Biomedical subjects

Bernard Regnier

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard Regnier.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Successful long-term program for controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of screening strategy and contact precautions for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational cohort from 1 February 1995 to 31 December 2001 in three intensive care units (45 beds) in a French teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 8,548 patients admitted to the three ICUs had nasal screening on ICU admission and weekly thereafter. Contact precautions were used in MRSA-positive patients. The following variables were collected: age, gender, severity score, length of stay, workload, and colonization pressure (percentage of patient-days with an MRSA to the number of patient-days in the unit). Alcohol-based handrub solution was introduced in July 2000. We compared the period before this (P1) with that thereafter (P2). RESULTS: Of the 8,548 admitted patients 554 (6.5%) had MRSA at ICU admission, and 456 of the 7,515 (6.1%) exposed patients acquired MRSA. Acquisition incidence decreased from 7.0% in P1 to 2.8% in P2. Independent variables associated with MRSA acquisition were: age (adjusted odds ratio 1.013), severity score (1.047), length of ICU stay (1.015), colonization pressure (1.019), medical ICU (1.58), and P2 (0.49). CONCLUSIONS: MRSA control in these ICUs characterized by a high prevalence of MRSA at admission was achieved via multiple factors, including screening, contact precautions, and use of alcoholic handrub solution. Our results after adjustment of risk factors for MRSA acquisition and the steady improvement in MRSA over several years strengthen these findings. MRSA spreading can be successfully controlled in ICUs with high colonization pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

High prevalence of carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at hospital admission in elderly patients: implications for infection control strategies.

BACKGROUND: Despite contact isolation precautions for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MRSA infections are increasing in many countries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of a potential unrecognized reservoir of MRSA carried by patients in acute care wards, we determined the prevalence of MRSA at hospital admission, with special emphasis on screening-specimen yields. SETTING: A 1100-bed teaching hospital in Paris, France. METHODS: Nasal screening cultures were performed at admission to a tertiary-care teaching hospital for patients older than 75 years. RESULTS: MRSA was isolated from 63 (7.9%) of 797 patients. On the multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with MRSA carriage were presence of chronic skin lesions (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.10; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 2.52-10.33); transfer from a nursing home, rehabilitation unit, or long-term-care unit (AOR, 4.52; CI95, 2.23-9.18); and poor chronic health status (AOR, 1.80; CI95, 1.02-3.18). Without admission screening, 84.1% of MRSA carriers would have been missed at hospital admission and 76.2% during their hospital stay. Furthermore, 81.1% of days at risk for MRSA dissemination would have been spent without contact isolation precautions had admission screening not been performed. CONCLUSIONS: MRSA carriage at hospital admission is far more prevalent than MRSA-positive clinical specimens. This may contribute to failure of contact isolation programs. Screening cultures at admission help to identify the reservoir of unknown MRSA patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Impact of HAART advent on admission patterns and survival in HIV-infected patients admitted to an intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Several studies found increased survival times and decreased hospitalization rates since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of HAART on admission patterns and survival of HIV-infected patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: All HIV-infected patients admitted from 1 January 1995 to 30 June 1999, to an infectious diseases ICU located in Paris. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ICU utilization and admission patterns, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 426 HIV-related admissions were included. Sepsis increased from 16.3% to 22.6% from the pre- to the post-HAART era, whereas AIDS-related admissions decreased from 57.7% to 37% (P < 0.05). No significant difference in ICU utilization was found. In both periods, half of the patients were not on antiretroviral treatment at ICU admission. In-ICU mortality was 23%, without significant difference between the study periods. By multivariable analysis, in-ICU mortality was significantly associated with SAPS II > 40, Omega score > 75 and mechanical ventilation; and long-term survival with admission in the HAART era and AIDS at ICU admission. Cumulative survival rates after ICU discharge were 85.3% and 70.8% after 12 and 24 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HAART had little impact on ICU utilization by HIV-infected patients. After the introduction of HAART AIDS-related conditions decreased and sepsis increased as reasons for ICU admission. Whereas ICU survival was dependent on usual prognostic markers, long-term survival was clearly dependent on HIV disease stage and HAART availability. In both study periods, at least a half of the HIV infected patients were not on anti-retroviral treatment at the time of ICU admission.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics and outcomes of HIV-infected patients in the ICU: impact of the highly active antiretroviral treatment era.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the rate of admission, the clinical spectrum, and the mortality of HIV-infected ICU patients. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Infectious diseases ICU in a teaching hospital, Paris, France. PATIENTS: All HIV-infected patients admitted during a pre-HAART era (1995-1996; n=189) and a HAART era (1998-2000; n=236). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: At the HAART era, 79% of patients had derived no or little benefit from the availability of HAART at ICU admission: 44% had no history of antiretroviral (ARV) medications and 35% had failed to respond to ARV. As compared with the pre-HAART era, the rate of hospitalized HIV-infected patients requiring the ICU stay increased (HAART, 5.9% vs pre-HAART, 4.4%; p=0.004). The admission was more likely to occur through the emergency room (45 vs 29%, p=0.0004), and the patients to be foreigners (38.1 vs 28.6%; p=0.04). After adjustment for significant prognostic covariates (AIDS-related tumors at admission, CD4 count <50/mm(3), poor functional status (Knaus score C or D), SAPSII, and need for mechanical ventilation), ICU survival was unchanged (adjusted OR=0.613, 95% CI=0.312-1.206), but 3-month survival was significantly improved (adjusted OR=0.57; 95% CI=0.32-0.99; p=0.045). CONCLUSION: The number of HIV-infected patients admitted to the ICU remained high in the HAART era. Underutilization of HAART and limited access to health care are possible explanations. The ICU mortality has remained unchanged, but 3-month mortality has decreased.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Discrepancies between perceptions by physicians and nursing staff of intensive care unit end-of-life decisions.

Several studies have pointed out ethical shortcomings in the decision-making process for withholding or withdrawing life-supporting treatments. We conducted a study to evaluate the perceptions of all caregivers involved in this process in the intensive care unit. A closed-ended questionnaire was completed by 3,156 nursing staff members and 521 physicians from 133 French intensive care units (participation rate, 42%). Decision-making processes were perceived as satisfactory by 73% of physicians and by only 33% of the nursing staff. More than 90% of caregivers believed that decision-making should be collaborative, but 50% of physicians and only 27% of nursing staff members believed that the nursing staff was actually involved (p < 0.001). Fear of litigation was a reason given by physicians for modifying information given to competent patients, families, and nursing staff. Perceptions by nursing staff may be a reliable indicator of the quality of medical decision-making processes and may serve as a simple and effective tool for evaluating everyday practice. Recommendations and legislation may help to build consensus and avoid conflicts among caregivers at each step of the decision-making process.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗