Circulating adrenomedullin estimates survival and reversibility of organ failure in sepsis: the prospective observational multinational Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Sepsis and Septic Shock-1 (AdrenOSS-1) study

Background: Adrenomedullin (ADM) regulates vascular tone and endothelial permeability during sepsis. Levels of circulating biologically active ADM (bio-ADM) show an inverse relationship with blood pressure and a direct relationship with vasopressor requirement. In the present prospective observational multinational Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Sepsis and Septic Shock 1 (, AdrenOSS-1) study, we assessed relationships between circulating bio-ADM during the initial intensive care unit (ICU) stay and short-term outcome in order to eventually design a biomarker-guided randomized controlled trial. Methods: AdrenOSS-1 was a prospective observational multinational study. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included organ failure as defined by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, organ support with focus on vasopressor/inotropic use, and need for renal replacement therapy. AdrenOSS-1 included 583 patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis or septic shock. Results: Circulating bio-ADM levels were measured upon admission and at day 2. Median bio-ADM concentration upon admission was 80.5 pg/ml [IQR 41.5-148.1 pg/ml]. Initial SOFA score was 7 [IQR 5-10], and 28-day mortality was 22%. We found marked associations between bio-ADM upon admission and 28-day mortality (unadjusted standardized HR 2.3 [CI 1.9-2.9]; adjusted HR 1.6 [CI 1.1-2.5]) and between bio-ADM levels and SOFA score (p < 0.0001). Need of vasopressor/inotrope, renal replacement therapy, and positive fluid balance were more prevalent in patients with a bio-ADM > 70 pg/ml upon admission than in those with bio-ADM ≤ 70 pg/ml. In patients with bio-ADM > 70 pg/ml upon admission, decrease in bio-ADM below 70 pg/ml at day 2 was associated with recovery of organ function at day 7 and better 28-day outcome (9.5% mortality). By contrast, persistently elevated bio-ADM at day 2 was associated with prolonged organ dysfunction and high 28-day mortality (38.1% mortality, HR 4.9, 95% CI 2.5-9.8). Conclusions: AdrenOSS-1 shows that early levels and rapid changes in bio-ADM estimate short-term outcome in sepsis and septic shock. These data are the backbone of the design of the biomarker-guided AdrenOSS-2 trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02393781. Registered on March 19, 2015

Microparticles are new biomarkers of septic shock-induced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

PURPOSE: Septic shock-induced disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) contributes to multiple organ failure. Mechanisms governing vascular responses to open occurrence of DIC have not yet been established. Circulating plasma microparticles (MPs), released upon cell stress, constitute a catalytic procoagulant surface and are surrogates of vascular cell activation/injury. Herein, MPs were assessed as possible markers of haemostatic and vascular dysfunction in the DIC time course. METHODS: One hundred patients with septic shock from three ICUs were enrolled and their haemostatic status evaluated at admission (D1), D2, D3 and D7. Circulating procoagulant MPs were isolated, quantified by prothrombinase assay and their cellular origin determined. DIC diagnosis was made according to the JAAM 2006 score. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were analysed and 40 had DIC during the first 24 h. Routine clotting times and factor/inhibitor activity did not allow assessing vascular cell involvement. At admission, thrombin generation and fibrinolysis were observed in both groups while impaired fibrin polymerisation was evidenced only in DIC patients. Sustained thrombin generation persisted over time in both groups at D7. While total microparticle concentrations were in the same range regardless of DIC diagnosis, specific phenotypes were already detected at admission in DIC patients. Endothelial- and leucocyte-derived MPs were higher in DIC while an increased soluble glycoprotein V/platelet ratio was delayed, underscoring the first involvement of endothelial cells and leucocytes whereas platelet activation was delayed. Endothelium-derived CD105-MPs (OR 6.55) and CD31-MPs (OR 0.49) were strongly associated with early DIC in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Endothelial-derived microparticles are relevant biomarkers of septic shock-induced DIC and could be used to evaluate early vascular injury

Regional Practice Variation and Outcomes in the Standard Versus Accelerated Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) Trial: A Post Hoc Secondary Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Among patients with severe acute kidney injury (AKI) admitted to the ICU in high-income countries, regional practice variations for fluid balance (FB) management, timing, and choice of renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality may be significant. DESIGN: Secondary post hoc analysis of the STandard vs. Accelerated initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury (STARRT-AKI) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02568722). SETTING: One hundred-fifty-three ICUs in 13 countries. PATIENTS: Altogether 2693 critically ill patients with AKI, of whom 994 were North American, 1143 European, and 556 from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Total mean FB to a maximum of 14 days was +7199 mL in North America, +5641 mL in Europe, and +2211 mL in ANZ (p < 0.001). The median time to RRT initiation among patients allocated to the standard strategy was longest in Europe compared with North America and ANZ (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Continuous RRT was the initial RRT modality in 60.8% of patients in North America and 56.8% of patients in Europe, compared with 96.4% of patients in ANZ (p < 0.001). After adjustment for predefined baseline characteristics, compared with North American and European patients, those in ANZ were more likely to survive to ICU (p < 0.001) and hospital discharge (p < 0.001) and to 90 days (for ANZ vs. Europe: risk difference [RD], -11.3%; 95% CI, -17.7% to -4.8%; p < 0.001 and for ANZ vs. North America: RD, -10.3%; 95% CI, -17.5% to -3.1%; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Among STARRT-AKI trial centers, significant regional practice variation exists regarding FB, timing of initiation of RRT, and initial use of continuous RRT. After adjustment, such practice variation was associated with lower ICU and hospital stay and 90-day mortality among ANZ patients compared with other regions

Frequency of isolation of Staphylococcus intermedius from humans

We collected 3,397 consecutive isolates of coagulase-positive staphylococci from various specimens of hospitalized patients. All were retrospectively classified as Staphylococcus aureus, except two which were identified as S. intermedius: one isolated from the nasal flora of a healthy carrier and the other isolated from pleural fluid, probably as a sample contaminant.</jats:p