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BACKGROUND: Prognostication in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest is a major clinical challenge. The authors' objective was to determine whether an assessment with diffusion tensor imaging, a brain magnetic resonance imaging sequence, increases the accuracy of 1 yr functional outcome prediction in cardiac arrest survivors. METHODS: Prospective, observational study in two intensive care units. Fifty-seven comatose survivors of cardiac arrest underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. Fractional anisotropy (FA), a diffusion tensor imaging value, was measured in predefined white matter regions, and apparent diffusion coefficient was assessed in predefined grey matter regions. Prediction of unfavorable outcome at 1 yr was compared using four prognostic models: FA global, FA selected, apparent diffusion coefficient, and clinical classifiers. RESULTS: Of the 57 patients included in the study, 49 had an unfavorable outcome at 12 months. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% CI) to predict unfavorable outcome for the FA global, FA selected, clinical, and apparent diffusion coefficient models were 0.92 (0.82-0.98), 0.96 (0.87-0.99), 0.78 (0.65-0.88), and 0.86 (0.74-0.94), respectively. The FA selected model had the best overall accuracy for predicting outcome, with a score above 0.44 having 94% (95% CI, 83-99%) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI, 63-100%) specificity for the prediction of unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging indicates that white matter damage is widespread after cardiac arrest. A prognostic model based on FA values in selected white matter tracts seems to predict accurately 1 yr functional outcome. These preliminary results need to be confirmed in a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The type III secretion system is an important Pseudomonas aeruginosa-virulence determinant in animal models of infection and in humans. Antibody-mediated inhibition of the PcrV protein, an essential component of this system, might abrogate the Pseudomonas aeruginosa ability to damage epithelial cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, thereby limiting its pathogenicity. The objective of the trial was to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, and ability to prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventilator-associated pneumonia of KB001, a recombinant, PEGylated, engineered, human Fab' fragment that specifically binds to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa PcrV epitope and blocks its function. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase-2a trial. SETTING: Ten intensive care units across France. PATIENTS: Thirty-nine Pseudomonas aeruginosa-colonized, but not infected, mechanically ventilated patients. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive a single intravenous infusion of KB001, 3 mg/kg (n=13) or 10 mg/kg (n=14), or placebo (n=12). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary end points were KB001 safety and tolerability, assessed as treatment-related adverse-event frequency and severity. Secondary end points included serum and lung KB001 pharmacokinetics, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia rate within 28 days of its infusion. KB001 was well tolerated and not immunogenic. The 3- and 10-mg/kg groups had respective maximum serum concentrations of 52,811-88,660 and 121,857-285,454 ng/mL, with mean elimination half-lives of 8.1 and 9.3 days. KB001 was detected in endotracheal aspirates from all patients receiving it, as early as day 1 and up to 28 days. Respective mean endotracheal aspirate/serum concentration ratios were 0.092 and 0.085 for the 3- and 10-mg/kg groups, who developed Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia less frequently (33% and 31%, respectively) than placebo recipients (60%). CONCLUSIONS: KB001 was safe and well tolerated in this study, with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and promising potential for reducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia incidence in intensive care unit mechanically ventilated patients colonized with this bacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether early percutaneous tracheotomy in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation can shorten mechanical ventilation duration and lower mortality remains controversial. Objective: To compare the outcomes of severely ill patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation randomly assigned to early percutaneous tracheotomy or prolonged intubation. Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, single-center trial (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00347321). Setting: Academic center. Patients: 216 adults requiring mechanical ventilation 4 or more days after cardiac surgery. Intervention: Immediate early percutaneous tracheotomy or prolonged intubation with tracheotomy 15 days after randomization. Measurements: The primary end point was the number of ventilator-free days during the first 60 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes included 28-, 60-, or 90-day mortality rates; durations of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospitalization; sedative, analgesic, and neuroleptic use; ventilator-associated pneumonia rate; unscheduled extubations; comfort and ease of care; and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychosocial evaluations. Results: There was no difference in ventilator-free days during the first 60 days after randomization between early percutaneous tracheotomy and prolonged intubation groups (mean, 30.4 days [SD, 22.4] vs. 28.3 days [SD, 23.7], respectively; absolute difference, 2.1 days [95% CI, -4.1 to 8.3 days]) nor in 28-, 60-, or 90-day mortality rates (16% vs. 21%, 26% vs. 28%, and 30% vs. 30%, respectively). The durations of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization, as well as frequencies of ventilator-associated pneumonia and other severe infections, were also similar. However, early percutaneous tracheotomy was associated with less intravenous sedation; less time of heavy sedation; less haloperidol use for agitation, delirium, or both; fewer unscheduled extubations; better comfort and ease of care; and earlier resumption of oral nutrition. After a median follow-up of 873 days, between-group survival, psychosocial evaluations, and HRQoL were similar. Limitation: The prolonged intubation group had more ventilator-free days during days 1 to 60 than what was hypothesized (mean, 23.0 days [SD, 17.0]). Conclusion: Early tracheotomy provided no benefit in terms of mechanical ventilation and length of hospital stay, rates of mortality or infectious complications, and long-term HRQoL for patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. However, the well-tolerated procedure was associated with less sedation, better comfort, and earlier resumption of autonomy. Primary Funding Source: French Ministry of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare condition following SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with intestinal manifestations. Genetic predisposition, including inborn errors of the OAS-RNAseL pathway, has been reported. We sequenced 154 MIS-C patients and utilized a novel statistical framework of gene burden analysis, "burdenMC," which identified an enrichment for rare predicted-deleterious variants in BTNL8 (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 3.5-5.3, P < 10-6). BTNL8 encodes an intestinal epithelial regulator of Vγ4+γδ T cells implicated in regulating gut homeostasis. Enrichment was exclusive to MIS-C, being absent in patients with COVID-19 or bacterial disease. Using an available functional test for BTNL8, rare variants from a larger cohort of MIS-C patients (n = 835) were tested which identified eight variants in 18 patients (2.2%) with impaired engagement of Vγ4+γδ T cells. Most of these variants were in the B30.2 domain of BTNL8 implicated in sensing epithelial cell status. These findings were associated with altered intestinal permeability, suggesting a possible link between disrupted gut homeostasis and MIS-C-associated enteropathy triggered by SARS-CoV-2., (© 2024 Bellos et al.)

Purpose of Review: To discuss the therapeutic options available for the management of difficult-to-treat strains of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ( Sma ), namely those resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and fluoroquinolones., Recent Findings: Recent pharmacological studies have highlighted the fact that current breakpoints for first-line antibiotics against Sma are too high. In light of these data, it is likely that the prevalence of difficult-to-treat (DTR) Sma is underestimated worldwide. Two promising alternatives for treating DTR strains are cefiderocol and the combination of aztreonam and an L2 inhibitor. However, clinical trials are currently very limited for these antibiotics and no comparative studies have been carried out to date. It is important to note that the clinical efficacy of cefiderocol appears to be inferior to that initially anticipated from in-vitro and animal studies. Consequently, minocycline and ceftazidime may remain viable options if they are used against strains with a low minimum inhibitory concentration. We advise against the use of intravenous polymyxins and tigecycline. Finally, recent literature does not support the systematic use of combination therapy or long-course treatments. In the coming years, phage therapy may become a promising approach against DTR Sma infections., Summary: Overall, clinical comparative studies focused on DTR strains are required in order to provide more accurate and actionable information for therapeutic decisions., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The pathogenesis of life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in ICU patients can involve pre-existing auto-antibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs). The impact of these auto-Abs on SARS-CoV-2 clearance in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) is unclear., Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 99 ICU patients with COVID-19 pneumonia between March and May 2020. LRT SARS-CoV-2 load (intensity and duration) was analyzed according to the presence or not of circulating auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs., Results: Among the 99 included patients, 38 (38%) were positive for auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs, with 5 (5%) harboring auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α2 at any concentration, while 33 (33%) had auto-Abs neutralizing only IFN-ω at the lower concentration. SARS-CoV-2 load in the LRT and duration of viral shedding, were similar in patients with or without auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs. Patients with auto-Abs had the same mortality than those without auto-Abs, despite greater occurrence of renal failure and ECMO support, and longer duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay., Conclusion: In summary, 5% of patients with critical COVID-19 pneumonia carried auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α2, while about 1/3 harbored auto-Abs neutralizing low concentrations of IFN-ω. The detection of either type of auto-Abs did not impact LRT viral clearance and mortality, although it was associated with greater morbidity and a longer hospitalization. These findings suggest that similar albeit hitherto unknown mechanisms of disease drive critical COVID-19 pneumonia in patients without auto-Abs against type I IFNs., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: In accordance with current French law, informed written consent for demographic, physiologic and hospital-outcome data analyses was not obtained because this observational study did not modify existing diagnostic or therapeutic strategies. Nonetheless, patients and/or relatives were informed about the anonymous data collection and told that they could decline inclusion. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française (registration no. CE-SRLF-2093) and the database is registered with the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL, registration no. 1950673). Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Fever is frequent after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) decannulation. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of post-decannulation fever and describe its causes., Methods: Adult ECMO patients who were successfully weaned from ECMO were retrospectively included. Minimal and maximal core temperatures were collected daily for each patient from 48 h before decannulation up to 5 days after. Patients were grouped according to the cause of fever (infection, thrombosis, or no evident cause) and compared. Plasma cytokine profile was obtained, each day from decannulation to 5 days after for 20 patients., Results: Between January 2021 and December 2022, 123 patients successfully weaned from ECMO were included. Post-decannulation fever occurred in 54 patients (44 %). It was associated with an infection in 39 patients (72 %) and with a thrombosis in 6 patients (11 %), and no cause was identified in the remaining 9 (17 %). Prolonged ECMO duration, extended ICU length-of-stay, diabetes and vascular comorbidities were significantly associated with a higher risk of infection. Finally, the pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles did not differ between febrile and afebrile patients., Conclusion: Post-decannulation fever was common, and was mainly due to infections or thrombosis. Fever should therefore not be considered as a benign inflammatory reaction until proven otherwise., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Vascular complications after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains poorly studied, although they may highly impact patient management after ECMO removal. Our aim was to assess their frequency, predictors, and management., Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study., Setting: Two ICUs from a tertiary referral academic hospital., Patients: Adult patients who were successfully weaned from venoarterial ECMO between January 2021 and January 2022., Interventions: None., Primary Outcome: Vascular complications frequency related to ECMO cannula., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 288 patients were implanted with venoarterial ECMO during the inclusion period. One hundred ninety-four patients were successfully weaned, and 109 underwent a CT examination to assess for vascular complications until 4 days after the weaning procedure. The median age of the cohort was 58 years (interquartile range [IQR], 46-64 yr), with a median duration of ECMO support of 7 days (IQR, 5-12 d). Vascular complications were observed in 88 patients (81%). The most frequent complication was thrombosis, either cannula-associated deep vein thrombosis (CaDVT) (n = 63, 58%) or arterial thrombosis (n = 36, 33%). Nonthrombotic arterial complications were observed in 48 patients (44%), with 35 (31%) presenting with bleeding. The most common site of CaDVT was the inferior vena cava, occurring in 33 (50%) of cases, with 20% of patients presenting with pulmonary embolism. There was no association between thrombotic complications and ECMO duration, anticoagulation level, or ECMO rotation flow. CT scans influenced management in 83% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 17% regardless of vascular complications., Conclusions: Vascular complications related to venoarterial ECMO cannula are common after ECMO implantation. CT allows early detection of complications after weaning and impacts patient management. Patients should be routinely screened for vascular complications by CT after decannulation., Competing Interests: Dr. Luyt received funding from Advanz Pharma and Merck; he received funding from Merck. The remaining authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (pECMO) has become the first-line device in refractory cardiogenic shock (rCS). Some pECMO complications can preclude any bridging strategies and a peripheral-to-central ECMO (cECMO) switch can be considered as a bridge-to-decision. We conducted this study to appraise the in-hospital survival and the bridging strategies in patients undergoing peripheral-to-central ECMO switch., Methods: This retrospective monocenter study included patients admitted to a ECMO-dedicated intensive care unit from February 2006 to January 2023. Patients with rCS requiring pECMO switched to cECMO were included. Patients were not included when the cECMO was the first mechanical circulatory support., Results: Eighty patients, with a median [IQR25-75] age of 44 [29-53] years at admission and a female-to-male sex ratio of 0.6 were included in the study. Refractory pulmonary edema was the main switching reason. Thirty patients (38%) were successfully bridged to: heart transplantation (n = 16/80, 20%), recovery (n = 10/80, 12%) and ventricle assist device (VAD, n = 4/30, 5%) while the others died on cECMO (n = 50/80, 62%). The most frequent complications were the need for renal replacement therapy (76%), hemothorax or tamponade (48%), need for surgical revision (34%), mediastinitis (28%), and stroke (28%). The in-hospital and one-year survival rates were 31% and 27% respectively. Myocardial infarction as the cause of the rCS was the only variable independently associated with in-hospital mortality (HR 2.5 [1.3-4.9], p = 0.009)., Conclusions: The switch from a failing pECMO support to a cECMO as a bridge-to-decision is a possible strategy for a very selected population of young patients with a realistic chance of heart function recovery or heart transplantation. In this setting, cECMO allows patients triage preventing from wasting expensive and limited resources., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The optimal timing of weaning from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) and its modalities have been rarely studied., Methods: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study over 7 years in two tertiary ICUs, high-volume ECMO centers in France and Italy. Patients with ARDS on ECMO and successfully weaned from VV ECMO were classified based on their mechanical ventilation modality during the sweep gas-off trial (SGOT) with either controlled mechanical ventilation or spontaneous breathing (i.e. pressure support ventilation). The primary endpoint was the time to successful weaning from mechanical ventilation within 90 days post-ECMO weaning., Results: 292 adult patients with severe ARDS were weaned from controlled ventilation, and 101 were on spontaneous breathing during SGOT. The 90-day probability of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation was not significantly different between the two groups (sHR [95% CI], 1.23 [0.84-1.82]). ECMO-related complications were not statistically different between patients receiving these two mechanical ventilation strategies. After adjusting for covariates, older age, higher pre-ECMO sequential organ failure assessment score, pneumothorax, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and renal replacement therapy, but not mechanical ventilation modalities during SGOT, were independently associated with a lower probability of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation after ECMO weaning., Conclusions: Time to successful weaning from mechanical ventilation within 90 days post-ECMO was not associated with the mechanical ventilation strategy used during SGOT. Further research is needed to assess the optimal ventilation strategy during weaning off VV ECMO and its impact on short- and long-term outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Severe thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) frequently affects the kidney, heart, and central nervous system. The precise frequency, clinical picture, differential diagnoses, and outcome of APS-related hematological involvement are lacking, especially in patients requiring ICU admission. This study aimed to describe the hematological manifestations associated with critically ill thrombotic APS patients and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome., Methods: This French, national, multicenter, retrospective study, conducted, from January 2000 to September 2018, included all APS patients admitted to 24 participating centers' ICUs with any new thrombotic manifestation. The prevalence of hematological manifestations and their associated outcomes were studied., Results: One hundred and thirty-four patients, female 72%, median [IQR] age 45 [34-56] years, with 152 episodes were included. Anemia was present in 95% of episodes and thrombocytopenia in 93%. The lowest values for hemoglobin and platelets were 7.1 [6.3-8.8] g/dL and 38 [21-60] g/L, respectively. The lowest platelet count below 20 g/L was significantly associated with a higher in-ICU mortality rate (50%, p < 0.0001). A thrombotic microangiopathy syndrome (TMA) syndrome was seen in 16 patients (12%) and was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (p = 0.05). Median ADAMTS-13 levels were 44% [27-74]. Anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies were tested in 11 patients and found negative in all. A suspicion of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) was raised in 66 patients but only four patients were classified as definite HIT. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was seen in 51% of patients., Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia is very frequent in severe APS patients and may be related to TMA, HIT, or DIC. Deciphering the mechanisms of thrombocytopenia is decisive in CAPS patients. Key Points • Thrombocytopenia is the hallmark laboratory finding in CAPS. • A complete thrombotic microangiopathy pattern is infrequent in CAPS patients. • Alternate diagnoses of CAPS, especially heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, need to be adequately investigated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).)

Purpose: Management of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients on venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane (VA-ECMO) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenging. Our objective was to describe the frequency, management and outcomes of severe bleeding complications and determine their occurrence risk factors., Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study including post-AMI cardiogenic shock patients requiring VA-ECMO. Severe bleeding was defined based on the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium classification. We calculated multivariable Fine-Gray models to assess factors associated with risk of severe bleeding., Results: From January 2015 to July 2019, 176 patients received VA-ECMO after AMI and 132 patients were included. Sixty-five (49%) patients died. Severe bleeding occurred in 39% of cases. Severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 G/L) and hypofibrinogenemia (<1,5 g/L) occurred in respectively 31% and 19% of patients. DAPT was stopped in 32% of patients with a 6% rate of stent thrombosis. Anticoagulation was stopped in 39% of patients. Using a multivariate competing risk model, female sex, time on ECMO, troponin at admission and Impella® implantation were independently associated with severe bleeding., Conclusions: Bleeding complications and coagulation disorders were frequent and severe in patients on VA-ECMO after AMI, leading of antiplatelet therapy withdrawal in one third of patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Matthieu Schmidt reports lecture fees from Getinge, Drager and Xenios outside the submitted work. Alain Combes reports grants from Getinge, personal fees from Getinge, Baxter and Xenios outside the submitted work. Charles Edouard Luyt reported personal fees from Bayer Healthcare, Carmat, Faron, Merck Sharp & Dohme, ThermoFischer Brahms, and Biomérieux; and grants from Bayer Healthcare outside the submitted work. Guillaume Lebreton reports lecture fees from Livanova and Abiomed, outside of the submitted work. The other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to the purpose of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: Despite systemic thrombolysis, a few patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) remain hemodynamically unstable. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is a considerable lifesaving therapy but systemic thrombolysis before cannulation could carry a high risk of hemorrhage and alter the prognosis., Methods: Between June 2012 and June 2023, we retrospectively analyzed from three intensive care units in Sorbonne University, ECMO-related complications and 90-day mortality for high-risk PE patients who received ECMO without previous systemic thrombolysis compared to those cannulated after systemic thrombolysis failure. Hospital discharge survivors were assessed for long-term health-related quality of life and echocardiographic evaluations., Results: 72 high-risk PE patients [median age 48 (37-61) years, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) 74 (60-85)] were placed on VA-ECMO for 5 (5-7) days. 31 (43%) patients underwent pre-ECMO thrombolysis (thrombolysis ECMO group, T +) compared to 41 patients (57%, no thrombolysis ECMO group, T-). There was more pre-ECMO cardiac arrest in the thrombolysis ECMO group (94% vs. 67%, p = 0.02). Ninety-day survival was not different between groups (39% vs 46%, log-rank test, p = 0.31). There was no difference in severe hemorrhages (61% vs 59%, p = 1). Twenty-five over 28 patients attended follow-up at a median time of 69 (52-95) months. Long-term quality of life was acceptable and none of them experienced chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension., Conclusions: Ninety-day survival and bleeding events rates did not differ in patients treated with VA-ECMO after systemic thrombolysis compared to those who were not. Recent systemic thrombolysis, as a single parameter, should not be considered as a contraindication for VA-ECMO in high-risk PE., (© 2024. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Data on assessment and management of dyspnea in patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiogenic shock are lacking. The hypothesis was that increasing sweep gas flow through the venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator may decrease dyspnea in nonintubated venoarterial ECMO patients exhibiting clinically significant dyspnea, with a parallel reduction in respiratory drive., Methods: Nonintubated, spontaneously breathing, supine patients on venoarterial ECMO for cardiogenic shock who presented with a dyspnea visual analog scale (VAS) score of greater than or equal to 40/100 mm were included. Sweep gas flow was increased up to +6 l/min by three steps of +2 l/min each. Dyspnea was assessed with the dyspnea-VAS and the Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile. The respiratory drive was assessed by the electromyographic activity of the alae nasi and parasternal muscles., Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study. Upon inclusion, median dyspnea-VAS was 50 (interquartile range, 45 to 60) mm, and sweep gas flow was 1.0 l/min (0.5 to 2.0). An increase in sweep gas flow significantly decreased dyspnea-VAS (50 [45 to 60] at baseline vs. 20 [10 to 30] at 6 l/min; P < 0.001). The decrease in dyspnea was greater for the sensory component of dyspnea (-50% [-43 to -75]) than for the affective and emotional components (-17% [-0 to -25] and -12% [-0 to -17]; P < 0.001). An increase in sweep gas flow significantly decreased electromyographic activity of the alae nasi and parasternal muscles (-23% [-36 to -10] and -20 [-41 to -0]; P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the sweep gas flow and the dyspnea-VAS (r = -0.91; 95% CI, -0.94 to -0.87), between the respiratory drive and the sensory component of dyspnea (r = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.44) between the respiratory drive and the affective component of dyspnea (r = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.54) and between the sweep gas flow and the alae nasi and parasternal (r = -0.31; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.22; and r = -0.25; 95% CI, -0.44 to -0.16)., Conclusions: In critically ill patients with venoarterial ECMO, an increase in sweep gas flow through the oxygenation membrane decreases dyspnea, possibly mediated by a decrease in respiratory drive., (Copyright © 2024 American Society of Anesthesiologists. All Rights Reserved.)

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a major cause of early mortality after heart transplantation (HT). Isoproterenol (Iso) has chronotropic, inotropic, and vasodilatory properties, which might improve right ventricle function in this setting. We aimed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol on patients with post-HT RVF. We conducted a 1-yr retrospective observational study including patients receiving isoproterenol (Iso) and dobutamine for early RVF after HT. A comprehensive multiparametric hemodynamic evaluation was performed successively three times: no isoproterenol, low doses: 0.025 µg/kg/min, and high doses: 0.05 µg/kg/min (henceforth, respectively, called no Iso, low Iso, and high Iso). From June 2022 to June 2023, 25 patients, median [interquartile range (IQR) 25-75] age 54 [38-61] yr, were included. Before isoproterenol was introduced, all patients received dobutamine, and 15 (60%) were on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Isoproterenol significantly increased heart rate from 84 [77-99] (no Iso) to 91 [88-106] (low Iso) and 102 [90-122] beats/min (high Iso, P < 0.001). Similarly, cardiac index rose from 2.3 [1.4-3.1] to 2.7 [1.8-3.4] and 3 [1.9-3.7] L/min/m 2 ( P < 0.001) with a concomitant increase in indexed stroke volume (28 [17-34] to 31 [20-34] and 33 [23-35] mL/m 2 , P < 0.05). Effective pulmonary arterial elastance and pressures were not modified by isoproterenol. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) tended to decrease from 2.9 [1.4-3.6] to 2.3 [1.3-3.5] wood units (WU), P = 0.06. Right ventricular ejection fraction/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) evaluating right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) coupling increased after isoproterenol from 0.8 to 0.9 and 1%·mmHg -1 ( P = 0.001). In conclusion, in post-HT RVF, isoproterenol exhibits chronotropic and inotropic effects, thereby improving RV-PA coupling and resulting in a clinically relevant increase in the cardiac index. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study offers a detailed and comprehensive hemodynamic investigation at the bedside, illustrating the favorable impact of isoproterenol on right ventricular-pulmonary arterial coupling and global hemodynamics. It elucidates the physiological effects of an underused inotropic strategy in a critical clinical scenario. By enhancing cardiac hemodynamics, isoproterenol has the potential to expedite right ventricular recovery and mitigate primary graft dysfunction, thereby reducing the duration of mechanical support and intensive care unit stay posttransplantation.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of intensive care units (ICUs) and their organization in healthcare systems. However, ICU capacity and availability are ongoing concerns beyond the pandemic, particularly due to an aging population and increasing complexity of care. This study aimed to assess the current and future shortage of ICU physicians in France, ten years after a previous evaluation. A national e-survey was conducted among French ICUs in January 2022 to collect data on ICU characteristics, medical staffing, individual physician characteristics, and education and training capacities., Results: Among 290 ICUs contacted, 242 responded (response rate: 83%), representing 4943 ICU beds. The survey revealed an overall of 300 full time equivalent (FTE) ICU physician vacancies in the country. Nearly two-thirds of the participating ICUs reported at least one physician vacancy and 35% relied on traveling physicians to cover shifts. The ICUs most affected by physician vacancies were the ICUs of non-university affiliated public hospitals. The retirements expected in the next five years represented around 10% of the workforce. The median number of physicians per ICU was 7.0, corresponding to a ratio of 0.36 physician (FTE) per ICU bed. In addition, 27% of ICUs were at risk of critical dysfunction or closure due to vacancies and impending retirements., Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need to address the shortage of ICU physicians in France. Compared to a similar study conducted in 2012, the inadequacy between ICU physician supply and demand has increased, resulting in a higher number of vacancies. Our study suggests that, among others, increasing the number of ICM residents trained each year could be a crucial step in addressing this issue. Failure to take appropriate measures may lead to further closures of ICUs and increased risks to patients in this healthcare system., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may alter blood levels of several drugs, including antibiotics, leading to under dosing of these drugs and thus to potential treatment failure. No data exist on pharmacokinetics of new antimicrobial, in particular ceftazidime/avibactam. We therefore perform this study to evaluate ceftazidime/avibactam blood levels in ECMO patients and find factors associated with underdosing., Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients on ECMO having received ceftazidime/avibactam and in whom trough blood levels of ceftazidime and avibactam were available. Main outcome measurement was the number of patients with ceftazidime and avibactam blood levels above predefined cut-off values, derived from the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints for Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, namely 8 mg/L for ceftazidime and 4 mg/L for avibactam, and explored factors associated with underdosing., Results: Twenty-three ceftazidime/avibactam trough levels were available in 14 ECMO patients, all of them having received veno-venous ECMO for SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia. Although ceftazidime levels were above 8 mg/L in all except one patient, nine (39%) of the avibactam dosages were below 4 mg/L. Increased renal clearance (creatinine clearance > 130 mL/min) was the main factor associated with under dosing, since 7 out of the 10 dosages below the predefined cut-offs were measured in patients with this condition., Conclusions: In ECMO patients receiving ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftazidime and avibactam serum levels are above EUCAST breakpoints in most cases, justifying the use of normal dosing in ECMO patients. Increased renal clearance may lead to ceftazidime and avibactam under dosing., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To describe ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) recurrence in COVID-19 patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, and to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial treatment duration of the first VAP episode on VAP recurrence., Methods: Adult patients with COVID-19 severe pneumonia on ECMO admitted between March 2020 and January 2022 were retrospectively included. Primary outcome was incidence of VAP recurrence, and secondary outcome was the impact of duration of antimicrobial treatment on VAP recurrence., Results: Among the 252 included patients, 226 (90%) developed a first VAP. Sixteen had lung abscess and were excluded, leaving 210 patients. VAP recurrence occurred in 172 patients (82%), with a median (IQR) time from first VAP to recurrence of 10 (7-13) days. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae were respectively responsible for 28% and 52% of first VAP, and 51% and 62% of first recurrence episodes. Among the 210 patients with a first VAP, 158 (75%) received a short course of antibiotics [< 8 days, median (IQR) duration 6 (5-7) days] and 52 (25%) received a prolonged course of antibiotics [≥ 8 days, median (IQR) duration 9 (8-10) days]. Estimated cumulative incidence of VAP recurrence, taking into account death and extubation as competing risks, was not different in patients with short- and prolonged-antimicrobial treatment., Conclusions: In patients with severe Covid-19-ARDS requiring ECMO support, VAP recurrence occurs frequently, with Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as predominant causative microorganisms. An antimicrobial treatment of ≥ 8 days for the treatment of first VAP episode did not reduce the risk of VAP recurrence, as compared to shorter duration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV 2) and requiring mechanical ventilation suffer from a high incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), mainly related to Enterobacterales. Data regarding extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) VAP are scarce. We aimed to investigate risk factors and outcomes of ESBL-E related VAP among critically ill coronavirus infectious disease-19 (COVID-19) patients who developed Enterobacterales related VAP., Patients and Methods: We performed an ancillary analysis of a multicenter prospective international cohort study (COVID-ICU) that included 4929 COVID-19 critically ill patients. For the present analysis, only patients with complete data regarding resistance status of the first episode of Enterobacterales related VAP (ESBL-E and/or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, CRE) and outcome were included., Results: We included 591 patients with Enterobacterales related VAP. The main causative species were Enterobacter sp (n = 224), E. coli (n = 111) and K. pneumoniae (n = 104). One hundred and fifteen patients (19%), developed a first ESBL-E related VAP, mostly related to Enterobacter sp (n = 40), K. pneumoniae (n = 36), and E. coli (n = 31). Eight patients (1%) developed CRE related VAP. In a multivariable analysis, African origin (North Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa) (OR 1.7 [1.07-2.71], p = 0.02), time between intubation and VAP (OR 1.06 [1.02-1.09], p = 0.002), PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio on the day of VAP (OR 0.997 [0.994-0.999], p = 0.04) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole exposure (OR 3.77 [1.15-12.4], p = 0.03) were associated with ESBL-E related VAP. Weaning from mechanical ventilation and mortality did not significantly differ between ESBL-E and non ESBL-E VAP., Conclusion: ESBL-related VAP in COVID-19 critically-ill patients was not infrequent. Several risk factors were identified, among which some are modifiable and deserve further investigation. There was no impact of resistance of the first Enterobacterales related episode of VAP on outcome., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The outcomes of immunocompromised patients with cardiogenic shock treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are seldom documented, making ECMO candidacy decisions challenging. This study aims (1) to report outcomes of immunocompromised patients treated with VA-ECMO, (2) to identify pre-ECMO predictors of 90-day mortality, (3) to assess the impact of immunodepression on 90-day mortality, and (4) to describe the main ECMO-related complications., Methods: This is a retrospective, propensity-weighted study conducted in two French experienced ECMO centers., Results: From January 2006 to January 2022, 177 critically ill immunocompromised patients (median (interquartile range, IQR) age 49 (32-60) years) received VA-ECMO. The main causes of immunosuppression were long-term corticosteroids/immunosuppressant treatment (29%), hematological malignancy (26%), solid organ transplant (20%), and solid tumor (13%). Overall 90-day and 1-year mortality were 70% (95% confidence interval (CI) 63-77%) and 75% (95% CI 65-79%), respectively. Older age and higher pre-ECMO lactate were independently associated with 90-day mortality. Across immunodepression causes, 1-year mortality ranged from 58% for patients with infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or asplenia, to 89% for solid organ transplant recipients. Hemorrhagic and infectious complications affected 39% and 54% of patients, while more than half the stay in intensive care unit (ICU) was spent on antibiotics. In a propensity score-weighted model comparing the 177 patients with 942 non-immunocompromised patients experiencing cardiogenic shock on VA-ECMO, immunocompromised status was independently associated with a higher 90-day mortality (odds ratio 2.53, 95% CI 1.72-3.79)., Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients undergoing VA-ECMO treatment face an unfavorable prognosis, with higher 90-day mortality compared to non-immunocompromised patients. This underscores the necessity for thorough evaluation and careful selection of ECMO candidates within this frail population., (© 2024. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Legionnaires disease (LD) is a rare, life-threatening opportunistic bacterial infection that poses a significant risk to patients with impaired cell-mediated immunity such as solid organ transplant recipients. However, the epidemiologic features, clinical presentation, and outcomes of LD in this population are poorly described., Research Question: What are the clinical manifestations, radiologic presentation, risk factors for severity, treatment, and outcome of LD in solid organ transplant recipients?, Study Design and Methods: In this 10-year multicenter retrospective cohort study in France, where LD notification is mandatory, patients were identified by hospital discharge databases. Diagnosis of LD relied on positive culture findings from any respiratory sample, positive urinary antigen test (UAT) results, positive specific serologic findings, or a combination thereof. Severe LD was defined as admission to the ICU., Results: One hundred one patients from 51 transplantation centers were eligible; 64 patients (63.4%) were kidney transplant recipients. Median time between transplantation and LD was 5.6 years (interquartile range, 1.5-12 years). UAT results were positive in 92% of patients (89/97). Among 31 patients with positive culture findings in respiratory samples, Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was identified in 90%. Chest CT imaging showed alveolar consolidation in 98% of patients (54 of 57), ground-glass opacity in 63% of patients (36 of 57), macronodules in 21% of patients (12 of 57), and cavitation in 8.8% of patients (5 of 57). Fifty-seven patients (56%) were hospitalized in the ICU. In multivariate analysis, severe LD was associated with negative UAT findings at presentation (P = .047), lymphopenia (P = .014), respiratory symptoms (P = .010), and pleural effusion (P = .039). The 30-day and 12-month mortality rates were 8% (8 of 101) and 20% (19 of 97), respectively. In multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus was the only factor associated with 12-month mortality (hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% OR, 1.19-8.64; P = .022)., Interpretation: LD is a late and severe complication occurring in solid organ transplant recipients that may present as pulmonary nodules on which diabetes impacts its long-term prognosis., Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures None declared., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) due to wild-type AmpC-producing Enterobacterales (wtAE) is frequent in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Despite a low level of evidence, definitive antimicrobial therapy (AMT) with third generation cephalosporins (3GCs) or piperacillin is discouraged., Methods: Observational prospective study including consecutive wtAE VAP patients in 20 French ICUs. The primary objective was to assess the association of the choice of definitive AMT, i.e. piperacillin ± tazobactam (PTZ), 3GCs or other molecule (4GCs, carbapenems, quinolones, cotrimoxazole; control group), with treatment success at day-7. Recurrence of infection was collected as a secondary outcome, and analyzed accounting for the competing risk of death., Results: From February 2021 to June 2022, 274 patients were included. Enterobacter cloacae was the most prevalent specie (31%). Seventy-eight patients (28%) had PTZ as definitive AMT while 44 (16%) had 3GCs and 152 (56%) were classified in the control group. Day-7 success rate was similar between the 3 groups (74% vs. 73% vs. 68% respectively, p = 0.814). Recurrence probability at day-28 was 31% (95% CI 21-42), 40% (95% CI 26-55) and 21% (95% CI 15-28) for PTZ, 3GCs and control groups (p = 0.020). In multivariable analysis, choice of definitive AMT was not associated with clinical success, but definitive AMT with 3GCs was associated with recurrence at day-28 [csHR(95%CI) 10.9 (1.92-61.91)]., Conclusion: Choice of definitive antimicrobial therapy was not associated with treatment success at day 7. However, recurrence of pneumonia at day-28 was higher in patients treated with third generation cephalosporins with no differences in mortality or mechanical ventilation duration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The impact of VA-ECMO on early renal recovery (within 7 days after ECMO onset) in patients with pre-ECMO acute kidney injury and cardiogenic shock is unknown., Material and Methods: This retrospective single-center study included adult patients with cardiogenic shock rescued by VA-ECMO and severe AKI occurring before ECMO implantation (pre-ECMO AKI). Patients with early renal recovery (defined as at least a 50% decrease in peak serum creatinine or weaning from renal replacement therapy) were compared to patients without early renal recovery., Results: During 7 years, 145 patients with severe pre-ECMO AKI were included. Eighty-two patients had no early renal recovery whereas 63 had early renal recovery within 7 days after VA-ECMO onset. The median time to early renal recovery was 4 (3,6) days. Nephrotoxic antibiotics (HR = 0.35 [95% CI, 0.21-0.59], p < 0.001), median fluid balance during the first 7 days of VA-ECMO (HR = 0.77 [95% CI, 0.64-0.93], p = 0.008), pre-ECMO AKI stage 3 (HR = 0.36 [95% CI, 0.20-0.64], p < 0.001) and median vasoactive-inotropic score (HR = 0.99 [95% CI, 0.98,1.00], p = 0.035) were independently associated with no early renal recovery., Conclusions: Only 43% of patients with severe pre-ECMO AKI had early renal recovery after VA-ECMO initiation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Pr Combes reports grants from Getinge, and personal fees from Getinge, Baxter, and Xenios outside the submitted work. Pr Schmidt reports receiving personal fees from Getinge, Baxter, and Xenios, outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine the impact of high doses of corticosteroids (HDCT) in critically ill COVID-19 patients with nonresolving acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who had been previously treated with dexamethasone as a standard of care., Design: Prospective observational cohort study. Eligible patients presented nonresolving ARDS related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and had received initial treatment with dexamethasone. We compared patients who had received or not HDCT during ICU stay, consisting of greater than or equal to 1 mg/kg of methylprednisolone or equivalent for treatment of nonresolving ARDS. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. We assessed the impact of HDCT on 90-day mortality using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analysis. Further adjustment for confounding variables was performed using overlap weighting propensity score. The association between HDCT and the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia was estimated using multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for pre-specified confounders., Setting: We included consecutive patients admitted in 11 ICUs of Great Paris area from September 2020 to February 2021., Patients: Three hundred eighty-three patients were included (59 in the HDCT group, 324 in the no HDCT group)., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: At day 90, 30 of 59 patients (51%) in the HDCT group and 116 of 324 patients (35.8%) in the no HDCT group had died. HDCT was significantly associated with 90-day mortality in unadjusted (hazard ratio [HR], 1.60; 95% CI, 1.04-2.47; p = 0.033) and adjusted analysis with overlap weighting (adjusted HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.03-2.63; p = 0.036). HDCT was not associated with an increased risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (adjusted cause-specific HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.15-1.16; p = 0.09)., Conclusions: In critically ill COVID-19 patients with nonresolving ARDS, HDCT result in a higher 90-day mortality., Competing Interests: Dr. Lopinto’s institution received funding from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (Résilience COVID-19: ANR-21-COVR-0022). Dr. Peiffer disclosed work for hire. Dr. Luyt received funding from Merck, AdvanzPharma, and Aerogen. Dr. Azoulay’s institution received funding from MSD and Gilead; he received funding from Pfizer, Alexion, and Sanofi. Dr. de Prost received support for article research from the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (Résilience COVID-19: ANR-21-COVR-0022). The remaining authors have disclosed that they do not have any potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Purpose: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are the most frequent infectious complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We aim to report the clinical characteristics of ICU-admitted patients due to nosocomial LRTI and to describe their microbiology and clinical outcomes., Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 13 countries over two continents from 9th May 2016 until 16th August 2019. Characteristics and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT), ICU hospital-acquired pneumonia (ICU-HAP), HAP that required invasive ventilation (VHAP), and HAP in patients transferred to the ICU without invasive mechanical ventilation were collected. The clinical diagnosis and treatments were per clinical practice and not per protocol. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the study groups., Results: 1060 patients with LRTI (72.5% male sex, median age 64 [50-74] years) were included in the study; 160 (15.1%) developed VAT, 556 (52.5%) VAP, 98 (9.2%) ICU-HAP, 152 (14.3%) HAP, and 94 (8.9%) VHAP. Patients with VHAP had higher serum procalcitonin (PCT) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Patients with VAP or VHAP developed acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, or septic shock more often. One thousand eight patients had microbiological samples, and 711 (70.5%) had etiological microbiology identified. The most common microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.4%) and Klebsiella spp (14.4%). In 382 patients (36%), the causative pathogen shows some antimicrobial resistance pattern. ICU, hospital and 28-day mortality were 30.8%, 37.5% and 27.5%, respectively. Patients with VHAP had the highest ICU, in-hospital and 28-day mortality rates., Conclusion: VHAP patients presented the highest mortality among those admitted to the ICU. Multidrug-resistant pathogens frequently cause nosocomial LRTI in this multinational cohort study., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Fulminant myocarditis is a rare and severe disease whose definite and etiological diagnoses rely on pathological examination. Albeit, myocardial biopsy can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, its therapeutic consequences are unclear. We conducted a study to determine the diagnostic yield, the safety and the therapeutic consequences of myocardial biopsy in patients with fulminant clinically suspected myocarditis unweanable from mechanical circulatory support (MCS)., Methods: Monocenter, retrospective, observational cohort study in a 26-bed French tertiary ICU between January 2002 and February 2019. Inclusion of all fulminant clinically suspected myocarditis patients undergoing in-ICU myocardial biopsy while being on MCS. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients classified as definite myocarditis using Bonaca criteria before and after including myocardial biopsy results., Results: Forty-seven patients (median age 41 [30-47], female 53%) were included: 55% died before hospital discharge, 34% could be bridged-to-recovery and 15% bridged-to-transplant. Myocardial biopsy was endomyocardial or surgical in 36% and 64% cases respectively. Tamponade requiring emergency pericardiocentesis occurred in 29% patients after endomyocardial biopsy. After adding the biopsy results in the Bonaca classification algorithm the percentage of definite myocarditis raised from 13 to 55% (p < 0.0001). The rate of biopsy-related treatments modifications was 13%, leading to patients' recovery in only 4% patients., Conclusions: In clinically suspected myocarditis unweanable from MCS, myocardial biopsy increased the rate of definite myocarditis but was associated with a low rate of treatment modification and a significant proportion of adverse events. We believe the benefit/risk ratio of myocardial biopsy should be more carefully weighted in these frail and selected patients than suggested by actual guidelines. Further prospective studies are now needed to determine its value in patients under MCS., (© 2023. La Société de Réanimation de Langue Francaise = The French Society of Intensive Care (SRLF).)

Background: Vascular leakage is a major feature of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of FX06, a drug under development that stabilizes interendothelial cell junctions, at reducing vascular leakage during SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS., Methods: This multicenter, double-blinded, randomized trial included adults with COVID-19-associated ARDS who had received invasive mechanical ventilation for < 5 days and were randomized to receive either intravenous FX06 (400 mg/d, for 5 days) or its vehicle as placebo. The primary endpoint was the lowering-from day 1 to day 7-of the transpulmonary thermodilution-derived extravascular lung-water index (EVLWi)., Results: Twenty-five patients were randomized to receive FX06 and 24 the placebo. Although EVLWi was elevated at baseline (median [IQR] 15.6 mL/kg [13.5; 18.5]), its declines from day 1 to day 7 were comparable for FX06 recipients and controls (respectively, - 1.9 [- 3.3; - 0.5] vs. - 0.8 [- 5.5; - 1.1] mL/kg; estimated effect - 0.8 [- 3.1; + 2.4], p = 0.51). Cardiac indexes, pulmonary vascular permeability indexes, and fluid balances were also comparable, as were PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratios and durations of mechanical ventilation. Adverse event rates were similar for the 2 groups, although more FX06 recipients developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (16/25 (64%) vs. 6/24 (24%), p = 0.009)., Conclusions: In this unique-dosing-regimen study, FX06 did not lower SARS-CoV-2-induced pulmonary vascular leakage. Future investigations will need to evaluate its efficacy at earlier times during the disease or using other regimens. Trial registration NCT04618042. Registered 5 November 2020., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite current broad natural and vaccine-induced protection, a substantial number of patients infected with emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants (e.g., BF.7 and BQ.1.1) still experience severe COVID-19. Real-life studies investigating the impact of these variants on clinical outcomes of severe cases are currently not available. We performed a prospective multicenter observational cohort study. Adult patients with acute respiratory failure admitted between December 7, 2021 and December 15, 2022, in one of the 20 participating intensive care units (17 from the Greater Paris area and 3 from the North of France) were eligible for inclusion if they had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by a positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Full-length SARS-CoV-2 genomes from all included patients were sequenced by means of next-generation sequencing. The primary endpoint of the study was day-28 mortality., Results: The study included 158 patients infected with three groups of Omicron sublineages, including (i) BA.2 variants and their early sublineages referred as "BA.2" (n = 50), (ii) early BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages (including BA.5.1 and BA.5.2, n = 61) referred as "BA.4/BA.5", and (iii) recent emerging BA.5 sublineages (including BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BF.7, BE.1 and CE.1, n = 47) referred as "BQ.1.1". The clinical phenotype of BQ1.1-infected patients compared to earlier BA.2 and BA.4/BA.5 sublineages, showed more frequent obesity and less frequent immunosuppression. There was no significant difference between Omicron sublineage groups regarding the severity of the disease at ICU admission, need for organ failure support during ICU stay, nor day 28 mortality (21.7%, n = 10/47 in BQ.1.1 group vs 26.7%, n = 16/61 in BA.4/BA.5 vs 22.0%, n = 11/50 in BA.2, p = 0.791). No significant relationship was found between any SARS-CoV-2 substitution and/or deletion on the one hand and survival on the other hand over hospital follow-up., Conclusions: Critically-ill patients with Omicron BQ.1.1 infection showed a different clinical phenotype than other patients infected with earlier Omicron sublineage but no day-28 mortality difference., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is non-organ specific autoimmune disease with mainly skin, joint, and kidney involvement. SLE-related acute lung disease (ALD) is rare, poorly investigated and can lead to acute respiratory failure. We conducted a retrospective study aiming to describe clinical features, treatments and outcome of SLE-related APD., Methods: We retrospectively included all patients with SLE and ALD admitted from November 1996 and September 2018 to La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, after exclusion of viral or bacterial lung infection, cardiac failure or any other alternate diagnosis., Results: During the time of the study, 14 patients with 16 episodes were admitted to our center: female 79%, mean age ± SD at admission 24 ± 11 years. ALD was inaugural of the SLE in 70% cases. SLE main organ involvement were: arthritis 93%, skin 79%, serositis 79%, hematological 79%, kidney 64%, neuropsychiatric 36% and cardiac 21%. 11 episodes required ICU admission for a median time of 8 days. Chest CT-scan revealed mostly basal consolidation and ground-glass opacities. When available, bronchoalveolar lavage mostly revealed a neutrophilic alveolitis with alveolar hemorrhage in 67% cases. Symptomatic respiratory treatments were: oxygen 81%, high-flow nasal canula oxygen 27%, non-invasive ventilation 36%, mechanical ventilation 64% and venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 18%. SLE-specific treatments were: corticosteroids 100%, cyclophosphamide 56% and plasma exchange 25%. All patients but one survived to ICU and hospital discharge. Two patients had a relapse of SLE-related ALD but none had interstitial lung disease during follow-up., Conclusion: Systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute respiratory failure is a severe event, mostly occurring at SLE onset, typical harboring a basal consolidation pattern on chest CT-scan and alveolar hemorrhage on BAL pathological examination. Mortality in our cohort is lower than previously reported but these results needs to be confirmed in further larger studies.

Autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I interferons (IFNs) are found in the blood of at least 15% of unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. We report here the presence of auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of 54 of the 415 unvaccinated patients (13%) with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia tested. The 54 individuals with neutralizing auto-Abs in the BAL included 45 (11%) with auto-Abs against IFN-α2, 37 (9%) with auto-Abs against IFN-ω, 54 (13%) with auto-Abs against IFN-α2 and/or ω, and five (1%) with auto-Abs against IFN-β, including three (0.7%) with auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α2, IFN-ω, and IFN-β, and two (0.5%) with auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-α2 and IFN-β. Auto-Abs against IFN-α2 also neutralize the other 12 subtypes of IFN-α. Paired plasma samples were available for 95 patients. All seven patients with paired samples who had detectable auto-Abs in BAL also had detectable auto-Abs in plasma, and one patient had auto-Abs detectable only in blood. Auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs are, therefore, present in the alveolar space of at least 10% of patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia. These findings suggest that these auto-Abs impair type I IFN immunity in the lower respiratory tract, thereby contributing to hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Clinical practice of aerosol delivery in conjunction with respiratory support devices for critically ill adult patients remains a topic of controversy due to the complexity of the clinical scenarios and limited clinical evidence., Objectives: To reach a consensus for guiding the clinical practice of aerosol delivery in patients receiving respiratory support (invasive and noninvasive) and identifying areas for future research., Methods: A modified Delphi method was adopted to achieve a consensus on technical aspects of aerosol delivery for adult critically ill patients receiving various forms of respiratory support, including mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, and high-flow nasal cannula. A thorough search and review of the literature were conducted, and 17 international participants with considerable research involvement and publications on aerosol therapy, comprised a multi-professional panel that evaluated the evidence, reviewed, revised, and voted on recommendations to establish this consensus., Results: We present a comprehensive document with 20 statements, reviewing the evidence, efficacy, and safety of delivering inhaled agents to adults needing respiratory support, and providing guidance for healthcare workers. Most recommendations were based on in-vitro or experimental studies (low-level evidence), emphasizing the need for randomized clinical trials. The panel reached a consensus after 3 rounds anonymous questionnaires and 2 online meetings., Conclusions: We offer a multinational expert consensus that provides guidance on the optimal aerosol delivery techniques for patients receiving respiratory support in various real-world clinical scenarios., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To assess the clinical relevance of varicella zoster virus (VZV) lung detection among patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU)., Methods: We present a monocentric retrospective cohort study from 2012 to 2020. VZV genome was detected in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid by real-time PCR., Results: Twelve of 1389 (0.8%) patients exhibited VZV lung detection, corresponding to an incidence of 13.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.8-21.0) per 100 person-years. Immunosuppression and prolonged ICU stay constituted the main risks factors. VZV detection was not associated with pulmonary deterioration but associated with a risk of shingles occurrence during the following days., Conclusion: VZV lung detection is a rare event among ICU patients, occurring mostly in immunocompromised patients with prolonged ICU stay. Due to its scarcity and the lack of association with pulmonary failure, a targeted approach to the VZV lung detection diagnosis may allow a significant cost saving without affecting the quality of patients care., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections are amongst the main causes for hospital/intensive care unit admissions and antimicrobial prescriptions. In order to reduce antimicrobial pressure, antibiotic administration could be optimized through procalcitonin-based algorithms., Areas Covered: In this review, we discuss the performances of procalcitonin for the diagnosis and the management of community-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia. We provide up-to-date evidence and deliver clear messages regarding the purpose of procalcitonin to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial exposure., Expert Opinion: Antimicrobial pressure and resulting antimicrobial resistances are a major public health issue as well as a daily struggle in the management of patients with severe infectious diseases, especially in intensive care units where antibiotic exposure is high. Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic administration has proven its efficacy in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in lower respiratory tract infections without excess in mortality, hospital length of stay or disease relapse. Procalcitonin-guided algorithms should be implemented in wards taking care of patients with severe infections. However, procalcitonin performances are different regarding the setting of the infection (community versus hospital-acquired infections) the antibiotic management (start or termination of antibiotic) as well as patient's condition (immunosuppressed or in shock) and we encourage the physicians to be aware of these limitations.

Introduction: Increasing evidence has shown that coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) severity is driven by a dysregulated immunological response. Previous studies have demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction underpins severe illness in COVID-19 patients, but have lacked an in-depth analysis of NK cell markers as a driver of death in the most critically ill patients., Methods: We enrolled 50 non-vaccinated hospitalized patients infected with the initial virus or the alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2 with moderate or severe illness, to evaluate phenotypic and functional features of NK cells., Results: Here, we show that, consistent with previous studies, evolution NK cells from COVID-19 patients are more activated, with the decreased activation of natural cytotoxicity receptors and impaired cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production, in association with disease regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 strain. Fatality was observed in 6 of 17 patients with severe disease; NK cells from all of these patients displayed a peculiar phenotype of an activated memory-like phenotype associated with massive TNF-α production., Discussion: These data suggest that fatal COVID-19 infection is driven by an uncoordinated inflammatory response in part mediated by a specific subset of activated NK cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Tarantino, Litvinova, Samri, Soulié, Morin, Rousseau, Dorgham, Parizot, Bonduelle, Beurton, Miyara, Ghillani, Mayaux, Lhote, Lacorte, Marcelin, Amoura, Luyt, Gorochov, Guihot and Vieillard.)

Antibiotic resistance is a major health problem and will be probably one of the leading causes of deaths in the coming years. One of the most effective ways to fight against resistance is to decrease antibiotic consumption. Intensive care units (ICUs) are places where antibiotics are widely prescribed, and where multidrug-resistant pathogens are frequently encountered. However, ICU physicians may have opportunities to decrease antibiotics consumption and to apply antimicrobial stewardship programs. The main measures that may be implemented include refraining from immediate prescription of antibiotics when infection is suspected (except in patients with shock, where immediate administration of antibiotics is essential); limiting empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics (including anti-MRSA antibiotics) in patients without risk factors for multidrug-resistant pathogens; switching to monotherapy instead of combination therapy and narrowing spectrum when culture and susceptibility tests results are available; limiting the use of carbapenems to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and new beta-lactams to difficult-to-treat pathogen (when these news beta-lactams are the only available option); and shortening the duration of antimicrobial treatment, the use of procalcitonin being one tool to attain this goal. Antimicrobial stewardship programs should combine these measures rather than applying a single one. ICUs and ICU physicians should be at the frontline for developing antimicrobial stewardship programs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

We aimed to explore the relationships between specific viral mutations/mutational patterns and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) occurrence in COVID-19 patients admitted in intensive care units between October 1, 2020, and May 30, 2021. Full-length SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced by means of next-generation sequencing. In this prospective multicentre cohort study, 259 patients were included. 222 patients (47%) had been infected with pre-existing ancestral variants, 116 (45%) with variant α, and 21 (8%) with other variants. 153 patients (59%) developed at least one VAP. There was no significant relationship between VAP occurrence and a specific SARS CoV-2 lineage/sublineage or mutational pattern., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: ICU risk assessment tools, routinely used for predicting population outcomes, are not recommended for evaluating individual risk. The state of health of single patients is mostly subjectively assessed to inform relatives and presumably to decide on treatment decisions. However, little is known how subjective and objective survival estimates compare., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients across five European centres, assessed 62 objective markers and asked the clinical staff to subjectively estimate the probability of surviving 28 days., Results: Within the 961 included patients, we identified 27 single objective predictors for 28-day survival (73.8%) and pooled them into predictive groups. While patient characteristics and treatment models performed poorly, the disease and biomarker models had a moderate discriminative performance for predicting 28-day survival, which improved for predicting 1-year survival. Subjective estimates of nurses (c-statistic [95% CI] 0.74 [0.70-0.78]), junior physicians (0.78 [0.74-0.81]) and attending physicians (0.75 [0.72-0.79]) discriminated survivors from non-survivors at least as good as the combination of all objective predictors (c-statistic: 0.67-0.72). Unexpectedly, subjective estimates were insufficiently calibrated, overestimating death in high-risk patients by about 20% in absolute terms. Combining subjective and objective measures refined discrimination and reduced the overestimation of death., Conclusions: Subjective survival estimates are simple, cheap and similarly discriminative as objective models; however, they overestimate death risking that live-saving therapies are withheld. Therefore, subjective survival estimates of individual patients should be compared with objective tools and interpreted with caution if not agreeing. Trial registration ISRCTN ISRCTN59376582 , retrospectively registered October 31st 2013., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Acute distress respiratory syndrome (ARDS) patients with veno-venous extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support are particularly exposed to ECMO-associated infection (ECMO-AI). Unfortunately, data regarding AI prophylaxis in this setting are lacking. Selective decontamination regimens decrease AI incidence, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and bloodstream infection (BSI) in critically ill patients. We hypothesized that a multiple-site decontamination (MSD) regimen is associated with a reduction in the incidence of AI among VV-ECMO patients., Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in three French ECMO referral centers from January 2010 to December 2021. All adult patients (> 18 years old) who received VV-ECMO support for ARDS were eligible. In addition to standard care (SC), 2 ICUs used MSD, which consists of the administration of topical antibiotics four times daily in the oropharynx and the gastric tube, once daily chlorhexidine body-wash and a 5-day nasal mupirocin course. AIs were compared between the 2 ICUs using MSD (MSD group) and the last ICU using SC., Results: They were 241 patients available for the study. Sixty-nine were admitted in an ICU that applied MSD while the 172 others received standard care and constituted the SC group. There were 19 ECMO-AIs (12 VAP, 7 BSI) in the MSD group (1162 ECMO-days) compared to 143 AIs (104 VAP, 39 BSI) in the SC group (2376 ECMO-days), (p < 0.05 for all infection site). In a Poisson regression model, MSD was independently associated with a lower incidence of ECMO-AI (IRR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.23-0.60] p < 0.001). There were 30 multidrug resistant microorganisms (MDRO) acquisition in the SC group as compared with two in the MSD group (IRR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03-0.56] p = 0.001). Mortality in ICU was similar in both groups (43% in the SC group vs 45% in the MSD group p = 0.90). Results were similar after propensity-score matching., Conclusion: In this cohort of patients from different hospitals, MSD appeared to be safe in ECMO patients and may be associated with improved outcomes including lower ECMO-AI and MDRO acquisition incidences. Since residual confounders may persist, these promising results deserve confirmation by randomized controlled trials., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Due to its bacteriological spectrum and efficacy in skin and soft tissue infections, ceftobiprole may be of interest for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannula-related infection. It is unknown whether ceftobiprole pharmacokinetics (PK) are changed by ECMO., Methods: A retrospective monocentric cohort study was performed of 35 patients with suspected ECMO-related cannula infections (28 on ECMO, seven after ECMO removal), who received ceftobiprole as empiric treatment and had ceftobiprole blood levels measured at trough, peak and CT50 (50% of the dosing interval). Ceftobiprole blood levels of the 28 patients on ECMO were compared with those of the seven patients without ECMO. Factors associated with low ceftobiprole trough levels were also explored., Results: Among the 35 patients included, 29 had a confirmed cannula-related infection and 48 pathogens were isolated. Ceftobiprole MIC was determined in 29 of these 48, and 23 (79%) were susceptible to ceftobiprole. Ceftobiprole blood levels (at trough, peak and CT50) were similar in ECMO and non-ECMO patients. Moreover, in patients whose pathogens responsible for infection were susceptible to ceftobiprole, 94% had a ceftobiprole trough level above the MIC. Ceftobiprole blood levels were decreased in patients with acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) and in those with increased renal clearance (defined as creatinine clearance > 130 mL/min), independent of ECMO. No other factor was associated with modification of ceftobiprole PK/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD)., Conclusions: The ceftobiprole PK/PD was no different in patients during ECMO or after its withdrawal. Factors associated with decreased ceftobiprole blood levels were patients requiring RRT and those with increased renal clearance., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.)

Background: Auto-antibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I interferons (IFN) have been found in about 15% of critical cases COVID-19 pneumonia and less than 1% of mild or asymptomatic cases. Determining whether auto-Abs influence presentation and outcome of critically ill COVID-19 patients could lead to specific therapeutic interventions. Our objectives were to compare the severity at admission and the mortality of patients hospitalized for critical COVID-19 in ICU with versus without auto-Abs., Results: We conducted a prospective multicentre cohort study including patients admitted in 11 intensive care units (ICUs) from Great Paris area hospitals with proven SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute respiratory failure. 925 critically ill COVID-19 patients were included. Auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFN-α2, β and/or ω were found in 96 patients (10.3%). Demographics and comorbidities did not differ between patients with versus without auto-Abs. At ICU admission, Auto-Abs positive patients required a higher FiO 2 (100% (70-100) vs. 90% (60-100), p = 0.01), but were not different in other characteristics. Mortality at day 28 was not different between patients with and without auto-Abs (18.7 vs. 23.7%, p = 0.279). In multivariable analysis, 28-day mortality was associated with age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.06 [1.04-1.08], p < 0.001), SOFA score (aOR = 1.18 [1.12-1.23], p < 0.001) and immunosuppression (aOR = 1.82 [1.1-3.0], p = 0.02), but not with the presence of auto-Abs (aOR = 0.69 [0.38-1.26], p = 0.23)., Conclusions: In ICU patients, auto-Abs against type I IFNs were found in at least 10% of patients with critical COVID-19 pneumonia. They were not associated with day 28 mortality., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a challenging diagnosis and is associated with extremely high mortality in critically ill patients, particularly due to delayed diagnosis and when complicated by intestinal necrosis. Plasma citrulline and intestinal-fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) have been proposed as potential biomarkers, but have never been studied prospectively in this setting. We aimed to investigate diagnostic features, the accuracy of plasma citrulline and I-FABP to diagnose NOMI and intestinal necrosis as well as prognosis., Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in 3 tertiary ICU centers in consecutive patients with NOMI suspicion defined by at least two inclusion criteria among: new-onset or worsening circulatory failure, gastrointestinal dysfunction, biological signs and CT-scan signs of mesenteric ischemia. Diagnosis features and outcomes were compared according to NOMI, intestinal necrosis or ruled out diagnosis using stringent classification criteria., Results: Diagnosis of NOMI was suspected in 61 patients and confirmed for 33 patients, with intestinal necrosis occurring in 27 patients. Clinical digestive signs, routine laboratory results and CT signs of mesenteric ischemia did not discriminate intestinal necrosis from ischemia without necrosis. Plasma I-FABP was significantly increased in presence of intestinal necrosis (AUC 0.83 [0.70-0.96]). A threshold of 3114 pg/mL showed a sensitivity of 70% [50-86], specificity of 85% [55-98], a negative predictive value of 58% [36-93] and a positive predictive value 90% [67-96] for intestinal necrosis diagnosis. When intestinal necrosis was present, surgical resection was significantly associated with ICU survival (38.5%), whereas no patient survived without necrosis resection (HR = 0.31 [0.12-0.75], p = 0.01)., Conclusion: In critically ill patients with NOMI, intestinal necrosis was associated with extremely high mortality, and increased survival when necrosis resection was performed. Elevated plasma I-FABP was associated with the diagnosis of intestinal necrosis. Further studies are needed to investigate plasma I-FABP and citrulline performance in less severe forms of NOMI., (© 2022. The Author(s).)