Estimated GFR and Hospital-Acquired Infections Following Major Surgery

Factors associated with the time required for CRP normalization in pyogenic spondylitis: A retrospective observational study

Background

Treatment for pyogenic spondylitis tends to be prolonged; however, few studies have examined the factors associated with the time required for infection control. Therefore, we analyzed a consecutive cohort of patients to identify factors associated with the time required to control infection in pyogenic spondylitis. This study aimed to clarify the factors linked to the duration necessary for achieving infection control in cases of pyogenic spondylitis, using C-reactive protein (CRP) normalization as an indicator.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, we investigated 108 patients diagnosed with pyogenic spondylitis. We evaluated the number of days from the first visit to CRP normalization; for cases wherein CRP did not normalize, the number of days to the date of final blood sampling was evaluated. In the present study, infection control in pyogenic spondylitis was defined as a CRP falling within the normal range (≤0.14 mg/dL). We performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify various factors associated with the time required for CRP normalization in pyogenic spondylitis.

Results

The mean time required for CRP normalization was 148 days. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that the serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil percentage, CRP level, CRP-albumin ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly associated with the time required to control infection. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a higher neutrophil percentage, diabetes mellitus, and a lower eGFR were the independent factors associated with a longer infection control time.

Conclusions

We found that a higher neutrophil percentage, diabetes mellitus, and a lower eGFR were significantly associated with a longer time for CRP normalization in pyogenic spondylitis. These findings may help identify patients with pyogenic spondylitis who are at a high risk for an extended infection control period.

Surveillance of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: comprehensiveness and impact of risk factors

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) is highest after colorectal surgery. We assessed the impact of risk factors for SSI using the population attributable fraction (PAF).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Portuguese hospitals performing regular surveillance.

PATIENTS

We identified patients who underwent colorectal procedures in hospitals that reported colorectal surgeries every year between 2015 and 2019. Among 42 reporting hospitals, 18 hospitals were included.

METHODS

Risk-factor incidence was estimated using the National Epidemiological Surveillance platform from 2015 to 2019. This platform follows the methodology recommended by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical classification, wound classification, open surgery, urgent operation, antibiotic prophylaxis, operation time, and male sex were included as risk factors. Measures of association were retrieved from published meta-analyses. PAFs were calculated using the Levin formula. To account for interaction between risk factors, communality of risk factors was used in a weighted-sum approach, providing a combined value that serves as a measure of the comprehensiveness of surveillance.

RESULTS

Among 11,219 reported procedures, the cumulative SSI incidence was 16.8%. The proportion of SSI attributed to all risk factors was 61%. Modifiable variables accounted for 31% of procedures; the highest was laparotomy (16.8%), and urgent operations (2.7%) had the lowest value. Nonmodifiable factors accounted for 28.7%; the highest was wound classification (14.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

A relevant proportion (39%) of SSI remains unaccounted for by current surveillance. Almost one-third of SSI cases have potentially modifiable factors. Interventions focusing on shorter, less invasive procedures may be optimally effective in reducing the SSI incidence.

Bioinspired nanopillar surface for switchable mechano-bactericidal and releasing actions

Constructing safe and effective antibacterial surfaces has continuously received great attention, especially in healthcare-related fields. Bioinspired mechano-bactericidal nanostructure surfaces could serve as a promising strategy to reduce surface bacterial contamination while avoiding the development of antibiotic resistance. Although effective, these nanostructure surfaces are prone to be contaminated by the accumulation of dead bacteria, inevitably compromising their long-term antibacterial activity. Herein, a bioinspired nanopillar surface with both mechano-bactericidal and releasing actions is developed, via grafting zwitterionic polymer (poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA)) on ZnO nanopillars. Under dry conditions, this nanopillar surface displays remarkable mechano-bactericidal activity, because the collapsed zwitterionic polymer layer makes no essential influence on nanopillar structure. Once being incubated with aqueous solution, the surface could readily detach the killed bacteria and debris, owing to the swelling of the zwitterionic layer. Consequentially, the surface antibacterial performances can be rapidly and controllably switched between mechano-bactericidal action and bacteria-releasing activity, guaranteeing a long-lasting antibacterial performance. Notably, these collaborative antibacterial behaviors are solely based on physical actions, avoiding the risk of triggering bacteria resistance. The resultant nanopillar surface also enjoys the advantages of substrate-independency and good biocompatibility, offering potential antibacterial applications for biomedical devices and hospital surfaces.

End stage renal disease patients undergoing hip fracture surgery have increased length of stay, acute hospital bill size, and reduced survivorship-implications on a bundled care program

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is an independent risk factor for the development of hip fractures and is associated with a higher mortality and complication rates. As these patients significantly skew healthcare financing in a bundled care payment (BCP) program, a risk stratified approach to BCPs could be done to take into account the difference in resources required.

INTRODUCTION

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is an independent risk factor for the development of hip fractures and is associated with a higher mortality and complication rate. Hip fracture patients with ESRD may significantly skew healthcare financing in a bundled care payment (BCP) program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

ESRD patients undergoing hip fracture surgery from June 2007 to June 2012 within a tertiary hospital in Singapore were identified and matched to two other controls without ESRD based on secondary features of sex, age, fracture type, and surgery performed. Data was collected for American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score, duration of surgery (DOS), length of stay (LOS), 30-day and 1-year mortality, and the presence of 10 other comorbidities: diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), arrhythmia (ARR), cerebrovascular disease (CVA), dementia (DEM), asthma (ASTH), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and anemia (ANE) from electronic medical records. Costs were retrieved from the gross acute hospitalization bill.

RESULTS

Forty-one ESRD patients were successfully matched with 82 controls. Patients with ESRD had higher ASA scores (3 vs 2, p = 0.0001), had 75% higher LOS (21 vs 12 days, p < 0.0001), were associated with 67% higher healthcare expenditure (median $20542 vs $12236, p < 0.0001), and 1-year mortality (OR: 19.6, p < 0.0001). ESRD patients had an average of 4.1 comorbidities per patient compared to 1.84 in the control group.

CONCLUSION

ESRD is an outsized factor on the outcome of hip fracture patients who have markedly higher and more variable healthcare utilization.

The Stockholm CREAtinine Measurements (SCREAM) project: Fostering improvements in chronic kidney disease care

SCREAM (Stockholm CREAtinine Measurements project) was initiated in 2010 in collaboration with the healthcare provider of Stockholm County healthcare to quantify potential medication errors, estimate the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to illustrate the value of incorporating measures of kidney function into the medical decision process. Because most patients are unaware of their CKD and diagnoses are seldom issued, SCREAM took advantage of the commonness of serum/plasma creatinine testing, which can be used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and classify the stage of CKD severity. SCREAM is periodically updated, and at present contains healthcare information of all residents in Stockholm region during 2006-2019 (about 3 million people), enriched with a broad range of laboratory measurements for those in whom creatinine or albuminuria has been measured (about 1.8 million people). This health information was linked with national administrative and quality registries via the unique personal identification number of each Swedish citizen, conforming the richest characterization in Sweden of the population's journey through health and disease. This review discusses the context of its creation, strengths and weakness, key findings and plans for the future. We summarize our findings related to the burden of CKD in Sweden, its adverse health risks (such as risk of infections, cancer or dementia) and how underlying kidney function alters the risk-benefit ratio of common medications. Results have had clinical impact and demonstrate the importance of population-based research in the spectrum of clinical research to improve health.

The effects of plasma exchange in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of plasma exchange on important outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials investigating effects of plasma exchange in patients with AAV or pauci-immune rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and at least 12 months' follow-up.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Prior systematic reviews, updated by searching Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL to July 2020.

RISK OF BIAS

Reviewers independently identified studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS

Meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models to calculate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Quality of evidence was summarised in accordance with GRADE methods. Outcomes were assessed after at least12 months of follow-up and included all-cause mortality, end stage kidney disease (ESKD), serious infections, disease relapse, serious adverse events, and quality of life.

RESULTS

Nine trials including 1060 participants met eligibility criteria. There were no important effects of plasma exchange on all-cause mortality (relative risk 0.90 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.27), moderate certainty). Data from seven trials including 999 participants that reported ESKD demonstrated that plasma exchange reduced the risk of ESKD at 12 months (relative risk 0.62 (0.39 to 0.98), moderate certainty) with no evidence of subgroup effects. Data from four trials including 908 participants showed that plasma exchange increased the risk of serious infections at 12 months (relative risk 1.27 (1.08 to 1.49), moderate certainty). The effects of plasma exchange on other outcomes were uncertain or considered unimportant to patients.

LIMITATIONS OF EVIDENCE

There is a relative sparsity of events, and treatment effect estimates are therefore imprecise. Subgroup effects at the participant level could not be evaluated.

INTERPRETATION

For the treatment of AAV, plasma exchange has no important effect on mortality, reduces the 12 month risk of ESKD, but increases the risk of serious infections.

FUNDING

No funding was received.

REGISTRATION

This is an update of a previously unregistered systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2014.

The factors associated with nosocomial infection in elderly hip fracture patients: gender, age, and comorbidity

PURPOSE

This is a retrospective case-control study to ascertain the factors influencing nosocomial infection (NI) in elderly patients with hip fractures.

METHODS

A total of 80,174 patients (≥ 60 years) who suffered hip fractures between 2006 and 2017 were identified through a national inquiry of 94 hospitals. The patients were divided into an NI group and control group according to the occurrence or lack of occurrence of NI within 48 hours after surgery, respectively. Age, gender, hip fracture pattern, whether to operate, surgical treatments, and comorbidities were recorded as variables.

RESULTS

A total of 9806 elderly hip fracture patients (60 years) were included, 1977 of whom were patients diagnosed with NI. The control group consisted of randomly drawn cases from the 9806 patients from different hospitals with a rate of one NI patient: four patients without NI. Patient gender, age, and in particular the number of comorbidities were associated with occurrence of NI. Using regression models to predict infection outcomes based on the number of comorbidities had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.714, while using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) yielded a smaller value of 0.694. The most common comorbidities of this elderly cohort were chronic respiratory disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Older age, male gender, and greater number of comorbidities were found to be associated with the occurrence of NI. In particular, the number of comorbidities was the most accurate predictor of NI occurrence, and when used to build a regression model, it had greater predictive capability than CCI to predict NI in elderly hip fracture patients. Additionally, the common diseases of the elderly should be primarily considered when investigating the relationship between comorbidities and NI in older patients.

Preoperative risk stratification of deep sternal wound infection after coronary surgery

OBJECTIVE

To develop a risk score for deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

DESIGN

Multicenter, prospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary-care referral hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 7,352 patients from the European multicenter coronary artery bypass grafting (E-CABG) registry.

INTERVENTION

Isolated CABG.

METHODS

An additive risk score (the E-CABG DSWI score) was estimated from the derivation data set (66.7% of patients), and its performance was assessed in the validation data set (33.3% of patients).

RESULTS

DSWI occurred in 181 (2.5%) patients and increased 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.275; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.804-6.517). Female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.804; 95% CI, 1.161-2.802), body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 (OR, 1.729; 95% CI, 1.166-2.562), glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR, 2.410; 95% CI, 1.413-4.111), diabetes (OR, 1.741; 95% CI, 1.178-2.573), pulmonary disease (OR, 1.935; 95% CI, 1.178-3.180), atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.854; 95% CI, 1.096-3.138), critical preoperative state (OR, 2.196; 95% CI, 1.209-3.891), and bilateral internal mammary artery grafting (OR, 2.088; 95% CI, 1.422-3.066) were predictors of DSWI (derivation data set). An additive risk score was calculated by assigning 1 point to each of these independent risk factors for DSWI. In the validation data set, the rate of DSWI increased along with the E-CABG DSWI scores (score of 0, 1.0%; score of 1, 1.8%; score of 2, 2.2%; score of 3, 6.9%; score ≥4: 12.1%; P < .0001). Net reclassification improvement, integrated discrimination improvement, and decision curve analysis showed that the E-CABG DSWI score performed better than other risk scores.

CONCLUSIONS

DSWI is associated with poor outcome after CABG, and its risk can be stratified using the E-CABG DSWI score.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02319083.