Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing of hospitalized patients may have benefit in reducing hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HABSIs). However, the magnitude of effect, implementation fidelity, and patient-centered outcomes are unclear. In this meta-analysis, we examined the effect of CHG bathing on prevention of HABSIs and assessed fidelity to implementation of this behavioral intervention. We undertook a meta-analysis by searching Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane’s CENTRAL registry from database inception through January 4, 2019 without language restrictions. We included randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized trials and quasi-experimental studies that evaluated the effect of CHG bathing versus a non-CHG comparator for prevention of HABSIs in any adult healthcare setting. Studies of pediatric patients, of pre-surgical CHG use, or without a non-CHG comparison arm were excluded. Outcomes of this study were HABSIs, patient-centered outcomes, such as patient comfort during the bath, and implementation fidelity assessed through five elements: adherence, exposure or dose, quality of the delivery, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. Three authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality; a random-effects model was used. We included 26 studies with 861,546 patient-days and 5259 HABSIs. CHG bathing markedly reduced the risk of HABSIs (IRR = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52–0.68). The effect of CHG bathing was consistent within subgroups: randomized (0.67, 95% CI: 0.53–0.85) vs. non-randomized studies (0.54, 95% CI: 0.44–0.65), bundled (0.66, 95% CI: 0.62–0.70) vs. non-bundled interventions (0.51, 95% CI: 0.39–0.68), CHG impregnated wipes (0.63, 95% CI: 0.55–0.73) vs. CHG solution (0.41, 95% CI: 0.26–0.64), and intensive care unit (ICU) (0.58, 95% CI: 0.49–0.68) vs. non-ICU settings (0.56, 95% CI: 0.38–0.83). Only three studies reported all five measures of fidelity, and ten studies did not report any patient-centered outcomes. Patient bathing with CHG significantly reduced the incidence of HABSIs in both ICU and non-ICU settings. Many studies did not report fidelity to the intervention or patient-centered outcomes. For sustainability and replicability essential for effective implementation, fidelity assessment that goes beyond whether a patient received an intervention or not should be standard practice particularly for complex behavioral interventions such as CHG bathing. Study registration with PROSPERO CRD42015032523 .

Background: Both acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and thrombocytopenia are very common and have been independently associated with mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients. Thrombocytopenia is an independent risk factor for AKI and also a marker of disease severity. There is a paucity of literature on the prevalence, incidence, and outcome of thrombocytopenia in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We aimed at identifying the impact of thrombocytopenia on patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with AKI requiring CRRT. Methods: We retrospectively studied consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU from December 9, 2006 through December 31, 2009, with follow-up for 12 months who received CRRT. Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet counts of <150,000/µl and severe thrombocytopenia as platelet counts of <50,000/µl. Outcomes were mortality and length of stay, both in ICU and hospital. Descriptive summary and multivariable regression model were used for data analyses. Results: Out of the 541 patients studied, thrombocytopenia was observed in 350 (65%) prior to the initiation of CRRT, and 107 (20%) developed it after CRRT was started. The average age of patients was 61 ± 15; 328 (61%) were men. Sepsis was present in more than half of the patients requiring CRRT. We found a graded increase (p = 0.01) in ICU mortality with worsening platelet counts; 33, 40, and 51% of patients died in ICU with platelet counts ≥150,000/μl, 50,000-149,000/μl, and ≤50,000/µl, respectively. Thrombocytopenia prior to the initiation of CRRT and severe thrombocytopenia prior to and following the initiation of CRRT were associated with increased ICU mortality (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is very common in ICU patients who are on CRRT, and both thrombocytopenia prior to the start of CRRT and severe thrombocytopenia developing after the initiation of CRRT significantly impact patient survival. Future large-scale prospective studies will help to explore the role of platelet in prognostication of outcome among CRRT patients.

To report the Mayo Clinic experience with COVID-19 related to patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020 at any of the Mayo Clinic sites. We abstracted pertinent comorbidities such as age, gender, body mass index, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) variables, and treatments received. Factors associated with hospitalization and mortality were assessed in univariate and multivariate models. A total of 7,891 patients with confirmed COVID-19 with research authorization on file received care across the Mayo Clinic during the study period. Of these, 7217 patients were adults ≥ 18 years old which were analyzed further. 897 (11.3%) patients required hospitalization, and 354 (4.5%) patients received care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). All hospitalized patients were reviewed by a COVID-19 Treatment Review Panel, and 77.5% of inpatients received a COVID-19 directed therapy. Overall mortality was 1.1%, with 7.1% mortality in hospitalized patients and 11.9% in patients requiring ICU care. Mayo Clinic outcomes of COVID-19 patients in the ICU, hospital and community compare favorably to those reported nationally. This likely reflects the impact of interprofessional multidisciplinary team evaluation, effective leveraging of clinical trials and available treatments, deployment of remote monitoring tools, and maintenance of adequate operating capacity to not require surge adjustments. These best practices can help guide other health care systems with the continuing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.