There’s a lot here, so bare with us. Each is colour coded for ease of sifting and we offer our take on each abstract too.

A lot of hard work was presented within many different fields. Thanks to Critical Care for this!

Colour key:

Green = Observational logistics studies

Red = Genetic studies

Purple = Scoring and comparator studies

Orange = anti-microbial studies

Blue = Biomarkers

Pink = Drug study

 

Reduction in time to first dose antibiotics in one Australian Emergency Department

Marcia Ingles, Gary Crowfoot
Belmont Hospital Emergency Department, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Health, New South Wales, Australia
Correspondence: Marcia Ingles (marcia.ingles@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au)

Background

Sepsis affects over 26 million people worldwide each year resulting in a death every 3 to 4 seconds [1]. For every hour that antibiotics are delayed after the first episode of hypotension, there is a 7.6 % increase in the risk of mortality [2]. Thus, international sepsis guidelines recommend the administration of broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy within 1 hour of recognition [3]. In 2011, the New South Wales Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC) developed the Sepsis Kills program including the Adult Emergency Sepsis Pathway [4]. This pathway was introduced to Emergency Departments (ED) and auditing of time to first antibiotics commenced. Belmont Hospital Emergency Department has approximately 25000 presentations per year. In 2012, 163 patients were diagnosed with sepsis. Time to first antibiotics for sepsis patients peaked at 254 minutes (Fig. 1). Discussion of these results highlighted the need to develop education strategies in order to reduce time to first administration of antibiotics.

Materials and methods

Audits of the CEC Sepsis database [5] over 4 years included a total of 769 patients. Collected data entered included: age, triage time and category, clinical observations, time and amount of intravenous fluid, time to first antibiotics, and diagnosis. The tables provided reflect median time to antibiotics. In 2012 a Clinical Nurse Specialist from the ED was designated Sepsis Lead. Over 4 years, the Sepsis Lead worked collaboratively with clinical staff to develop and implement several strategies to decrease time to first antibiotics

Results

A multimodal approach strategy was adopted, which included: regular audits; targeted education programs for triage nurses and nursing team leaders; the introduction of Sepsis September – a month dedicated to sepsis awareness and education; and the Sepsis Road show. These interventions were well received by Emergency staff. As a direct result time to first antibiotics was reduced to a median of 41 minutes.

Conclusions

The collaborative effort between the Sepsis Lead and clinical staff has produced a significant reduction in time to first antibiotics from 254 minutes to 41 minutes at last audit. The success achieved at Belmont Hospital due to this multimodal approach strategy has the potential to be translated globally. It also serves to highlight the importance of the Emergency Nurse in early recognition and initiation of treatment for sepsis.

Thoughts from us…

This takes good teamwork and persistent drive!! If you let it falter in your trust, deaths will undoubtedly increase so you need dedication! Our lead is a consultant intensivist…who is yours?

Check out…

Clinical Excellence Commission Sepsis Tools here

The search for genetic markers in the development of acute respiratory failure

Tamara V Smelaya1,2, Artem N Kuzovlev2, Lubov E Salnikova2,3
1Main Military Clinical Hospital of Internal Troops of Russia, Balashikha, Moscow region, Russia; 2V. A. Negovsky Research Institute of General Reanimatology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; 3N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence: Artem N Kuzovlev (artem_kuzovlev@mail.ru)

Background

Despite advances in diagnostic methods and antibiotic therapy, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Risk of CAP has been attributed to pathogen virulence, host susceptibility and epidemiologic factors. A significant number of patients with CAP develop severe complications, such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and less fatal conditions (pleuritis, empyema) and syndromes (acute respiratory failure (ARF)). The variable clinical presentation of CAP suggests a genetic predisposition.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted to establish the possible contribution of functional gene polymorphisms in the oxidative stress related genes to the development of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) complications. CAP subjects (n = 350) were genotyped for 16 polymorphic variants in the genes of xenobiotics detoxification CYP1A1, AhR, GSTM1, GSTT1, ABCB1, redox-status SOD2, CAT, GCLC, and vascular homeostasis ACE, AGT, AGTR1, NOS3, MTHFR, VEGFa.

Results

The multilocus model which included six or more risk alleles in the CYP1A1, GCLC, AGT and AGTR1 genes was associated with pleuritis, empyema, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), all pulmonary complications together and acute respiratory failure. Genetically mediated correlation between clinical conditions in CAP patients is shown below.

In silico analysis with Set Distiller mode identified N-acetylcysteine (P = 1.08E-08) and oxygen (P = 1.92E-06) as the best descriptors for the considered gene set. Acute infections of the airways are associated with oxidative stress, which enhances viscosity of bronchial mucus, reduces the mucociliary clearance rate and expedites lung disease aggravation and progression. N-acetylcysteine is a well-known mucolytic and antioxidant drug, an indirect precursor of glutathione.

Conclusions

The results of the study indicate that pneumonia aggravation up to destructive intrapulmonary complications and ARDS is mediated by polymorphisms in oxidative stress-related genes.

Thoughts from us…

Do we now start screening patients. If so, when and at what expense. Larger numbers needed here to make cost benefit argument, but interesting findings as CAP is a big killer!

A retrospective study evaluating the efficacy of identification and management of sepsis at a Western Cape Province district level hospital internal medicine department, in comparison to the guidelines stipulated in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2012

Raisa Bhikoo (raisa3121@gmail.com)
Department of Internal Medicine, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Background

Currently there is little data on identification, management and outcomes of patients with sepsis in developing countries. In low income countries major concerns regarding accessibility to healthcare, limitations due to costs, lack of resources and delayed presentations of patients with sepsis make implementing protocols, based on developed countries patients profile difficult. Thus in Sub-Saharan Africa there has been a widespread shift towards protocol development that is cost effective and specific for the epidemiologic and ecologic data.

Materials and methods

The aim of our study is to assess the efficacy of clinicians at a district level hospital in the Western Cape at identifying and managing sepsis. Furthermore, we will assess the outcome of patients in terms of in-hospital mortality and length of hospital stay given the above management. A retrospective study design was applied when analyzing data from the routine burden of disease audit done on a 3 monthly basis at Karl Bremer Hospital.

Results

The total sample size obtained was 70 patients. A total of 18/70 (26 %) patients had an initial triage blood pressure indicative of sepsis induced hypotension however only 1/18 (5.5 %) of these patients received an initial crystalloid fluid bolus of 30 ml/kg. The median time for antibiotic administration in septic shock was 4.65 hours. Further a positive delay in antibiotic administration (p value = 0.0039) was demonstrated. A total of 7/70 patients received no antibiotics in the first 24 hours of hospital admission. Of these 7, 3 of these patients could be classified as septic shock at presentation. All 3 patients died within 36 hours of hospital admission. The data showed 8/12 (66 %) of patients with septic shock received inappropriate amounts of fluids. The in-hospital mortality for sepsis was found to be 4/24 (17 %), for severe sepsis 11/34 (32 %) and a staggering 9/12(75 %) for septic shock. A positive association between in-hospital mortality and the following was found:

Time to first dose antibiotic administration (OR = 1.07, P value = 0.027, 95%CI = 1.008-1.14). For every 1-hour delay in antibiotic administration the chance of death increased by 7 %.

Source appropriate antibiotics (OR = 0.17, P value = 0.005, 95 % CI = 0.048-0.59). The chance of death amongst patients that received source appropriate antibiotics is 83 % less than those who did not.

Early appropriate intravenous fluid administration (OR = 0.33, P value = 0.040,95 % CI = 0.11-0.95). Appropriate intravenous fluids was associated with a 67 % reduction in in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

The outcomes of the study concluded that there is room for improvement by our clinicians with regards to appropriate identification and management of patients with sepsis. Flawed management has inevitably shown to have an impact on in-hospital mortality. Simple, cost effective measures that can implemented regardless of resources include early appropriate antibiotics and early aggressive fluid therapy; with the potential for an inordinate impact on mortality.

Thoughts from us…

It goes to show, as in abstract 1 here, that you have to be so on the ball with your identification and EARLY management of sepsis! As in bold within the abstract, you can see that lapses lead to mortality….MINUTES ARE MORTALITY IN SEPSIS.

Validation of the Sepsis Severity Score compared with standard severity scores in predicting hospital mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock patients

Bodin Khwannimit, Rungsun Bhurayanontachai, Veerapong Vattanavanit
Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110 Thailand
Correspondence: Bodin Khwannimit (kbordinbodin@gmail.com)

Background

Recently, the Sepsis Severity Score (SSS) was constructed to estimate the probability of hospital mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock patients. The aim of this study was to validate and compare the performance of the SSS with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II-IV, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and SAPS 3 scores in predicting hospital outcome in sepsis patients.

Materials and methods

A retroprospective analysis was conducted of prospectively collected data from all consecutive sepsis patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit of a tertiary university teaching hospital. The performance of the severity scores was evaluated by discrimination, calibration and overall performance.

Results

From a total of 931 patients, 802 patients (87.8 %) who had septic shock were enrolled. The hospital mortality rate was 43.9 % and the mean age was 59.3 ± 21.5 years. The most common sources of ICU admission were from the emergency room (47.5 %), general wards (43.9 %), and transfers from other hospitals (8.6 %). Mechanical ventilation was used in 808 patients (88.5 %). Community-acquired infections accounted for 70.2 %. The most common sources of infection were respiratory (49.1 %), gastrointestinal (14.8 %) and primary bloodstream infections (9.9 %). The median SSS was 80 (range 20–137). Hospital mortality by the SSS is demonstrated below

The standard mortality ratios of observed mortality to predicted mortality were between 0.81 and 1.1. The SSS presented good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.892. The performances of each severity scoring system are shown below.

The discriminative performance of the SSS was not statistically significant from the APACHE II (P = 0.07), SAPS II (P = 0.06) or SAPS 3 (P = 0.11). However, the APACHE IV score showed the best discrimination with an AUC of 0.948 and the overall performance by a Brier score of 0.096. The AUC of the APACHE IV score was statistically greater than the SSS (P < 0.0001), APACHE II (P < 0.0001), APACHE III (P = 0.0002), SAPS II (P < 0.0001) and SAPS 3 (P < 0.0001). The calibration of all scores was poor (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit H test <0.05).

Conclusions

The SSS provided good discrimination as well as the APACHE II, SAPS II and SAPS 3 scores. However, the APACHE IV score had the best discrimination and overall performance in our severe sepsis and septic shock patients. The SSS needs to be adapted and modified with new parameters to improve the performance.

Thoughts from us…

The good old APACHE IV appears to have the greatest discriminatory power in this group patients.

What did hospital physicians know about Sepsis before sepsis 3.0? A monocentric survey amongst 132 physicians

Emilie Tourteau1, Amel Filali2, Nicolas van Grunderbeeck1,4, Olivier Nigeon1,3, Hélène Bazus4, Juliette Masse3, Jihad Mallat1, Didier Thevenin1
1Service de Réanimation Polyvalente & USC, Centre Hospitalier de Lens, Lens, France;2Service de Maladies Infectieuses, CHRU Lille, Lille, France; 3Service d’Accueil des Urgences, Centre Hospitalier de Lens, Lens, France; 4Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier de Lens, Lens, France
Correspondence: Nicolas van Grunderbeeck (nicovgdb9@orange.fr)

Background

Sepsis in a public health problem and septic patients suffer high mortality. Few data are available about physicians’ knowledge and capacity to manage sepsis outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The physicians’ knowledge about sepsis could explain discrepancies in management between Emergency Department (ED) and ward septic patients, who suffer a poorer quality of care and a poorer outcome. We aimed to assess knowledge and ability to handle sepsis management through a questionnaire.

Materials and methods

Observational, prospective, monocentric study during 6 months (May to December 2015). A 26 questions sheet was distributed to all physicians. Questionnaires were anonymous, included age, experience and specialty. Questions involved definitions, epidemiology, outcome, diagnosis and management of severe sepsis/septic shock. Eight questions out of 25 were core questions, and a 26th evaluated physicians’ self-appreciation of ability. Evaluation included levels of good, wrong answers (WA) or “no knowledge” (NK) with specialties and self-estimated ability. Physicians were compared as fellows or senior, and specialties between “referent” (ED or Anesthesiologists/Intensivists vs others). Statistical analysis was performed though Chi2, Fisher exact, or Mann–Whitney tests.

Results

A hundred and thirty-two physicians (48.9 %), answered to the questionnaire: 34 ED or ICU/anesthesia physicians (26 %), 82 medical specialists (62 %), 16 surgeons (12 %). Forty-five percent were fellows. Median age was 29 years, median experience was 1 year after diploma. Referent physicians expressed higher self-confidence (97 vs 52 %, p < 0.001). Nearly all of them knew about existence of international guidelines (97 %), whereas a third of others did not (68 %, p = 0.001). Surgeons had poorer results and regarded themselves as unable to handle sepsis. Fellows and senior physicians’ knowledge were equal (11 vs 10,8 % of wrong answers). Core questions revealed flaws about definitions (22 % WA), sepsis outside the ICU (29 % WA/NK), possible severity without hypotension (40.5 % WA/NK), importance of lactatemia (24 % WA/NK), existence of guidelines (24 % WA/NK), delay of antibiotic treatment (78 % agreed for up to a 6 h delay). Knowledge about fluid expansion without hypotension was 88,5 %, but 32 % failed about fluid choice.

Conclusions

Our study presents limits: it’s monocentric with a small sample, with no differences between intensivists or anesthesiologists, and some questions may have been difficult to interpret. Moreover, it was “medical-limited” and did not evaluate the nurses’ teams, a key factor. Nevertheless, it provides arguments to think that management of sepsis could be improved through better knowledge outside the ICU, that could trigger prompt recognition and management, or call to specialized teams.

Thoughts from us…

Interesting to scan your establishment for core knowledge on one of the biggest killers! Interesting to see the surgeons here felt a tad out of their depth as far as sepsis is concerned. This study demonstrates how you can litmus test your hospital to see were you need to target education and iron out the flaws.

Clarithromycin exerts protective immunomodulatory action during Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 induced pneumonia in BALB/c mice

Vijay Kumar1,2, Sanjay Chhibber1
1Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India; 2 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Mater Research, School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Correspondence: Vijay Kumar (vij_tox@yahoo.com)

Background

Bacterial pneumonia is a life threatening condition causing acute lung injury (ALI) leading to development of sepsis depending on the invasiveness of the bacteria and host immune status. This present study was designed to find out the protective immunomodulatory action of macrolide antibiotic (i.e. clarithromycin) in mouse model of pneumonia induced by K. pneumoniae B5055.

Materials and Methods

Pneumonia was induced by intranasal instillation of Klebsiella pneumoniae B5055 (104 cfu/ml) by holding the mice in upright position without any anaesthesia. Experimental animals were divided in two groups (i.e. Group A; control (oral saline), Group B; clarithromycin (30 mg/kg/day/os). At designated period of time (1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days) mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation and lungs were harvested and homogenized in 1 ml of sterile normal saline under sterile conditions. The lung homogenate was used for measuring bacterial load, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pro-inflammatory (i.e. IL-1α, IL-6, TNF-α) anti-inflammatory (i.e. IL-10) cytokine levels in lungs. Histopathological examination of the lungs was also carried out along with lung alveolar macrophage function (i.e. macrophage spreading and phagocytosis) assays.

Results

Clarithromycin treatment led to the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in pulmonary neutrophil infiltration along with significant (p < 0.05) decrease in other markers of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-α, IL-6, MDA, NO and MPO) associated with acute tissue injury or inflammation. The increase in bacterial clearance in lungs of mice treated with clarithromycin was associated with significant (p < 0.05) increase in macrophage spreading as well as their phagocytic potential (i.e. phagocytic uptake and intracellular killing) of alveolar macrophages.

Conclusions

Clarithromycin has a great potential as an immunomodulatory antibiotic during K. pneumoniae B5055 induced pneumonia associated acute lung inflammation or injury (ALI).

Thoughts from us…

If you see a mouse, coughing and producing green sputum….think Clarithromycin! But seriously, it is interesting to find that any of the classic drugs we give affect the immune response in other ways we never knew about. Thank you to our animals friends for the lives lost to get this information!!

Histone levels determined by an in-house immunoglobulin Y assay are associated to clinical outcomes in sepsis

Jerico R. Santos1, Jesus Emmanuel A. D. Sevillejal2,3, Jose B. Nevado, Jr2,4
1College of Medicine, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila, Philippines; 2Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila, Philippines; 3Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila, Philippines; 4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines-Manila, Manila, Philippines
Correspondence: Jerico R. Santos (jerico.santos07@gmail.com)

Background

Experimental models have shown that histones are involved in the progression of sepsis and may be candidate prognostic biomarkers. There are limited prospective cohort studies of suspected septic patients aimed at determining the risk associated with increased level of histones to their progression to severe sepsis. To address this, we developed an IgY-based immunoassay that can detect and quantify blood histone levels;  tested whether there is a difference in histone levels among septic and febrile patients that present in the emergency room; and tested whether there is an association between histone levels in serum and the progression of patient to developing hypotension (sBP < 90 mmHg), azotemia, (creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL (176.8 μmol/L)) or thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000/μL) using the developed IgY-based immunoassay.

Materials and methods

An indirect ELISA was developed for detecting human histones that used polyclonal immunoglobulin Y (IgY) extracted from eggs laid by calf histone-challenged chickens as a primary antibody. Chickens were inoculated with calf histones and the IgY from eggs were extracted by means of a delipidation, salt precipitation and affinity chromatography.

To determine its clinical utility as a prognostic kit, a prospective cohort study of 4 febrile patients and 21 septic patients seeking consult at the emergency room were enrolled based on the inclusion criteria. Higher total histone levels measured by immunoglobulin Y was then determined if it was related to the development of hypotension, azotemia or thrombocytopenia.

Results

The limit of detection of this IgY-based immunoassay was determined to be 2036 pg/mL. Comparison of histone levels between 4 febrile patients, and 21 septic patients within 3 days of admission in the hospital showed that septic patients have significantly higher (p = 0.0314) levels of histones as compared to febrile patients.

In this cohort, those that developed hypotension, azotemia or thrombocytopenia during their hospital stay have higher levels of histones upon admission (p = 0.0257) compared to those that did not. Receiver operator curve analysis showed that at 2101 pg/uL, likelihood ratio was 3.545 which had an estimated sensitivity (76.9 %), specificity (81.81 %), PPV (83.33), and NPV (75 %) (p = 012, Chi square test). At a cutoff of <2081 pg/uL, likelihood ratio was 5.909 of sensitivity (45.45 %) and specificity (92.31 %).

Conclusions

Histone levels may be predictive to the progression of defined clinical parameters related to worse outcomes in septic patients.

Thoughts from us…

Another study, desperately trying to help us identify biomarkers that will ‘crystal ball’, for us. Again, larger numbers are needed and cost benefit analysis are is also needs before we can screen our patients.

Inflammatory changes in renal tissues following Gram-positive pulmonary challenge

Helena M. Linge, Kanta Ochani, Ke Lin, Ji Young Lee, Ping Wang, Manoj Tembhre, Shu Fang Liu, Pravin C. Singhal, Edmund J. Miller
Heart and Lung Research Unit, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY USA
Correspondence: Edmund J. Miller (emiller@northwell.edu)

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Although the condition has many etiologies, pneumonia and sepsis are leading triggers. Age is a major determinant of clinical outcome, and there are age-dependent alterations in the responses to pulmonary challenge that can trigger kidney inflammation (a precursor of chronic kidney disease) and higher mortality rates. Staphylococcus aureus infection is a frequent cause of pneumonia, especially in elderly patients. To develop a better understanding of the pathophysiology, and assist in defining future targets, we developed a lung model of staphylococcal pneumonia in rodents. Using this model we have examined inflammatory responses, hemodynamics, and cardiac proteasome activation, neutrophil trafficking in pulmonary inflammation, and age-related changes. Here we examined renal inflammation following pulmonary challenge.

Materials and methods

C57Bl6 Mice (8–10wks, n = 6-8/group) were challenged intratracheally with staphylococcal cell wall components, lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and peptidoglycan (PGN): (0.2 μg + 0.66 μg); (30 mg + 100 mg); (150 mg + 500 mg); or saline alone. Pulse oximetry was performed on awake animals before challenge and immediately prior to euthanasia. At 6, 24 or 72 hrs post challenge, animals were euthanized, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) performed, and tissues harvested. Concentrations of plasma and BAL cytokines were assessed by ELISA. The left kidney was fixed for histological analysis, and the right kidney was assessed for cytokine mRNA by qPCR, cytokine protein using ELISA, and activity of specific proteasome subunits by ProCISE.

Results

BAL from LTA/PGN challenged mice showed significant increases in neutrophils, total protein, IL-6, KC, MCP-1, TNFa and MIF as in previous studies. Additionally, while there was no LTA or PGN detected in the plasma, LTA/PGN challenged mice had increased plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-1b, KC and TNFa. In renal tissue, there were time and concentration dependent changes in IL1b, IL-6, TNFa, IP10, and MCP-1 and an increase in proteasome b5 subunit activity.

Conclusions

Even in these young animals pulmonary challenge induced significant inflammatory changes within the lung, blood and kidney. Notably, in the kidney there was increased activity of proteasome b5, a regulator of IκB/NFκB activation and signaling pathways. Our recent study uncovered a time dependent, NF-kB switch that regulates transition from endothelial barrier injury to repair. If we can define changes in the injury-to-repair phase in the kidney, we may reveal specific targets for therapeutic manipulation in a clinically relevant time frame to improve outcome from ALI associated renal involvement, particularly in the older individual.

Thoughts from us…

Again, thanks to mice for this….but you have to ask how cross-transferrable to humans are a lot of these animal studies. Nonetheless, it demonstrates perhaps further mechanisms involved in MOF from a primary respiratory insult.

Cathelicidin protects against intestinal barrier dysfunction in polymicrobial sepsis

Jeffery HO1, Xiaodong Liu1, Thomas Kwong2, Lin Zhang1, Hung Chan1, Sunny H Wong2, Gordon Choi1, Tony Gin1, Matthew TV Chan1, William KK Wu1
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; 2Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Correspondence: Jeffery HO (jeffho@cuhk.edu.hk)

Background

Accumulating evidence suggests that the intestinal barrier function is impaired during systemic inflammation as in sepsis. Animal models of sepsis revealed several ileal pathological changes. These include epithelial apoptosis, disruption of tight junctions and increased intestinal permeability. The impaired gut barrier function may increase the risk of bacterial translocation from the gut lumen to the bloodstream, aggravating systemic inflammation. The molecular mechanism associated with this phenotype remains largely unknown. Cathelicidin represents one of the most important classes of antimicrobial peptides in mammals. In addition to bactericidal property, this peptide inhibits endotoxin-induced pyroptosis of leukocytes, suppresses the release of inflammatory mediators and protects endothelial cells from apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of murine cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAM), a rodent antimicrobial peptide analogous to human LL-37, in maintaining gut barrier function in sepsis.

Materials and methods

129X1/SvJ mice that were wild type (cnlp+/+) or deficient for cathelicidin (cnlp−/−) were used. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP) [6]. Animals were divided into four groups: cathelicidin wild type and knockout mice receiving either CLP or sham surgery. At 24 h, blood and ileal tissues were harvested for total bacterial DNA quantification, immunoblotting and histological staining. The survival rates and septic severity were recorded every 12 hours until seven days after the surgery. Sepsis morbidity was evaluated by Murine Sepsis Severity (MSS) score. At 20 h after CLP or sham surgery, the animals were orally fed with 4 kDa fluorescein-dextran. Three hours later, serum was harvested and fluorescence was measured.

Results

Knocking out cnlp gene has significantly increased septic severity and reduced 7-day survival of 129X1/SvJ mice. Real time PCR targeting bacterial 16S rDNA revealed that total bacterial DNA load increased more than threefold.

Without cathelicidin, the expression of mucus has also reduced considerably, as revealed by Alcian blue periodic acid Schiff reaction and RT-PCR targeting MUC1, MUC2, MUC3 and MUC4 genes. Immunoblotting revealed cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP involving in apoptosis. Consistently, confocal microscopy using TUNEL staining identified greater number of puncta per villus. Deletion of cnlp gene increased ileal permeability to 4kD Fluorescein-labelled dextran, accompanied with reduced expression of tight junction proteins claudin-1 and occludin.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the critical role of cathelicidin in maintaining gut barrier integrity in polymicrobial sepsis. This may partially explain the association between lower LL-37 and higher mortality in septic patients.

Thoughts from us…

Mice….again!! This has relevance to genetic screening of humans. If someone is deficient in the gene for production of cathelicidin, they are therefore perhaps more likely to be worse off as translocation of nasties in a septic insult will be greater from the gut. They may suffer a greater systemic insult than those who are normal expressers.

Proline-specific peptidases in the plasma of patients with septic shock: their potential as biomarker and associations with established parameters

Gwendolyn Vliegen1, Kaat Kehoe1, Robert Verkerk1, Erik Fransen2, Esther Peters3,4, Anne-Marie Lambeir1, Peter Pickkers3, Philippe G. Jorens5, Ingrid De Meester1
1 Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; 2 StatUa Center for Statistics, University of Antwerp, Prins Boudewijnlaan 43, 2650 Edegem, Belgium; 3 Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical center, 6500HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 4 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radboud university medical center, 6500HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 5 Department of Critical Care Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital and Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
Correspondence: Gwendolyn Vliegen (gwendolyn.vliegen@uantwerpen.be)

Background

To date, there is no standard diagnostic test to identify septic patients, although early identification is necessary to improve their outcome. We sought to identify novel biomarkers by studying the enzymatic activity of the proline-specific peptidases dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), prolyl carboxypeptidase (PRCP), fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) and prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) in the plasma of 32 controls and 40 patients with septic shock on days 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Materials and methods

Enzymatic activity measurements were done using in-house developed specific assays. On the same days, inflammatory (e.g. TNF-α, IL-6) , hemodynamic (e.g. mean arterial pressure, pulse) and metabolic parameters (e.g. bilirubin, lactate) were measured as well. The data was used to generate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and to identify associations. A survival analysis (up to 90 days) was also performed.

Results

Significant differences between the control group and the patients with septic shock could be found for all four enzymes. PREP and PRCP showed a higher enzymatic activity on day 1 compared to the controls (p ≤ 0.05 and p ≤ 0.01, respectively). FAP and DPP4, on the other hand, were both much lower in the patients group on all studied time points (p ≤ 0.001). PREP, FAP and DPP4 showed to be very good in discriminating cases from controls with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.91 (CI: 0.85-0.99), 0.96 (CI: 0.92-1) and 0.94 (CI: 0.89-0.99), respectively. PRCP had a lower predicting value with an AUC of 0.69 (CI: 0.58-0.82). A nominally significant association was observed between survival and the DPP4 enzymatic activity at day 1 (p ≤ 0.05), with a higher DPP4 enzymatic activity being associated with an increase in survival. Several interesting positive associations, such as PRCP with lactate, PREP with IL-1 receptor antagonist and PREP with intestinal fatty-acid binding protein, were identified. PRCP and PREP were also associated with the dosage of noradrenalin administered to maintain an acceptable mean arterial pressure.

Conclusions

DPP4, FAP and PREP showed to be good in discriminating between controls and cases and should be further explored as possible candidate biomarkers for sepsis. The associations found also warrant further research.

Thoughts from us…

You get the theme here…more and more biomarkers are being found in sepsis and we are always looking to find the one we should chase. It’s all a bit like Darwin’s trip to the Galapagos here…..new discoveries galore! But will any actually be relevent to save our septic patients??

Dexamethasone prevents epithelial barrier dysfunction in endotoxemic rats

Aline Barbosa Ribeiro, Ana Paula Trevelin Souza, Humberto Giusti, Celso Rodrigues Franci, Rafael Simone Saia
Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
Correspondence: Rafael Simone Saia (rssaia@fmrp.usp.br)

Background

The systemic inflammation represents a primary injury to the intestinal epithelium structure. In acute phase, the massive production of inflammatory mediators (cytokines and nitric oxide) contributes to the intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation and tight junction rearrangement. During the past decades, the clinical administration of glucocorticoids has been widely discussed and the Surviving Sepsis Campaign’s recommendation is the low-dose treatment for those patients refractory to vasopressor therapy. Our aim was to investigate the possible role of dexamethasone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. Furthermore, we evaluated its ability to modulate the inflammatory response and also the expression of proteins of the intestinal tight junctions.

Materials and methods

To conduct these experiments, male rats had their jugular vein cannulated for endotoxin administration, one day before the experiment. Rats were pre-treated with dexamethasone (synthetic glucocorticoid; 0.1 or 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) before LPS administration (1.5 mg/kg, intravenous). At 6 h after endotoxemia induction, the intestinal permeability was evaluated by injecting FITC-dextran 4 kDa in the ileum, mesenteric lymph nodes were collected for microbiological analysis and also cytokines were quantified in the plasma and intestinal mucosa by ELISA technique. Additionally, the integrity of the tight junctions was determined by transmission electron microscopy, histological analysis, the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, claudin-1, claudin-2, junctional adhesion molecule-A) as well as their localization.

Results

Our results demonstrated that dexamethasone administration reduces the LPS-induced permeability in the ileum and prevented the bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes. The plasma and mucosa concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in dexamethasone-treated rats. Furthermore, treatment with dexamethasone reverted the LPS-induced epithelial barrier dysfunction, increasing the expression of occludin and claudin-1, reducing the claudin-2 cleavage and also the localization of these proteins at the apical portion. Moreover, the histological damages and the morphology of the tight junctions were preserved by the dexamethasone administration, therefore reducing their opening induced by endotoxemia.

Conclusions

Together these results suggest a protective role for dexamethasone preventing the intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by systemic inflammation, possibly modulating the inflammatory response. Furthermore, these experimental findings reinforce the Surviving Sepsis Campaign’s recommendation for the administration of low glucocorticoid doses in septic shock patients.

Thoughts from us…

Rats this time…mice got away! Perhaps re-enforces steroids in septic shock. Dex rather than the usual hydrocortisone though. “rat food for thought’!

Cytokine response in adult severe sepsis patients with features of macrophage activation syndrome

Renee R. Anderko1, Vanessa M. Jackson1, Octavia M. Peck Palmer1,2, Derek C. Angus1, John A. Kellum1,3, Joseph A. Carcillo1,4
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 3Center for Critical Care Nephrology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 4Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Correspondence: Renee R. Anderko (anderkorr@upmc.edu)

Background

Shakoory and colleagues performed a post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial of anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and reported that severe sepsis patients with features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), defined by the combined presence of hepatobiliary dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation, represented 5.6 % of the severe sepsis population. Additionally, anakinra, in comparison with placebo, reduced 28-day mortality (34.6 % vs 64.7 %; p < 0.05) in a subset of patients with features of MAS. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the Protocolized Care for Early Septic Shock (ProCESS) trial would contain a similar proportion of septic patients with features of MAS and a similar mortality rate. We further hypothesized that MAS patients would have elevated circulating biomarkers related to macrophage activation, including ferritin, interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ).

Materials and methods

We selected all patients with features of MAS and age-matched controls without features of MAS from the ProCESS trial. Concentrations of circulating ferritin, IL-18, IL-1β, and IFN-γ were measured in plasma samples collected on day 1, and mortality was assessed at hospital discharge and at 90 days. The MAS patients were further stratified according to their circulating ferritin levels, and a threshold of 1200 ng/ml was established based on the upper limit of the 95 % confidence interval for the mean ferritin concentration in MAS survivors.

Results

Of the 1341 ProCESS subjects, 82 exhibited features of MAS (6.1 %). In-hospital and 90-day mortality rates were higher in the MAS patients than the non-MAS patients (42.7 % vs 9.8 % and 61.0 % vs 28.1 %; p < 0.05). As outlined below, MAS subjects showed higher circulating ferritin, IL-18, and IL-1β concentrations (p < 0.05). Approximately 27 % of septic patients with features of MAS had ferritin concentrations greater than 1200 ng/ml. Interestingly, these patients had higher in-hospital mortality (63.6 %) and 90-day mortality (72.7 %), as well as higher IL-18, IL-1β, and IFN-γ concentrations compared to the septic patients without MAS (p < 0.05) also below.

Conclusions

Post hoc analysis of ProCESS patients illustrated that features of MAS are relatively uncommon but lethal in severe sepsis. Septic patients with features of MAS and ferritin levels greater than 1200 ng/ml had the highest mortality and increased IL-18, IL-1β, and IFN-γ concentrations compared to non-MAS septic patients, making this an attractive subset to target in future anti-inflammatory agent trials.

Thoughts from us…

This demonstrates that if you can pick up MAS patients, you may have to expect a worse outcome from sepsis than in those without. Is this one to be vigilant to??

Evaluation of a novel molecular host response assay to diagnose infection in patients after high-risk gastro-intestinal surgery: a pilot study

D.M. Verboom1,2, M.E. Koster-Brouwer1,2, K. van de Groep1,2, J.F. Frencken1,2, B. Scicluna3, S.S. Gisbertz4, M.I. van Berge Henegouwen4, J.P. Ruurda5, R. van Hillegersberg5, T. van der Poll3,6,7, M.J.M. Bonten1,8, O.L. Cremer2
1Julius Center for health sciences and primary care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 2Department of Intensive Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 3Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 4Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 5Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.; 6Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 7Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands|; 8Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Correspondence: D.M. Verboom (D.M.Verboom@umcutrecht.nl)
Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest related to the subject matter.

Background

Patients after esophagectomy are prone to develop sepsis due to pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, or wound infection. A new diagnostic test (SeptiCyte LAB) that measures the expression of four blood gene biomarkers has diagnostic utility in distinguishing sepsis from SIRS. However, test performance in the immediate postoperative setting has not been investigated.

Materials and methods

We studied patients undergoing esophagectomy in two Dutch university hospitals from 2011 to 2013 who had developed a complication requiring ICU (re)admission within 30 days. Blood was collected postoperatively and when a complication occurred. After RNA extraction, samples were analyzed on an Applied Biosystems® 7500 fast Dx Real-Time PCR instrument. SeptiCyte LAB results (a score, range 0–10) were categorized into four probability bands according to the manufacturer’s specification.

Results

Among 384 patients 113 (29 %) subjects had developed at least one complication and were thus eligible for study inclusion; paired samples (i.e., both a direct postoperative and follow-up sample) were available for 71 (63 %) of these. Sample preparation or processing issues resulted in exclusion of 4 pairs, leaving 67 (59 %) patients for analysis (Table 5).

Five (7 %) patients had active infection during postoperative sampling, and 55 (82 %) on the day of their first complication. SeptiCyte results were highly variable immediately after surgery and at follow-up, but scores increased significantly as complications evolved (median 2.7 (IQR 1.6-3.4) versus 7.3 (5.7-8.7); p < 0.001). Importantly, samples taken during infection yielded higher scores then specimens taken at onset of a non-infectious complication (median 7.3 (5.7-8.7) versus 5.2 (4–6.3); p < 0.001).

Considering all 134 samples separately, 45 were classified as ‘sepsis not likely’ based on a SeptiCyte score <3.1; among these, we observed 2 cases of confirmed infection (false negative rate 4 %). Likewise, among 89 events with a score >3.1, infection was ruled-out or never clinically suspected in 33 cases (false positive rate 37 %). The incorporation of SeptiCyte LAB results markedly improved the performance of SIRS criteria in classifying confirmed infections (c-statistic 0.86 (95%CI 0.80-0.93) versus 0.97 (95%CI 0.94-0.99); p < 0.001). However, a final diagnosis of infection could not be made with certainty on 21 occasions (including two postoperative samples), which precluded formal estimation of test characteristics.

Conclusion

SeptiCyte LAB is a novel sepsis biomarker which may have clinical utility in monitoring patients at high risk for postoperative infections, but its diagnostic value in this setting has to be further evaluated.

Thoughts from us…

Oesophagectomies certainly can be a nightmare post op, particularly when they develop sepsis. This test is another of a bunch. Here however, the population is specific and again, the expense may not befit the overall benefit?? Watch this space. Next there will be a breath rest for sepsis!

Validation of sepsis-3 diagnostic criteria in intensive care unit patients

D.M. Verboom1,2, J.F. Frencken1,2, T. van der Poll3,4, M.J.M. Bonten1,5, O.L. Cremer2, P.M.C. Klein Klouwenberg5
1 Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 2 Department of Intensive Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 3 Center for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 4 Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 5 Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Correspondence: D.M. Verboom (D.M.Verboom@umcutrecht.nl)
Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest related to the subject matter.

Background

The Third International Consensus definitions for sepsis aimed to improve the discrimination between sepsis and uncomplicated infections. Our goal was to assess the construct and criterion validity of the new definitions in a cohort of ICU patients with infection.

Methods

We analyzed ICU patients with suspected infection who were enrolled as part of a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands between June 2011 and April 2015. Infections were classified as either present at admission or newly-acquired in the ICU (onset >48 hours). Sepsis and septic shock were defined according to both old and updated criteria. The apparent incidences of sepsis and septic shock according to both definitions, and associated hospital mortality rates were compared. In addition, we explored minor variations in the timing of diagnostic criteria relative to infection onset, and inclusion of lactate for the definition of septic shock. Sepsis status was added to a baseline logistic model (including age, gender, race and chronic comorbidity) to evaluate the value of the sepsis-3 criteria in predicting mortality.

Results

Among 1582 included patients, 1081 had suspected infection at admission; 1020 (94 %) and 391 (36 %) of these fulfilled sepsis and shock criteria according to the sepsis-3 definitions, compared to 1044 (97 %) and 290 (27 %) for the old definitions (agreement 92 % and 81 %, respectively). Mortality was 28 % (95%CI 25–31) in patients meeting sepsis-3 criteria compared to 27 % (95%CI 25–30) for new definitions, this was 42 % (95%CI 37–47) and 50 % (95%CI 45–56) for septic shock. Among 501 patients with ICU-acquired infection, 298 (59 %) and 141 (28 %) patients as compared to 497 (98 %) and 96 (19 %) patients fulfilled the new and old definitions, respectively (agreement 60 % and 73 %). Mortality in sepsis was 38 % (95%CI 33–44) and 35 % (95%CI 31–39) and was 50 % (95%CI 41–58) versus 69 % (95%CI 59–78) for septic shock. Although the observed incidence of sepsis and septic shock varied widely by both variations in the time window used for defining sepsis and inclusion of lactate for defining shock, neither modification impacted mortality. Sepsis-3 had small, but statistically significant incremental value in predicting mortality in patients with infection at admission (AUC 0.62 versus 0.60;p = 0.0002), nearly equal the old sepsis definition in this respect (AUC 0.61 versus 0.60;p = 0.0338).

Conclusion

Agreement between new and old sepsis definitions was higher in infections at admission than in ICU-acquired infections. Mortality was similar using the various sepsis definitions. Sepsis-3 had no clinical relevant additive value in predicting mortality infections at admission.

Thought from us…

Everyone is intent on pulling the new, simplified definition apart. We are looking at different infective spectra here and comparing the 2 classifications with outcome. I think they are both as good as each other, but over time undoubtedly, there will be more and more attacks which refute my opinion certainly!

Aromatic metabolites clearance reflects the efficiency of ICU treatment more accurately then lactate clearance

Natalia Beloborodova, Artem Osipov, Alisa Pautova, Aleksandra Bedova
Negovsky Research Institute of General Reanimatology, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence: Natalia Beloborodova (nvbeloborodova@yandex.ru)

Introduction

Metabolites of aromatic amino acids – phenylcarboxylic acids (PhCAs) – significantly increased in critically ill patients with infection, especially with sepsis [1] and associated with mortality [2, 3]. They have demonstrated good predictive ability in patients with different critical illness. Unfortunately, accurate prediction does not save the patient’s life. We need better criteria for evaluating of treatment efficiency in patients with infection. This work is our first step in the development of laboratory monitoring based on PhCA clearance.

Methods

High-risk patients with median age 60 (IR 53–74) years with acute abdomen (n = 45, male 51 %) were admitted to the ICU immediately after emergency surgery. Acute abdomen development was associated with intestinal perforation (n = 26) and/or acute intestinal obstruction (n = 19). Serum samples were collected on the first and the third days of treatment in the ICU. The total level (C) of three PhCAs (phenyllactic, p-hydroxyphenyllactic and p-hydroxyphenylacetic acids) was measured using previously described gas chromatography methodology. Lactate concentration (C) and SOFA scores were registered. PhCA and lactate clearance was calculated as followed: [(Cfirst-Cthird)/Cfirst]x100%. The efficiency of treatment was judged based on the ICU outcome. Statistical processing was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program.

Results

The results were divided into two sub-groups and were presented as medians with 25-75 % interquartile range depending on the outcome below.

PhCA and lactate clearances correlated with changes in SOFA scale rs: 0.655 and 0.531 respectively, p < 0.05. Logistic regression equation was formulated for each of the clearances (−2log; p): PhCAs (35.106;<0.001), lactate (52.252;0.025). So the proportion of true predicted solutions with the usage of the model based on PhCA clearance was 82 %, while lactate model gave only 73 %. Logistic regression determined that the treatment should be considered as effective if PhCA level reduced by 27 % or more on the third day (in this case risk of fatal outcome is lower than 10 %) and not effective if PhCA level increased more than 60 % from the initial level (as evidenced by a high risk of mortality >30 %). The prognostic value based on the clearance was more significant for PhCAs [AUC 0,862 (p < 0.001)] then for lactate [AUC 0.667 (p = 0.071)].

Conclusions

Essentially new data suggest a promising use of PhCA clearance for the assessment of the ICU treatment efficiency.

Thoughts from us…

Will we be chasing PhCA’s in sepsis soon?? Will this be included in a new scoring system and will a gas machine be able to give us a quick reading on this??? We await further studies.

CETPI defines its function as a novel plasma LPS-binding protein with implications in the treatment of septic shock

Jaime Mas-Oliva1, Victor García-González2
1Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. de México, México; 2Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali, México
Correspondence: Jaime Mas-Oliva (jmas@ifc.unam.mx)

Background

The cholesteryl-ester transfer protein isoform exclusively expressed in the small intestine (CETPI) and present in human plasma, although discovered by our group a few years ago, it had been waiting for a functional description and a plausible role of physiological relevance. Unlike the cholesteryl-ester transfer protein (CETP), CETPI does not present exon 16 and 54 bases contained in intron 15 form part of the new mRNA replacing the 24 C-terminus residues present in CETP with a sequence of 18 residues containing a high concentration of prolines and positively charged amino acids. Now, the present study introduces CETPI as a new protein with the potential capability to recognize, bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in circulation during septic shock. Employing several peptides derived from the C-terminus domain of CETPI we demonstrate their property not only to interact with several LPS serotypes but also to displace LPS bound to the surface of cells.

Results

Peptide VSAK derived from the last 18 residues of CETPI protects against the cytotoxic effect of LPS upon macrophages, hepatocytes and microglial cells, does not show cytotoxicity by itself, and prevents against the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the generation of oxidative stress. For many years, the phenomenon of recognition of bacterial LPS as components of the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria carried out by the innate immune system was thought to involve simple pathways if compared to the acquired immune system. Nowadays this view has dramatically changed since complex pathways involving multiple receptors and protein-protein interactions have been described. Nevertheless, despite the efforts made to counteract what it is known as the inflammatory disequilibrium syndrome and overall the outcome of septic shock, current therapeutic possibilities mainly involving inflammation and metabolic control and antibiotic treatment, have not changed for many years. Therefore, since CETPI efficiently binds LPS in vitro and it is overexpressed in small intestine cell cultures and proved to be present in human plasma, the efficacy of the administration of peptide VSAK against LPS cytotoxicity was studied in vivo. Employing a septic shock model in rabbits, we demonstrate that the infusion of peptide VSAK presents the ability to protect against the deleterious effects of LPS and the property of reducing the presence of TNFα in plasma.

Conclusions

CETPI presents itself as a new protein that undoubtedly will advance the possibilities to better understand and treat the dangerous effects of LPS present during the treatment of sepsis caused by Gram-negative bacteria and its common consequence, a septic shock condition.

Thoughts from us…

Rabbits here…..can we isolate this and formulate a deliverable version to ‘mop up’ the devastating byproducts of sepsis. We are using steroids to attempt to do this, and antibiotics etc…is this another APC! Hope not!

Highly multiplexed molecular pathogen ID followed by phenotypic AST from whole blood using a novel fully automated system

Jonas Jarvius1, Johan Mörck1, Ylva Molin1, Richard Kroon1, Markus Klintstedt1, Martin Sundqvist2, Charlotta Göransson1
1Q-linea AB, Uppsala, Sweden, 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden
Correspondence: Jonas Jarvius (charlotta.goransson@qlinea.com)

Background

To address the need of more rapid diagnosis of potential pathogens causing sepsis or septic shock in patients, Q-linea is developing a fully automated, high-throughput diagnostic platform, ASTrID®.The system will perform both molecular pathogen identification and phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), directly from whole blood, delivering ID after four hours and AST in additional six. The pathogen panel will cover 95 % of relevant pathogens including 33 unique pathogens and 10 groups, as well as 11 resistance markers. The panel of antibiotic substances will contain 30 antibiotics and bacterial growth or inhibition reported as Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values.

Materials/Methods

In an ongoing study clinical blood samples are collected from patients suspected of having sepsis attending the Infectious Disease ER, University hospital of Örebro, Sweden. In addition to the standard 4 blood culture flasks drawn per patient for routine diagnostics, an extra, 5–10 ml, blood sample were taken for the present study. Pathogen ID and AST analysis was performed in a prototype ASTrID system, starting with target identification through a proprietary nucleic acid amplification reaction. Highly specific and selective padlock probes forming circularized DNA strands [1,2] are amplified via rolling-circle amplification (RCA) [3] and subsequent circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA) [4]. The resulting RCA products are labelled with fluorescence and detected on a microarray. The proprietary growth-based AST analysis was performed on a subset of clinical isolates spiked in blood (inoculum consistent with 10 CFU/ml blood).

Results

Of the clinical samples collected, 32 samples identified as positive in normal clinical routine diagnostics were selected and are presented in this study. Pathogen identification direct from patient in ASTrID achieved sensitivity of 96 % and specificity of 100 %, compared to conventional analysis on positive blood culture flasks. When compared with broth microdilution, the ASTrID AST results showed 99 % essential agreement and 99 % categorical agreement. Overall, the results were highly correlated with traditional technologies and EUCAST guidelines.

Conclusion

With ASTrID, both pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing can be done within 10 hours from blood draw. This dramatically shortens the time to adjusted treatment. The molecular pathogen identification method allows high multiplex, high sensitivity testing. The phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility profiling method developed reports reliable data directly from patient samples, without the need to wait for positive blood cultures. The new ASTrID platform from Q-linea has the potential to become a crucial tool against the global challenge of antibiotics resistance, helping to save lives and reduce healthcare costs.

Thoughts from us..

Expensive?? But it may indeed be far quicker a test to wait for than cultures! One of our great issues in sepsis is correct streamlining of antibiotics…as at the moment, we seem to be swimming in a world of more and more antibiotic resistant pathogens!

Obligate anaerobic bacteria associated bacteremia

Marina Sukhina1, Vladimir Zhukhovitskiy2
1Department for Microbiology and Immunology, A.N. Ryzhikh State Scientific Center for Coloproctology, Moscow, Russia; 2Laboratory for Identification and Analysis of Microorganisms, N.F. Gamalei State Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence: Marina Sukhina (marinamari272015@gmail.com)

Background

Obligate anaerobic bacteria (OAB) are the dominant microflora of the human body. OAB are often the primary cause of the disease and can also become aggravating factors. OAB cause extensive tissue destruction and toxin production that result in multiorgan failure, thus OAB-associated pathology is usually very difficult to treat. Mixed behavior of anaerobic-aerobic microflora hampers the choice of antimicrobials, often OAB are antibiotic-resistant. Our aim was to assess the frequency of anaerobic bacteremia. We also evaluated antimicrobial resistance in OAB derived from blood of patients with diagnosis «sepsis».

Materials and methods

1300 blood samples were incubated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions on “BD Bactec Aerobic/F” and “BD Bactec Anaerobic/F” media respectively in “Bactec 9120” system (“Becton Dickinson”, USA). OAB cultures were isolated on “Blood Agar” and “Anaerobic Agar” (“Becton Dickinson”, USA) with 5 % (v/v) whole sheep blood under anaerobic conditions in anaerobic environmental chamber “Bactron™” (“Shellab”, USA). Identification and assessment of sensitivity (resistance) to antibiotics were performed by means of MALDI-TOF MS and test-systems “API 20A”, “ATB ANA”.

Results

57 cultures of OAB were isolated from 1300 blood samples (4,5 %). 38 OAB cultures only (67,9 % of OAB isolated) were identified using available techniques of phenotypic identification. 18 OAB cultures (32,1 %) belonged to Clostridia genus and were identified as C. perfringens (4 cultures), C. sphenoides (1), C. acetobutylicum (2), C. fallax (1), C. clostridioforme (1), C. histolyticum (1), C. difficile (3), C. paraputrificum (2), C. butiricum (2), C. novyi (1). Other 12 Gram-positive OAB cultures (21,4 %) were identified as Eggerthella lenta (1), Eubacterium lentum (2), E. sabureum (2), Actinomyces naeslundii (1), Bifidobacterium breve (1), Propionibacterium avidum (1), Peptostreptococcus anaerobius (1), Anaerococcus prevotii (1), Peptococcus niger (1), P. saccharolyticus (1). 7 Gram-negative OAB cultures (12,5 %) were identified as Bacteroides fragilis (1), B. urealyticus (4), Veillonella spp. (2). 30 identified OAB cultures (78,9 %) were Gram-positive and 8 (21,1 %) – Gram-negative. Among 18 non-identified OAB cultures (32,1 % of OAB isolated) 12 (66,7 % of non-identified OAB) were Gram-positive and 6 (33,3 %) – Gram-negative. 7 OAB cultures (12,5 % of OAB isolated) belonged to C. perfringens (2), C. acetobutylicum (1), C. fallax (1), E. sabureum (1), E. lentum (1), P. avidum (1) possessed resistance to metronidazole.

Conclusions

Growing evidence of OAB resistant to conventional anti-anaerobic drugs determines the necessity of monitoring resistance of anaerobes.

Thoughts from us…

Worrying stuff! It goes with the last comment on the abstract before this. There are so many resistant bugs around now and the with the showers or OAB’s about at the moment, it is no surprise we see deterioration despite the patient being on what we think is the correct antibiotic!

Antibiotic resistance patterns in pathogens derived from patients with surgical sepsis: emerging clinical challenges

Marina A. Sukhina1, Igor Obraztsov2, Vladimir G. Zhukhovitskiy3
1Department for Microbiology and Immunology, A.N. Ryzhikh State Scientific Center for Coloproctology, Moscow, Russia; 2Department for Clinical Immunology, D. Rogachev State Scientific and Clinical Center for Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia; 3Laboratory for Identification and Analysis of Microorganisms, N.F. Gamalei State Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
Correspondence: Igor Obraztsov (igor_obraztsov@bk.ru)

Background

Increasing antibiotic resistance of nosocomial pathogens impedes efficient antimicrobial therapy and significantly enhances risk for patients at early stages after operative treatment. Our aim was to investigate spectra of clinically relevant pathogens and their antibiotic resistance patterns to validate our current protocols of empiric antibiotic treatment.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 230 patients from a surgical center for coloprotology and 283 patients from a general surgical hospital who had undergone gastrointestinal surgery and then had a confirmed infectious locus along with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. 475 blood and 213 abdomen isolates were assessed by MALDI-TOF (Bruker, Germany) mass-spectrometer and “miniAPI” (“BioMèrieux”, France) analyzer.

Results

Both cohorts showed the same structure of blood-derived microorganisms with 54 % of Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. with prevalence of coagulase-negative species and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae dominate in both hospitals. There are statistically significant higher shares of dominant pathogens in the center for coloproctology: Staphylococcus spp. by 11 %, K. pneumoniae by 5 %; non-fermenting Gram-negative by 4 %. Resistance to penicillins was >70 %; to protected beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides was >50 %. Mean levels of resistance to cephalosporins are 79.8 % and 53.2 %, to carbapenems – 42.9 % and 52.9 % in general vs coloproctological hospitals. Share of blood-derived methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (MRS) equals >20 % in both hospitals, MRS showed resistance to protected beta-lactams in >90 % cases. Percentage of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococci is 20.0 % in coloproctology vs 1,4 % in general clinic. Respectively, blood-derived K. pneumoniae was resistant to cephalosporins in 63,9 % vs 78,2 %, to carbapenems – in 33.4 % vs 13.5 %, to aminoglycosides – in 68.8 % vs 47.3 %, to fluoroquinolones – in 59.6 % vs 87.2 %. Several tigecycline-resistant blood-derived K. pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp. were isolated. Structure of abdomen-derived isolates is represented by 47,.2 % of Enterobacteriaceae, 40,.7 % of Gram-positive Cocci and 12.1 % of non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria. General antibiotic activity against abdomen-derived microorganisms was 14.3 ± 5,.8 % higher than against blood-derived. Percentage of abdomen-derived MRS was 52.0 %, resistant to protected beta-lactams – 52.8 %, to vancomycin – 15.1 %, resistance patterns of Gram-negative microorganisms see below.

Conclusions

Our data shows huge burden of resistance with high portion of strains insusceptible to the last resort antibiotics including tigecycline. Predomination of K. pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the structure of Gram-negative bacteraemia corresponds with the structure of abdominal isolates; higher levels of resistance in blood isolates compared to abdominal could be driven by selection of resistant strains during systemic antibiotic treatment. Thus strict microbiological monitoring is necessary for efficient antibacterial therapy.

Thoughts from us…

The more you read, the more you worry we are all, at some stage, going to be wiped off the face of the earth by some of these microbes. We are constantly winning temporary battles, but we are seemingly losing the war!

IL-35 and soluble CD14 subtype might be useful prognostic markers in critical septic patients

Cinzia Peronace, Giovanni Matera, Luisa Galati, Aida Giancotti, Giorgio Settimo Barreca, Angela Quirino, Maria Carla Liberto, Alfredo Focà
Institute of Microbiology, Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
Correspondence: Alfredo Focà (cinziaperonace@hotmail.it)

Background

To date reliable biomarkers for prognostic evaluation of septic critical patients, are still needed. A firm pathogenetic and mechanistic association between a laboratory parameter/mediator and a clinical phenotype is a necessary assumption to adopt such parameter/mediator as a clinical biomarker. CARS phase of sepsis has aroused an increasing interest among clinicians. In our previous studies, we demonstrated that sCD25 and IL-10 are reliable sepsis markers. Recently presepsin (soluble CD14 subtype) has been shown to increase in plasma of septic critical subjects. IL-35, a well known immunoregulatory cytokine, has been reported among novel sepsis biomarkers.  Aim of this study was the assessment of IL-35 and presepsin as prognostic sepsis markers in critical patients.

Materials and methods

For this observational prospective study, were sequentially enrolled critical patients admitted to the Unit of Intensive Care (ICU) of the University Hospital of Catanzaro Italy. For such patients admission SOFA scores were calculated. Based on 28 days survival, subjects were stratified in survivors (n = 32) and nonsurvivors (n = 17), while a group of healthy volunteers were also included as negative controls (n = 10). Moreover, clinical and microbiological data including blood culture were recorded. Plasma and serum specimens were collected at the patient admission; samples were tested for presepsin (PATHFAST Presepsin assay), IL-35 (Bio-Ocean LLC) and procalcitonin (VIDAS B.R.A.H.M.S PCT, bioMérieux, Italy). Data were subjected to statistical analysis by ANOVA plus post-hoc PLSD Fisher’s test. Selected data were processed by ROC analysis.

Results

At the admission SOFA scores were found significantly higher (p < 0.001) in nonsurvivor vs. survivor patients. Admission levels of presepsin were significantly more elevated (p < 0.05) (below), in nonsurvivors vs. survivors at the same time. Presepsin concentrations were found significantly increased (p < 0.05), in blood culture-positive in comparison to culture-negative patients at the same time. PCT admission levels did not exhibit significantly different values between nonsurvivor patients and survivor subjects. However, culture-positive patients showed PCT levels at admission significantly increased vs. culture-negative (p < 0.05). Presepsin admission data from dead/alive individuals were subjected to ROC analysis, which revealed a very high accuracy and significant AUROCC (p < 0.0001). Concentrations of IL-35 were found significantly (p < 0.05) higher in nonsurvivors as well as survivors, when compared with healthy subjects.

Conclusions

Presepsin may substantially improve PCT contribution to clinical decisions in the patients evaluated. IL-35 appeared a promising future sepsis biomarker, which deserves further assessment. However present data indicated presepsin as a dependable prognostic tool with an elevated clinical value.

Thoughts from us…

Again, more biomarkers requires more money for your labs. Very interesting however!

Sepsis following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a predictive signature

Yasmine Labiad1, Geoffroy Venton1,2, Céline Baier1, Julien Colle1,2, Laure Farnault2, Corinne Brunet2, Béatrice Loriod1, Nicloas Fernandez-Nunez1, Pierre Suchon3,4, Jean-Camille Mattei5, Pascal Rihet1, Catherine Nguyen1, Régis Costello1,2
1Aix-Marseille Université ; INSERM, UMR1090, TAGC Campus de Luminy, Marseille, F_13288, France; 2Service d’Hématologie et de Thérapie Cellulaire Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Conception, Marseille, France; 3Laboratoire d’Hématologie, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Timone, Marseille, France; 4UMR 1062 NORT, INSERM, Marseille France; 5UMR-911 INSERM Center for research in onco-biology and onco-pharmacology, faculté de médecine, Marseille, France
Correspondence: Yasmine Labiad (labiad.yasmine@gmail.com)

Background

Autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (Auto-HSCT) after therapeutic intensification is based on the administration of myelosuppressive high-dose chemotherapy, followed by infusion of autologous hematopoietic stem cells in order to obtain a faster hematologic reconstitution. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) infusion helps to reduce the duration of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression and lowers the procedure-related mortality rate below 3 %. Over the past two decades, auto-HSCT has shown remarkable development thanks to the use of hematopoietic growth factors. With few exceptions (solid tumors, autoimmune diseases), auto-HSCT is widely indicated for the treatment of hematological malignancies and is considered as a standard treatment in multiple myeloma in young patients and relapsed or refractory high-grade lymphoma (non Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma). Immediately after auto-HSCT, hematologic reconstitution and infectious complications are the two major issues to monitor in transplanted patients. Besides direct toxicity of conditioning regimens, deep and prolonged neutropenia exposes patients to significant risks of infection. Though many patients will develop infectious complications after therapeutic intensification, it remains impossible to predict whether they will or not. Therefore the goal of this work was to determine and identify a sepsis predictive transcriptomic signature in patients receiving auto-HSCT.

Materials and methods

High throughput transcriptomic and bioinformatics analysis were performed to analyze gene expression modulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 21 patients undergoing auto-HSCT for hematological malignancies.

Results

After conditioning regimen, eleven genes were significantly differentially expressed in patients who will develop sepsis within 48 hours. Ten genes were up regulated in patients who develop sepsis compared with patients who not develop sepsis. And one gene were down regulated. 100 % of patients were classified in the right group according to their gene expression and based on SVMs analysis. Transcriptomic signature may predict sepsis profiles and is more robust than the main confounding factors, such as conditioning regimen type or gender, which were therefore excluded from the analysis. In order to confirm our results, our transcriptomic signature has been validated on a 10 patient’s prospective validation cohort.

Conclusions

Infectious complications are a major issue in patients receiving auto-HSCT. Eleven genes are significantly differentially expressed in patients who will develop sepsis within 48 hours following the conditioning regimen. Such predictive transcriptomic signature opens up to new therapeutic strategies based on antibiotic and/or antifungal prophylaxis adapted to the specific risk profile of each patient.

Thoughts from us…

Genetic screening in sepsis is shedding more and more light upon why certain patients are so susceptible to morbidity and mortality from infective insults.

Simvastatin effects in the brain oxidative stress during experimental sepsis

Luis Henrique A Costa1, Carlos Henrique R Catalão1, Nilton N Santos-Júnior1, Anderson O Souza2, Luciane C Alberici2, Maria José A Rocha3
1Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; 2Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; 3Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Correspondence: Luis Henrique A Costa (luis.angenendt@gmail.com)

Background

Previous studies have shown that during sepsis, brain oxidative stress and damage are induced by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although there are recent reports about the benefits of statins in experimental sepsis and endotoxemia in peripheral organs, little is known about its effect in the central nervous system. Our objective was to investigate the antioxidant properties of simvastatin and its possible neuroprotective effect during experimental sepsis.

Materials and methods

Male Wistar rats (250–300 g) were submitted to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP, n = 34) or remained as non-manipulated control (or naive, n = 34). Both groups were treated by gavage with simvastatin (20 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of saline. The animals submitted to CLP were treated 4 days before and 48 h after surgery. One animal group was decapitated and blood and brain were collected to quantify plasma levels of cytokines and assess astrogliosis and apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Another group was perfused with PBS (0,01 M), and the same brain structures were dissected to analyze oxidative damage.

Results

The CLP-rats treated with simvastatin showed a reduction in nitric oxide (P < 0.05), IL1-β (P < 0.001), IL-6 (P < 0.01) and TBARS levels (P < 0.001) and an increase in catalase activity (P < 0.01), citrate synthase enzyme (P <0.05) and normalized GSH/GSSG ratio. In addition, the histopathological analysis showed a reduction (P < 0.001) in reactive astrocytes and caspase 3-positive apoptotic cells.

Conclusions

The results suggest a neuroprotective effect of simvastatin in structures responsible for the spatial learning and memory. Behavioral studies are needed to evaluate its impact on cognitive damage triggered by experimental sepsis encephalopathy.

Statins raising their heads again here! They do seem to have immunomodulatory effects amongst septic patients as evidenced by the cacophony of trials that have ultimately accidentally demonstrated these effects. Further trials are needed and RCT’s at that!

 

Our views on these abstracts

Looks like this was a great meeting displaying a lot of hard work. So….animals seem to be our saviours in discovering new ammunition against sepsis. There are vast numbers of biomarkers out there (being discovered almost hourly!), helping us shed more light upon sepsis and why it seems to take so many lives. There are also many biomarkers we could potentially focus down on with larger studies (RCT’s).

Will we ever cure sepsis……same as the common cold analogy….we shall see!

JW