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Background Transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) is common, can have adverse effects, and is a costly and limited resource. Interventions that reduce iatrogenic blood losses could reduce transfusions. The objectives of this pilot trial were to assess the feasibility (acceptability of the intervention and suitability of eligibility criteria) and potential effectiveness of pediatric size phlebotomy tubes in adult critically ill patients. Methods We conducted a pilot, randomized controlled trial in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated, tertiary care referral hospital from November 2017 to September 2018. A total of 200 patients with hemoglobin of at least 7 g/dL and without bleeding were randomized to pediatric or adult size phlebotomy tubes. Stratification was according to baseline hemoglobin (7–9.49 g/dL, 9.5–11.99 g/dL, and 12 g/dL or greater). Acceptability was measured via the number of blood test recollections and the number of patients that discontinued the use of pediatric tubes. The suitability of patient eligibility criteria was determined by identifying baseline characteristics associated with RBC transfusions. Potential effectiveness was estimated from the time to RBC transfusion or to hemoglobin level below 7 g/dL. Results The use of pediatric tubes was acceptable as patients experienced a low number of tests recollections (on average 1 every 57 days), and none of the participants discontinued their use. The baseline hemoglobin category was the only factor that appeared to be independently associated with RBC transfusions. A total of 6 patients (6%) in the pediatric tube group and 11 patients (11%) in the adult tube group (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.25 to 1.9) received an RBC transfusion or reached hemoglobin below 7 g/dL. Almost all of these patients (16 of 17 participants) had baseline hemoglobin of 7–9.49 g/dL. Conclusions This pilot study suggests that pediatric phlebotomy tubes are acceptable to patients and can therefore be used in adult ICU patients. A future study should focus on patients with hemoglobin levels below 9.5 g/dL, as these patients have a high risk of transfusions. This intervention has the potential of being successful in selected patients. A definitive trial is warranted. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03286465. Retrospectively registered on September 18, 2017.

BackgroundPneumonia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, but the development of new antimicrobials is lacking. Radiological assessment of pneumonia severity may serve as an effective intermediate endpoint to reduce barriers to successful completion of antimicrobial trials. We sought to determine whether the Radiologic Severity Index (RSI) correlated with mortality and healthcare resource utilisation in patients with acute leukaemia undergoing induction chemotherapy.MethodsWe measured RSI (range 0–72) on all chest radiographs performed within 33 days of induction chemotherapy in 165 haematological malignancy patients with pneumonia. Peak RSI was defined as the highest RSI score within 33 days of induction. We used extended Cox proportional hazards models to measure the association of time-varying RSI with all-cause mortality within the first 33 days after induction chemotherapy, and logistic regression or generalised models to measure the association of RSI with total daily cost and healthcare resource utilisation.ResultsAfter adjustment for clinical variables, each one-point increase in RSI was associated with a 7% increase in all-cause 33-day mortality (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.09, pConclusionsGreater radiological severity as measured by RSI was associated with increased mortality and morbidity in acute leukaemia patients with pneumonia. RSI is a promising intermediate marker of pneumonia severity and is well suited for use in antimicrobial trials.

Pneumonia is a major cause of death during induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia. The purpose of this study was to quantify the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of pneumonia in patients with acute leukemia.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 801 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who underwent induction chemotherapy.Pneumonia was present at induction start in 85 patients (11%). Of the 716 remaining patients, 148 (21%) developed pneumonia. The incidence rate of pneumonia was higher in MDS and AML than in ALL (0.013 vs. 0.008 vs. 0.003 pneumonias per day, respectively; P0.001). In multivariate analysis, age greater than or equal to 60 years, AML, low platelet count, low albumin level, neutropenia, and neutrophil count greater than 7,300 were risk factors. The case fatality rate of pneumonia was 17% (40 of 233). Competing risk analysis demonstrated that in the absence of pneumonia, death was rare: 28-day mortality was 6.2% for all patients but only 1.26% in those without pneumonia. Compared with patients without pneumonia, patients with pneumonia had more intensive care unit days, longer hospital stays, and 49% higher costs (P0.001).Pneumonia after induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia continues to be common, and it is the most important determinant of early mortality after induction chemotherapy. Given the high incidence, morbidity, mortality, and cost of pneumonia, interventions aimed at prevention are warranted in patients with acute leukemia.