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Original Article
Pulmonary
Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in intensive care unit: insights from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database analysis
Chiwon Ahn, Yeonkyung Park, Yoonseok Oh
Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):179-185.   Published online February 15, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01165
  • 428 View
  • 42 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Pneumonia frequently leads to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and is associated with a high mortality risk. This study aimed to assess the impact of early bronchoscopy administered within 3 days of ICU admission on mortality in patients with pneumonia using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted using the MIMIC-IV data from 2008 to 2019. Adult ICU-admitted patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included in this study. The patients were stratified into two cohorts based on whether they underwent early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality rate. Propensity score matching was used to balance confounding variables. Results: In total, 8,916 patients with pneumonia were included in the analysis. Among them, 783 patients underwent early bronchoscopy within 3 days of ICU admission, whereas 8,133 patients did not undergo early bronchoscopy. The primary outcome of the 28-day mortality between two groups had no significant difference even after propensity matched cohorts (22.7% vs. 24.0%, P=0.589). Patients undergoing early bronchoscopy had prolonged ICU (P<0.001) and hospital stays (P<0.001) and were less likely to be discharged to home (P<0.001). Conclusions: Early bronchoscopy in severe pneumonia patients in the ICU did not reduce mortality but was associated with longer hospital stays, suggesting it was used in more severe cases. Therefore, when considering bronchoscopy for these patients, it's important to tailor the decision to each individual case, thoughtfully balancing the possible advantages with the related risks.
Review Article
Surgery
Early detection and assessment of intensive care unit-acquired weakness: a comprehensive review
Hanan Elkalawy, Pavan Sekhar, Wael Abosena
Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(4):409-424.   Published online November 30, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00703
  • 2,004 View
  • 213 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a serious complication in critically ill patients. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis and monitoring of ICU-AW are crucial for effectively preventing its associated morbidity and mortality. This article provides a comprehensive review of ICU-AW, focusing on the different methods used for its diagnosis and monitoring. Additionally, it highlights the role of bedside ultrasound in muscle assessment and early detection of ICU-AW. Furthermore, the article explores potential strategies for preventing ICU-AW. Healthcare providers who manage critically ill patients utilize diagnostic approaches such as physical exams, imaging, and assessment tools to identify ICU-AW. However, each method has its own limitations. The diagnosis of ICU-AW needs improvement due to the lack of a consensus on the appropriate approach for its detection. Nevertheless, bedside ultrasound has proven to be the most reliable and cost-effective tool for muscle assessment in the ICU. Combining the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score assessment, and ultrasound can be a convenient approach for the early detection of ICU-AW. This approach can facilitate timely intervention and prevent catastrophic consequences. However, further studies are needed to strengthen the evidence.
Original Articles
Pediatrics
Eleven years of experience in operating a pediatric rapid response system at a children’s hospital in South Korea
Yong Hyuk Jeon, Bongjin Lee, You Sun Kim, Won Jin Jang, June Dong Park
Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(4):498-506.   Published online November 29, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01354
  • 856 View
  • 40 Download
AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Background
Various rapid response systems have been developed to detect clinical deterioration in patients. Few studies have evaluated single-parameter systems in children compared to scoring systems. Therefore, in this study we evaluated a single-parameter system called the acute response system (ARS).
Methods
This retrospective study was performed at a tertiary children’s hospital. Patients under 18 years old admitted from January 2012 to August 2023 were enrolled. ARS parameters such as systolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and whether the ARS was activated were collected. We divided patients into two groups according to activation status and then compared the occurrence of critical events (cardiopulmonary resuscitation or unexpected intensive care unit admission). We evaluated the ability of ARS to predict critical events and calculated compliance. We also analyzed the correlation between each parameter that activates ARS and critical events.
Results
The critical events prediction performance of ARS has a specificity of 98.5%, a sensitivity of 24.0%, a negative predictive value of 99.6%, and a positive predictive value of 8.1%. The compliance rate was 15.6%. Statistically significant increases in the risk of critical events were observed for all abnormal criteria except low heart rate. There was no significant difference in the incidence of critical events.
Conclusions
ARS, a single parameter system, had good specificity and negative predictive value for predicting critical events; however, sensitivity and positive predictive value were not good, and medical staff compliance was poor.
Pulmonary
Risk factors for mortality in intensive care unit patients with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia pneumonia in South Korea
Yong Hoon Lee, Jaehee Lee, Byunghyuk Yu, Won Kee Lee, Sun Ha Choi, Ji Eun Park, Hyewon Seo, Seung Soo Yoo, Shin Yup Lee, Seung-Ick Cha, Chang Ho Kim, Jae Yong Park
Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(4):442-451.   Published online November 21, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00682
  • 1,469 View
  • 65 Download
AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Background
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has been increasingly recognized as an opportunistic pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality. Data on the prognostic factors associated with S. maltophilia pneumonia in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) are lacking.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 117 patients with S. maltophilia pneumonia admitted to the ICUs of two tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea between January 2011 and December 2022. To assess risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results
The median age of the study population was 71 years. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was 76.1% of cases, and the median length of ICU stay before the first isolation of S. maltophilia was 15 days. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 82.1%, and factors independently associated with mortality were age (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.09; P=0.046), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (OR, 1.21; 95%; CI, 1.02–1.43; P=0.025), corticosteroid use (OR, 4.19; 95% CI, 1.26–13.91; P=0.019), and polymicrobial infection (OR, 95% CI 0.07–0.69). However, the impact of appropriate antibiotic therapy on mortality was insignificant. In a subgroup of patients who received appropriate antibiotic therapy (n=58), antibiotic treatment modality-related variables, including combination or empirical therapy, also showed no significant association with survival.
Conclusions
Patients with S. maltophilia pneumonia in ICU have high mortality rates. Older age, higher SOFA score, and corticosteroid use were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality, whereas polymicrobial infection was associated with lower mortality. The effect of appropriate antibiotic therapy on prognosis was insignificant.
Review Article
Nursing
Theoretical definition of nurse–conscious mechanically ventilated patient communication: a scoping review with qualitative content analysis
Arezoo Mohamadkhani Ghiasvand, Meimanat Hosseini, Foroozan Atashzadeh-Shoorideh
Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(1):8-20.   Published online February 27, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2022.01039
  • 2,449 View
  • 168 Download
  • 2 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Providing critical nursing care for conscious mechanically ventilated patients is mediated via effective communication. This study aimed to identify and map the antecedents, attributes, consequences, and definition of nurse–conscious mechanically ventilated patient communication (N-CMVPC). This scoping review was conducted by searching the Cochrane Library and the CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, between 2001 and 2021. The keywords queried included "nurses," "mechanically ventilated patients," "mechanical ventilation," "intubated patients," "communication," "interaction," "relationships," "nurse–patient communication," "nurse–patient relations," "intensive care units," and "critical care." Studies related to communication with healthcare personnel or family members were excluded. The results indicated that N-CMVPC manifests as a set of attributes in communication experiences, emotions, methods, and behaviors of the nurse and the patient and is classified into three main themes, nurse communication, patient communication, and quantitative-qualitative aspects. N-CMVPC is a complex, multidimensional, and multi-factor concept. It is often nurse-controlled and can express itself as questions, sentences, or commands in the context of experiences, feelings, and positive or negative behaviors involving the nurse and the patient.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • A Study on Nurses' Communication Experiences with Intubation Patients
    Ye Rim Kim, Hye Ree Park, Mee Kyung Shin
    The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2023; 26(1): 28.     CrossRef
  • The Application of Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Intubated Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review
    Mee-Kyung Shin, Hyejin Jeon
    The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing.2023; 26(2): 97.     CrossRef
Original Articles
Pediatrics
Characteristics and timing of mortality in children dying in pediatric intensive care: a 5-year experience
Edin Botan, Emrah Gün, Emine Kübra Şden, Cansu Yöndem, Anar Gurbanov, Burak Balaban, Fevzi Kahveci, Hasan Özen, Hacer Uçmak, Ali Genco Gençay, Tanil Kendirli
Acute Crit Care. 2022;37(4):644-653.   Published online November 11, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2022.00395
  • 2,033 View
  • 100 Download
  • 2 Web of Science
  • 2 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), where children with critical illnesses are treated, require considerable manpower and technological infrastructure in order to keep children alive and free from sequelae. Methods: In this retrospective comparative cohort study, hospital records of patients aged 1 month to 18 years who died in the study PICU between January 2015 and December 2019 were reviewed. Results: A total of 2,781 critically ill children were admitted to the PICU. The mean±standard deviation age of 254 nonsurvivors was 64.34±69.48 months. The mean PICU length of stay was 17 days (range, 1–205 days), with 40 children dying early (<1 day of PICU admission). The majority of nonsurvivors (83.9%) had comorbid illnesses. Children with early mortality were more likely to have neurological findings (62.5%), hypotension (82.5%), oliguria (47.5%), acidosis (92.5%), coagulopathy (30.0%), and cardiac arrest (45.0%) and less likely to have terminal illnesses (52.5%) and chronic illnesses (75.6%). Children who died early had a higher mean age (81.8 months) and Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score (37). In children who died early, the first three signs during ICU admission were hypoglycemia in 68.5%, neurological symptoms in 43.5%, and acidosis in 78.3%. Sixty-seven patients needed continuous renal replacement therapy, 51 required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, and 10 underwent extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusions: We found that rates of neurological findings, hypotension, oliguria, acidosis, coagulation disorder, and cardiac arrest and PRISM III scores were higher in children who died early compared to those who died later.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Descriptive and Clinical Characteristics of Nonsurvivors in a Tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Turkey: 6 Years of Experience
    Zeynep Karakaya, Merve Boyraz, Seyma Koksal Atis, Servet Yuce, Muhterem Duyu
    Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Association between mortality and critical events within 48 hours of transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit
    Huan Liang, Kyle A. Carey, Priti Jani, Emily R. Gilbert, Majid Afshar, L. Nelson Sanchez-Pinto, Matthew M. Churpek, Anoop Mayampurath
    Frontiers in Pediatrics.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
Pulmonary
The feasibility and safety of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy without endotracheal guidance in the intensive care unit
Ji Eun Kim, Dong Hyun Lee
Acute Crit Care. 2022;37(1):101-107.   Published online February 17, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00906
  • 3,133 View
  • 182 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is a common procedure in intensive care units (ICUs). Although it is thought to be safe and easily performed at the bedside, PDT usually requires endotracheal guidance, such as bronchoscopy. Here, we assessed the clinical outcomes and safety of PDT conducted without endotracheal guidance.
Methods
In the ICU and coronary ICU at a tertiary hospital, PDT was routinely performed without endotracheal guidance by a single medical intensivist using the Griggs technique PDT kit (Portex Percutaneous Tracheostomy Kit). We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients who underwent PDT without endotracheal guidance.
Results
From January 1 to December 31, 2018, 78 patients underwent PDT without endotracheal guidance in the ICU and coronary ICU. The mean age of these subjects was 71.9±11.5 years, and 29 (37.2%) were female. The mean Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score at 24 hours after admission was 25.9±5.8. Fifty patients (64.1%) were on mechanical ventilation during PDT. Failure of the initial PDT attempt occurred in 4 patients (5.1%). In two of them, PDT was aborted and converted to surgical tracheostomy; in the other two patients, PDT was reattempted after endotracheal reintubation, with success. Minor bleeding at the tracheostomy site requiring gauze changes was observed in five patients (6.4%). There were no airway problems requiring therapeutic interventions or procedure-related sequelae.
Conclusions
PDT without endotracheal guidance can be considered safe and feasible.
Pulmonary
Safety and feasibility of hybrid tracheostomy
Daeun Kang, In Beom Jeong, Sun Jung Kwon, Ji Woong Son, Gwan Woo Ku
Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(4):369-373.   Published online November 26, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00801
  • 3,885 View
  • 114 Download
  • 2 Web of Science
  • 1 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is widely used in intensive care units, but this conventional method has some disadvantages, such as requirement of a lot of equipment and experts at the site. Especially, in situations where the patient is isolated due to an infectious disease, difficulties in using the equipment may occur, and the number of exposed persons may increase. In this paper, we introduce hybrid tracheostomy that combines the advantages of surgical tracheostomy and PDT and describe our experiences.
Methods
Data from 55 patients who received hybrid tracheostomy without bronchoscopy from January 2020 to February 2021 were collected and reviewed retrospectively. Hybrid tracheostomy was performed at the bedside by a single thoracic surgeon. The hybrid tracheostomy method was as follows: after the skin was incised and the trachea was exposed, only the extent of the endotracheal tube that could not be removed was withdrawn, and then tracheostomy was performed by the Seldinger method using a PDT kit.
Results
The average age was 66.5 years, and the proportion of men was 69.1%. Among the patients, 21.8% were taking antiplatelet drugs and 14.5% were taking anticoagulants. The average duration of the procedure was 13.3 minutes. There was no major bleeding, and there was one case of paratracheal placement of the tracheostomy tube.
Conclusions
In most patients, the procedure can be safely performed without any major complications. However, patients with a short neck, a neck burn or patients who have received radiation therapy to the neck should be treated with conventional methods.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • A Modified Technique for Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy
    Zahra Ghotbi, Mehrdad Estakhr, Mehdi Nikandish, Reza Nikandish
    Journal of Intensive Care Medicine.2023; 38(9): 878.     CrossRef
Ethics
Outcomes of critically ill patients according to the perception of intensivists on the appropriateness of intensive care unit admission
Youjin Chang, Kyoung Ran Kim, Jin Won Huh, Sang-Bum Hong, Younsuck Koh, Chae-Man Lim
Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(4):351-360.   Published online November 26, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00283
  • 4,885 View
  • 135 Download
  • 4 Web of Science
  • 4 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDFSupplementary Material
Background
It is important for intensivists to determine which patient may benefit from intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We aimed to assess the outcomes of patients perceived as non-beneficially or beneficially admitted to the ICU and evaluate whether their prognosis was consistent with the intensivists’ perception.
Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted on patients admitted to the medical ICU of a tertiary referral center between February and April 2014. The perceptions of four intensivists at admission (day 1) and on day 3 were investigated as non-beneficial admission, beneficial admission, or indeterminate state.
Results
A total of 210 patients were enrolled. On days 1 and 3, 22 (10%) and 23 (11%) patients were judged as having non-beneficial admission; 166 (79%) and 159 (79%), beneficial admission; and 22 (10%) and 21 (10%), indeterminate state, respectively. The ICU mortality rates of each group were 64%, 22%, and 57%, respectively; their 6-month mortality rates were 100%, 46%, and 81%, respectively. The perceptions of non-beneficial admission or indeterminate state were the significant predictors of ICU mortality (day 3, odds ratio [OR], 4.049; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.892–8.664; P<0.001) and 6-month mortality (day 1: OR, 4.983; 95% CI, 1.260–19.703; P=0.022; day 3: OR, 4.459; 95% CI, 1.162–17.121; P=0.029).
Conclusions
The outcomes of patients perceived as having non-beneficial admission were extremely poor. The intensivists’ perception was important in predicting patients’ outcomes and was more consistent with long-term prognosis than with immediate outcomes. The intensivists’ role can be reflected in limited ICU resource utilization.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Characteristics of critically ill patients with cancer associated with intensivist's perception of inappropriateness of ICU admission: A retrospective cohort study
    Carla Marchini Dias da Silva, Bruno Adler Maccagnan Pinheiro Besen, Antônio Paulo Nassar Jr
    Journal of Critical Care.2024; 79: 154468.     CrossRef
  • Characteristics, ICU Interventions, and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Palliative Care Triggers in a Mixed Community-Based Intensive Care Unit
    Michele M. Iguina, Aunie M. Danyalian, Ilko Luque, Umair Shaikh, Sanaz B. Kashan, Dionne Morgan, Daniel Heller, Mauricio Danckers
    Journal of Palliative Care.2023; 38(2): 126.     CrossRef
  • Association of appropriateness for ICU admission with resource use, organ support and long-term survival in critically ill cancer patients
    Carla Marchini Dias Silva, Janaina Naiara Germano, Anna Karolyne de Araujo Costa, Giovanna Alves Gennari, Pedro Caruso, Antonio Paulo Nassar Jr
    Internal and Emergency Medicine.2023; 18(4): 1191.     CrossRef
  • Can the intensivists predict the outcomes of critically ill patients on the appropriateness of intensive care unit admission for limited intensive care unit resources ?
    SeungYong Park
    Acute and Critical Care.2021; 36(4): 388.     CrossRef
Nursing
How do physicians and nurses differ in their perceived barriers to effective enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit?
Masoumeh Mirhosiny, Mansour Arab, Parvin Mangolian Shahrbabaki
Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(4):342-350.   Published online November 16, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00185
  • 4,351 View
  • 196 Download
  • 4 Web of Science
  • 6 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Patients hospitalized in intensive care units are susceptible to chronic malnutrition from changes in protein and energy metabolism in response to trauma. Therefore, nutritional support, especially enteral nutrition, is one of the most important treatment measures for these patients. However, there are several barriers in the hospitals in treating patients with enteral nutrition. This study was performed to compare the perceptions of care providers (physicians and nurses) on the barriers to enteral nutrition in intensive care units.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study. This study included 263 nurses and 104 physicians in the intensive care units of XXXX southeast hospitals. A questionnaire of enteral nutrition barriers in intensive care units was used. IBM SPSS ver. 19 was used to analyze data.
Results
There was a significant difference between the two groups in the three subscales of intensive care units (P=0.034), dietician support (p=0.001>) and critical care provider attitudes and behavior (P=0.031). There was also a significant difference between having completed educational courses and the score of enteral nutrition barriers in the two groups (P<0.05); the people who received an educational course had a better perception of enteral nutrition barriers.
Conclusions
Physicians and nurses agreed with the perception of enteral nutrition barriers, but there was a difference in their perception on some barriers. Strategies such as in-service training and increasing the knowledge and skills of physicians and nurses can reduce these differences.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Nutrition practices in critically ill adults receiving noninvasive ventilation: A quantitative survey of Australian and New Zealand intensive care clinicians
    Kaitlyn Page, Elizabeth Viner Smith, Mark P. Plummer, Emma J. Ridley, Kristy Burfield, Lee-anne S. Chapple
    Australian Critical Care.2024; 37(1): 43.     CrossRef
  • El hambre invisible en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Estrategias de Cuidado y Consideraciones Esenciales
    Ignacio Zaragoza-García
    Enfermería Intensiva.2024; 35(1): 1.     CrossRef
  • Invisible hunger in the Intensive Care Unit: Care strategies and essential considerations
    I. Zaragoza-García
    Enfermería Intensiva (English ed.).2024; 35(1): 1.     CrossRef
  • Evidence-Based Investigation of Nurses' Nutrition Interventions in Intensive Care Patients Regarding Enteral Nutrition
    Mensure Turan, Zeliha Cengiz, Dilek Olmaz
    Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing.2024; 43(3): 123.     CrossRef
  • Adequacy of protein and calorie delivery according to the expected calculated targets: a day‐by‐day assessment in critically ill patients undergoing enteral feeding
    Adam Fabiani, Lorella Dreas, Enzo Mazzaro, Elena Trampus, Michela Zanetti, Antonella Calabretti, Giuseppe Gatti, Gianfranco Sanson
    Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.2023; 36(3): 697.     CrossRef
  • Barriers to Delivery of Enteral Nutrition in Intensive Care Settings in Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Study of the Perceptions of Health Care Providers Working in Adult and Paediatric ICUs
    Sara Zaher
    Risk Management and Healthcare Policy.2022; Volume 15: 2357.     CrossRef
Nursing
Intensive care unit professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: social and work-related variables, COVID-19 symptoms, worries, and generalized anxiety levels
Fernando J. García-Hedrera, Fernanda Gil-Almagro, F. Javier Carmona-Monge, Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente, Patricia Catalá-Mesón, Lilian Velasco-Furlong
Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(3):232-241.   Published online August 31, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00213
  • 4,628 View
  • 103 Download
  • 8 Web of Science
  • 6 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak has been identified as a pandemic and global health emergency. It presents as a severe acute respiratory disease. The rapid dissemination of the disease created challenges for healthcare systems and forced healthcare workers (HCWs) to deal with many clinical and nonclinical stresses. The aim of our research is to describe work conditions, symptoms experienced by HCWs, worries about contagion, and generalized anxiety symptoms and compare those findings across regions in Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Critical care units throughout Spain were included. The sample comprised HCWs working in intensive care units from March to May 2020. We assessed work variables, physical symptoms, worries about contagion, and anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder-7 questionnaire). Results: The final sample comprised 448 surveys. Among the respondents, 86.9% (n=389) were nursing professionals, and 84.8% (n=380) were women. All participants cared for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during the study period. Workload during the pandemic in Madrid was judged to be higher than in other regions (P<0.01). The availability of personal protective equipment was found to be higher in Cataluña. The most frequently experienced symptom was headaches (78.1%). Worries about self-infection and the possibility of infecting others received mean scores of 3.11 and 3.75, respectively. Mean scores for generalized anxiety levels were 11.02, with 58.7% of the professionals presenting with generalized anxiety syndrome during the assessment. Conclusions: In this study, we found high levels of anxiety among HCWs caring directly for COVID-19 patients, which could produce long-term psychological alterations that still need to be assessed.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • From Anxiety to Hardiness: The Role of Self-Efficacy in Spanish CCU Nurses in the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Fernanda Gil-Almagro, Fernando José García-Hedrera, Francisco Javier Carmona-Monge, Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente
    Medicina.2024; 60(2): 215.     CrossRef
  • Cognitive appraisals and coping strategies of registered nurses in the emergency department combating COVID‐19: A scoping review
    Chia‐Hung Lin, Shu‐Fen Siao, You‐Jie Lin, Pin‐Hsien Hsin, Mack Shelley, Yen‐Han Lee
    Journal of Nursing Scholarship.2023; 55(1): 79.     CrossRef
  • The impact of pandemics on healthcare providers' workloads: A scoping review
    Gemma Doleman, Annemarie De Leo, Dianne Bloxsome
    Journal of Advanced Nursing.2023; 79(12): 4434.     CrossRef
  • Critical care medicine training in the age of COVID-19
    Walter Mickey
    Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.2023; 123(9): 427.     CrossRef
  • Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: a systematic review of prevalence and wave-based patterns
    Irene Jaén, Carolina Ausín, Diana Castilla
    Current Psychology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit workers: a nationwide survey
    Sangeeta Mehta, Christopher Yarnell, Sumesh Shah, Peter Dodek, Jeanna Parsons-Leigh, Robert Maunder, Jessica Kayitesi, Catherine Eta-Ndu, Fran Priestap, Danielle LeBlanc, Jennifer Chen, Kimia Honarmand
    Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie.2022; 69(4): 472.     CrossRef
Review Article
Infection
Identification and infection control of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in intensive care units
Jongyoun Yi, Kye-Hyung Kim
Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(3):175-184.   Published online August 12, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00409
  • 5,911 View
  • 309 Download
  • 9 Web of Science
  • 11 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Infections with multidrug-resistant organisms among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are associated with high mortality. Among multidrug-resistant organisms, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) harbor important pathogens for healthcare-associated infections, including pneumonia, bacteremia, and urinary tract infections. Risk factors for CRE colonization include underlying comorbid conditions, prior antibiotics exposure, prior use of healthcare facilities, device use, and longer ICU stay. The mortality rate due to invasive CRE infection is 22%–49%, and CRE colonization is associated with an approximately 10-fold increased risk of CRE infection. Infection control measures include hand hygiene, contact precautions, minimizing the use of devices, and environmental control. Additionally, implementing active surveillance of CRE carriage should be considered in ICU settings.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Comparison of mortality rates in patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales bacteremia according to carbapenemase production: a multicenter propensity-score matched study
    Moon Seong Baek, Jong Ho Kim, Joung Ha Park, Tae Wan Kim, Hae In Jung, Young Suk Kwon
    Scientific Reports.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Identification and Preliminary Hierarchisation of Selected Risk Factors for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) Colonisation: A Prospective Study
    Małgorzata Timler, Wojciech Timler, Ariadna Bednarz, Łukasz Zakonnik, Remigiusz Kozłowski, Dariusz Timler, Michał Marczak
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2023; 20(3): 1960.     CrossRef
  • Epidemiology and prevention of hospital-acquired carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infection in hospitalized patients, Northeast Ethiopia
    Agumas Shibabaw, Zenawork Sahle, Yeshi Metaferia, Asgdew Atlaw, Behailu Adenew, Alemu Gedefie, Mihret Tilahun, Endris Ebrahim, Yeshimebet Kassa, Habtu Debash, Shu-Hua Wang
    IJID Regions.2023; 7: 77.     CrossRef
  • Gut microbiota alterations in critically Ill patients with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae colonization: A clinical analysis
    Moon Seong Baek, Seungil Kim, Won-Young Kim, Mi-Na Kweon, Jin Won Huh
    Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • ESKAPE and Beyond: The Burden of Coinfections in the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Miguel Ángel Loyola-Cruz, Luis Uriel Gonzalez-Avila, Arturo Martínez-Trejo, Andres Saldaña-Padilla, Cecilia Hernández-Cortez, Juan Manuel Bello-López, Graciela Castro-Escarpulli
    Pathogens.2023; 12(5): 743.     CrossRef
  • Aztreonam: clinical and pharmacological characteristics at the present stage
    D.A. Popov, N.A. Zubareva, A.A. Parshakov
    Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.2023; 25(1): 19.     CrossRef
  • Prevalence and risk factors for colonisation and infection with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in intensive care units: A prospective multicentre study
    Yi-Le Wu, Xiao-Qian Hu, De-Quan Wu, Ruo-Jie Li, Xue-Ping Wang, Jin Zhang, Zhou Liu, Wen-Wen Chu, Xi Zhu, Wen-Hui Zhang, Xue Zhao, Zi-Shu Guan, Yun-Lan Jiang, Jin-Feng Wu, Zhuo Cui, Ju Zhang, Jia Li, Ru-Mei Wang, Shi-Hua Shen, Chao-Yang Cai, Hai-Bin Zhu, Q
    Intensive and Critical Care Nursing.2023; 79: 103491.     CrossRef
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    Seung Hye Lee, Chan Hee Kim, Hee Young Lee, Kun Hee Park, Su Ha Han
    Antibiotics.2023; 12(8): 1286.     CrossRef
  • Role of Probiotics in Preventing Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Colonization in the Intensive Care Unit: Risk Factors and Microbiome Analysis Study
    Jung-Hwan Lee, Jongbeom Shin, Soo-Hyun Park, Boram Cha, Ji-Taek Hong, Don-Haeng Lee, Kye Sook Kwon
    Microorganisms.2023; 11(12): 2970.     CrossRef
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    Norman Lippmann, Sebastian Wendt, Catalina-Suzana Stîngu, Johannes Wiegand, Christoph Lübbert
    American Journal of Infection Control.2022; 50(10): 1145.     CrossRef
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    Wenli Yuan, Jiali Xu, Lin Guo, Yonghong Chen, Jinyi Gu, Huan Zhang, Chenghang Yang, Qiuping Yang, Shuwen Deng, Longlong Zhang, Qiongfang Deng, Zi Wang, Bin Ling, Deyao Deng, Arryn Craney, Rafael Vignoli
    Microbiology Spectrum.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
Original Articles
Pulmonary
Utilization of pain and sedation therapy on noninvasive mechanical ventilation in Korean intensive care units: a multi-center prospective observational study
Taehee Kim, Jung Soo Kim, Eun Young Choi, Youjin Chang, Won-Il Choi, Jae-Joon Hwang, Jae Young Moon, Kwangha Lee, Sei Won Kim, Hyung Koo Kang, Yun Su Sim, Tai Sun Park, Seung Yong Park, Sunghoon Park, Jae Hwa Cho
Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(4):255-262.   Published online November 9, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2020.00164
Correction in: Acute Crit Care 2021;36(2):172
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  • 7 Web of Science
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
The use of sedative drugs may be an important therapeutic intervention during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in intensive care units (ICUs). The purpose of this study was to assess the current application of analgosedation in NIV and its impact on clinical outcomes in Korean ICUs.
Methods
Twenty Korean ICUs participated in the study, and data was collected on NIV use during the period between June 2017 and February 2018. Demographic data from all adult patients, NIV clinical parameters, and hospital mortality were included.
Results
A total of 155 patients treated with NIV in the ICUs were included, of whom 26 received pain and sedation therapy (sedation group) and 129 did not (control group). The primary cause of ICU admission was due to acute exacerbation of obstructed lung disease (45.7%) in the control group and pneumonia treatment (53.8%) in the sedation group. In addition, causes of NIV application included acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in the control group (62.8%) and post-extubation respiratory failure in the sedation group (57.7%). Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels before and after 2 hours of NIV treatment were significantly decreased in both groups: from 61.9±23.8 mm Hg to 54.9±17.6 mm Hg in the control group (P<0.001) and from 54.9±15.1 mm Hg to 51.1±15.1 mm Hg in the sedation group (P=0.048). No significant differences were observed in the success rate of NIV weaning, complications, length of ICU stay, ICU survival rate, or hospital survival rate between the groups.
Conclusions
In NIV patients, analgosedation therapy may have no harmful effects on complications, NIV weaning success, and mortality compared to the control group. Therefore, sedation during NIV may not be unsafe and can be used in patients for pain control when indicated.

Citations

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  • Sedation and analgesia strategies for non-invasive mechanical ventilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
    Baolu Yang, Leyi Gao, Zhaohui Tong
    Heart & Lung.2024; 63: 42.     CrossRef
  • Effect of Music Therapy and Sound Isolation on the Comfort of Mechanically Ventilated Patients
    Sinem Çalışkan, Esra Akın, Mehmet Uyar
    Turkish Journal of Intensive Care.2024; 22(1): 83.     CrossRef
  • 2021 KSCCM clinical practice guidelines for pain, agitation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disturbance in the intensive care unit
    Yijun Seo, Hak-Jae Lee, Eun Jin Ha, Tae Sun Ha
    Acute and Critical Care.2022; 37(1): 1.     CrossRef
  • Comfort During Non-invasive Ventilation
    Gianmaria Cammarota, Rachele Simonte, Edoardo De Robertis
    Frontiers in Medicine.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Current status of treatment of acute respiratory failure in Korea
    Yong Jun Choi, Jae Hwa Cho
    Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(3): 124.     CrossRef
  • Treatment of acute respiratory failure: noninvasive mechanical ventilation
    Sunghoon Park
    Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(3): 144.     CrossRef
  • Dexmedetomidine-Induced Aortic Contraction Involves Transactivation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Rats
    Soo Hee Lee, Seong-Chun Kwon, Seong-Ho Ok, Seung Hyun Ahn, Sung Il Bae, Ji-Yoon Kim, Yeran Hwang, Kyeong-Eon Park, Mingu Kim, Ju-Tae Sohn
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2022; 23(8): 4320.     CrossRef
Basic science and research
Comparison of salivary and serum cortisol levels in mechanically ventilated patients and non-critically ill patients
Jung Hee Kim, Yoon Ji Kim, Sang-Min Lee, Jinwoo Lee
Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(3):149-155.   Published online August 31, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2020.00297
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Although the measuring free cortisol is ideal for assessment of hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal function, it is not routinely measured. Salivary cortisol correlates well with the biologically active free cortisol. Therefore, this study measured the morning basal as well as adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulated salivary cortisol levels in mechanically ventilated patients and compared the results with non-critically ill patients.
Methods
We prospectively enrolled 49 mechanically ventilated patients and 120 patients from the outpatient clinic. Serum and saliva samples were collected between 8 AM and 10 AM. Salivary cortisol levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. The salivary samples were insufficient in 15 mechanically ventilated patients (30.6%), and these patients were excluded from the final analysis.
Results
Mechanically ventilated patients (n=34) were significantly older and had lower body mass index and serum albumin levels and higher serum creatinine levels than non-critically ill patients (n=120). After adjustment for these parameters, both basal and stimulated salivary and serum cortisol levels were higher in mechanically ventilated patients. The increase in cortisol was not significantly different between the two groups. Serum cortisol levels showed a positive correlation with salivary cortisol levels. Among mechanically ventilated patients, both basal serum and salivary cortisol levels were lower in survivors than in non-survivors.
Conclusions
Both basal total serum and salivary cortisol levels were elevated in mechanically ventilated patients and in non-survivors.

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  • Associations between chronic work stress and plasma chromogranin A/catestatin among healthy workers
    Xin Liu, Weimin Dang, Hui Liu, Yao Song, Ying Li, Weixian Xu
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Ethics
Decision-making regarding withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment and the role of intensivists in the intensive care unit: a single-center study
Seo In Lee, Kyung Sook Hong, Jin Park, Young-Joo Lee
Acute Crit Care. 2020;35(3):179-188.   Published online August 10, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2020.00136
  • 6,508 View
  • 206 Download
  • 8 Web of Science
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AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
This study examined the experience of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in patients hospitalized in the intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary care center. It also considers the role that intensivists play in the decision-making process regarding the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 227 patients who decided to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment while hospitalized at Ewha Womans University Medical Center Mokdong between April 9 and December 31, 2018.
Results
The 227 hospitalized patients included in the analysis withheld or withdrew from life-sustaining treatment. The department in which life-sustaining treatment was withheld or withdrawn most frequently was hemato-oncology (26.4%). Among these patients, the most common diagnosis was gastrointestinal tract cancer (29.1%). A majority of patients (64.3%) chose not to receive any life-sustaining treatment. Of the 80 patients in the ICU, intensivists participated in the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment in 34 cases. There were higher proportions of treatment withdrawal and ICU-to-ward transfers among the cases in whom intensivists participated in decision making compared to those cases in whom intensivists did not participate (50.0% vs. 4.3% and 52.9% vs. 19.6%, respectively).
Conclusions
Through their participation in end-of-life discussions, intensivists can help patients’ families to make decisions about withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment and possibly avoiding futile treatments for these patients.

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    BMC Palliative Care.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Comparison of the end-of-life decisions of patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia after the enforcement of the life-sustaining treatment decision act in Korea
    Ae-Rin Baek, Sang-Bum Hong, Soohyun Bae, Hye Kyeong Park, Changhwan Kim, Hyun-Kyung Lee, Woo Hyun Cho, Jin Hyoung Kim, Youjin Chang, Heung Bum Lee, Hyun-Il Gil, Beomsu Shin, Kwang Ha Yoo, Jae Young Moon, Jee Youn Oh, Kyung Hoon Min, Kyeongman Jeon, Moon S
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  • Dying in the ICU
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    Die Anaesthesiologie.2022; 71(12): 930.     CrossRef
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    Hyunjae Im, Hyun Woo Choe, Seung-Young Oh, Ho Geol Ryu, Hannah Lee
    Acute and Critical Care.2022; 37(2): 237.     CrossRef
  • Factors Influencing the Initiative Behavior of Intensive Care Unit Nurses toward End-of-Life Decision Making: A Cross-Sectional Study
    Jingying Huang, Haiou Qi, Yiting Zhu, Minyan Zhang
    Journal of Palliative Medicine.2022; 25(12): 1802.     CrossRef
  • Analysis of high-intensity care in intensive care units and its cost at the end of life among older people in South Korea between 2016 and 2019: a cross-sectional study of the health insurance review and assessment service national patient sample database
    Yunji Lee, Minjeong Jo, Taehwa Kim, Kyoungsun Yun
    BMJ Open.2021; 11(8): e049711.     CrossRef

ACC : Acute and Critical Care