Publications

14 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 14

Abstract (Expand)

Heme and its breakdown products CO, Fe, and bilirubin are being recognized as signaling molecules or even therapeutic agents, but also exert adverse effects when released at high concentrations. Manipulating the pathway confers protection in rodent sepsis models via both control of free heme and formation of its first and higher-order products. Thus, regulatory elements present in human heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and biliverdin reductases (BLVRA/B) genes might impact outcome. We tested whether a highly polymorphic (GT)n microsatellite and single-nucleotide polymorphisms in HMOX1 and BLVRA/B genes are associated with outcome of sepsis. Two cohorts (n = 430 and 398 patients) with severe sepsis were screened for single-nucleotide polymorphisms and/or the microsatellite by fragment length analysis and genotyping techniques. Heme oxygenase 1 plasma levels were determined in additional patients with severe sepsis (n = 92) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on mean Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment scores, patients homozygous for rs2071746 A allele or medium length (GT)n microsatellites of HMOX1 showed higher 28-day mortality (P = 0.047 and P = 0.033) in one cohort compared with other genotypes, whereas 90-day mortality rates showed no association. The T allele was less frequently observed in both cohorts than would be expected according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Heme oxygenase 1 plasma levels were elevated in septic patients, independent of the genotype. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms within BLVRA/B showed no association with outcome. Short (GT)n repeats that are in linkage disequilibrium with the T allele of rs2071746 in HMOX1 are associated with favorable outcome, whereas no association with gene variants of BLVRA/B, involved in the generation of higher-order metabolites, was noticed.

Authors: Christoph Sponholz, Klaus Huse, Marcel Kramer, Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis, Ralf A. Claus, Anna Kern, Christoph Engel, Evelyn Kuhnt, Michael Kiehntopf, Christina Routsi, Vassiliki Mylona, Iraklis Tsangaris, Stefan H. Heinemann, Konrad Reinhart, Matthias Platzer, Michael Bauer

Date Published: 2012

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Structures in intensive care medicine comprise human as well as material resources, organization, and management and may be related to processes thereby affecting patients’ outcomes. Utilizingg a unique data base we evaluated structures of German intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS The study was carried out by the German Competence Network Sepsis (SepNet). Data were prospectively collected on a cross-sectional basis in a representative random sample of German hospitals utilizing a questionnaire. Structures were related to ICU outcome of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. The sample was subdivided in 5 strata according to hospital size. RESULTS A total of 454 ICUs cared for 3877 patients including 415 patients (11%) with severe sepsis or septic shock. The mean number of beds per ICU was 10.4, the ratio of ICU to hospital beds 1:27, both with significant differences depending on hospital size. 81% of the ICUs provided around the clock physician presence (range: 66-98% across hospital strata, p \textless 0.001). Shift-wise, one nurse was responsible for a mean number of 2.7 patients (morning 1:2.3, afternoon 1:2.6, night 1:3.3 patients) with significant variation according to hospital size (smaller hospitals 1:2.9, university hospitals 1:2.1, p \textless 0.001). More than half of all German ICUs are lead by anesthesiologists. Neither physician nor nurse staffing was associated with mortality in the subset of patients with sepsis. CONCLUSIONS In a representative, nationwide sample of German ICUs key elements of structures varied considerably with respect to hospital size. This has to be considered when proposing standards, reimbursement strategies, or quality assessment.

Authors: Jürgen Graf, Andrea Reinhold, Frank M. Brunkhorst, Max Ragaller, Konrad Reinhart, Markus Loeffler, Christoph Engel

Date Published: 1st Oct 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Christiane S. Hartog, Frank M. Brunkhorst, Frank Bloos, Holger Bogatsch, Christoph Engel, Kerstin Sengebusch, Konrad Reinhart, Maximilian Ragaller

Date Published: 1st Mar 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE To identify current clinical practice regarding nutrition and its association with morbidity and mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in Germany. DESIGN Nationwideide prospective, observational, cross-sectional, 1-day point-prevalence study. SETTING The study included 454 intensive care units from a representative sample of 310 hospitals stratified by size. PATIENTS Participants were 415 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (according to criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference). INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Data were collected by on-site audits of trained external study physicians during randomly scheduled visits during 1 yr. Valid data on nutrition were available for 399 of 415 patients. The data showed that 20.1% of patients received exclusively enteral nutrition, 35.1% exclusively parenteral nutrition, and 34.6% mixed nutrition (parenteral and enteral); 10.3% were not fed at all. Patients with gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal infection, pancreatitis or neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract, mechanical ventilation, or septic shock were less likely to receive exclusively enteral nutrition. Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment scores were significantly different among the nutrition groups. Overall hospital mortality was 55.2%. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients receiving exclusively parenteral (62.3%) or mixed nutrition (57.1%) than in patients with exclusively enteral nutrition (38.9%) (p = .005). After adjustment for patient morbidity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, presence of septic shock) and treatment factors (mechanical ventilation), multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of parenteral nutrition was significantly predictive of mortality (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.37). CONCLUSIONS Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in German intensive care units received preferentially parenteral or mixed nutrition. The use of parenteral nutrition was associated with an increased risk of death.

Authors: Gunnar Elke, Dirk Schädler, Christoph Engel, Holger Bogatsch, Inez Frerichs, Maximilian Ragaller, Jens Scholz, Frank M. Brunkhorst, Markus Löffler, Konrad Reinhart, Norbert Weiler

Date Published: 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE To simultaneously determine perceived vs. practiced adherence to recommended interventions for the treatment of severe sepsis or septic shock. DESIGN One-day cross-sectional survey. SETTINGTING Representative sample of German intensive care units stratified by hospital size. PATIENTS Adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Practice recommendations were selected by German Sepsis Competence Network (SepNet) investigators. External intensivists visited intensive care units randomly chosen and asked the responsible intensive care unit director how often these recommendations were used. Responses \textquotedblalways\textquotedbl and \textquotedblfrequently\textquotedbl were combined to depict perceived adherence. Thereafter patient files were audited. Three hundred sixty-six patients on 214 intensive care units fulfilled the criteria and received full support. One hundred fifty-two patients had acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Low-tidal volume ventilation \textless or = 6 mL/kg/predicted body weight was documented in 2.6% of these patients. A total of 17.1% patients had tidal volume between 6 and 8 mL/kg predicted body weight and 80.3% \textgreater 8 mL/kg predicted body weight. Mean tidal volume was 10.0 +/- 2.4 mL/kg predicted body weight. Perceived adherence to low-tidal volume ventilation was 79.9%. Euglycemia (4.4-6.1 mmol/L) was documented in 6.2% of 355 patients. A total of 33.8% of patients had blood glucose levels \textless or = 8.3 mmol/L and 66.2% were hyperglycemic (blood glucose \textgreater 8.3 mmol/L). Among 207 patients receiving insulin therapy, 1.9% were euglycemic, 20.8% had blood glucose levels \textless or = 8.3 mmol/L, and 1.0% were hypoglycemic. Overall, mean maximal glucose level was 10.0 +/- 3.6 mmol/L. Perceived adherence to strict glycemic control was 65.9%. Although perceived adherence to recommendations was higher in academic and larger hospitals, actual practice was not significantly influenced by hospital size or university affiliation. CONCLUSIONS This representative survey shows that current therapy of severe sepsis in German intensive care units complies poorly with practice recommendations. Intensive care unit directors perceive adherence to be higher than it actually is. Implementation strategies involving all intensive care unit staff are needed to overcome this gap between current evidence-based knowledge, practice, and perception.

Authors: Frank M. Brunkhorst, Christoph Engel, Max Ragaller, Tobias Welte, Rolf Rossaint, Herwig Gerlach, Konstantin Mayer, Stefan John, Frank Stuber, Norbert Weiler, Michael Oppert, Onnen Moerer, Holger Bogatsch, Konrad Reinhart, Markus Loeffler, Christiane Hartog

Date Published: 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Sound data about the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) among patients with severe sepsis and septic shock are lacking. Further, it is not known whether ARF is an independent risk factorr for mortality in septic patients or merely an indicator of disease severity. METHODS A prospective cross-sectional one-day prevalence study was carried out in a representative sample of German ICUs, divided into five strata (\textless 200 beds; 201-400 beds; 401-600 beds; \textgreater 600 beds; university hospitals). 3877 patients were screened of whom 415 had severe sepsis and septic shock. RESULTS Fourteen patients (3.4%) had chronic dialysis-dependent RF and were excluded from analysis. Of the remaining 401 patients, 166 (41.4%) had ARF, as defined by a rise in creatinine above twice the upper limit of normal and/or a drop in urine output to \textless 0.5 ml/kg bodyweight. Median APACHE II score was 22 in patients with ARF and 16 in patients without ARF (p\textless 0.0001). Patients with severe sepsis/septic shock had an overall hospital mortality of 55.2%. Hospital mortality in patients with ARF was 67.3% and without ARF 42.8% (p\textless 0.0001). After adjustment for APACHE II score and age, ARF remained a significant independent risk factor for death [odds ratio (OR) 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.52]. Mortality in septic patients was not associated with pre-existing, non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease, whereas in dialysis-dependent patients with sepsis mortality increased to 86%. CONCLUSION In this representative survey in patients with severe sepsis/septic shock, prevalence of ARF is high with 41.4%. ARF represents a significant independent risk factor for mortality in these patients.

Authors: Michael Oppert, Christoph Engel, Frank-Martin Brunkhorst, Holger Bogatsch, Konrad Reinhart, Ulrich Frei, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Markus Loeffler, Stefan John

Date Published: 15th Oct 2007

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and mortality of ICU patients with severe sepsis in Germany, with consideration of hospital size. DESIGN Prospective, observational, cross-sectional 1-dayday point-prevalence study. SETTING 454 ICUs from a representative nationwide sample of 310 hospitals stratified by size. Data were collected via 1-day on-site audits by trained external study physicians. Visits were randomly distributed over 1 year (2003). PATIENTS Inflammatory response of all ICU patients was assessed using the ACCP/SCCM consensus conference criteria. Patients with severe sepsis were followed up after 3 months for hospital mortality and length of ICU stay. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Main outcome measures were prevalence and mortality. A total of 3,877 patients were screened. Prevalence was 12.4% (95% CI, 10.9-13.8%) for sepsis and 11.0% (95% CI, 9.7-12.2%) for severe sepsis including septic shock. The ICU and hospital mortality of patients with severe sepsis was 48.4 and 55.2%, respectively, without significant differences between hospital size. Prevalence and mean length of ICU stay of patients with severe sepsis were significantly higher in larger hospitals and universities (\textless/= 200 beds: 6% and 11.5 days, universities: 19% and 19.2 days, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The expected number of newly diagnosed cases with severe sepsis in Germany amounts to 76-110 per 100,000 adult inhabitants. To allow better comparison between countries, future epidemiological studies should use standardized study methodologies with respect to sepsis definitions, hospital size, and daily and monthly variability.

Authors: Christoph Engel, Frank M. Brunkhorst, Hans-Georg Bone, Reinhard Brunkhorst, Herwig Gerlach, Stefan Grond, Matthias Gruendling, Guenter Huhle, Ulrich Jaschinski, Stefan John, Konstantin Mayer, Michael Oppert, Derk Olthoff, Michael Quintel, Max Ragaller, Rolf Rossaint, Frank Stuber, Norbert Weiler, Tobias Welte, Holger Bogatsch, Christiane Hartog, Markus Loeffler, Konrad Reinhart

Date Published: 23rd Mar 2007

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

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