Background: Historically, patients with cancer have been perceived as poor candidates for ICU admission. General ICU admission criteria lists cancer patients as low priority in ICU admission depriving them of the care they rightfully deserve. The purpose of this literary synthesis was to examine ICU admission criteria, risk factors, and outcomes of ICU admission in relation to hematological and solid tumor cancers and discuss ways that practitioners and nurses can educate patients with cancer and their families on appropriateness of ICU care. Methods: A total of 768 articles were found in a literature search including all literature from 2005 to 2016 from all countries using the databases CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Premier. These were further narrowed down based on relevancy by topic or reading abstracts. A total of 13 articles utilizing the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the literature search were included in the final literature synthesis. Results: In addition to general ICU admission criteria several other criteria and scores can be helpful in admitting patients with cancer to the ICU including cancer specific criteria, mortality predictor tools, performance status, and ICU trials. Mortality predictors, in combination with other patient characteristics, demonstrated effectiveness to predict outcomes in patients with cancer. Survival rates in hematological and solid tumor cancers have improved from the past, and lower prognostic scores can predict who will have better outcomes. Conclusion: Cancer specific criteria, mortality predictor tools, performance status, and ICU trials in addition to general ICU criteria should be used for admission of cancer patients into ICU. Practitioners and nurses should become familiar with the newest outcomes in patients with cancer to make collaborative informed decisions about ICU admission.

Patients treated at intensive care units (ICUs) are failing in one or several organs and requireappropriate monitoring and treatment in order to maintain a meaningful life. Today clinicians inintensive care units (ICUs) manage a large amount of data generated from monitoring devices.The monitoring parameters can either be noted down manually on a monitoring sheet or, for some parameters, transferred automatically to storage. In both cases the information is stored withthe aim to support clinicians throughout the intensive care and be easily accessible. Patient datamanagement systems (PDMSs) facilitate ICUs to retrieve and integrate data. Before managinga new configuration of patient data system, it is required that the ICU makes careful analysis ofwhat data desired to be registered. This pilot study provides knowledge of how the monitoringis performed in an Intensive Care Unit in an emergency hospital in Stockholm.The aim of this thesis project was to collect data about what the clinicians require and whatequipment they use today for monitoring. Requirement elicitation is a technique to collectrequirements. Methods used to collect data were active observations and qualitative interviews.Patterns have been found about what the assistant nurses, nurses and physicians’ require of systems supporting the clinician’s with monitoring parameters. Assistant nurses would like tobe released from tasks of taking notes manually. They also question the need for atomized datacollection since they are present observing the patient bed-side. Nurses describe a demanding burden of care and no more activities increasing that burden of care is required. Physicians require support in order to see how an intervention leads to a certain result for individual patients.The results also show that there is information about decision support but no easy way to applythem, better than the ones used today. Clinicians state that there is a need to be able to evaluatethe clinical work with the help of monitoring parameters. The results provide knowledge about which areas the clinicians needs are not supported enough by the exciting tools.To conclude results show that depending on what profession and experience the clinicians have the demands on monitoring support di↵ers. Monitoring at the ICU is performed while observing individual patients, parameters from medical devices, results from medical tests and physical examinations. Information from all these sources is considered by the clinicians and is desired to be supported accordingly before clinicians commit to action resulting in certain treatment,diagnosis and/or care. / Patienter som vårdas på intensivvårdsavdelningar har svikt i ett eller flera organ. Övervakning sker av patienterna för att kunna bidra till den vård som behövs för att upprätthålla ett meningsfullt liv. Idag hanterar sjukvårdpersonal en stor mängd data som genereras från övervakningsutrustning och system förknippade med övervakningsutrustning. Övervakningsparameterar kan antecknas förhand på ett övervakningspapper eller direkt sparas i digitalt format. Parameterarna sparas med syfte att vara ett lättillgängligt underlag under hela intensivvårdsprocessen. Patient data management systems (PDMSs) förenklar hämtning och integrering av data på exempelvis intensivvårdsavdelningar. Innan en ny konfiguration av ett patientdatasystem erhålls, är det eftersträvnadsvärt att intensivvårdsavdelningen analyserar vilken datasom skall hanteras. Detta examensarbete bidrog till kunskap om hur övervakning utförs på en intensivvårdsavdelning, på ett akutsjukhus i Stockholm. Målet med detta examensarbete var att insamla data om vad klinikerna behöver och vilken utrustning och system som de använder idag för att utföra övervakning. Behovsframkallning är en teknik som kan användas för att insamla krav. I detta projekt insamlades data genom aktivaobservationer och kvalitativa intervjuer. Mönster har hittats bland undersköterskornas, sjuksköterskornas och läkarnas behov av teknisksupport från system och utrustning som stödjer sjukvårdspersonalen under övervakningen av en patient. Undersköterskor uttrycker ett behov av att bli avlastade från uppgifter så som att manuellt skrivaner vitala parametervärden. De ifrågasätter behovet av automatiserad datahämtning eftersom de ständigt är närvarande bredvid patienten. Sjuksköterskor beskriver en hög vårdtyngd och önskaratt inte bli tillägnade fler aktiviteter som ökar den vårdtyngden. Läkare beskriver ett behov av ökat stöd för hur en interversion leder till resultat för individuella patienter. Resultaten visar attdet finns information om möjliga kliniska beslutsstöd utan givet sätt att applicera dessa, bättre än de sätt som används idag. Sjukvårdspersonalen hävdar att det det finns ett behov av att utvärdera det kliniska arbetet med hjälp av övervakningsparametrar. Resultaten utgör kunskap om vilka områden som sjukvårdpersonalens behov inte har stöd av nuvarnade verktyg. Resultaten visar att beroende på vilken profession och erfarenhet som sjukvårdspersonalen har, är behoven olika. På intensivvårdsavdelningen sker övervakning då enskilda patienter visuellt observeras såväl som övervakningsparametrar från medicintekniska produkter, resultat från medicinska tester och fysiska examinationer. Det finns behov att integrera och presenterainformation från dessa källor givet kunskap om att sjukvårdpersonalen fattar beslut på dessa som resulterar i behandling, diagnostik och/eller vård.

Les troubles cognitifs postopératoires sont fréquents après une chirurgie cardiaque, variant entre 26 % à 70 %. Bien que diverses hypothèses expliquent leur pathogenèse, la congestion veineuse représente une hypothèse prometteuse. Des études ont associé le délirium à des signes échographiques de congestion veineuse tels que la pulsatilité du Doppler de la veine porte et rénale. Détecter la congestion veineuse pourrait potentiellement prédire le trouble cognitif, facilitant ainsi sa gestion. Une technique prometteuse, mais peu explorée, est l’évaluation de la congestion veineuse par le Doppler de la veine fémorale. Les objectifs de ce mémoire sont : (1) synthétiser les évidences sur la relation entre le Doppler de la veine fémorale et la congestion veineuse chez les adultes ; et (2) caractériser l’existence d’une association entre les trouble cognitifs et le Doppler pulsatile de la veine fémorale après une chirurgie cardiaque. Afin d’atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons effectué une revue rapide de littérature portant sur la corrélation entre le Doppler de la veine fémorale et la congestion veineuse. De plus, nous avons complété une étude (NCT05038267) dont l’objectif secondaire était de déterminer la corrélation entre un Doppler anormal de la veine fémorale et le délirium. Les résultats ont montré une association entre la congestion veineuse et Doppler pulsatile de la veine fémorale, ainsi qu’entre les troubles cognitifs et le Doppler anormal de la veine fémorale. Toutefois, des études approfondies sont nécessaires. En conclusion, un lien entre le Doppler de la veine fémorale, la congestion veineuse, et les troubles cognitifs après une chirurgie cardiaque a été démontré. Ces observations ouvrent la voie à des recherches approfondies sur ce lien et à de potentielles applications cliniques et thérapeutiques. / Postoperative cognitive disorders are common after cardiac surgery, ranging from 26% to 70%. While various hypotheses explain their pathogenesis, venous congestion emerges as a promising hypothesis. Studies have linked delirium to ultrasound signs of venous congestion, such as pulsatility in the Doppler of the portal and renal veins. Detecting venous congestion could potentially predict cognitive disorders, thus facilitating their management. A promising yet underexplored technique is the assessment of venous congestion using the Doppler of the femoral vein. The objectives of this thesis are: (1) to synthesize evidence on the relationship between FV Doppler characteristics and venous congestion in adults; and (2) to characterize the existence of an association between cognitive disorders and pulsatility in femoral vein Doppler after cardiac surgery. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a rapid literature review focusing on the correlation between femoral vein Doppler and venous congestion. Additionally, we completed a study (NCT05038267) with the secondary objective of determining the correlation between abnormal femoral vein Doppler and delirium. The results showed an association between venous congestion and pulsatility in the FV Doppler, as well as between cognitive disorders and abnormal FV Doppler. However, in-depth studies are needed. In conclusion a connection has been demonstrated between femoral vein Doppler, venous congestion, and cognitive disorders after cardiac surgery. These findings open the way for in-depth research on this link and potential clinical and therapeutic applications.

This study examined healthcare professionals’ perceptions on feeding difficulties experienced by infants with NOWS, the involvement of SLP in care, knowledge and experience levels of professionals, and trends in education and follow up care. A 34-question survey was developed to obtain data from participants involved in the care of exposed infants using the secure webbased RedCap™ platform. Nonparametric inferential statistics and descriptive analysis were used to interpret data. Feeding difficulties in infants exposed were reported by all respondents with SLP involvement reported by 42.2%. Results found that 51.9% of respondents were confident in their ability to educate families about feeding difficult with 60% reported inadequate time to provide education. Discharge follow up was inconsistent amongst facilities. The study supports early involvement of SLPs to address feeding difficulties and improve education.

In Suid-Afrika word kinders dikwels opgeneem in die Intensiewesorgeenheid na 'n traumatiese gebeurtenis. Die Kerk het die opdrag om vir hierdie kinders te sorg en wel in die vorm van pastoraat. In die praktyk ontvang kinders egter nie altyd die sorg waarop hulle geregtig is nie. Een van die faktore waarom dit nie altyd gebeur nie, is omdat daar gebruik gemaak word van 'n intervensie metode wat steun op verbale kommuniekasievaardighede. Die ses stappe van intervensienavorsing is gebruik om 'n pastorale praktykmodel in die vorm van 'n kursus te ontwikkel. Die aanvanklike praktykmodel is in gevallestudies getoets en later verfyn. Die klem van hierdie praktykmodel is die gebruik van spel as modus van intervensie vanuit 'n Gestalt benadering. Die kursus sal pastors en geestelike werkers in staat stel om effektief vir kinders te sorg. Die hoofkonsepte van die navorsing vorm die vertrekpunte van die kursus saam met praktiese oefeninge in spelterapietegnieke. / Many children in South-Africa are admitted in the Intensive Care Unit after a traumatic event. The Church is called to care for these children in the form of pastoral care. In practise children are often neglected and do not receive the care that they are entiteld to. One of the main reasons is because pastors and religious workers use an intervention method that depends mainly on the verbal skills of the child. The six steps of intervention research was used to develop a pastoral model in the form of course. The innitial intervention model was tested in case studies and refined. The focus of this model is to use play as a mode of intervention from a Gestalt approach. The course will enable pastors and religious workers to care for children more effectively. The main concepts of the research forms the basis of this model with practical excercises. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Spelterapie)

Nel presente lavoro di tesi sono riportati i risultati di un innovativo progetto di ricerca longitudinale nell'ambito della psicobiologia. I recenti progressi nel campo dell'epigenetica sono stati applicati allo studio delle conseguenze di esperienze avverse precoci sullo sviluppo socio-emozionale in bambini nati fortemente pretermine. La nascita pretermine costituisce un fattore di rischio per lo sviluppo socio-emozionale, in parte per l'esposizione ad eventi stressanti (es.: dolore neonatale) durante l'ospedalizzazione in terapia intensiva neonatale (TIN). L'epigenetica si riferisce a processi biochimici altamente sensibili alle esperienze ambientali e che alterano la funzione di trascrizione di specifici geni, senza modificare la struttura della sequenza di DNA. Il candidato ha sviluppato un razionale clinicamente rilevante per la ricerca epigenetica comportamentale della prematurità. Inoltre il progetto di ricerca ha dimostrato che il livello di esposizione a procedure dolorose si associa a esiti avversi sul piano temperamentale e della risposta allo stress a tre mesi e che tale associazione è mediata da alterazioni epigenetiche a livello del gene che codifica per il trasportatore della serotonina. Le implicazioni teoriche, cliniche ed etiche di questi risultati sono trattate nella sezione conclusiva. Il progetto di epigenetica comportamentale della prematurità fornisce una nuova prospettiva teorica ed empirica sul tema dell’interazione tra genetica ed ambiente. / In the present work, the candidate reports the results of an innovative longitudinal research project in the field of psychobiology. The recent epigenetic progresses have been applied to the study of the consequences of early adverse event exposures on the socio-emotional development of very preterm infants. Preterm birth is a major concern for socio-emotional development, partly due to the exposure to adverse stressful stimulations (i.e., skin-breaking procedures) during the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay. Epigenetics refers to biochemical processes which are sensitive to environmental cues and which alter the transcriptional activity of specific genes without changing the DNA structure. The candidate has developed a clinically relevant rationale for preterm behavioral epigenetics (PBE). The research project has demonstrated that the early exposure to high levels of skin-breaking procedures during NICU stay associate with non-optimal temperamental profile and stress regulation at 3 months of age. This association was mediated by epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation) of the stress-related gene encoding for serotonin transporter. The theoretical, clinical and ethical implications of these findings are discussed further in the final section of the thesis. The PBE project provides a new framework for the issue of the interconnections between nature and nurture.

Σκοπός της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας ήταν η επιδημιολογική επιτήρηση της φορείας και των λοιμώξεων από Klebsiella pneumoniae που παράγει καρβαπενεμάση KPC (KPC-Kp), ανθεκτικό σε βανκομυκίνη Enterococcus (VRE) και ανθεκτικό σε μεθικιλλίνη Staphylococccus aureus (MRSA) σε ασθενείς που νοσηλεύονται στις Μονάδες Εντατικής Θεραπείας (ΜΕΘ) του Πανεπιστημιακού Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Πατρών (ΜΕΘ Α) και του Νοσοκομείου «Άγιος Ανδρέας» (ΜΕΘ Β) τη χρονική περίοδο Οκτώβριος 2009 έως Φεβρουάριος 2012. H διασπορά της KPC-Kp αποτελεί το σημαντικότερο πρόβλημα στις Ελληνικές ΜΕΘ, με τα ποσοστά της να αυξάνονται στις παθολογικές και χειρουργικές κλινικές. Κατά τη διάρκεια της παρούσας μελέτης, 12.8% των ασθενών που εισήχθηκαν στη ΜΕΘ Α (52 από 405 ασθενείς) ήταν αποικισμένοι από KPC-Kp κατά την εισαγωγή τους με την προηγηθείσα νοσηλεία σε ΜΕΘ, την χρόνια αποφρακτική πνευμονοπάθεια, τη διάρκεια προηγηθείσας νοσηλείας και την προηγηθείσα χορήγηση καρβαπενέμης ή συνδυασμού β-λακτάμης/αναστολέα λακταμάσης να συμβάλλουν στον αποικισμό. Παρατηρήθηκε μία σταδιακή αύξηση των αποικισμένων ασθενών που εισάγονται στη ΜΕΘ με 3.9% (4 από 102 ασθενείς) τους πρώτους 6 μήνες σε σύγκριση με 15.8% (48 από 300 ασθενείς) τους επόμενους 16 μήνες που αντικατοπτρίζει τη σταδιακή διασπορά της KPC-Kp σε κλινικές εκτός ΜΕΘ. Από τους 226 μη αποικισμένους ασθενείς κατά την εισαγωγή στη ΜΕΘ Α, 164 (72.6%) αποικίστηκαν κατά τη διάρκεια της νοσηλείας τους με σημαντικότερους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τον αποικισμό να είναι η παρουσία αποικισμένων ασθενών σε διπλανές κλίνες και η νοσηλεία σε κλίνη προηγουμένως αποικισμένου ασθενή, ενώ δε βρέθηκε συσχέτιση ανάμεσα στον αποικισμό και τη θνησιμότητα. Το υψηλό ποσοστό αποικισμού σε συνδυασμό με τους προηγούμενους παράγοντες υποδεικνύει την σημασία της διασποράς της KPC-Kp από ασθενή σε ασθενή μέσω του ιατρονοσηλευτικού προσωπικού και υποδηλώνει τη σημασία πιο αυστηρής εφαρμογής της πολιτικής ελέγχου λοιμώξεων. Συνολικά 53 ασθενείς της ΜΕΘ Α ανέπτυξαν βακτηριαιμία από KPC-Kp με 43.4% θνησιμότητα. Οι σημαντικότεροι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη θνησιμότητα είναι η αντοχή του στελέχους σε κολιστίνη/τιγεκυκλίνη/γενταμικίνη και η σηπτική καταπληξία, ενώ η θεραπεία με συνδυασμό τουλάχιστον δύο δραστικών αντιβιοτικών σχετίζεται με καλύτερη πρόγνωση επιβεβαιώνοντας τα αποτελέσματα προηγούμενων μελετών υπέρ της συνδυαστικής θεραπείας στην καταπολέμηση των λοιμώξεων από KPC-Kp. Η ανάπτυξη αντοχής των στελεχών KPC-Kp έναντι της κολιστίνης ή της τιγεκυκλίνης, οι οποίες αποτελούν τις τελευταίες θεραπευτικές επιλογές για το συγκεκριμένο παθογόνο, είναι ένα ανησυχητικό φαινόμενο. Συνολικά, 24.4% και 17.9% των ασθενών της ΜΕΘ Α αποικίστηκαν από στέλεχος KPC-Kp ανθεκτικό στην κολιστίνη και τιγεκυκλίνη, αντίστοιχα. Όπως αναμενόταν η λήψη των συγκεκριμένων αντιβιοτικών συνέβαλε στον αποικισμό, όμως ο σημαντικότερος παράγοντας για αποικισμό ήταν η παρουσία αποικισμένου ασθενή στις διπλανές κλίνες υποδηλώνοντας τη σημασία της διασποράς των στελεχών και όχι της de novo ανάπτυξη αντοχής. Η σύγκριση των δύο ΜΕΘ, ανέδειξε ότι μεγαλύτερο ποσοστό των ασθενών της ΜΕΘ Α αποικίζονται κατά τη διάρκεια νοσηλείας σε σχέση με τη ΜΕΘ Β (61.8% vs 34.1%) και σε συντομότερο χρονικό διάστημα (10.6 vs 19.9 ημέρες). Τα στοιχεία αυτά μπορούν να ερμηνευτούν από το υψηλότερο ποσοστό εισαγωγών αποικισμένων ασθενών (11.4% vs 1.8%), τη μικρότερη αναλογία νοσηλευτών/ασθενών καθώς και την αυξημένη κατανάλωση καρβαπενεμών στη ΜΕΘ Α. Συνολικά, 305 και 100 στελέχη K. pneumoniae που απομονώθηκαν από τη ΜΕΘ Α και Β, αντίστοιχα, ήταν θετικά για την παρουσία του γονιδίου blaKPC ενώ πέντε στελέχη της ΜΕΘ Α ήταν θετικά και για το γονίδιο blaVIM. Και στις δύο ΜΕΘ τα στελέχη ήταν ανθεκτικά σε πενικιλλίνες, στις κεφαλοσπορίνες, στην αζτρεονάμη, στην τριμεθοπρίμη-σουλφαμεθοξαζόλη (30% των στελεχών της ΜΕΘ Β ήταν ευαίσθητα), στην αμικασίνη, στην τομπραμυκίνη και στις κινολόνες. Η αντοχή στις καρβαπενέμες (67.9% vs 60%), στην κολιστίνη (35.1% vs 18%), στη γενταμικίνη (50.8% vs 24%) και στην τιγεκυκλίνη (17% vs 18%) στα στελέχη των δύο ΜΕΘ κυμαινόταν στα ίδια επίπεδα. Πενήντα επτά και 20 στελέχη της ΜΕΘ Α και Β, αντίστοιχα, ταυτοποιήθηκαν με PFGE, η οποία ανέδειξε την παρουσία δύο τύπων στη ΜΕΘ Α, με τον τύπο Α να απαρτίζεται από το 65.5% των στελεχών, ενώ στη ΜΕΘ Β όλα τα στελέχη ανήκαν στον τύπο Α. Τα ποσοστά αποικισμού από VRE στις δύο ΜΕΘ είναι χαμηλότερα σε σχέση με αυτά της KPC-Kp. Αποικισμός κατά την εισαγωγή στη ΜΕΘ παρατηρήθηκε σε 14.3% (71 από 497 ασθενείς), ενώ κατά τη διάρκεια νοσηλείας ήταν 14.4% (36 από 250 ασθενείς). Ο σημαντικότερος παράγοντας για αποικισμό από VRE κατά τη διάρκεια νοσηλείας είναι η νοσηλεία αποικισμένων ασθενών σε διπλανές κλίνες υποδεικνύοντας ότι η μη τήρηση των μέτρων υγιεινής των χεριών ίσως διαδραματίζει το σημαντικότερο ρόλο στη διασπορά του VRE. Συνολικά 107 στελέχη VRE απομονώθηκαν (100 E. faecium και 7 E. faecalis). Ογδόντα τέσσερα στελέχη έφεραν το γονίδιο vanA και ήταν ανθεκτικά στη βανκομυκίνη και στην τεϊκοπλανίνη, ενώ τα υπόλοιπα 23 έφεραν το γονίδιο vanB και χαρακτηρίζονταν από χαμηλού επιπέδου αντοχή στη βανκομυκίνη (12 στελέχη ήταν ευαίσθητα) και ευαίσθητα στην τεϊκοπλανίνη. Όλα τα στελέχη ήταν ευαίσθητα στη λινεζολίδη, στη δαπτομυκίνη και στην τιγεκυκλίνη. Η MLST αποκάλυψε ότι τα στελέχη E. faecium ανήκουν σε έξι διαφορετικούς κλώνους (STs: ST117, ST17, ST203, ST226, ST786, ST125) με το 90% των E. faecium, ανήκουν στο Κλωνικό Σύμπλεγμα 17 (Clonal Complex CC17). Τα στελέχη E. faecalis ταξινομήθηκαν σε τέσσερις κλώνους (STs: ST6, ST41, ST19, ST28). Τα ποσοστά αποικισμού από MRSA κατά την εισαγωγή και κατά τη διάρκεια νοσηλείας είναι χαμηλά (5.3% και 3.7%, αντίστοιχα) με το σημαντικότερο παράγοντα που σχετίζεται με τον αποικισμό να είναι ο εντερικός αποικισμός με vanA-θετικό στέλεχος Enterococcus. Ο έλεγχος φορείας για MRSA ανέδειξε 28 mecA-θετικά στελέχη S. aureus, με την πλειονότητα (ν=19) να είναι PVL-θετικά, να ανήκουν στον κλώνο ST80 και να είναι ανθεκτικά σε καναμυκίνη, τετρακυκλίνη και φουσιδικό, ενώ τα υπόλοιπα ταξινομήθηκαν σε τέσσερις κλώνους με MLST (6 στον ST239 και από ένα σε ST225, ST72 και ST30). Το στέλεχος που ανήκε στον ST30 ήταν tst-θετικό. Η σύγκριση των στελεχών φορείας S. aureus που απομονώθηκαν από αθενείς (ν=67) και προσωπικό (ν=23) των ΜΕΘ (Ομάδα Α) με τα στελέχη φορείας (ν=53) και βακτηριαιμιών (ν=75) μη νοσηλευόμενων σε ΜΕΘ (Ομάδα Β), ανέδειξε υψηλότερο ποσοστό MRSA (46.9% vs 31.1%) και PVL-θετικών στελεχών (39.8% vs 25.6%) στην Ομάδα Β, ενώ η Ομάδα Α χαρακτηρίζεται από υψηλότερο ποσοστό tst-θετικών στελεχών (21.1% vs 2.3%) υποδεικνύοντας τη σιωπηρή τους διασπορά στους ασθενείς και στο προσωπικό των ΜΕΘ. Προϊόν της παρούσας ερευνητικής εργασίας ήταν η ανεύρεση των παραγόντων κινδύνου για αποικισμό ή λοίμωξη από KPC-Kp, VRE και MRSA με στόχο την καθοδήγηση των μελλοντικών προσπαθειών περιορισμού της διασποράς τους στις δύο ΜΕΘ καθώς και στα ελληνικά νοσοκομεία, τα οποία στο σύνολο τους μαστίζονται από τα συγκεκριμένα παθογόνα. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the colonization and infections caused by KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units of the University Hospital of Patras (ICU A) and the General Hospital “Saint Andrew” during October 2009 and February 2012. The dissemination of KPC-Kp constitutes the most important issue in Greek ICUs, with its percentage rising in medical and surgical wards. During the duration of this study, 12.8% of patients admitted in the ICU A (52 from 405 patients) were colonized upon admission and previous ICU stay, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, duration of previous hospitalization and previous usage of carbapenem or combination of beta-lactamic/lactamase were found to influence colonization. A gradual increase of the percentage of colonized patients admitted at the ICU from 3.9% (4 from 102 patients) during the first 6 months to 15.8% (48 from 300 patients) the next 16 months that reflects the dissemination of KPC-Kp in non-ICU wards. Among the 226 non-colonized upon ICU A admission patients, 164 (72.6%) became colonized during their stay with the presence of colonized patients in nearby beds and the previous colonized occupant in the same bed were associated with colonization, which did not influence mortality. The high percentage of colonization in combination with the aforementioned factors indicates the importance of the dissemination of KPC-Kp among patients via the personnel and signifies the value of a strict implementation of infection control protocols. In total, 53 patients developed KPC-Kp bloodstream infection during ICU A stay with 43.4% mortality. The most important factors that influence mortality were the resistance of the strain to gentamicin/colistin/tigecycline and septic shock, while the treatment with two active antibiotics was associated with better survival confirming the results of previous studies favoring combination therapy for the treatment of KPC-Kp infection. The development of resistance against colistin or tigecycline, which are considered the last frontier in the treatment of KPC-Kp infections, is an alarming phenomenon. In total, 24.4% and 17.9% of ICU A patients became colonized by KPC-Kp resistant to colictin or tigecycline, respectively. As expected, the administration of colistin or tigecycline influenced colonization, while the most important factor favoring colonization was the presence of colonized patients in nearby patients, indicating the importance of dissemination of these strains against de novo resistance development. The comparison of the two ICUs, found a higher percentage of patients colonized during ICU A stay (61.8% vs 34.1%) and in a shorter period (10.6 vs 19.9 days). These results may be explained by the higher percentage of patients colonized upon admission (11.4% vs 1.8%), the lower nurse/patient ration and the higher carbapenem administration. In total, 305 and 100 strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from patients hospitalized in ICU A and B, respectively, were positive for the presence of blaKPC gene while five strains in ICU A were positive for the blaVIM gene also. All strains were resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins, aztreonam, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (30% of ICU B strains were sensitive), amikacin, tombramycin and quinolones. The resistance rates to carbapenems (67.9% vs 60%), colisitn (35.1% vs 18%), gentamicin (50.8% vs 24%) and tigecycline (17% vs 18%) among the ICUs strains were comparable. PFGE of 57 and 20 isolates from ICU A and B, respectively, revealed that ICU A strains belonged in two types, with type A comprising 65.5% of the isolates, while all ICU B isolates belonged in type A. The percentage of VRE colonization in both ICUs were lower in comparison with those of KPC-Kp. During ICU admission 14.3% (71 from 497 patients) was already colonized, while 14.4% (36 from 250 patients) became colonized during stay. The most important factor influencing colonization was the presence of colonized patients in nearby beds, indicating that non adherence with hand hygiene may play a predominate role in VRE dissemination. In total 107 VRE strains were isolated (100 E. faecium and 7 E. faecalis). Eighty four were positive for the vanA gene and resistant to vancomycin and teicoplanin, while the rest were vanB positive and were characterized by low level resistance to vancomycin (12 were in susceptibility range) and susceptible to teicoplanin. All strains were susceptible to linezolid, daptomycin and tigecycline. As MLST revealed, E. faecium strains belonged in six different Sequencing Types (ST117, ST17, ST203, ST226, ST786, ST125) with 90% among them belonging to the Clonal Complex CC17. E. faecalis strains were categorized in four STs (ST6, ST41, ST19, ST28). The proportion of colonized patients by MRSA upon admission and during ICU stay was very low (5.3% and 3.7%, respectively). The most important factor associated with colonization was enteric carriage of vanA-positive Enterococcus. Surveillance cultures revealed 28 mecA-positive S. aureus strains, with the majority (n=19) being PVL-positive, belonging to ST80 and resistant only to kanamycin, tetracycline and fucidic acid, while the remaining were categorized in four STs (6 strains in ST239 and one at ST225, ST72 and ST30). The ST30 strain was tst-positive. The comparison of colonization strains from patients (n=67) and personnel (n=23) of the ICUs (Group A) with the strains of colonization (n=53) and bloodstream infections (n=75) isolated from non-ICU patients (Group B), revealed a higher percentage of MRSA and PVL-positive strains in Group B, while Group A was characterized by higher percentage of tst-positive strains indicating their silent dissemination between ICU patients and personnel. The present study has identified the risk factors for colonization of infection by KPC-Kp, VRE and MRSA, in order to guide the future efforts towards containing their dissemination in the two ICUs, as well as, to the Greek hospitals, which in total are plagued by the aforementioned pathogens.

Introduction : La mortalité associée à l’insuffisance rénale aiguë (acute kidney injury ‘’AKI’’) aux soins intensifs pédiatriques (SIP) dépasse les 50%. Des études antérieures sur la thérapie de remplacement rénal (TRR) ont fait ressortir plusieurs facteurs de risque de mortalité dont le syndrome de défaillance multiviscérale (SDMV) et la surcharge liquidienne ≥ 10 à 20% avant l’initiation de la TRR. L’objectif de cette étude était d’identifier les principaux facteurs de risque de mortalité à 28 jours après l’initiation de la TRR chez les patients atteints d’AKI aux SIP. Méthode : Il s’agit d’une étude de cohorte rétrospective aux SIP d’un centre tertiaire. Tous les enfants ayant reçus de la TRR continue ou de l’hémodialyse intermittente pour AKI, entre janvier 1998 et décembre 2014, ont été inclus. Les facteurs de risque de mortalité ont été préalablement identifiés par quatre intensivistes et deux néphrologues pédiatres et analysés à l’aide d’une régression logistique multivariée. Résultats : Quatre-vingt-dix patients ont été inclus. L’âge médian était de 9 [2-14] ans. La principale indication d’initiation de la TRR était la surcharge liquidienne (64,2%). La durée médiane d’hospitalisation aux SIP était de 18,5 [8,0-31,0] jours. Quarante patients (44,4%) sont décédés dans les 28 jours suivant l’initiation de la TRR et quarante-cinq (50,0%) avant la sortie des SIP. Le score de PELOD ≥ 20 (OR 4,66 ; 95%CI 1,68-12,92) et la surcharge liquidienne ≥ 15% (OR 9,31; 95%CI 2,16-40,11) à l’initiation de la TRR étaient associés de façon indépendante à la mortalité. Conclusion : Cette étude a permis de faire ressortir deux facteurs de risque de mortalité à 28 jours à l’initiation de la TRR : la surcharge liquidienne et la sévérité du SDMV mesurée par le score de PELOD. / Introduction: Mortality rate associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) exceeds 50%. Prior studies on renal replacement therapy (RRT) have highlighted different mortality risk factors including the presence of a multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and fluid overload ≥ 10 to 20% before starting RRT. The aim of this study was to identify most important risk factors of 28-day mortality in patients with AKI at RRT initiation in PICU. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary care pediatric center. All critically ill children who underwent acute continuous RRT or intermittent hemodialysis for AKI between January 1998 and December 2014 were included. A case report form was developed and specific risk factors were identified by a panel of four pediatric intensivists and two nephrologists. Risk factors analysis was made using logistic regression in SPSS and SAS software. Results: Ninety patients were included. The median age was 9 [2-14] years. The most common indication for RRT initiation was fluid overload (FO) (64.2%). The median PICU length of stay was 18.5 [8.0-31.0] days. Forty of the 90 patients (44.4%) died within 28 days after RRT initiation and forty-five (50.0%) died before PICU discharge. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, a PELOD score ≥ 20 (OR 4.66; 95%CI 1.68-12.92) and percentage of FO ≥ 15% (OR 9.31; 95%CI 2.16-40.11) at RRT initiation were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion: This study suggests that fluid overload and severity of MODS measured by PELOD score are two risk factors of 28-day mortality in PICU patients on RRT.

Introduction: La ventilation non invasive (VNI) est un outil utilisé en soins intensifs pédiatriques (SIP) pour soutenir la détresse respiratoire aigüe. Un échec survient dans près de 25% des cas et une mauvaise synchronisation patient-ventilateur est un des facteurs impliqués. Le mode de ventilation NAVA (neurally adjusted ventilatory assist) est asservi à la demande ventilatoire du patient. L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer la faisabilité et la tolérance des enfants à la VNI NAVA et l’impact de son usage sur la synchronie et la demande respiratoire. Méthode: Étude prospective, physiologique, croisée incluant 13 patients nécessitant une VNI dans les SIP de l’hôpital Ste-Justine entre octobre 2011 et mai 2013. Les patients ont été ventilés successivement en VNI conventionnelle (30 minutes), en VNI NAVA (60 minutes) et en VNI conventionnelle (30 minutes). L’activité électrique du diaphragme (AEdi) et la pression des voies aériennes supérieures ont été enregistrées pour évaluer la synchronie. Résultats: La VNI NAVA est faisable et bien tolérée chez tous les enfants. Un adolescent a demandé l’arrêt précoce de l’étude en raison d’anxiété reliée au masque sans fuite. Les délais inspiratoires et expiratoires étaient significativement plus courts en VNI NAVA comparativement aux périodes de VNI conventionnelle (p< 0.05). Les efforts inefficaces étaient moindres en VNI NAVA (résultats présentés en médiane et interquartiles) : 0% (0 - 0) en VNI NAVA vs 12% (4 - 20) en VNI conventionnelle initiale et 6% (2 - 22) en VNI conventionnelle finale (p< 0.01). Globalement, le temps passé en asynchronie a été réduit à 8% (6 - 10) en VNI NAVA, versus 27% (19 - 56) et 32% (21 - 38) en périodes de VNI conventionnelle initiale et finale, respectivement (p= 0.05). Aucune différence en termes de demande respiratoire n’a été observée. Conclusion: La VNI NAVA est faisable et bien tolérée chez les enfants avec détresse respiratoire aigüe et permet une meilleure synchronisation patient-ventilateur. De plus larges études sont nécessaires pour évaluer l’impact clinique de ces résultats. / Introduction: The need for intubation after noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure is frequent in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). One reason is patient-ventilator asynchrony during NIV. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a mode of ventilation controlled by the patient’s neural respiratory drive. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and tolerance of NIV-NAVA in children and to evaluate its impact on synchrony and respiratory effort. Methods: This prospective, physiologic, crossover study included 13 patients requiring NIV in the PICU of Sainte-Justine’s Hospital from October 2011 to May 2013. Patients were successively ventilated in conventional NIV as prescribed by the physician in charge (30 minutes), in NIV-NAVA (60 minutes), and again in conventional NIV (30 minutes). Electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) and airway pressure were simultaneously recorded to assess patient-ventilator synchrony. Results: NIV-NAVA was feasible and well tolerated in all patients. One patient asked to stop the study early because of anxiety related to the leak-free facial mask. Inspiratory trigger dys-synchrony and cycling-off dys-synchrony were significantly shorter in NIV-NAVA versus initial and final conventional NIV periods (both p< 0.05). Wasted efforts were also decreased in NIV-NAVA (all values expressed as median and interquartile values): 0 (0 - 0) in NIV-NAVA versus 12% (4 - 20) and 6% (2 - 22) in initial and final conventional NIV, respectively (p< 0.01). As a whole, total time spent in asynchrony was reduced to 8% (6 - 10) in NIV-NAVA, versus 27% (19 - 56) and 32% (21 - 38) in initial and final conventional NIV, respectively (p= 0.05). No difference in term of respiratory effort was noted. Conclusion: NIV-NAVA is feasible and well tolerated in PICU patients and allows improved patient-ventilator synchronization. Larger controlled studies are warranted to evaluate the clinical impact of these findings.

O desenvolvimento de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Pediátrica (UTIP) aumentou a sobrevida de pacientes graves, que passaram a receber alta das UTIP e, conseqüentemente, aumentou o número de doenças crônicas sequelares. A proposta deste trabalho é identificar se houve diminuição da expectativa média de vida das crianças, após cinco anos de alta da UTIP, quais tipos de co-morbidades apresentam e identificar alterações no desempenho escolar, observando se necessitam de escola regular ou especial, os índices de reprovação e abandono escolar, correlacionando-os com situação sócio-econômica, doença da internação e tipo de atendimento prestado, público ou privado, no momento da internação. A pesquisa iniciou identificando as crianças internadas na UTIP da Santa Casa de Maringá, que possui atendimento misto (SUS E NÃO SUS), desde que, no momento da internação, apresentassem mais de vinte e oito dias de idade, ficassem internadas por mais de 24 horas e não evoluíssem para óbito durante a internação. Após seleção, aplicamos dois questionários, o primeiro relacionado à internação, com dados pessoais e clínicos, e o segundo aplicado às famílias das crianças encontradas após cinco anos da alta. Encontramos 84% da amostra, com taxa de sobrevida de 88% e 98% para NÃO SUS e SUS respectivamente. Observamos que 35% das crianças estão em escola especial e 18% com seqüelas motoras. No restante das crianças, o índice de reprovação chega a 45%, com 5% de abandono escolar / The development of Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) increased the survival of critically ill patients, now discharged from PICU, and consequently, increased the number of chronic diseases and sequelae. The purpose of this study is to identify whether there was a decrease of average life expectancy of children after five years of discharge from PICU, what types of co morbidities present and identify changes in school performance, noting if they need regular or special school, the failure rates and dropout, correlating them with socioeconomic status, disease hospitalization and type of care provided, public or private, at the time of admission. The research began by identifying the children admitted to the PICU at Santa Casa de Maringá, which has mixed attendance (SUS AND NON SUS) since, at the time of admission, presented more than twenty-eight days old, stayed in hospital for more than 24 hours and not died during hospitalization. After selection, we applied two questionnaires, the first related to the hospital, with personal and clinical data, and the second applied to childrens families found five years after discharge. We found 84% of the sample, with survival rate of 88% and 98% for NO SUS and SUS, respectively. We observed that 35% of children are at special school and 18% of them with motor sequelae. In the remaining children, the failure rate is about 45%, with 5% of dropout