Mortality associated with aortic graft infection is considerable. The gold standard for surgical treatment remains explantation of the graft. However, prognostic factors associated with early mortality due to this surgical procedure are not well-known.

The present study was performed to assess the prognosis of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for community acquired pneumonia (CAP) after implementation of new processes of care.

Objectives: Evaluation of the efficacy of empirical aminoglycoside in critically ill patients with bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E BSI). Methods: Patients treated between 2011 and 2018 for ESBL-E BSI in the ICU of six French hospitals were included in a retrospective observational cohort study. The primary endpoint was mortality on day 30. Results: Among 307 patients, 169 (55%) were treated with empirical aminoglycoside. Death rate was 40% (43% with vs. 39% without aminoglycoside, p = 0.55). Factors independently associated with death were age ≥70 years (OR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.09–6.54, p = 0.03), history of transplantation (OR 5.2; 95% CI: 1.4–19.35, p = 0.01), hospital acquired infection (OR 8.67; 95% CI: 1.74–43.08, p = 0.008), vasoactive drugs >48 h after BSI onset (OR 3.61; 95% CI: 1.62–8.02, p = 0.001), occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 2.42; 95% CI: 1.14–5.16, p = 0.02), or acute renal failure (OR 2.49; 95% CI: 1.14–5.47, p = 0.02). Antibiotherapy appropriateness was more frequent in the aminoglycoside group (91.7% vs. 77%, p = 0.001). Rate of renal impairment was similar in both groups (21% vs. 24%, p = 0.59). Conclusions: In intensive care unit (ICU) patients with ESBL-E BSI, empirical treatment with aminoglycoside was frequent. It demonstrated no impact on mortality, despite increasing treatment appropriateness.

Lithium poisoning could trigger multiple complications. We report the case of a lithium poisoning with five complications that are described for the first time together. A 60-year-old woman was admitted in our intensive care unit for altered consciousness. Severe lithium intoxication was diagnosed (lithium plasmatic level 8.21 mmol/l) associated with acute oliguric kidney failure. Continuous renal replacement therapy was started immediately. Orotracheal intubation was quickly required because of status epilepticus. Medullary aplasia happened 48 h after the patient was intubated. Infectious and immunological causes were ruled out and lithium poisoning was considered as the most likely etiology. Iterative blood and platelet transfusion were required. Severe polyneuropathy was diagnosed on the 5th day after admission. The patient showed a peripheral tetraparesia and cranial nerve failure while lithium plasmatic level had decreased to a therapeutic level. Conversely, urine output increased and hypernatremia promptly occurred, which led to diabetes insipidus diagnosis. Neuropathy decreased in 72 h and the patient was definitely extubated by the 11th day. Hematologic disturbances decreased and no blood transfusion would be required after the 8th day. The patient would keep sequellas of the poisoning. Thin motricity would still be altered and polyuria would remain. Diffuse alopecia was promptly observed, with no iron deficiency or thyroid disturbance. In addition to presenting this case report, we herein discuss the drug causality, the consequences, and the plausible pathophysiology of these five situations.

Continuous infusion (CI) with high doses of cefepime is recommended in the empirical antimicrobial regimen of critically ill patients with suspected Gram-negative sepsis. This study aimed to determine factors associated with cefepime overdosing and the incidence of cefepime-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) in these patients. We performed a retrospective study including all patients receiving cefepime treatment between January 2019 and May 2022. The plasma level of cefepime defining overdosing was over 35 mg/L. Neurotoxicity was defined according to strict criteria and correlated with concomitant steady-state concentration of cefepime. Seventy-eight courses of cefepime treatment were analyzed. The mean cefepime plasma level at steady state was 59.8 ± 29.3 mg/L, and overdosing occurred in 80% of patients. Renal failure and a daily dose > 5 g were independently associated with overdosing. CIN was present in 30% of patients. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with CIN were chronic renal failure and a cefepime plasma concentration ≥ 60 mg/L. CIN was not associated with mortality. Overdosing is frequent in patients receiving high doses of cefepime by CI. Steady-state levels are higher than targeted therapeutic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic objectives. The risk of CIN is important when the plasma concentration is ≥60 mg/L.

Early renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation should theoretically influence many physiological disorders related to acute kidney injury (AKI). Currently, there is no consensus about RRT timing in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.