Nosocomial infections in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit: a 4-year surveillance study

INTRODUCTION: Report the incidence of nosocomial infections, causative microorganisms, risk factors associated with and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in the NICU of the Uberlândia University Hospital. METHODS: Data were collected through the National Healthcare Safety Network surveillance from January 2006 to December 2009. The patients were followed five times/week from their birth to their discharge or death. RESULTS: The study included 1,443 patients, 209 of these developed NIs, totaling 293 NI episodes, principally bloodstream infections (203; 69.3%) and conjunctivitis (52; 17.7%). Device-associated infection rates were as follows: 17.3 primary bloodstream infections per 1,000 central line-days and 3.2 pneumonias per 1000 ventilator-days. The mortality rate in neonates with NI was 11.9%. Mechanical ventilation, total parenteral nutrition, orogastric tube, previous antibiotic therapy, use of CVC and birth weight of 751-1,000g appeared to be associated with a significantly higher risk of NI (p < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis for NI, mechanical ventilation and the use of CVC were independent risk factors (p < 0.05). Coagulase- negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (36.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (23.6%) were the most common etiologic agents isolated from cultures. The incidences of oxacillin-resistant CoNS and S. aureus were 81.8% and 25.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent surveillance was very important to evaluate the association of these well-known risk factors with NIs and causative organisms, assisting in drawing the attention of health care professionals to this potent cause of morbidity.

Nosocomial infections in a pediatric intensive care unit of a developing country: NHSN surveillance

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of the three most common nosocomial infections (NI), namely, sepsis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection (UTI), in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a developing country and to define the risk factors associated with NI. METHODS: We performed a prospective study on the incidence of NI in a single PICU, between August 2009 and August 2010. Active surveillance by National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) was conducted in the unit and children with NI (cases) were compared with a group (matched controls) in a case-control fashion. RESULTS: We analyzed 172 patients; 22.1% had NI, 71.1% of whom acquired it in the unit. The incidence densities of sepsis, pneumonia, and UTI per 1,000 patients/day were 17.9, 11.4, and 4.3, respectively. The most common agents in sepsis were Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli (18% each); Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated in 13% of cases. In pneumonias Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause (3.2%), and in UTI the most frequent agents were yeasts (33.3%). The presence of NI was associated with a long period of hospitalization, use of invasive devices (central venous catheter, nasogastric tube), and use of antibiotics. The last two were independent factors for NI. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of NI acquired in this unit was high and was associated with extrinsic factors.

Polymicrobial interactions in infections: the case Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans in ventilator-associated pneumonia

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (área de especialização em Engenharia Clinica)

Cardiac abnormalities in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A prospective study with a clinical-pathological correlation in twenty-one adult patients

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the cardiac abnormalities and their evolution during the course of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, as well as to correlate clinical and pathological data. METHODS - Twenty-one patients, admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, were prospectively studied and followed until their death. Age ranged from 19 to 42 years (17 males). ECG and echocardiogram were also obtained every six months. After death, macro- and microscopic examinations were also performed. RESULTS - The most frequent causes of referral to the hospital were: diarrhea or repeated pneumonias, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis or Kaposi sarcoma. The most frequent findings were acute or chronic pericarditis (42%) and dilated cardiomyopathy (19%). Four patients died of cardiac problems: infective endocarditis, pericarditis with pericardial effusion, bacterial myocarditis and infection by Toxoplasma gondii. CONCLUSION - Severe cardiac abnormalities were the cause of death in some patients. In the majority of the patients, a good correlation existed between clinical and anatomical-pathological data. Cardiac evaluation was important to detect early manifestations and treat them accordingly, even in asymptomatic patients.

Revascularização do miocárdio minimamente invasiva videoassistida

FUNDAMENTO: De um modo geral, as operações estão cada vez menos invasivas e a cirurgia cardíaca começa a seguir por este caminho. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a evolução de cem pacientes submetidos à operação de revascularização do miocárdio minimamente invasiva. MÉTODOS: O acesso ao coração deu-se através de pequena toracotomia lateral no 4º espaço intercostal esquerdo, com 6 cm, iniciando-se ao nível do mamilo. Pelo mesmo espaço intercostal, 3 cm após o término da incisão principal, foi inserida ótica de 6,5 mm com 30º. Nos casos em que a veia safena foi utilizada, o pericárdio foi aberto em cima da aorta e, com uma pressão sistólica de 80 mmhg, foi pinçada parcialmente, sendo a anastomose proximal feita de maneira convencional. As anastomoses distais foram feitas de modo convencional. O procedimento foi realizado sem circulação extracorporal (CEC) com auxílio de ventilação monopulmonar. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi de 63,9 ± 10,66 anos. Sessenta e oito (68%) eram do sexo masculino. Cinquenta e três (53%) encontravam-se em classe funcional III ou IV. A função do ventrículo esquerdo era normal em cinquenta e três (53%) pacientes. Quarenta e dois (42%) haviam sido submetidos à angioplastia prévia. Foram realizadas 153 anastomoses distais, variando de 1 a 3. O tempo médio de ventilação foi de 4,06 ± 4,08 horas. Dezessete (17%) pacientes apresentaram fibrilação atrial e oito (8%) pneumonias. Houve dois óbitos nesta série. CONCLUSÃO: A revascularização mostrou-se segura, com baixa mortalidade e morbidade. Com novos dispositivos, essa operação poderá ter uma aplicabilidade maior.

Imunidade e permeabilidade celular

After going through the more important theories on cellular permeability, researches were undertaken with the purpose of proving the actual influence of the various degrees of cellular permeability on the phenomena of organic resistance against infections, and on the production of antibodies. Three groups of substances known to have action on cellular permeability were used; the first consisting of the following permeable substances: testos-terona, acetylcholine, and the spreading-factor of the staphyloccocus. The second group included substances which help in developing low cellular permeability: atropin, adrenalin and calcium. Finally, the third group consisted of a substance which helps to maintain normal permeability: cortin (an extract of the suprarenal cortex). In order to study the process developed by these elements with regard to organic resistance against infections, adult mice were inoculated with the following germs: K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, S. enteriditis and D. pneumoniae, in the smallest possible amount capable of starting a mortal sep infection in approximately 24 hours, exception made of D. pneumonias which causes death in 48 hours. The animals were divided into groups of 10, a before taking the injections containing the germs, they were given the sub lances under observation, through their peritoneum of intramuscularly. T. animals that died were autopsied and blood was taken from their hearts an aseptic process so as not to introduce extraneous organisms. For the purpose of determining the development of antibodies (hem lysins, precipitins and aglutinins), rabbits were used, which had been prep ously immunized by a treatment consisting of 6 intravenous injections of polyvolent antigen made of sheep blood cells, fresh human serum, and of suspension of S. enteriditis. It was concluded that: Cellular permeability plays a very important part in the development infections. Permeable substances help the development of germ infections. Substances helping to develop low permeability proved not to have any influence worth mentioning. Substances helping to maintain normal permeability, such as coffin, it crease resistance against infections. The different substances used which have action on cellular permeability had no influence worth mentioning on the development of certain ant bodies (hemolysins, precipitins and aglutinins). It was admitted that the phenomena under study relative to resistance against infections are closely connected to the dynamics of the cellular elements, which circumstance is basically dependent on the permeability of Citations of cells.

Temperatura, humidade e pluviosidade nas suas relações com doenças respiratórias, em cidades brasileiras

During the period 1940-44, deaths by respiratory diseases and particularly by influenza and pneumonias prevailed during the winter in brazilian cities of the temperate zone (S. Paulo, Curitiba, Porto Alegre) and, with the exception of Rio de Janeiro, in tropical ones (Belem, Recife, Salvador) particularly during the four-months period of highest absolute humidity. For the first group of cities, negative correlation coefficients, statistically significant, have been uniformly obtained comparing monthly death-rates both with temperature - in the same month and in the previous one (values of r ranging from - 0.36 to - 0.640 - and with similar humidity variations (values of r from - 0.33 to - 0.59); also with rainfall, but only in S. Paulo and Curitiba (values of r from - 0.33 to - 0.61). Such associations have been disclosed irregularly and less frequently for the group of tropical cities: statistically significant values of r, in the death-rates correlations with temperature and humidity variations, have been eventually either positive (Recife, Salvador) or negative (Belem, Rio). Whooping cough showed during the same period a winter incidence in Curitiba and Porto Alegre: the compulsory notification of the disease is not required in S. Paulo, a third one brazilian city of the temperate zone. In the brazilian tropical cities of Belem, Recife, Salvador and Rio, the whooping cough distribution by four-months periods - selected in accordance with the highest or lowest values of rainfall, mean temperature and absolute humidity - induced to suppose that the disease was associated more uniformly with a high rainfall than with a low temperature or a low absolute humidity. However, only a few correlation coefficients statistically significant have been found out: between monthly morbidity rates and mean humidity in the same month and in the previous one in recife (-0.43 and - 0.39), and in Porto Alegre (-0.35 and - 0.46); and between the same rates and temperature variations in this last city (-0.28 and - 0.43).

Impact of duration of chest tube drainage on pain after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to analyze the duration of chest tube drainage on pain intensity and distribution after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Two groups of 80 cardiac surgery adult patients, operated on in two different hospitals, by the same group of cardiac surgeons, and with similar postoperative strategies, were compared. However, in one hospital (long drainage group), a conservative policy was adopted with the removal the chest tubes by postoperative day (POD) 2 or 3, while in the second hospital (short drainage group), all the drains were usually removed on POD 1. RESULTS: There was a trend toward less pain in the short drainage group, with a statistically significant difference on POD 2 (P=0.047). There were less patients without pain on POD 3 in the long drainage group (P=0. 01). The areas corresponding to the tract of the pleural tube, namely the epigastric area, the left basis of the thorax, and the left shoulder were more often involved in the long drainage group. There were three pneumonias in each group and no patient required repeated drainage. CONCLUSIONS: A policy of early chest drain ablation limits pain sensation and simplifies nursing care, without increasing the need for repeated pleural puncture. Therefore, a policy of short drainage after cardiac surgery should be recommended.

Dexamethasone therapy and endogenous cortisol production in severe pediatric head injury.

A prospective randomised study was performed on 25 children aged 1.4 to 15.8 years with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale less than or equal to 7) to determine the clinical effectiveness and the impact on endogenous cortisol production of high-dose steroid therapy. Thirteen patients (group 1) received dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day during the first 3 days and 12 (group 2) not. All patients were treated with a standardized regimen. Urinary free cortisol was measured by radioimmunoassay, and the clinical data were recorded at hourly intervals. Outcome was assessed 6 months later using the Glasgow Outcome Scale. We found a higher frequency of bacterial pneumonias in the dexamethasone-treated patients (7/13 versus 2/12). Group 1 showed a suppression of endogenous cortisol production from day 1 to day 6. In group 2, mean free cortisol was up to 5-fold higher than under basal conditions. The results in group 2 showed that the endogenous steroid production reacts adequately to the stress of severe head injury. It probably is sufficient to elicit maximum glucocorticoid effects. There was no other statistically significant difference in the clinical and laboratory data between the two groups. We conclude that dexamethasone in high doses suppresses endogenous cortisol production up to 6 days and may increase the risk of bacterial infection without affecting the outcome or the clinical and laboratory data.

Infecção hospitalar e mortalidade

Realizou-se estudo retrospectivo do registro de 69 óbitos ocorridos em hospital pediátrico em 1993 para identificar a relação da infecção hospitalar com o óbito. As principais infecções diagnosticadas foram as pneumonias e infecções de corrente sangüínea com um predomínio de bactérias gram-negativas. Em 30,4% das crianças, a infecção hospitalar foi causa direta do óbito e em 50,8% foi contribuinte. A infecção hospitalar foi mais importante como causa de óbito nos pacientes com afecção classificada como não fatal à admissão.

O panorama das internações por condições sensíveis à atenção primária em um distrito de São Paulo

Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar as principais Internações por Condições Sensíveis à Atenção Primária (ICSAP) do Hospital Geral de Pedreira (HGP) e as Unidades Básicas de Saúde que demandaram maior número destas internações. Uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva e quantitativa foi realizada através de dados de 2008 obtidos no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH-SUS) e de 816 prontuários do HGP. Obtivemos no período 10.616 internações; dessas 1.689 (15,9%) foram por ICSAP. As principais causas das internações por condições sensíveis foram: pneumonias bacterianas (17,4%); infecções no rim e trato urinário (13,6%) e hipertensão arterial (11,1%). Da análise dos prontuários encontramos 122 ICSAP, sendo 73,7% na área de estudo (Pedreira, Cidade Ademar e Campo Grande). A Cidade Ademar gerou mais ICSAP, 38,5%, porém, é a que apresenta maior população e densidade demográfica. É necessário ampliar os estudos para conhecer os motivos que geraram as internações para redirecionar as ações de prevenção.

Les pneumopathies interstitielles diffuses chroniques: un mariage de raison entre pathologiste, clinicien et radiologue [Diffuse parenchymal lung disease, multidisciplinary approach and role of pathology]

The diagnostic approach to diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) and especially to the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias has changed over the last two decades, mostly thanks to the development of high resolution CT. Though far from replacing pathology, this additional tool has contributed to the definition of new and more precise diagnostic criteria especially for idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, integrating data provided by the three main contributors: lung specialist, radiologist and pathologist. The purpose of this article is to review the role of histopathology in the multidisciplinary approach of the diagnosis of DPLD and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Fibrose pulmonaire idiopathique: nouveautés diagnostiques et thérapeutiques [Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances].

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most frequent of the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. It is a progressive disorderwith a poor prognosis. Its diagnosis requires the careful exclusion of potential causes, and a pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia at high-resolution computed tomography or video-assisted surgical lung biopsy. Several recent randomized trials have profoundly modified the therapeutic management of IPF. The combination of prednisone and azathioprine, often prescribed until recently, has been shown to be harmful and is no longer indicated. N-acetylcystein, also used in the past decade, failed to show an efficacy. However, two new antifibrotic drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, have for the first time proven effective in slowing disease progression.

Nonmolecular methods for the diagnosis of respiratory fungal infections.

Diagnosis of invasive fungal pneumonias by conventional culture methods is difficult to assess and often delayed. Nonmolecular fungal markers have emerged as an important adjunctive tool to support their diagnosis in combination with other clinical, radiologic, and microbiological criteria of invasive fungal diseases. Concerns about the sensitivity and specificity of some tests in different patient populations should lead to warnings about their widespread use. None can identify the emerging and particularly deadly fungal pathogens responsible for mucormycosis. The role of nonmolecular fungal markers should be better defined in combination with other microbiological and radiologic tools in preemptive antifungal strategies.