Probiotics for Infection Prevention in Critically Ill and Trauma Patients: A Concise Review

BACKGROUND

Critically ill trauma patients are at an increased risk for infection, which can increase morbidity and mortality. The use of probiotic preparations for infection prevention is promising, yet the results of their effectiveness are mixed.

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize current research regarding the use of probiotics to prevent and possibly treat infection in the critically ill adult trauma population.

METHODS

RESULTS

CONCLUSION

Upon reviewing the current body of evidence, one cannot definitively conclude that probiotic supplementation in the critically-ill trauma population decreases health care-associated infection rates and improves outcomes, but most published evidence supports their use.

Chronic Proton-Pump Inhibitor Therapy and Fracture Risk in Women Aged Between 50 and 65 years: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

Introduction

Chronic proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) prescription is on the rise in the last decade with an increased prevalence in the elderly population. For most patients, this class of drugs is the primary treatment for various diseases. Even though PPIs are generally safe, long-term use has been associated with multiple adverse effects like bone fractures. The extent of the association between PPI and fracture is still unclear in women aged between 50 and 65 years. Besides, many other variables and risk factors must be accounted for in the analysis of this relation.

Methods

This is a retrospective case-control study looking at women 50-65 years of age who presented to Genesys Health for a low-impact fall. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and fracture outcomes; PPI therapy exposure and duration were determined. Chi-square analysis was performed to determine the association between chronic PPI therapy and fracture outcome and independently analyzed for major risk factors of osteoporosis, including smoking, low body mass index, and cancer.

Results

Patients in the chronic PPI therapy group were found to have a decreased fracture outcome overall in each subcategory of risk factors. When adjusting for all risk factors, there was a significant but weak association between chronic PPI therapy and increased fracture outcome.

Conclusion

With different results from previous studies, this study sheds new light on this debate. More studies need to be carried out to determine the association between chronic PPI therapy and fracture outcomes in postmenopausal women.

A point-prevalence study of off-label medication use in an Australian adult tertiary intensive care unit

Medications prescribed for indications or at doses, frequencies or durations not approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration are considered "off- label". Critical illness makes seeking consent for off-label medication use impractical. We aimed to characterise the extent of off-label medication use in a tertiary medical- surgical intensive care unit (ICU) by auditing the electronic health records of all patients admitted over a one-month period. We found 25.4% of 2292 prescriptions made for 142 patients were off-label. Eighty-one (37.2%) of the total of 218 different prescribed medications were used at least once for an off-label indication. Medications commonly prescribed off-label included antacids (pantoprazole, esomeprazole), analgesics (fentanyl, morphine, ketamine, pregabalin), anticonvulsants (levetiracetam), antibiotics (cefazolin, erythromycin), antipsychotics (quetiapine, haloperidol), and cardiovascular agents (metoprolol, clonidine). Nearly all patients (88.0%) received at least one off-label medication during their ICU stay. Most off- label medications were used for conventional (albeit not licensed) reasons, but nine out of 81 (11.1%) were not; for example, acetazolamide for hypertension, aminophylline for oliguria, and dexmedetomidine for seizures. Recognising the challenges of formally registering an indication with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, but also the value of reducing the incidence of medications used for potentially incorrect purposes, we suggest guideline endorsement of what constitutes standard critical care practice as an alternative to regulatory control.

Effect of protein composition of enteral formula on gastric content volume during continuous feeding: A randomized controlled cross-over study in healthy adults

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Enteral nutrition with polymeric intact protein formula is the preferred medical nutrition strategy in critically ill patients when oral intake is insufficient. Enteral nutrition formulas are often rich in casein protein, which has coagulating properties. Coagulation in the stomach impedes gastric emptying and might result in high gastric residual volumes which are a clinical sign of gastrointestinal intolerance and a major reason to decrease or to discontinue enteral feeding. In this study the impact of protein composition of enteral formula on gastric content volume (GCV) during and after continuous feeding was tested in healthy volunteers in whom gastrointestinal conditions of critically ill patients were mimicked.

METHODS

An enteral formula including 4 proteins (P4) with non-coagulating properties was compared to a casein-dominant formula (Cas) with coagulating properties. Esomeprazole and codeine were administered to mimic stress ulcer prophylaxis and induce gastroduodenal motor dysfunction, both being hallmarks of critically ill patients. GCV was measured with magnetic resonance imaging during and after continuous enteral feeding (100 mL/h for 4h) in a randomized single-center cross-over study. Results are provided as mean (SD). Significance level of p < 0.05 was applied.

RESULTS

Twenty subjects completed the study (14 women, 6 men, 25.8 (4.6) years old, BMI: 22.5 (1.5) kg/m²). The GCV as change from baseline at T = 240 (primary endpoint) did not differ between study products (P4: 124.3 (83.4) vs. Cas: 137.1 (102.0) mL, 95% CI: -57.4, 27.0, p = 0.457). During feeding and after cessation of feeding, the area under the GCV-curve (AUC_0-360 GCV) for P4 and Cas was 44631.1 (15546.1) and 52822.2 (19686.1) mL∗min, respectively (p = 0.061). During feeding the GCV was lower at T = 180 min (175.4 (64.8) vs. 205.2 (75.4) mL, p = 0.038) and after cessation of feeding at T = 300 min (81.3 (71.1) vs. 116.3 (84.3) mL, p = 0.004) and T = 330 min (39.9 (53.9) vs. 73.6 (81.1) mL, p = 0.031). With P4 it took less time to reach half of the GCV at T = 240 min compared to Cas (52.8 (27.6) vs. 65.4 (29.9) min, p = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study in which healthy volunteers received esomeprazole and codeine to mimic gastrointestinal conditions of critically ill patients, observations of secondary endpoints suggest faster gastric emptying with P4 compared to Cas, and less gastric accumulation, possibly due to the non-coagulating properties of the P4 protein blend. Considering the small effect and the possible clinical relevance of reduced intragastric accumulation of enteral nutrition, the potential impact of protein coagulation should be further investigated in relevant study populations. Registered under Netherlands Trial Register identifier no. NTR6423.

The Phylogeny and Biological Function of Gastric Juice-Microbiological Consequences of Removing Gastric Acid

Gastric juice is a unique combination of hydrochloric acid (HCl), lipase, and pepsin. Acidic gastric juice is found in all vertebrates, and its main function is to inactivate microorganisms. The phylogenetic preservation of this energy-consuming and, at times, hazardous function (acid-related diseases) reflects its biological importance. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Due to the reduced prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection as well as the increased use of inhibitors of gastric acid secretion, the latter has become the most important cause of gastric hypoacidity. In the present manuscript, we review the microbiological consequences of removing gastric acidity. The resulting susceptibility to infections has not been studied extensively, and focus has mainly been restricted to bacterial and parasitic agents only. The strongest evidence concerning the relationship between hypochlorhydria and predisposition to infections relates to bacterial infections affecting the gastrointestinal tract. However, several other clinical settings with increased susceptibility to infections due to inhibited gastric acidity are discussed. We also discuss the impact of hypochlorhydria on the gut microbiome.

Pantoprazole in Patients at Risk for Gastrointestinal Bleeding in the ICU

BACKGROUND

Prophylaxis for gastrointestinal stress ulceration is frequently given to patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), but its risks and benefits are unclear.

METHODS

In this European, multicenter, parallel-group, blinded trial, we randomly assigned adults who had been admitted to the ICU for an acute condition (i.e., an unplanned admission) and who were at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding to receive 40 mg of intravenous pantoprazole (a proton-pump inhibitor) or placebo daily during the ICU stay. The primary outcome was death by 90 days after randomization.

RESULTS

A total of 3298 patients were enrolled; 1645 were randomly assigned to the pantoprazole group and 1653 to the placebo group. Data on the primary outcome were available for 3282 patients (99.5%). At 90 days, 510 patients (31.1%) in the pantoprazole group and 499 (30.4%) in the placebo group had died (relative risk, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91 to 1.13; P=0.76). During the ICU stay, at least one clinically important event (a composite of clinically important gastrointestinal bleeding, pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection, or myocardial ischemia) had occurred in 21.9% of patients assigned to pantoprazole and 22.6% of those assigned to placebo (relative risk, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.11). In the pantoprazole group, 2.5% of patients had clinically important gastrointestinal bleeding, as compared with 4.2% in the placebo group. The number of patients with infections or serious adverse reactions and the percentage of days alive without life support within 90 days were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Among adult patients in the ICU who were at risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, mortality at 90 days and the number of clinically important events were similar in those assigned to pantoprazole and those assigned to placebo. (Funded by Innovation Fund Denmark and others; SUP-ICU ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02467621 .).

The risks of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors: a critical review

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most frequently prescribed medications. Their use is likely even higher than estimated due to an increase in the number of PPIs available without a prescription. Appropriate indications for PPI use include Helicobacter pylori infection, erosive esophagitis, gastric ulcers, and stress ulcer prevention in high-risk critically ill patients. Unfortunately, PPIs are often used off-label for extended periods of time. This increase in PPI usage over the past two decades has called into question the long-term effects of these medications. The association between PPI use and infection, particularly Clostridium difficile and pneumonia, has been the subject of several studies. It’s proposed that the alteration in gastrointestinal microflora by PPIs produces an environment conducive to development of these types of infections. At least one study has suggested that long-term PPI use increases the risk of dementia. Drug interactions are an important and often overlooked consideration when prescribing any medication. The potential interaction between PPIs and antiplatelet agents has been the subject of multiple studies. One of the more recent concerns with PPI use is their role in the development or progression of chronic kidney disease. There is also some literature suggesting that PPIs contribute to the development of various micronutrient deficiencies. Most of the literature examining the potential adverse effects of PPI use is composed of retrospective, observation studies. There is a need for higher quality studies exploring this relationship.

Development of the Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Trials Network

PURPOSE

The development of the Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Trials Network (CCPTN) as a model for practice-based pharmacotherapy research is described.

SUMMARY

The CCPTN was formed in 2010 as a collaborative research network dedicated to scientific investigation in the field of critical care pharmacotherapy. The CCPTN organizational structure is consistent with many professional pharmacy and interdisciplinary organizations and organized into 3 primary domains: executive committee, working committees, and network membership. The network membership consists of critical care investigators dedicated to the mission and vision of the CCPTN and is open to anyone expressing an interest in contributing to high-level research. Network member sites represent the breadth of U.S. critical care practice environments. In addition, network members include individuals with demonstrated expertise in patient safety, administration, research design, grantsmanship, database management, peer review, and scientific writing. In 2015, there were more than 100 site investigators from around the United States and Canada. Projects to date have yielded numerous abstracts, platform presentations, and peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. The CCPTN has expanded to form collaborations with researchers in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The CCPTN has identified new potential partnerships and field-based areas for inquiry. Numerous opportunities for continued growth and scientific inquiry in the field of critical care pharmacotherapy research exist for the CCPTN to foster in the coming years.

CONCLUSION

The CCPTN has been a successful model for practice-based pharmacotherapy research and assists its members in expanding critical care pharmacotherapy knowledge.

Characterization of Guideline Evidence for Off-label Medication Use in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

Non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or off-label medication prescribing occurs commonly in the intensive care unit (ICU). Off-label medication use creates a concern for untoward adverse effects; however, this worry may be alleviated by supportive literature.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the evidence behind off-label medication use by determining the presence of guideline support and compare graded recommendations to an online tertiary resource, DRUGDEX.

METHODS

Off-label medication use was identified prospectively over 3 months in medical ICUs in 3 academic medical centers. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed and the national guideline clearinghouse website to determine the presence of guideline support. DRUGDEX was also searched for strength-of-evidence ratings to serve as a comparator.

RESULTS

A total of 287 off-label medication indication searches resulted in 44% (126/287) without identified evidence; 253 guidelines were identified for 56% (161/287) of indications. Of the published guidelines, 89% (226/253) supported the off-label indication. In the DRUGDEX comparison, 67% (97/144) of guideline gradings disagree with DRUGDEX, whereas 33% (47/144) of the gradings matched the online database.

CONCLUSION

Because more than half of off-label medication use has the benefit of supportive guidelines recommendations and a majority of gradings are inconsistent with DRUGDEX, clinicians should consider utilizing guidelines to inform off-label medication use in the ICU. Still, there is a considerable amount of off-label medication use in the ICU that lacks supporting evidence, and use remains concerning because it may lead to inappropriate treatment and adverse events.

Stress ulcer prophylaxis in the intensive care unit

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is considered standard of care in the majority of critically ill patients in the ICU. In this review, we will present the current evidence for the use of SUP in ICU patients, including data on the prevalence of gastrointestinal bleeding and the balance between benefits and harms of SUP.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of overt gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients is in the area of 5%. Consistent risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding have been identified, but indications for SUP vary considerably. SUP is used in three out of four critically ill patients, most frequently in the form of proton pump inhibitors. A recent systematic review of SUP vs. placebo or no prophylaxis in critically ill patients highlights the lack of evidence supporting the use of SUP. Importantly, data suggest potential harm, including increased risk of nosocomial infections and cardiovascular events.

SUMMARY

The prevalence of gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients in the ICU is low, the prognostic importance is ambiguous, and SUP is widely used. The balance between benefits and harms of SUP is unknown, and clinical equipoise exists. High-quality randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews assessing benefits and harms of SUP in ICU patients are highly warranted.

Adherence to stress-related mucosal damage prophylaxis guideline in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit

Objective:

Concern about adverse effects of the inconsistent use of stress-related mucosal damage prophylaxis in intensive care unit (ICU) is increasing. Hence, this study was designed to prospectively evaluate the rate of inappropriate stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) administration upon ICU admission, at ICU discharge and determine the adherence to American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guideline during ICU stay.

Methods:

In this study, 200 patients were randomly selected from all ICU admissions during 9 months. Risk factors of stress ulcer were recorded daily during ICU stay and appropriateness of SUP administration was assessed according to the ASHP criteria.

Findings:

Of all 160 (80%) patients who received SUP, 44.4% did not have indication; and among 95 patients with an indication for SUP administration, 6.3% did not receive it upon ICU admission. Consequently, 77 (38.5%) of 200 patients received inappropriate prophylaxis on ICU admission. In addition, 53.5% of patients had appropriate adherence to ASHP guideline during all days of ICU stay (44% and 2.5% of patients received SUP more than 120% and <80% of appropriate SUP duration, respectively). Moreover, 81.2% were continued on inappropriate prophylaxis upon transfer from the ICU.

Conclusion:

We concluded that although SUP administration included both overutilization and underutilization in this ICU, but high prevalence of SUP overutilization caused unnecessary hospital costs, personal monetary burden, and may increase adverse drug reactions. Therefore, educating physicians and cooperation of clinical pharmacists regarding implementing standard protocols could improve patterns of SUP administration.

Evaluation of costs accrued through inadvertent continuation of hospital-initiated proton pump inhibitor therapy for stress ulcer prophylaxis beyond hospital discharge: a retrospective chart review

Background

Stress ulcers and related upper gastrointestinal bleeding are well-known complications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) has been widely prescribed in noncritically ill patients who are at low risk for clinically significant bleeding, which is then injudiciously continued after hospital discharge. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of inappropriate prescribing of PPI-based preventative therapy in ICU versus non-ICU patients that subsequently continued postdischarge, and to estimate the costs incurred by the unwarranted outpatient continuation of PPI therapy.

Methods

A retrospective review of patient data at a major teaching hospital in Korea was performed. During the 4-year study period, adult patients who were newly initiated on PPI-based SUP during hospital admission and subsequently discharged on a PPI without a medical indication for such therapy were captured for data analysis. The incidence rates of inappropriate prescribing of PPIs were compared between ICU and non-ICU patients, and the costs associated with such therapy were also examined.

Results

A total of 4,410 patients, more than half of the inpatient-initiated PPI users, were deemed to have been inadvertently prescribed a PPI at discharge in the absence of a medical need for acid suppression. The incidence of inappropriate outpatient continuation of the prophylaxis was higher among ICU patients compared with non-ICU patients (57.7% versus 52.2%, respectively; P=0.001). The total expenditure accrued through the continuation of nonindicated PPI therapy was approximately US$40,175.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that excess usage of PPIs for SUP has spread to low-risk, non-ICU patients. The overuse of unwarranted PPI therapy can incur large health care expenditure, as well as clinical complications with minimal therapeutic benefits. Educating clinicians regarding SUP guidelines and the adverse effects of long-term use of acid suppression can improve the cost effectiveness of PPI therapy.

Proton pump inhibitors increase the risk for hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection in critically ill patients

INTRODUCTION

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have been linked to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) but there are few data specific to ICU patients. We evaluated duration of PPI exposure as a potential risk factor for hospital-acquired CDI in the ICU.

METHODS

This retrospective, case-control study was conducted using the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II database, a large publically available database of more than 35,000 ICU patients. Adult patients with CDI were identified using the ICD-9 code for Clostridium difficile listed as a secondary diagnosis. To be included, patients had to be present in an ICU for ≥ 48 hours prior to Clostridium difficile acquisition. These patients were then matched to patients without CDI using the ICD-9 primary diagnosis, age (+/-5 years) and SOFA score (+/-1). Successfully matched patients were reviewed for PPI exposure and other potential confounding variables for CDI. PPI exposure was characterized as short (<2 days) or long (≥ 2 days). Multivariate modeling was performed to identify independent risk factors for CDI.

RESULTS

There were 408 patients evaluated and 81% received a PPI. The percentage of patients who had a long exposure to PPIs was 83% in the CDI group compared to 73% with controls (P = 0.012). Upon inclusion of the following variables into a multivariate analysis (long PPI exposure, histamine-2-receptor antagonist administration, antibiotic administration, immunosuppression and study duration), long PPI exposure (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.03 (1.23 to 3.36), P = 0.006) and antibiotic use (OR (95% CI) = 2.52 (1.23 to 5.18), P = 0.012) were identified as independent predictors of CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Proton pump inhibitors are independent risk factors for the development of CDI in ICU patients. This risk is particularly exposed after two or more days of therapy.