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Introduction: Machine learning (ML) has been tried in predicting outcomes following sepsis. This study aims to identify the utility of stacked ensemble algorithm in predicting mortality. Methods: The study was a cohort of adults admitted to a medical unit of a tertiary care hospital with sepsis. The data were divided into a training data set (70%) and a test data set (30%). Boruta algorithm was used to identify important features. In the first phase of stacked ensemble model, weak learners such as random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), elastic net, and gradient boosting machine were trained. The SVM was used in phase 2 as meta learner to combine the results of all weak learners. All models were validated using test data. Results: In our cohort of 1,453 patients, the mortality rate was 27% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25, 29). The Boruta algorithm identified inotrope use and assisted ventilation as the most important variables, which could predict mortality. The random forest outperforms (area under the curve [AUC]: 97.91%) the other algorithms. The AUCs for the other models are SVM (95.21%), GBM (93.67%), and GLM net (91.42%). However, the stacking of all the above models had an AUC of 92.14%. In the test data set, the accuracy of all methods including the RF method accuracy decreased (92.6 to 85.5%). Conclusions: The random forest showed high accuracy in train and moderate accuracy in the test data. We suggest more regional open-access intensive care databases that can aid making machine learning a bigger support for healthcare personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prescribing practice of newer oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has not been adequately studied in the Indian scenario. Aims: We aimed to describe the prescribing practices of oral anticoagulants, the patient profile and medical comorbidities among patients admitted in a general medicine unit. Methods: In this retrospective study of the 2742 patients prescribed vitamin- K antagonists (VKAs), during the study period, 150 cases were randomly taken for analysis to match the 105 NOACs cases. Their demographic details, clinical characteristics and treatment details were analyzed. Results: More than 95% of anticoagulants prescribed were VKAs. The prescription of anticoagulants was more common in men (median age 63 years) for prescription of NOACs and 52 years for VKAs. Dabigatran (60.9%) and warfarin (81.3%) were the most prescribed drugs in their respective classes. The most common indication was for cardiovascular diseases with atrial fibrillation (32%). Diabetes and hypertension were the most common comorbidities in patients prescribed oral anticoagulants with a larger proportion of patients with heart failure being prescribed VKAs (P < 0.01). Patients in the NOACs group had a higher HAS-BLED high-risk score (33.3% vs. 17.3%; P = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with co-morbidities of congestive heart failure were more likely to be prescribed VKAs while diabetics were more likely to receive NOACs. Conclusions: VKAs were the most prescribed anticoagulants; congestive heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension were the commonest comorbidities; and atrial fibrillation was the commonest indication. Patients with a high HAS-BLED score were prescribed NOACs more often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 24-yr old gentleman was referred for evaluation for organic causes of psychosis. He had presented with altered behaviour for the last 3 months. He had progressive decline in cognitive functions as evidenced by inability to cope with work, inability to concentrate and difficulty in reading. He had a failing memory. He had history suggestive of behavioural abnormality as evidenced by lack of self-care, hallucinatory behaviour, and abusive language since the last 3 months. He had hallucinations and delusional beliefs but no symptoms to suggest confusion. Since the last I month he had become partially dependent on his parents for activities of daily living. He also gave a history suggestive of motor weakness -since 6 weeks prior to admission he had noticed unsteadiness of gait with a tendency to sway to the right. He had no history of bladder or bowel incontinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemedicine is a promising solution to the challenges of delivering equitable and quality primary healthcare, especially in LMICs. This review evaluated peer-reviewed literature on telehealth interventions in Indian primary care published from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2021, from PubMed, Scopus, TRIP, Google Scholar, Indian Kanoon, and Cochrane database The majority of Indian studies focus on key health issues like maternal and child health, mental health, diabetes, infectious diseases, and hypertension, mainly through patient education, monitoring, and diagnostics. Yet, there's a lack of research on telemedicine's cost-effectiveness, communication among providers, and the role of leadership in its quality and accessibility. The current research has gaps, including small sample sizes and inconsistent methodologies, which hamper the evaluation of telemedicine's effectiveness. India's varied healthcare landscape, technological limitations, and social factors further challenge telemedicine's adoption. Despite regulatory efforts, issues like the digital divide and data privacy persist. Addressing these challenges with a context-aware, technologically driven approach is crucial for enhancing healthcare through telemedicine in India., Competing Interests: This article has been written as part of the research for the Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System. The Lancet Commission has received financial support from the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University; Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore; Azim Premji Foundation, Infosys; Kirloskar Systems Ltd.; Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.; Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies; and Serum Institute of India. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Lancet Citizens’ Commission or its partners. M.K.U. would like to acknowledge the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) award (Fellowship sanction No. 45/13/2022/TRM/BMS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fogarty International Center, Global Infectious Disease Research Training program (GID) [Grant D43TW010332-01A1 to PAM]. The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Objectives: This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) while on thromboprophylaxis, in patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU), and to assess its impact on outcomes., Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to the MICU underwent compression ultrasound of the jugular, axillary, femoral, and popliteal veins at admission, day 3 and 7 to screen for DVT. All patients were on pharmacological and/or mechanical thromboprophylaxis as per protocol. The primary outcome was the incidence of DVT (defined as occurrence on day 3 or 7). Secondary outcomes were death and duration of hospitalization. Risk factors for DVT were explored using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis and expressed as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: The incidence of DVT was 17.2% (95% CI 12.0, 22.3) ( n = 35/203); two-thirds were catheter associated (23/35). There was no difference in mortality between those with and without incident DVT (9/35 vs 40/168, p = 0.81). The mean (SD) duration of hospitalization was longer in the DVT group (20.1 (17) vs 12.9 (8.5) days, p = 0.007). Although day 3 INR (RR 2.1, 95% CI 0.9-5.3), age >40 years (2.1, 0.8-5.3), vasopressor use (1.0, 0.4-2.9) and SOFA score (0.9, 0.85-1.1) were associated with the development of DVT on bivariate analysis, only central venous catheters (15.97, 1.9-135.8) was independently associated with DVT on multivariable analysis., Conclusions: Despite thromboprophylaxis, 17% of ICU patients develop DVT. The central venous catheter is the main risk factor. DVT is not associated with increased mortality in the setting of prophylaxis., How to Cite This Article: Krishnamoorthy A, Hansdak SG, Peter JV, Pichamuthu K, Rajan SJ, Sudarsan TI, et al . Incidence and Risk Factors for Deep Venous Thrombosis and Its Impact on Outcome in Patients Admitted to Medical Critical Care. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(6):607-613., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).)

Introduction: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions in the same individual, is a major public health problem in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). The use of single-disease guidelines contributes to polypharmacy, fragmented care and increased treatment burden. Health systems in LMICs are very different from those in high-income countries, and adapting interventions from one to the other may not be feasible. This review aims to systematically present the current evidence for interventions for multimorbidity in the LMIC setting., Methods and Analysis: In this mixed-methods systematic review, we will include all studies of interventions for the care of adults (>18 years of age) with multimorbidity (defined as the presence of two or more chronic illnesses in an individual) in any healthcare organisation (primary, secondary or tertiary care) in an LMIC (as defined by the World Bank), published between 2000 and March 2023. All primary study designs will be included. Studies reported in languages other than English and those describing interventions classified as 'financial' or 'governance arrangement' according to the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care classification will be excluded. MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, TRIP, SCOPUS and the 3ie databases will be searched. The titles will be screened by one author, and two authors will independently screen all included abstracts and full texts. A third author will resolve conflicts at every stage. Studies will be reviewed for quality of evidence using appropriate tools. Epidemiological, intervention and outcome data will be extracted and summarised. Outcomes of interest for LMICs defined by the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases research group will be analysed. Subgroup analysis according to study types and study settings will be done., Ethics and Dissemination: No ethics approval is required for this systematic review. Results will be disseminated through publication in an open-access journal and presentation at conferences., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42023391897., Competing Interests: Competing interests: TG has received a fee-offset PhD scholarship from the University of Melbourne (application number 811257). The other authors have no competing interests to declare., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: There is an inequitable distribution of radiology facilities in India. This scoping review aimed at mapping the available technology instruments to improve access to imaging at primary health care; to identify the facilitators and barriers, and the knowledge gaps for widespread adaptation of technology solutions., Methods: A search was conducted using broad inclusive terms non-specific to subtypes of medical imaging devices or informatics. Work published in the English language between 2005 and 2022, conducted primarily in India, and with full manuscripts were included. Two authors independently screened the abstracts against the inclusion criteria for full-text review and a senior author settled discrepancies. Data were extracted using DistillerSR software., Findings: 43 original articles and 52 non-academic materials were finally reviewed. The data was from 10 Indian states with n = 9 from rural settings. The broad trends in original articles were: connectivity using teleradiology (n = 7), mobile digital imaging units (n = 9), artificial intelligence (n = 16); mobile devices and smartphone applications (n = 7); data security (n = 7) and web-based technology (n = 2); public-private partnership (n = 9); cost (n = 2); concordance (n = 19); evaluation (n = 4); implementation (n = 2)., Interpretation: Available evidence suggests that teleradiology when combined with AI and mobile digital imaging units can address radiologist shortages; strengthen programs aimed at population screening and emergency care. However, there is insufficient data on the scale of teleradiology networks within India; needs assessment; cost; facilitators, and barriers for implementation of technologies solutions in primary healthcare settings. Regulations governing quality standards, data protection, and confidentiality are unclear., Funding: The authors are The Lancet Citizen's Commission fellows. The Lancet Commission has received financial support from the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University; Christian Medical College, Vellore (CMC), Vellore; Azim Premji Foundation, Infosys; Kirloskar Systems Ltd.; Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.; Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies; and Serum Institute of India. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Lancet Citizens' Commission or its partners., Competing Interests: AC, VK, AA, MK, HT, TD, SG: We declare no competing interests. AJ: Discloses holding multiple patents in domains of deep learning with applications in Radiology, natural language processing, disease-specific algorithms for interpreting Radiology images, and ESOPs grant for contributions to Qure.ai. AK: Discloses his position as a CEO and Chief Radiologist of Teleradiology Solutions, Bengaluru; and the president of Society of Emergency Radiology., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Background: The appropriate antibiotic treatment for severe scrub typhus, a neglected but widespread reemerging zoonotic infection, is unclear., Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or a combination of both in treating severe scrub typhus. Patients who were 15 years of age or older with severe scrub typhus with at least one organ involvement were enrolled. The patients were assigned to receive a 7-day course of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or both (combination therapy). The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause at day 28, persistent complications at day 7, and persistent fever at day 5., Results: Among 794 patients (median age, 48 years) who were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, complications included those that were respiratory (in 62%), hepatic (in 54%), cardiovascular (in 42%), renal (in 30%), and neurologic (in 20%). The use of combination therapy resulted in a lower incidence of the composite primary outcome than the use of doxycycline (33% and 47%, respectively), for a risk difference of -13.3 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], -21.6 to -5.1; P = 0.002). The incidence with combination therapy was also lower than that with azithromycin (48%), for a risk difference of -14.8 percentage points (95% CI, -23.1 to -6.5; P<0.001). No significant difference was seen between the azithromycin and doxycycline groups (risk difference, 1.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -7.0 to 10.0; P = 0.73). The results in the per-protocol analysis were similar to those in the primary analysis. Adverse events and 28-day mortality were similar in the three groups., Conclusions: Combination therapy with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin was a better therapeutic option for the treatment of severe scrub typhus than monotherapy with either drug alone. (Funded by the India Alliance and Wellcome Trust; INTREST Clinical Trials Registry-India number, CTRI/2018/08/015159.)., (Copyright © 2023 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Drug resistance and the presence of structural complications have significant implications for the treatment of acute pyelonephritis. We aimed to examine the predictors of drug resistance and complications in a retrospective cohort of patients admitted with pyelonephritis. 188 patients were included in this study. Patients who had had a urinary catheterization in the previous month and who lived outside the district in which the hospital was located were more likely to have ESBL infections. Carbapenem resistance was associated with recent urinary catheterization, a positive urine nitrate test, hypotension requiring vasopressors and the need for intensive care. A history of flank pain, urea level >13.3 mmol/L, a differential neutrophil count >75% and a urinalysis with >1000 leucocytes per high power field was associated with an increased risk of complications. A score derived from these variables to predict structural complications of infection had a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 67.1.

Introduction: Current diagnostic methods used in Central Nervous System Tuberculosis (CNS TB) are limited by the paucibacillary nature of this form of tuberculosis. Posterior pituitary bright spot (PPBS) refers to an area of T1 hyperintensity in the posterior pituitary in MR imaging of the brain. It is found in 80-90% of healthy children and adults. In children with CNS TB, nearly half have absence of PPBS. This finding has not been described in adults. Our study looked for absence of PPBS in MR imaging and its association with CNS tuberculosis., Objective: To study prevalence of the absence of PPBS in patients with CNS tuberculosis when compared to a control group of normal patients., Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of 100 patients with CNS tuberculosis and 200 controls (matched in 1:2 ratio) of patients with normal MRI brain. The MRI images were presented to a blinded radiologist in a randomised sequence to report for absence of PPBS. The data was subsequently analysed to look for association of absence of PPBS with CNS tuberculosis., Results: Absence of PPBS (cases (47%), controls (8.5%)) was significantly associated with CNS tuberculosis in (Odds ratio-7.90, 95%CI 4.04-15.44, P-value<0.0001). The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio are 91.5%, 47%, 73.4% and 5.53 respectively. Adding of absence of PPBS as an additional radiological feature in diagnosis of CNS TB increased the sensitivity from 77% to 84%., Conclusion: Absence of PPBS is significantly associated with CNS tuberculosis and could be a relatively simple diagnostic aid in the diagnosis of CNS tuberculosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: This study determines the diagnostic utility of lung ultrasonography (LUS) in a medical ward in a developing country. In a low resource country like India, we hope that use of lung ultrasound in primary and secondary hospitals will assist in earlier and better bedside diagnosis., Methods: This prospective diagnostic study was done to test the diagnostic accuracy of LUS against a composite reference standard, which included clinical history and examination, basic laboratory investigations, imaging and the diagnosis at discharge. We evaluated 321 consecutive patients, admitted in our medical wards with an LUS within 24 hours of the chest radiograph being done., Findings: Between August 2016 and August 2017, we enrolled 321 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the LUS for all pathologies were found to be 82.5% (76.50 to 87.20) and 78.2% (69.09 to 85.26) respectively. A subgroup analysis including the patients in whom CT was part of the composite reference standard showed sensitivity and specificity of 87.9% and 92.9% for all lung pathologies. It was found that there was superior sensitivity and specificity of LUS compared with chest radiograph in a subgroup analysis of pulmonary oedema and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)., Interpretation: We found that the LUS was better than chest radiograph and as good as CT in most pathologies, especially pulmonary oedema and ARDS. We believe that training in the basics of bedside LUS must be part of the medical curriculum and a low-cost ultrasound machine must be made available in medical wards, so that clinical diagnosis can be supplemented with this tool. In a low resource setting like India, where access to chest radiograph and CT may be difficult particularly in a rural setup, expertise in LUS would be helpful in easy bedside diagnosis and saving cost on a CT scan., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Postgraduate Medical Journal. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Supratentorial ependymomas (STEs) are an aggressive group of ependymomas, topographically distinct from their posterior fossa and spinal counterparts. Zinc finger translocation associated (ZFTA) fusion-positive cases have been reported to account for the majority of STEs, although data on its association with poorer outcomes are inconsistent., Materials and Methods: We assessed the prevalence of the ZFTA fusion by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization in a cohort of 61 patients (68 samples) with STE. Our primary outcome was to determine the role of the ZFTA fusion on progression-free and overall survival of patients with STE. Our secondary objectives were to assess the impact of ZFTA fusion on nuclear factor (NF)-kB pathway signaling via surrogate markers of this pathway, namely COX-2, CCND1, and L1 cell adhesion molecule., Results: ZFTA fusion was noted in 21.3% of STEs in our cohort. The presence of this rearrangement did not significantly impact the progression-free or overall survival of patients with STEs and was not associated with upregulation of markers of the NF-kB pathway. Only gross total resection was significantly associated with better progression-free survival., Conclusions: In contradiction to previous reports from across the world, the ZFTA fusion is far less prevalent among our population. It does not appear to drive NF-kB signaling or significantly affect outcomes. Gross total resection must be attempted in all cases of STE and adjuvant radiation and/or chemotherapy employed when gross total resection is not achieved., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Long-term quality of life, return to work, economic consequences following Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) are not well described in India. This study was aimed to address the question., Methods: A prospective cohort study of 109 ARDS survivors were followed up for a minimum of 6 months following discharge. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Respiratory quality was assessed using the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire. Time to return to work was documented. Costs-direct medical, as well as indirect were documented up to 6 months., Results: At 6 months, 6/109 (5.5%) had expired. Low energy/vitality and general heath were noted in the SF-36 scores at 6 months; overall a moderate quality of life. Pulmonary function tests had mostly normalized. Six-min walk distance was 77% of predicted. Respiratory quality of life was good. It took at the median of 111 days to go back Interquartile range (55-193.5) to work with 88% of previously employed going back to work. There were no significant differences in the severity of ARDS and any of these outcomes at 6 months. The average total cost from the societal perspective was ₹ 231,450 (standard deviation 146,430-, 387,300). There was a significant difference between the 3-ARDS severity groups and costs (P < 0.01). There were no independent predictors of return to work., Conclusion: ARDS survivors have low 6-month mortality. Pulmonary physiology and exercise capacity was mostly normal. Overall, quality of life is average was moderate, while respiratory quality of life was good. Return to work was excellent, while cost of care falls under a catastrophic heath expense., Competing Interests: None

Respiratory infections like influenza infections have been found to increase the risk of coronary artery disease and precipitate cardiac failure. However, Indian data is lacking. A retrospective observational study was done to describe patients with influenza infection who had concomitant heart failure (HF) requiring admission over 5 years (January 2013-December 2017). A total of 93 influenza cases were hospitalised during this time, of which 14 (15%) also had features of HF. Among them, the types of influenza infection were AH1N1 (6,43%), BH1N1 (4,29%), AH3N2 (3,21%) with one patient having both strains. Two-thirds of the HF were new onset (10, 71%), whereas rest were due to acute worsening of pre-existing HF (4, 29%). Ten (64.3%) of the patients had HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The average hospital stay was 10 days with 2 (14%) deaths. The peak of influenza in August and September preceded the peak admission for HF. A total of 15% of influenza admissions have concomitant HF. They are predominantly due to influenza A H1N1 (43%), influenza A H3N2 (21%) and influenza B (29%). Only 7% had preceding influenza vaccination. Influenza during August and September appears to precede the peak of HF admissions which happen in October and November. Overall mortality was 14., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)

Purpose: Impending compartment syndrome is a common event following closed tibia fractures, which can progress to sinister compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy is the only definitive treatment available, though it has its own drawbacks and complications. Medical management at present consists of limb elevation and adequate hydration. This study aims at determining whether intravenous administration of Mannitol reduced the intracompartmental pressure in patients with closed tibial fractures., Methods: This is a double blinded, randomized control trial done in a single tertiary care center in India. Forty-five patients were recruited between February 2012 and October 2012. Forty patients who presented to the emergency department with isolated, closed, high velocity, and proximal 2/3 tibia fractures were included in this study. Patients with contraindication to Mannitol were excluded. They were allocated into 2 groups by the investigator using computer generated randomization. The pressure in the anterior compartment of the leg was measured with a handheld Stryker pressure monitor. Then either 20% Mannitol or 0.9% normal saline as given intravenously in a blinded manner, based on the randomization. The intracompartmental pressure was measured at 0, 1 and 3 h after the infusion. The participant, investigator and statistician were masked to the group assessment., Results: There was no difference in intracompartmental pressures at 1 or 3 h, between the groups. However, in patients with the baseline of compartmental pressures ≥30 mmHg, Mannitol showed a marked reduction in pressure of 8.5 mmHg at 1 h compared to almost no change in pressure in the saline group. There were no adverse events with the use of Mannitol., Conclusions: This preliminary study appears to show that Mannitol is useful in the management of the increased compartment pressure. The limitations of this study were that it only involved a small group of patients and the baseline pressures in both the groups were not comparable. More studies are required before the use of Mannitol as a standard of care in the management of compartment syndrome can be established., (Copyright © 2020 Chinese Medical Association. All rights reserved.)

Background: Global research is running towards to find a vaccine to stop the threat of the COVID-19. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine that prevents severe forms of tuberculosis is getting more attention in this scenario. The objective of our study was to determine the association between BCG vaccine coverage and incidence of COVID-19 at a national-level across the Globe., Methods: The data of 160 countries were included in the study. Meta-regression was done to estimate the difference in the incidence of COVID-19 cases between countries with BCG vaccination coverage. BCG coverage was categorized as ≤70%, >70% and no vaccination. The analyses were carried out by adjusting for factors such as population density, income group, latitude, and percentage of the total population under age groups 15-64 and above 65 years of each country., Results: The countries that had ≤70% coverage of BCG vaccine reported 6.5 (95% CI: -8.4 to -4.5) less COVID-19 infections per 10,000 population as compared to countries that reported no coverage. Those that had >70% coverage reported 10.1 (95% CI: -11.4 to -8.7) less infections per 10,000 population compared to those with no BCG countries., Conclusion: Our analysis suggests that BCG is associated with reduced COVID-19 infections if the BCG vaccine coverage is over 70%. The region-wise analyses also suggested similar findings, except the Middle East and North African region., Competing Interests: None of the authors have conflicts of interest to report., (© 2020 INDIACLEN. Published by Elsevier, a division of RELX India, Pvt. Ltd.)

Background & Objectives: : Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been identified as an independent risk factor for mortality in intensive care units. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the effect of AKI on in-hospital mortality in a general medical ward of a tertiary care hospital and risk factors for mortality in patients with AKI., Methods: : Demographic and clinical details, and outcome data were collected from case records of patients. In all hospitalized patients, factors associated with increased in-hospital mortality, such as AKI, inotrope requirement, mechanical ventilation and primary disease were compared between patients who died during their hospital stay and those who were discharged alive. Among the hospitalized patients, who had AKI, likely predictors of in-hospital mortality were compared between dead and alive patients at discharge. Factors that were significant in univariate analysis were tested by multivariate regression analysis to identify those that independently predicted poor outcomes., Results: : Of the 1150 patients admitted in a general medical ward in a year, 220 patients were identified to have AKI. In-hospital mortality rate among patients with AKI was 19.09 per cent as compared to 1.8 per cent without AKI [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.7 (95% CI: 1.56-20.74)]. The presence of AKI was an independent risk factor for death, with an adjusted OR of 6.0 [95% CI: 1.67-21.6]. Among patients with AKI, the presence of haematological malignancy, adjusted OR 25.86 (95% CI: 1.81-369.58), requirement of inotrope, adjusted OR 126.5 (95% CI: 19.39-825.93) and serum creatinine at admission (P<0.001) were found to be independent predictors of death. The presence of underlying chronic kidney disease and hospital-acquired AKI were not found to have an association with mortality., Interpretation & Conclusions: : The study showed the in-hospital mortality rate among patients with AKI in a general medical ward was 19.09 per cent. The occurrence of AKI was an independent risk factor for death, with haematological malignancy, use of vasopressors and higher serum creatinine at admission, significantly associated with death among patients with AKI. Large prospective studies need to be done to better understand the outcomes in AKI and the ways to present and manage AKI., Competing Interests: None

Introduction: To assess the feasibility of computer-generated educational messaging system in healthcare workers of a tertiary care hospital. The secondary objectives were glycemic control, patient satisfaction and adherence to lifestyle modifications., Research Design and Methods: Single-center parallel-group open-labeled randomized controlled trial with computer generated block randomization., Setting: Healthcare workers with diabetes working in Christian Medical College Vellore, Tamil Nadu., Participants: 431 assessed, 341 met the selection criteria, 320 participants were randomized and 161 were taken into intervention arm and 159 in the control arm., Intervention: Computer-generated short message service (SMS) based on transtheoretical model of behavioral change, 2 messages per week for 3 months, along with standard of care diabetic care. Messages had educational material regarding healthy eating habits and exercise and these messages were sent twice weekly. The messages were scheduled via an automatic calendar in a way that each subject in the intervention arm received 15 educational messages per month.Control group received only standard of care diabetic care which included dietary advice, exercise regimen and diabetic medications under supervision of their physician every 3 months., Follow-Up: 6 months., Results: 95.65% of people in the intervention arm (n=154) received regular messages, out of which 93.17% read the messages regularly. 80.12% acted on the messages. 93.17% felt more satisfied with their healthcare.While both groups showed improvement in body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), the difference was greater in the intervention with regard to both decrease in BMI (-0.6, p<0.001) and HBA1c (-0.48, p<0.001)., Conclusions: SMS-based education system is feasible in improving healthcare among healthcare workers with diabetes. It improves patient satisfaction, adherence and improves healthcare among individuals with diabetes by decreasing their BMI and decreasing HbA1c., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Purpose: Studies looking at seasonal variation on cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) are few with conflicting conclusions. In this region-specific study, we looked for climatic influence and seasonal trends on the incidence of CVT., Methods: Imaging proven adult CVT cases treated over a period of 18 years from a specific geographical location with similar seasons and climatic conditions were studied. Metrological parameters prepared using 30 years of data was used. Quantum geographical information system (QGIS software) and SPSS v 22 were used for patient plotting and analysis., Results: Total of 970 cases were studied. The incidence was significantly higher in summer 411 (42.3%) compared with autumn 317 (32.7%) and winter 242 (25.05); P = 0.038. This trend was consistent across all the 18 years in time series analysis. Mean age was 33.5 years (range 18-88 years). A significant majority 673 (69.4%) were below 40 years of age; P = 0.012. Females constituted 394 (40.6%) of cases. Postpartum CVT cases constituted 237 (30%). Interaction analysis showed younger age (<40 years) were more vulnerable for CVT in summer; P = 0.009. There was no seasonal influence on postpartum CVT. Apart for a weak positive correlation between rain fall ( r = 0.18, P < 0.01); humidity and cloud cover was not influencing the incidence., Conclusions: Higher ambient temperatures were consistently associated with higher incidence of CVT. This is the largest region-specific study on CVT in the world. These results may be applicable to other regions with similar climatic conditions., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2006 - 2019 Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology.)

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was initially described as a chronic immune-mediated disease with overlapping features of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. We conducted a cross-sectional study to describe the clinical and immunological profile of patients with MCTD and to compare the four diagnostic criteria, namely, Sharp, Kasukawa, Alarcón-Segovia, and Khan criteria. A total of 291 patients who were admitted from June 2007 to June 2017 and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. A clinical diagnosis of MCTD was made in 111 patients, of whom 103 (92.8%) were women. The mean age at presentation was 39.3 years (SD ± 11.6). The most common organ systems that were involved were musculoskeletal system (95.5%), skin and mucosa (78.4%), and the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems (56%). The maximum sensitivity was for the Kasukawa criteria with a sensitivity of 77.5% (95% CI 68.4-84.6) and specificity of 92.2% (95% CI 87-95.5). The Kahn criteria and Alarcón-Segovia criteria had the maximum specificity; the Alarcón-Segovia criteria had a sensitivity of 69.4% (95% CI 59.8-77.6) and a specificity of 99.4% (95% CI 96.5-99.9), while the Kahn criteria had a sensitivity of 52.3% (95% CI 42.6-61.7) and a specificity of 99.4% (95% CI 96.5-99.9). The sensitivity and specificity of Sharp criteria were 57.7% (95% CI 47.9-66.87) and 90% (95% CI 84.4-93.8), respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Kevin John John et al.)

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate whether time to debridement has any correlation with union, infection, and quality of life in high-grade lower limb fractures in a tropical setting., Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care center in South India. Two hundred fifty-four adult skeletally mature patients with 301 grade 3 fractures involving the femur, tibia, or fibula were recruited. The cohort was empirically divided into two groups (early and late) based on the time to debridement (less than or more than 12 h from injury)., Outcome: The primary outcome was nonunion. Secondary outcomes were deep infection rates and patients' quality of life. Short form-36 (SF-36) and short musculoskeletal functional assessment (SMFA) questionnaires were also used. Patients were followed up for 9 months., Results: The follow-up rate was 93%. The late group had a significantly higher risk of nonunion (odds ratio(OR): 6.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.82-14.95) and infections (OR: 6.05, 95% CI: 2.85-12.82). There was a 4% increase in the infection risk for each hour of delay for the initial 50 h ( p < 0.0001). SF-36 and SMFA scores were superior in the early group ( p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The study contradicts findings reported in the literature from the West. Our study was in agreement with our hypothesis and proved that debridement within 12 h resulted in significantly lower rates of nonunion and infections and an overall improved quality of life in high-grade open lower limb fractures in a developing country., Level of Evidence: Level II., Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00015186.

Aim: Heart failure is a global problem that is increasing in prevalence. We undertook the initiative to compile the Vellore Heart Failure Registry (VHFR) to assess the clinical profile, mortality, risk factors and economic burden of heart failure by conducting a prospective, observational, hospital-based cohort study in Vellore, Tamil Nadu., Methods and Results: This study was a prospective observational cohort study conducted at the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, between January 2014 and December 2016. A total of 572 patients who satisfied the Boston criteria for "definite heart failure" were included and the primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The median duration of hospital stay was eight days and the in-hospital, one, three and six month mortalities were 13.25%, 27.3%, 32.53% and 38.15%, respectively. The median duration of survival was 921 days. Readmission for heart failure constituted 42%, and the most common cause of decompensation was an infection(31.5%). The presence of cyanosis at admission, history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, and American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) stage D at the time of discharge were independently associated with mortality at six months. The median total direct cost of admission was INR 84,881.00 ($ 1232.34) CONCLUSION: The VHFR cohort had younger, more diabetic, and fewer hypertensive subjects than most cohorts. Admission for heart failure is a catastrophic health expenditure. Attempts should be made to ensure a reduction in readmission rates by targeting goal-directed therapy. As the most common cause of acute decompensation is pneumonia, vaccinating all patients before discharge may also help in this regard., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors report no relationships that could be construed as a conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Objectives: In developing countries like India, there is a lack of clarity regarding the factors that influence decisions pertaining to life supports at the end-of-life (EOL). The objectives of this study were to assess the factors associated with EOL-care decisions in the Indian context and to raise awareness in this area of healthcare., Methods: This retrospectively study included all patients admitted to the medical unit of a tertiary care hospital in southern India, over one year and died. The baseline demographics, economic, physiological, sociological, prognostic and medical treatment-related factors were retrieved from the patient's medical records and analysed., Results: Of the 122 decedents included in the study whose characteristics were analyzed, 41 (33.6%) received full life support and 81 (66.4%) had withdrawal or withholding of some life support measure. Amongst those who had withdrawal or withholding of life support, 62 (76.5%) had some support withheld and in 19 (23.5%), it was withdrawn. The documentation of the disease process, prognosis and the mention of imminent death in the medical records was the single most important factor that was associated with the EOL decision (odds ratio - 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.74; P=0.03)., Interpretation & Conclusions: The documentation of poor prognosis was the only factor found to be associated with EOL care decisions in our study. Prospective, multicentric studies need to be done to evaluate the influence of various other factors on the EOL care., Competing Interests: None

Background: Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is widely used in India and many generic preparations are available. Delayed response has been reported, suggesting inadequate response to artesunate (AS) or genotypic resistance. We designed a prospective observational study to assess the therapeutic response, elaborate pharmacokinetics of AS and identify Plasmodium falciparum kelch 13 (pfk13) propeller gene polymorphisms among hospitalized Indian patients with severe malaria., Methods: We collected blood samples from adult patients with severe P. falciparum or mixed (P. falciparum and P. vivax) malaria on ACT. We calculated the parasite clearance (CL) half-life using the Worldwide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) online parasite clearance estimator (PCE). We used the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrophoto-metry method for simultaneous quantification of AS and dihydroartemisinin. We genotyped longitudinally archived DNA samples obtained pre-treatment (day 0) to study the point mutations in the pfk13 propeller domain., Results: A total of 54 patients with malaria were included, with a majority fulfilling the definitions of severe malaria. The median parasite CL slope half-life was estimated to be 6.44 hours (interquartile range 4.79-10.24). AS pharmacokinetics, assessed in 17 patients, were found to be similar in the groups with rapid (<48 hours) and slow CL (>48 hours) of parasites. No known mutations associated with artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia were observed in our study participants., Conclusions: Slow parasite CL was seen with a high parasite burden without genotypic evidence of AS resistance. There is a need to standardize definitions of therapeutic efficacy of AS in cases of severe malaria., Competing Interests: None

Background & Objectives: The escalation in carbapenem resistance among Enterobacteriaceae has resulted in a lack of effective therapeutic alternatives. Older antimicrobials, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin for urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) may be effective treatment options. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the utility of fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin in treating UTI caused by CRE and molecular characterization of the plasmid-mediated carbapenem resistance mechanisms., Methods: Consecutive, non-duplicate isolates of CR Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. from urine cultures were included (n=150). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by E-test (fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin) and broth microdilution (colistin). Efficacy ratios were derived by dividing susceptibility breakpoints by observed MIC values of the drugs for the isolates. Isolates were screened for genes coding for carbapenemases using multiplex PCR. Fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin-resistant isolates were screened for plasmid-borne resistance genes fos A3, oqx AB and mcr-1, respectively using PCR., Results: Among E. coli, 98.9, 56 and 95 per cent isolates were susceptible to fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin, respectively, while 94 and 85 per cent of Klebsiella spp. were susceptible to fosfomycin and colistin, respectively. The efficacy ratios indicated fosfomycin as the drug of choice for UTI caused by CR E. coli and Klebsiella spp., followed by colistin. The bla NDM gene was most common, followed by bla OXA48-like . Plasmid-borne genes encoding resistance to fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and colistin were absent., Interpretation & Conclusions: With increasing resistance against the current treatment options, older drugs may emerge as effective options. Molecular screening of resistant isolates is essential to prevent the spread of plasmid-borne resistance against these drugs., Competing Interests: None

A 45-year-old gentleman presented with fever, weight loss, and painful swelling of both knees. His history was significant for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Blood cultures grew Burkholderia pseudomallei , and imaging revealed osteomyelitis of bilateral distal femura and proximal tibiae, with no involvement of the joint space. He underwent debridement and was initiated on ceftazidime followed by eradication therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. He recovered well with no further complications. Melioidosis is a rare cause of multifocal osteomyelitis and is a differential to be considered in an appropriate clinicoepidemiological setting., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Behavioral and geographical factors may play a role in the acquisition of scrub typhus infection. In this prospective case-control study, we studied the factors associated with infection., Patients and Methods: Consecutive adult patients admitted with scrub typhus infection over 10 months were recruited. For every case, a geographical control from the same area and a gender-matched clinical control admitted with acute febrile illness were enrolled. The risk factors, which included sanitation, environment, activity, and protective measures, were compared between cases and controls using univariable and multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis and expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: The study cohort ( n = 225; 132 female) aged 44 ± 17 years comprised of 75 cases and 150 controls from mid to low socioeconomic background. When compared with clinical controls, on univariable conditional regression analysis, cases were more likely to be involved in farming or gardening and less likely to have a toilet within the house. On multivariate regression analysis, only involvement in farming or gardening was associated with infection (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.5-11.5). When compared with geographical controls, on univariable conditional regression analysis, cases were less likely to change undergarments or clothes before sleeping (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3-9.5) and more likely to have rodents in their house (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1-6.4) and rest on grass/mud without a mat (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.3). On multivariate regression analysis, not changing undergarments or clothes tended to be associated with infection (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 0.98-7.3)., Conclusion: Certain behavioral factors predisposed our cohort to develop scrub typhus infection. Lifestyle changes may reduce the burden of scrub typhus in South India., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background and Objectives: Discovered in 1983, Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers are still the leading cause of infections in India. Its prompt detection is crucial to the clinical management. The Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommends phenotypic screening and confirmatory tests to identify the ESBL producer making it cost and time consuming for the diagnostic laboratory. We compare here the screening and confirmatory tests offering a solution to the CLSI recommendation., Methods: Nosocomial isolates E. coli (71) and K. pneumoniae (25) resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime were included. CLSI recommended testing with cefotaxime, ceftazidime and in combination with clavulanic acid by disk diffusion and agar dilution methods were performed. E-test was performed on discrepant results. To determine the genetic relatedness of the organisms, 22 Medical and Surgical ICU isolates were genotyped by PFGE. Dendrogram was constructed using dice co-efficient, UPGMA method with diversity database software., Results and Conclusions: Phenotypic screening disk diffusion test versus the confirmatory agar dilution MIC tests with cefotaxime and ceftazidime correlated well with the final ESBL status (kappa 0.852 and 0.905 P < 0.001) and (kappa 0.911 and 0.822 P < 0.001). The tests show 99-100% sensitivity, 75-83.3% specificity, and positive likelihood ratios between 4.0 -5.9. E-test confirmed 6 of 12 discordant results as ESBLs. Of the 96 nosocomial isolates screened as possible ESBL producers by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test, 86.5% were confirmed ESBL producers. Genotyping on the ICU isolates by PFGE revealed a genetically diverse population suggesting no transmission of phenotypically similar ESBL strains within the ICUs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Listeriosis is a food borne illness of significant public health concern, caused by consumption of food contaminated by gram negative bacilli, Listeria monocytogenes. Clinical listeriosis is relatively rare and it has varying spectrum of presentation, ranging from severe sepsis in immune-compromised individuals, febrile gastroenteritis and meningo-encephalitis in infants and adults. This disease is under reported in developing nations due to the lack of awareness and inadequate laboratory facilities to promptly isolate and identify the organism. We report a case of sporadic food-borne listeriosis, in an otherwise healthy individual presenting with meningo-encephalitis. Prompt identification and appropriate antibiotic therapy led to a favorable outcome., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest

Background & Objectives: The pathological hallmark of scrub typhus infection is focal or disseminated vasculitis. As with other infections, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) have been previously described in scrub typhus. However, the underlying mechanisms and implications of this immunological phenomenon is not well understood. In the present work it was assessed whether ANA is associated with illness severity and outcomes., Methods: In this prospective study spanning one year, patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for scrub typhus were recruited. Patients with other acute infective febrile illnesses were taken as controls. ANA positivity was compared between the cases and controls. ANA in scrub typhus was assessed for correlation with disease severity, organ dysfunction and outcomes., Results: The cohort comprised of 149 patients (scrub 89; controls 60) with mean age 46.5 (SD=16.9) yr; 48.3% were female. ANA was detected in 48 (53.9%) patients with scrub typhus and 9(15%) controls (p < 0.001). The ANA pattern was predominantly speckled (93.8%) in both scrub typhus patients and controls. In patients with scrub typhus, ANA positivity was associated with increasing APACHE-III score [Odds ratio (OR) 1.01; 95% CI 0.99-1.03; p = 0.09]. On bivariate analysis, ANA tended to be correlated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 2.32; 95% CI 0.98-5.46; p = 0.06), hepatic dysfunction (OR 2.25; 95% CI 0.94-5.39, p = 0.06) and aseptic meningitis (OR 6.83; 95% CI 0.80-58.05, p = 0.08). The presence of these antibodies did not correlate with duration of hospitalization or mortality. Convalescent sera on 31 ANA positive scrub typhus patients demonstrated persistence of ANA in only 5 (16.1%) patients., Interpretation & Conclusion: The disappearance of ANA during the convalescent phase suggests that ANA is expressed during the acute phase of scrub typhus infection. Its association with organ dysfunction warrants further study of the mechanisms and impact of autoantibody formation in scrub typhus., Competing Interests: None

Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus that is frequently isolated from blood cultures. Here, we report a case of methicillin-susceptible S. haemolyticus that is resistant to teicoplanin (TEC) and heteroresistant to vancomycin (VAN). The isolate was susceptible to cefoxitin and resistant to TEC by Etest. Population analysis profile-area under the curve analysis confirmed the presence of a VAN heteroresistant subpopulation. Next-generation sequencing analysis of the genome revealed the presence of blaZ and msr(A), which encode cross-resistance to macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B, and the quinolone resistance-conferring gene norA. In addition, several amino acid substitutions were observed in the TEC resistance operon tcaRAB, including I3N, I390N, and L450I in tcaA and L44V, G52V, and S87P in tcaR, as well as in the transpeptidase encoding gene walK (D336Y, R375L, and V404A) and L315 and P316 in graS. We hypothesized that this combination of mutations could confer TEC resistance and reduced VAN susceptibility.

Background: Meningococcal disease can lead to death or disability within hours after onset. Pre-admission antibiotics aim to reduce the risk of serious disease and death by preventing delays in starting therapy before confirmation of the diagnosis., Objectives: To study the effectiveness and safety of pre-admission antibiotics versus no pre-admission antibiotics or placebo, and different pre-admission antibiotic regimens in decreasing mortality, clinical failure, and morbidity in people suspected of meningococcal disease., Search Methods: We searched CENTRAL (6 January 2017), MEDLINE (1966 to 6 January 2017), Embase (1980 to 6 January 2017), Web of Science (1985 to 6 January 2017), LILACS (1982 to 6 January 2017), and prospective trial registries to January 2017. We previously searched CAB Abstracts from 1985 to June 2015, but did not update this search in January 2017., Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs comparing antibiotics versus placebo or no intervention, in people with suspected meningococcal infection, or different antibiotics administered before admission to hospital or confirmation of the diagnosis., Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data from the search results. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for dichotomous data. We included only one trial and so did not perform data synthesis. We assessed the overall quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach., Main Results: We found no RCTs comparing pre-admission antibiotics versus no pre-admission antibiotics or placebo. We included one open-label, non-inferiority RCT with 510 participants, conducted during an epidemic in Niger, evaluating a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone versus a single dose of intramuscular long-acting (oily) chloramphenicol. Ceftriaxone was not inferior to chloramphenicol in reducing mortality (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.57 to 2.56; N = 503; 308 confirmed meningococcal meningitis; 26 deaths; moderate-quality evidence), clinical failures (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.32 to 2.15; N = 477; 18 clinical failures; moderate-quality evidence), or neurological sequelae (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.63 to 2.62; N = 477; 29 with sequelae; low-quality evidence). No adverse effects of treatment were reported. Estimated treatment costs were similar. No data were available on disease burden due to sequelae., Authors' Conclusions: We found no reliable evidence to support the use pre-admission antibiotics for suspected cases of non-severe meningococcal disease. Moderate-quality evidence from one RCT indicated that single intramuscular injections of ceftriaxone and long-acting chloramphenicol were equally effective, safe, and economical in reducing serious outcomes. The choice between these antibiotics should be based on affordability, availability, and patterns of antibiotic resistance.Further RCTs comparing different pre-admission antibiotics, accompanied by intensive supportive measures, are ethically justified in people with less severe illness, and are needed to provide reliable evidence in different clinical settings.

Background: Admission of a patient to an intensive care unit (ICU) can result in tremendous stress to family caregivers not only because of the need to provide physical and emotional support to the sick relative, but also due to the burden of decision-making on behalf of the critically ill person. We enquired about family caregivers' perspectives on intensive care, the challenges they faced with decision-making and their perceptions on the nature of their interactions with healthcare providers., Methods: We used maximum variation sampling and enrolled 20 consenting caregivers for semi-structured interviews. Each interview, based on an interview guide, took 30-40 minutes and was conducted in a private place within the hospital premises. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and entered into a qualitative software (NVivo) for analysis., Results: The three emergent themes of analysis were (i) understanding about ICU, (ii) decision-making concerning ongoing treatment; and (iii) relationship with healthcare-providers. Some respondents saw the intensive care as an expensive facility for seriously ill patients while others were not so clear. The family's relationship with the patient and their financial status were seen as important deciding factors in continuing treatment. Decision-making was a complex and emotional issue and doctors were held in awe and seen as the main deciding authority. The importance of doctors being compassionate and communicative was stressed., Conclusion: Our study highlights the problems faced by family caregivers and of the need to improve their satisfaction through clear and simple communication strategies.

Introduction: Varicella zoster virus is an exclusively human neurotrophic virus. The primary infection with the virus causes varicella. The virus remains latent in nervous tissue and upon secondary activation causes a variety of syndromes involving the central nervous system (CNS) including meningoencephalitis and cerebellitis., Materials and Methods: In this study, we looked at the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory features, and outcomes of patients who were admitted with varicella zoster of the CNS from 2005 to 2014., Results: There were 17 patients. Fever was present in 13 patients, seizures in 9 patients and headache and vomiting in 4 patients each. A generalized varicella rash was present in 8 out of 17 patients. A single dermatomal herpes zoster was present in seven patients. Two patients had no rash. Varicella zoster polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was done in 5 patients of which 4 were positive and 1 was negative. Nine patients had diabetes with an average glycated hemoglobin of 8.6%. Total number of deaths was five., Conclusions: Patients with diabetes who develop varicella or herpes zoster may be at risk for CNS complications. The diagnosis of varicella encephalitis has to rest on a combination of clinical findings and CSF PCR, as neither the rash nor the PCR is sensitive enough to diagnose all the cases with varicella encephalitis., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

A 26-year-old female presented with deliberate self-harm using chlorantraniliprole, an unknown substance in human toxicology. She developed symptomatic Mobitz Type I atrioventricular block during observation, for which a temporary pacemaker was inserted. She reverted to sinus rhythm after 48 h and was discharged. Although claimed to be nontoxic to humans, chlorantraniliprole, an insecticide, could cause conduction defects by activating ryanodine receptors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of chlorantraniliprole poisoning reported in the medical literature., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Acute undifferentiated febrile illness (AUFI) may have similar clinical presentation, and the etiology is varied and region specific., Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in South India. All adult patients presenting with AUFI of 3-14 days duration were evaluated for etiology, and the differences in presentation and outcome were analyzed., Results: The study cohort included 1258 patients. A microbiological cause was identified in 82.5% of our patients. Scrub typhus was the most common cause of AUFI (35.9%) followed by dengue (30.6%), malaria (10.4%), enteric fever (3.7%), and leptospirosis (0.6%). Both scrub typhus and dengue fever peaked during the monsoon season and the cooler months, whereas no seasonality was observed with enteric fever and malaria. The mean time to presentation was longer in enteric fever (9.9 [4.7] days) and scrub typhus (8.2 [3.2] days). Bleeding manifestations were seen in 7.7% of patients, mostly associated with dengue (14%), scrub typhus (4.2%), and malaria (4.6%). The requirement of supplemental oxygen, invasive ventilation, and inotropes was higher in scrub typhus, leptospirosis, and malaria. The overall mortality rate was 3.3% and was highest with scrub typhus (4.6%) followed by dengue fever (2.3%). Significant clinical predictors of scrub typhus were breathlessness (odds ratio [OR]: 4.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.38-7.3), total whole blood cell count >10,000 cells/mm 3 (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.64-3.24), serum albumin <3.5 g % (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.68-3.2). Overt bleeding manifestations (OR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.84-4.84), and a platelet count of <150,000 cells/mm 3 (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.47-2.98) were independent predictors of dengue fever., Conclusion: The similarity in clinical presentation and diversity of etiological agents demonstrates the complexity of diagnosis and treatment of AUFI in South India. The etiological profile will be of use in the development of rational guidelines for control and treatment of AUFI., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Tuberculosis and malnutrition are linked in a complex relationship. Tuberculosis may cause undernutrition through increased metabolic demands and decreased intake, and nutritional deficiencies may worsen the disease, or delay recovery by depressing important immune functions. At present, there is no evidence-based nutritional guidance for adults and children being treated for tuberculosis., Objectives: To assess the effects of oral nutritional supplements in people being treated with antituberculous drug therapy for active tuberculosis., Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Disease Group Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; Issue 1, 2016), MEDLINE (from 1946 to 4 February 2016), EMBASE (from 1980 to 4 February 2016), LILACS (from 1982 to 4 February 2016), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT), the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and the Indian Journal of Tuberculosis up to 4 February 2016, and checked the reference lists of all included studies., Selection Criteria: Randomized controlled trials that compared any oral nutritional supplement given for at least four weeks with no nutritional intervention, placebo, or dietary advice only for people being treated for active tuberculosis. The primary outcomes of interest were all-cause death, and cure at six and 12 months., Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion, and extracted data and assessed the risk of bias in the included trials. We presented the results as risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous variables, and mean differences (MD) for continuous variables, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Where appropriate, we pooled data from trials with similar interventions and outcomes. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach., Main Results: Thirty-five trials, including 8283 participants, met the inclusion criteria of this review. Macronutrient supplementationSix trials assessed the provision of free food, or high-energy supplements. Only two trials measured total dietary intake, and in both trials the intervention increased calorie consumption compared to controls.The available trials were too small to reliably prove or exclude clinically important benefits on mortality (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.20; four trials, 567 participants, very low quality evidence), cure (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.41; one trial, 102 participants, very low quality evidence), or treatment completion (data not pooled; two trials, 365 participants, very low quality evidence).Supplementation probably produces a modest increase in weight gain during treatment for active tuberculosis, although this was not seen consistently across all trials (data not pooled; five trials, 883 participants, moderate quality evidence). Two small studies provide some evidence that quality of life may also be improved but the trials were too small to have much confidence in the result (data not pooled; two trials, 134 participants, low quality evidence). Micronutrient supplementationSix trials assessed multi-micronutrient supplementation in doses up to 10 times the dietary reference intake, and 18 trials assessed single or dual micronutrient supplementation.Routine multi-micronutrient supplementation may have little or no effect on mortality in HIV-negative people with tuberculosis (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.6; four trials, 1219 participants, low quality evidence), or HIV-positive people who are not taking antiretroviral therapy (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.23; three trials, 1429 participants, moderate quality evidence). There is insufficient evidence to know if supplementation improves cure (no trials), treatment completion (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.04; one trial, 302 participants, very low quality evidence), or the proportion of people who remain sputum positive during the first eight weeks (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.35; two trials, 1020 participants, very low quality evidence). However, supplementation may have little or no effect on weight gain during treatment (data not pooled; five trials, 2940 participants, low quality evidence), and no studies have assessed the effect on quality of life.Plasma levels of vitamin A appear to increase following initiation of tuberculosis treatment regardless of supplementation. In contrast, supplementation probably does improve plasma levels of zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, and selenium, but this has not been shown to have clinically important benefits. Of note, despite multiple studies of vitamin D supplementation in different doses, statistically significant benefits on sputum conversion have not been demonstrated., Authors' Conclusions: There is currently insufficient research to know whether routinely providing free food, or energy supplements improves tuberculosis treatment outcomes, but it probably improves weight gain in some settings.Although blood levels of some vitamins may be low in people starting treatment for active tuberculosis, there is currently no reliable evidence that routinely supplementing above recommended daily amounts has clinical benefits.

Objectives: The majority of patients in India access private sector providers for curative medical services. However, there is scanty information on the cost of treatment of critically ill patients in this setting. The study evaluates the cost and extent of financial subsidy required for patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in India., Methods: Data on direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect cost were prospectively collected from critically ill patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in India. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) amount was obtained from the next-of-kin following admission and the actual cost paid by the family at discharge was recorded., Results: The main diagnoses (n = 499) were infection (26 percent) and poisoning (21 percent). The mean APACHE-II score was 13.9 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 13.3-14.5); 86 percent were ventilated. ICU stay was 7.8 days (95 percent CI, 7.3-8.3). Hospital mortality was 27.9 percent. Direct medical cost accounted for 77 percent (US$ 2164) of the total treatment cost (US$ 2818). Indirect cost and direct nonmedical cost contributed to 19 percent (US$ 547.5) and 4 percent (US$ 106.5), respectively. Average total and daily ICU cost were US$ 1,897 and US$ 255, respectively. Although the family's WTP was 53 percent (US$ 1146; 95 percent CI, 1090-1204) of direct medical cost, their final contribution was 67.7 percent (US$ 1465; 95 percent CI, 1327-1604)., Conclusions: The cost of an ICU admission in our setting is US$ 2818. Although the family's contribution to expenses exceeded their initial WTP, a substantial subsidy (33 percent) is still required. Alternate financing strategies for the poor and optimization of ICU resources are urgently required.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare xanthogranulomatous disorder characterised by the proliferation of lipid laden histiocytes along with infiltration of various organs of the body. Although commonly presenting with bone pains secondary to bony infiltration, cardiac involvement in the form of periaortic fibrosis and pericardial involvement may be seen in a subgroup of patients. We report a case of ECD presenting as recurrent pericardial effusion along with pericardial tamponade., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

AIDS associated Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) was first reported from India in 1993. Since then only 16 cases have been reported. Three of them had proven Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. We report a case of disseminated KS in a heterosexual male from India with HIV, hepatitis B and HHV-8 infection. He was given six cycles of chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin over three months to which he showed a good response. The case highlights the clinical course and management of a HHV-8 positive disseminated KS in a patient co-infected with Hepatitis B and HIV.

Rationale: Intensive care unit (ICU) treatment costs pose special challenges in developing countries., Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of the "utility" score and evaluate the relationship of willingness to pay assessment to utility score during ICU admission., Methods: We performed a prospective study spanning 12 months in a 24-bed medical ICU in India. Treatment cost was estimated by direct measurement. Global utility score was assessed daily by healthcare providers on a Likert scale (0-1 in increments of 0.1, with 0 indicating death/severe disability and 1 indicating cure/perfect health). The sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of utility in predicting ICU mortality was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to compare Day 2 utility with APACHE II. The caregiver's willingness to pay for treatment was assessed on alternate days using the bidding method by presenting a cost bid. Based on the response ("yes" or "no"), bids were increased or decreased in a prespecified manner until a final bid value was reached. Simultaneously, treating doctors were asked how much institutional funds they would be willing to spend for treatment., Measurements and Main Results: Primary diagnosis in 499 patients included infection (26%) and poisoning (21%). The mean (SD) APACHE II score was 13.9 (5.8); 86% were ventilated. ICU stay was 7.8 (5.5) days. ICU mortality was 23.9% (95% confidence interval, 20.3-27.8). Survival without disability was 8.3% (2/24) for Day 2 utility score ≤0.3 and 95.8% (53/56) for Day 5 score >0.8 (P < 0.001). The likelihood ratio to predict mortality increased as utility values decreased and was highest (5.85) for utility 0.2. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for utility and APACHE II were similar. Willingness to pay by the caregiver was 53% of treatment cost and was not influenced by utility. Willingness to pay by ICU doctors showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with utility., Conclusions: Utility scores help prognosticate, with Day 2 score ≤0.3 associated with poor outcome and ≥0.8 Day 5 score with survival. The caregiver's willingness to pay was inadequate to meet treatment cost. ICU doctors were willing to spend more for moderate utility scores than for very high or low utility values. Further prospective studies are needed to optimize the utilization of scarce ICU resources by identifying patients for appropriate step-down care using utility and willingness to pay.