly increased during the postresuscitation phase. Except for lower CRP and PCT in group P on day 6 (p<0.05), there was no significant differences. Mini BAL on day 3 was less often positive in group P (7% vs. 42%; p<0.01). There was no significant difference in other microbiological samples and X-ray signs of pneumonia cumulatively documented in 50% in both groups. Use of vasopressors/inotropes (93% in both groups), duration of mechanical ventilation (5.4±3.7 vs. 5.2±3.1 days), tracheal intubation (6.5±4.6 vs. 5.9±4.3 days), ICU stay (7.7±5.2 vs. 6.9±4.5 days), survival (73% vs. 73%) and survival with good neurological outcome (50% vs. 40%) were also comparable between P and C groups.

CONCLUSION

Bronchoscopy on admission documented tracheobronchial aspiration in 28% of comatose survivors of OHCA. In the absence of aspiration, prophylactic antibiotics did not significantly alter systemic inflammatory response, postresuscitation pneumonia, ICU treatment and outcome (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02899507).

Early antibiotics administration during targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a nationwide database study

Background

Patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest are reportedly at high risk for infection and sepsis, especially those treated with targeted temperature management (TTM). There is, however, limited evidence suggesting that early antibiotic use improves patient outcomes. We examined the hypothesis that early treatment with antibiotics reduces mortality in patients with cardiac arrest receiving TTM.

Methods

We identified 2803 patients with cardiogenic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) that were treated with TTM and were admitted to 371 hospitals that contribute to the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database between July 2007 and March 2013. Of these, 1272 received antibiotics within the first 2 days (antibiotics) and 1531 did not (control). We generated 802 propensity score-matched pairs.

Results

There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the groups (control vs. antibiotics; 33.0 % vs. 29.9 %; difference, 3.1 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI], −1.4 to 7.7 %, p = 0.18). Analysis using the hospital antibiotics prescribing rate as an instrumental variable showed that antibiotic use was not significantly associated with a reduction in 30-day mortality (6.6 %, CI 95 %, −0.5 to 13.7 %, p = 0.28). A subgroup analysis of patients who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) indicated a significant difference in 30-day mortality between the 2 groups (62.9 % vs. 43.5 %; difference 19.3 %, CI 95 %, 5.9 to 32.7 %, p = 0.005). In the instrumental variable model, the estimated reduction in 30-day mortality associated with antibiotics was 18.2 % (CI 95 %, 21.3 to 34.4 %, p = 0.03) in ECMO patients.

Conclusions

Although there was no significant association between the use of antibiotics and mortality after overall cardiogenic OHCA treated with TTM, antibiotics may be beneficial in patients who require ECMO.

Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: A systematic review/meta-analysis exploring the impact of expanded criteria and targeted temperature

AIMS OF THE STUDY

We aimed to determine the benefit of an expanded use of TH. We also described the impact of a targeted temperature management on outcomes at discharge.

DATA SOURCES

We identified studies by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. We included RCTs and observational studies restricted to those reporting achieved temperature during TH after OHCA. No other patient, cardiac arrest or hypothermia protocol restrictions were applied. Outcomes of interest were hospital mortality and neurological outcome at discharge. Appropriate risk of bias assessment for meta-analyzed studies was conducted. Studies contrasting hypothermia and normothermia outcomes were meta-analyzed using a random-effect model. Outcomes of cooling arms, obtained from enrolled studies, were pooled and compared across achieved temperatures.

RESULTS

Search strategy yielded 32,275 citations of which 24 articles met inclusion criteria. Eleven studies were meta-analyzed. The use of TH after OHCA, even within an expanded use, decreased the mortality (OR 0.51, 95%CI [0.41-0.64]) and improved the odds of good neurological outcome (OR 2.48, 95%CI [1.91-3.22]). No statistical heterogeneity was found for either mortality (I²=4.0%) or neurological outcome (I²=0.0%). No differences in hospital mortality (p=0.86) or neurological outcomes at discharge (p=0.32) were found when pooled outcomes of 34 hypothermia arms grouped by cooling temperature were compared.

CONCLUSION

The use of TH after OHCA is associated with a survival and neuroprotective benefit, even when including patients with non-shockable rhythms, more lenient downtimes, unwitnessed arrest and/or persistent shock. We found no evidence to support one specific temperature over another during hypothermia.

Early-Onset Pneumonia in Non-Traumatic Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients with Special Focus on Prehospital Airway Management

Background

More than half of all non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients die in the hospital. Early-onset pneumonia (EOP) has been described as one of the most common complications after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the expanded use of alternative airway devices (AAD) might influence the incidence of EOP following OHCA.

Material/Methods

We analyzed data from all OHCA patients admitted to our hospital between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2014. EOP was defined as proof of the presence of a pathogenic microorganism in samples of respiratory secretions within the first 5 days after hospital admission.

Results

There were 252 patients admitted: 155 men (61.5%) and 97 women (38.5%), with a mean age of 69.1±13.8 years. Of these, 164 patients (77.6%) were admitted with an endotracheal tube (ET) and 62 (27.4%) with an AAD. We found that 36 out of a total of 80 respiratory secretion samples (45.0%) contained pathogenic microorganisms, with Staphylococcus aureus as the most common bacteria. Neither bacterial detection (p=0.765) nor survival rates (p=0.538) differed between patients admitted with ET and those with AAD.

Conclusions

Irrespective of increasing use of AAD, the incidence of EOP remains high.

Therapeutic hypothermia versus normothermia in adult patients with traumatic brain injury: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Many single-center studies and meta-analyses demonstrate that therapeutic hypothermia (TH), in which the body temperature is maintained at 32-35°C, exerts significant neuroprotection and attenuates secondary intracranial hypertension after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In 2015, two well-designed multi-center, randomized controlled trials were published that did not show favorable outcomes with the use of TH in adult patients with TBI compared to normothermia treatment (NT). Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to assess the effect of TH in adult patients with TBI.

METHODS

We reviewed the PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Databases. We included randomized controlled trials that compared TH and NT in adult patients with TBI. Two reviewers assessed the quality of each study and independently collected the data. We performed the meta-analysis using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

We included 18 trials involving 2177 patients with TBI. There was no significant heterogeneity among the studies. TH could not decrease mortality at 3 months post-TBI (RR 0.95; 95 % CI 0.59, 1.55; z = 0.19, P = 0.85) or 6 months post-TBI (RR 0.96; 95 % CI 0.76, 1.23; z = 0.29, P = 0.77). There were no significant differences in unfavorable clinical outcomes when TH was compared to NT at 3 months post-TBI (RR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.56, 1.12; z = 1.31, P = 0.19) or 6 months post-TBI (RR 0.80; 95 % CI 0.63, 1.00; z = 1.92, P = 0.05). TH was associated with a significant increase in pneumonia (RR 1.51; 95 % CI 1.12, 2.03; z = 2.72, P = 0.006) and cardiovascular complications (RR 1.75; 95% CI 1.14, 2.70; z = 2.54, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic hypothermia failed to demonstrate a decrease in mortality and unfavorable clinical outcomes at 3 or 6 months post-TBI. Additionally, TH might increase the risk of developing pneumonia and cardiovascular complications.

Activity of antimicrobial drugs against bacterial pathogens under mild hypothermic conditions

BACKROUND

Infections are a common problem in cardiac arrest survivors. Antimicrobial drugs are often administered in routine care during treatment of patients with mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH). Because there is to date no evidence for the pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial drugs under MTH conditions, we investigated the in vitro activity of common antimicrobials against clinically relevant bacterial pathogens.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Activities of antimicrobial drugs against clinically relevant bacterial pathogens were assessed in vitro by disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays at normothermic (37°C) and hypothermic (32°C) conditions.

RESULTS

Seventy-three bacterial isolates were tested in disk diffusion and 15 in broth microdilution assays. Mean differences in zone diameters and minimal inhibitory concentration ratios were 0.6 mm (95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.9 mm) and 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.02), respectively, meeting predefined criteria for equivalence of in vitro antimicrobial activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented data provide reassuring evidence that the intrinsic activity of antimicrobials seems to be unaltered in MTH. However, further studies evaluating the pharmacokinetics including target site concentrations of the respective drugs and in vivo pharmacodynamics are necessary to complement our understanding of the appropriate use of antimicrobials in MTH.

Prophylactic antibiotics are associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia in cardiac arrest survivors treated with targeted temperature management

INTRODUCTION

Prophylactic antibiotics (PRO) reduce the incidence of early-onset pneumonia in comatose patients with structural brain injury, but have not been examined in cardiac arrest survivors undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM). We investigated the effect of PRO on the development of pneumonia in that population.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing patients treated with PRO to those not receiving PRO (no-PRO) using Northern Hypothermia Network registry data. Cardiac arrest survivors ≥ 18 years of age with a GCS<8 at hospital admission and treated with TTM at 32-34 °C were enrolled in the registry. Differences were analyzed in univariate analyses and with logistic regression models to evaluate independent associations of clinical factors with incidence of pneumonia and good functional outcome.

RESULTS

416 of 1240 patients (33.5%) received PRO. Groups were similar in age, gender, arrest location, initial rhythm, and time from collapse to return of spontaneous circulation. PRO patients had less pneumonia (12.6% vs. 54.9%, p < 0.001) and less sepsis (1.2 vs. 5.7%, p < 0.001) compared to no-PRO patients. ICU length of stay (98 vs. 100 h, p = 0.2) and incidence of a good functional outcome (41.1 vs. 36.6%, p = 0.19) were similar between groups. Backwards stepwise logistic regression demonstrated PRO were independently associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia (OR 0.09, 95% 0.06-0.14, p < 0.001) and a similar incidence of good functional outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic antibiotics were associated with a reduced incidence of pneumonia but a similar rate of good functional outcome.

Early-onset pneumonia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Early-onset pneumonia (EOP) is a common complication after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Currently, EOP diagnosis is difficult because usual diagnostic tools are blunted by the features of post-cardiac arrest syndrome and therapeutic hypothermia itself. When the diagnosis of EOP is suspected, empiric antimicrobial therapy should be considered following bronchopulmonary sampling. The onset of EOP increases the length of mechanical ventilation duration and intensive care unit stay, but its influence on survival and neurological outcome seems marginal. Therapeutic hypothermia has been recognized as an independent risk factor for this infectious complication. All together, these observations underline the need for future prospective clinical trials to better delineate pathogens and risk factors associated with EOP. In addition, there is a need for diagnostic approaches serving the accurate diagnosis of EOP.