Background:In patients with septic shock as well as in the critically ill, the impact of hypothermia and core temperature changes during the first 24 h on mortality remains uncertain. In this post-hoc analysis of the SEPSISPAM trial, we investigated the association between hypothermia at inclusion, hypothermia trajectories and 90-day mortality in patients with septic shock. Methods:This post-hoc analysis of the SEPSISPAM trial included patients with septic shock enrolled within 6 h of vasopressors initiation. Core temperature was assessed every 2 h during the first 24 h. Hypothermia was defined by a temperature <36 °C. Mortality was assessed at day 90. Results:We included 691 patients from the SEPSISPAM trial, of whom 103 (14.9%) presented with hypothermia at inclusion. After adjustment for confounding factors, as compared with patients without hypothermia at inclusion, patients with hypothermia at inclusion had a higher mortality (HR 1.92, 95% CI [1.38-2.67], p < 0.001). Three groups of patients were identified according to the evolution of their core temperature: "without hypothermia" (86.6%), i.e., patients without any hypothermia during the first 24 h; "transient hypothermia" (10%), i.e., patients with hypothermia at inclusion and becoming normothermic during the first 24 h, and "persistent hypothermia" (3.4%), i.e., patients with sustained hypothermia both at inclusion and during the first 24 h. Compared with patients without hypothermia, the "persistent hypothermia" group had the highest mortality rate at day 90 (78.3%, HR 2.83 [1.62-4.95], p < 0.0001). Mortality at day 90 increased according to temperature trajectories, being highest in patients with persistent hypothermia (78%), followed by those with transient hypothermia (49%), and lowest in patients without hypothermia (40%). Conclusion:In patients with septic shock, hypothermia at inclusion and persistence of hypothermia during the first 24 h were associated with higher mortality at day 90. Mortality increased according to the course of hypothermia during the first 24 h, being highest in patients with persistent hypothermia, followed by those with transient hypothermia, and lowest in patients who never developed hypothermia.

Background Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHcRF) is a common cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, large-scale epidemiological data on AHcRF prevalence, management, and outcomes in the ICU remain limited. Methods The YETI (Acute hYpErcapnic respiratory failure in The ICU) study was a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted across 58 ICUs in France and Belgium between December 2021 and June 2022. Adult patients admitted with AHcRF (PaCO₂ > 45 mmHg and clinical signs of respiratory failure) were enrolled. The primary outcome was the prevalence of AHcRF among all ICU admissions. Secondary outcomes included etiologies, management strategies and factors associated with intubation and mortality. Results Among 20,482 ICU admissions, 1,010 patients presented AHcRF, and 856 met inclusion criteria. The prevalence for AHcRF among all critically ill patients was 4.9% [95% CI: 4.6, 5.2], and among ICU patients admitted for acute respiratory failure, it was 12.5% [95 % CI: 11.8, 13.2]. Most patients had underlying obstructive lung diseases (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 56.3%; Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: 18.5%). Infection (52.2%) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (15.4%) were the most frequent causes for respiratory failure. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was used in 81.3% of patients and 35.9% received invasive mechanical ventilation, mainly for coma or NIV failure. ICU mortality was 12.7%. Multivariable analysis identified lower pH, lower Glasgow Coma Scale, infectious etiology, and higher SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score as independent predictors of intubation. ICU mortality was associated with older age, lower body mass index, active cancer, and higher SOFA scores. Conclusions Ten percent of patients admitted to the ICU with respiratory failure present AHcRF, primarily driven by chronic obstructive diseases and infections. Despite widespread NIV use, one-third of patients were treated with invasive ventilation. Identifying risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality may support earlier triage and personalized management strategies.

OBJECTIVES:Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses in healthcare settings is often underestimated because conventional epidemiologic methods provide limited insight into aerosol dynamics and ventilation performance. Integrating aerosol simulations with viral genomic data may support the plausibility of airborne transmission pathways and help explain differences in outbreak magnitude over time. METHODS:We investigated two nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 clusters between January and April 2021 in a French university hospital. Patients and healthcare workers were screened by RT-PCR, and whole-genome sequencing was performed for samples with Ct <30. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations reproduced ventilation conditions and modeled aerosol dispersion and inter-room particle transport. RESULTS:Genomic sequencing identified transmission links that were not fully explained by contact tracing alone. CFD simulations showed consistent aerosol recirculation between patient rooms and corridors, with localized increases in particle concentrations in poorly ventilated areas due to an extraction failure. Spatial overlap between airflow pathways and genetically linked cases supported the plausibility of airborne transmission and helped explain differences in outbreak magnitude over time. CONCLUSION:Combining CFD modeling with viral genomic sequencing provided complementary insights into airborne transmission pathways not fully captured by conventional epidemiologic investigation and can guide targeted ventilation interventions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.aicoj.2025.100016.].

BACKGROUND:Assessing sources of job stress in intensive care units is a critical issue for preventing many occupational health and care-related issues, such as burnout, voluntary turnover and decrease in quality and safety of care. Accordingly, this French nation-wide multicentre study aims to provide supplementary evidence regarding the validity of a recent tool: the Perceived Stressors in Intensive Care Units (PS-ICU) scale. More precisely, this study has three main objectives: to 1) confirm the metrological properties of the PS-ICU scale on a large sample of professionals; 2) test its measurement invariance between nurses, physicians and residents (initial population targeted by the scale); 3) examine whether the scale would also be suited for use with nursing auxiliaries. In addition, depending on the results (which may suggest the removal of several items), this study offers the possibility to shorten the scale to facilitate its use. METHOD AND RESULTS:2241 ICU professionals (1135 nurses, 308 physicians, 179 residents, and 619 nursing auxiliaries; overall participation rate of 58.10%) from 42 ICUs in France, voluntarily completed an online questionnaire collecting socio-demographic data and perceived job stressors (PS-ICU). Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM), unidimensional reliability (McDonald's Omega) and item response theory (IRT) analyses overall confirmed the metrological properties of the scale, while several items were removed and the sixth factor ("lack of support and resources from the organisation") measured by the scale was revised. Results regarding measurement invariance show that the PS-ICU scale can be used to compare occupational groups, including nursing auxiliaries. Finally, all analyses resulted in a reduction of the scale to a 26-item version. CONCLUSIONS:The PS-ICU scale, which measures generic and ICU-specific job stress factors, is a valid and reliable scale that can be used to collect data from nurses, physicians and residents, as well as from nursing auxiliaries. With 26 items, it can be used by researchers and managers in ICUs to assess the extent and type of stress factors perceived by healthcare professionals.

Introduction The insertion of a peripheral venous line is of paramount importance in the stabilisation of critically ill patients. It is a preferred method of venous access over more invasive techniques due to its immediacy and fewer complications. Difficulties of catheterisation can result in delays to treatment, increased complication risks and pain, and a waste of valuable time and healthcare resources. Our hypothesis is that infrared vein illumination could improve the success rate of peripheral venous catheterisation in critically ill patients at risk of difficult catheterisation.Methods and analysis This is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, open-label controlled trial. It will be conducted in France and will involve critically ill patients at risk of difficult peripheral catheterisation. Patients will be randomly assigned to usual care or infrared vein illumination. The primary outcome is the rate of successful peripheral venous catheterisation at first puncture. Secondary outcomes include time to placement, overall rate of successful peripheral venous catheterisation, number of punctures, quality (calibre of the catheter), replacement rate, need for central line and local complications (dysfunction, diffusion, haematoma and lymphangitis).Ethics and dissemination The study has been granted ethical approval (CPP Ile de France 1). Following the provision of informed consent, patients will be included in the study. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number NCT03932214.

Les recommandations pour la gestion des cathéters d’épuration extra-rénale en hémodialyse chronique ne sont pas transposables aux patients de réanimation. Les séances d’EER réalisées en réanimation devant être à faible clairance et prolongées, une dose de dialyse adéquate peut être délivrée avec un débit maximal de 200 ml/min. La valeur du débit sang atteinte n’est cependant pas le seul critère garantissant un bon fonctionnement du cathéter. Le débit doit être continu et laminaire ce qui impose une pression d’entrée dans le circuit adéquate. Le site jugulaire interne droit avec une extrémité du cathéter positionnée à l’entrée de l’oreillette droite et le site fémoral avec une extrémité dans la veine cave inférieure sont recommandés en première intention. Une durée moyenne d’épuration extrarénale en réanimation inferieure à une semaine simplifie le maintien de la perméabilité des cathéters et la prévention des infections. Les mesures spécifiques utilisées en hémodialyse chronique pour les cathéters de longue durée (tunnelisation, dispositifs imprégnés, verrous) n’ont pas démontré leur intérêt et leur pertinence est débattue.

Millions of households have cats or dogs as pets, and infections due to bites or scratches are increasing, with the most common pathogens being Pasteurella spp., Bartonella spp., Capnocytophaga spp, and Francisella tularensis. The objective of this study was to describe patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for infection transmitted by cats or dogs, as well as their outcomes. The retrospective multicentre observational cohort study PETSEPSIS included consecutive adults admitted to 46 ICUs in France between 2009 and 2019 for sepsis due to cat or dog bites and/or caused by any of the four above-listed bacteria. We described their features and outcomes and performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors associated with death. We included 174 patients with a median age of 64 [50–74] years; 58.1

Evidence for the management of pregnant women with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) is currently lacking. The likelihood of avoiding intubation and the risks of continuing the pregnancy under invasive ventilation remain undetermined. We report the management and outcome of pregnant women with pneumonia related to SARS-CoV-2 admitted to the ICU of tertiary maternity hospitals of the Paris area. We studied a retrospective cohort of pregnant women admitted to 15 ICUs with AHRF related to SARS-CoV-2 defined by the need for O2 ≥ 6 L/min, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), non-invasive or invasive ventilation. Trajectories were assessed to determine the need for intubation and the possibility of continuing the pregnancy on invasive ventilation. One hundred and seven pregnant women, 34 (IQR: 30–38) years old, at a gestational age of 27 (IQR: 25–30) weeks were included. Obesity was present in 37/107. Intubation was required in 47/107 (44

Introduction Fever treatment is commonly applied in patients with sepsis but its impact on survival remains undetermined. Patients with respiratory and haemodynamic failure are at the highest risk for not tolerating the metabolic cost of fever. However, fever can help to control infection. Treating fever with paracetamol has been shown to be less effective than cooling. In the SEPSISCOOL pilot study, active fever control by external cooling improved organ failure recovery and early survival. The main objective of this confirmatory trial is to assess whether fever control at normothermia can improve the evolution of organ failure and mortality at day 60 of febrile patients with septic shock. This study will compare two strategies within the first 48 hours of septic shock: treatment of fever with cooling or no treatment of fever.Methods and analysis SEPSISCOOL II is a pragmatic, investigator-initiated, adaptive, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled, superiority trial in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with febrile septic shock. After stratification based on the acute respiratory distress syndrome status, patients will be randomised between two arms: (1) cooling and (2) no cooling. The primary endpoint is mortality at day 60 after randomisation. The secondary endpoints include the evolution of organ failure, early mortality and tolerance. The target sample size is 820 patients.Ethics and dissemination The study is funded by the French health ministry and was approved by the ethics committee CPP Nord Ouest II (Amiens, France). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number NCT04494074.

OBJECTIVES:Patients at risk of adverse effects related to positive fluid balance could benefit from fluid intake optimization. Less attention is paid to nonresuscitation fluids. We aim to evaluate the heterogeneity of fluid intake at the initial phase of resuscitation. DESIGN:Prospective multicenter cohort study. SETTING:Thirty ICUs across France and one in Spain. PATIENTS:Patients requiring vasopressors and/or invasive mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS:None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:All fluids administered by vascular or enteral lines were recorded over 24 hours following admission and were classified in four main groups according to their predefined indication: fluids having a well-documented homeostasis goal (resuscitation fluids, rehydration, blood products, and nutrition), drug carriers, maintenance fluids, and fluids for technical needs. Models of regression were constructed to determine fluid intake predicted by patient characteristics. Centers were classified according to tertiles of fluid intake. The cohort included 296 patients. The median total volume of fluids was 3546 mL (interquartile range, 2441-4955 mL), with fluids indisputably required for body fluid homeostasis representing 36% of this total. Saline, glucose-containing high chloride crystalloids, and balanced crystalloids represented 43%, 27%, and 16% of total volume, respectively. Whatever the class of fluids, center of inclusion was the strongest factor associated with volumes. Compared with the first tertile, the difference between the volume predicted by patient characteristics and the volume given was +1.2 ± 2.0 L in tertile 2 and +3.0 ± 2.8 L in tertile 3. CONCLUSIONS:Fluids indisputably required for body fluid homeostasis represent the minority of fluid intake during the 24 hours after ICU admission. Center effect is the strongest factor associated with the volume of fluids. Heterogeneity in practices suggests that optimal strategies for volume and goals of common fluids administration need to be developed.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) compliance among health-care workers is important for preventing transmission of infectious diseases. Aim: To describe health-care worker hand hygiene activity in ICU and non-ICU patients' rooms, using an automated monitoring system (AMS), before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: At the Intercommunal Hospital of Cre & PRIME;teil, near Paris, France, alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS) consumption in the Department of Medicine (DM) and ICU was recorded using an AMS during four periods: before, during, and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and during its second wave.Findings: From 1st February to 30th November 2020, in the DM, the mean number of doses per patient-day for each of the four periods was, respectively, 5.7 (& PLUSMN;0.3), 19.4 (& PLUSMN;1.3), 17.6 (& PLUSMN;0.7), and 7.9 (& PLUSMN;0.2, P 0.0001). In contrast, ICU ABHS consumption remained relatively constant. In the DM, during the pandemic waves, ABHS consumption was higher in rooms of COVID 19 patients than in other patients' rooms. Multivariate analysis showed ABHS consumption was associated with the period in the DM , with the number of HCWs in the ICU.Conclusion: An AMS allows real-time collection of ABHS consumption data that can be used to adapt training , prevention measures to specific hospital departments.(C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Abstract Background The extent of the consequences of an episode of severe acute kidney injury (AKI) on long-term outcome of critically ill patients remain debated. We conducted a prospective follow-up of patients included in a large multicenter clinical trial of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation strategy during severe AKI (the Artificial Kidney Initiation in Kidney Injury, AKIKI) to investigate long-term survival, renal outcome and health related quality of life (HRQOL). We also assessed the influence of RRT initiation strategy on these outcomes. Results Follow-up of patients extended from 60 days to a median of 3.35 years [interquartile range (IQR), 1.89 to 4.09] after the end of initial study. Of the 619 patients included in the AKIKI trial, 316 survived after 60 days. The overall survival rate at 3 years from inclusion was 39.4% (95% CI 35.4 to 43.4). A total of 46 patients (on the 175 with available data on long-term kidney function) experienced worsening of renal function (WRF) at the time of follow-up [overall incidence of 26%, cumulative incidence at 4 years: 20.6% (CI 95% 13.0 to 28.3)]. Fifteen patients required chronic dialysis (5% of patients who survived after day 90). Among the 226 long-term survivors, 80 (35%) answered the EQ-5D questionnaire. The median index value reported was 0.67 (IQR 0.40 to 1.00) indicating a noticeable alteration of quality of life. Initiation strategy for RRT had no effect on any long-term outcome. Conclusion Severe AKI in critically ill patients was associated with a high proportion of death within the first 2 months but less so during long-term follow-up. A quarter of long-term survivors experienced a WRF and suffered from a noticeable impairment of quality of life. Renal replacement therapy initiation strategy was not associated with mortality outcome. Graphical Abstract

Background Vascular access for renal replacement therapy (RRT) is routine question in the intensive care unit. Randomized trials comparing jugular and femoral sites have shown similar rate of nosocomial events and catheter dysfunction. However, recent prospective observational data on RRT catheters use are scarce. We aimed to assess the site of RRT catheter, the reasons for catheter replacement, and the complications according to site in a large population of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Patients and methods We performed an ancillary study of the AKIKI study, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial, in which patients with severe acute kidney injury (KDIGO 3 classification) with invasive mechanical ventilation, catecholamine infusion or both were randomly assigned to either an early or a delayed RRT initiation strategy. The present study involved all patients who underwent at least one RRT session. Number of RRT catheters, insertion sites, factors potentially associated with the choice of insertion site, duration of catheter use, reason for catheter replacement, and complications were prospectively collected. Results Among the 619 patients included in AKIKI, 462 received RRT and 459 were finally included, with 598 RRT catheters. Femoral site was chosen preferentially ( n = 319, 53%), followed by jugular ( n = 256, 43%) and subclavian ( n = 23, 4%). In multivariate analysis, continuous RRT modality was significantly associated with femoral site (OR = 2.33 (95% CI (1.34–4.07), p = 0.003) and higher weight with jugular site [88.9 vs 83.2 kg, OR = 0.99 (95% CI 0.98–1.00), p = 0.03]. Investigator site was also significantly associated with the choice of insertion site ( p = 0.03). Cumulative incidence of catheter replacement did not differ between jugular and femoral site [sHR 0.90 (95% CI 0.64—1.25), p = 0.67]. Catheter dysfunction was the main reason for replacement ( n = 47), followed by suspected infection ( n = 29) which was actually seldom proven ( n = 4). No mechanical complication (pneumothorax or hemothorax) occurred. Conclusion Femoral site was preferentially used in this prospective study of RRT catheters in 31 French intensive care units. The choice of insertion site depended on investigating center habits, weight, RRT modality. A high incidence of catheter infection suspicion led to undue replacement.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants were first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa, respectively, and have since spread to many countries. These variants harboring diverse mutations in the gene encoding the spike protein raise important concerns about their immune evasion potential. Here, we isolated infectious B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 strains from acutely infected individuals. We examined sensitivity of the two variants to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies present in sera and nasal swabs from individuals infected with previously circulating strains or who were recently vaccinated, in comparison with a D614G reference virus. We utilized a new rapid neutralization assay, based on reporter cells that become positive for GFP after overnight infection. Sera from 58 convalescent individuals collected up to 9 months after symptoms, similarly neutralized B.1.1.7 and D614G. In contrast, after 9 months, convalescent sera had a mean sixfold reduction in neutralizing titers, and 40% of the samples lacked any activity against B.1.351. Sera from 19 individuals vaccinated twice with Pfizer Cominarty, longitudinally tested up to 6 weeks after vaccination, were similarly potent against B.1.1.7 but less efficacious against B.1.351, when compared to D614G. Neutralizing titers increased after the second vaccine dose, but remained 14-fold lower against B.1.351. In contrast, sera from convalescent or vaccinated individuals similarly bound the three spike proteins in a flow cytometry-based serological assay. Neutralizing antibodies were rarely detected in nasal swabs from vaccinees. Thus, faster-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants acquired a partial resistance to neutralizing antibodies generated by natural infection or vaccination, which was most frequently detected in individuals with low antibody levels. Our results indicate that B1.351, but not B.1.1.7, may increase the risk of infection in immunized individuals.

OBJECTIVE:Fluid resuscitation is a ubiquitous intervention in the management of patients treated in the intensive care unit, which has implications for intensive care unit resourcing and budgets. Our objective was to calculate the relative cost of resuscitation fluids in several countries to inform future economic evaluations. METHODS:We collected site-level data regarding the availability and cost of fluids as part of an international survey. We normalised costs to net present values using purchasing power parities and published inflation figures. Costs were also adjusted for equi-effective dosing based on intravascular volume expansion effectiveness and expressed as US dollars (USD) per 100 mL crystalloid equivalent. RESULTS:A total of 187 sites had access to cost data. Between countries, there was an approximate six fold variation in the cost of crystalloids and colloids overall. The average cost for crystalloids overall was less than 1 USD per 100 mL. In contrast, colloid fluids had higher average costs (59 USD per 100 mL). After adjusting for equi-effective dosing, saline was ∼27 times less costly than albumin (saline: 0.6 USD per 100 mL crystalloid equivalent; albumin 4-5%: 16.4 USD; albumin 20-25%: 15.8 USD) and ∼4 times less costly than hydroxyethyl starch solution (saline: 0.6 USD; hydroxyethyl starch solution: 2.5 USD). Buffered salt solutions, such as compound sodium acetate solutions (e.g., Plasmalyte®), had the highest average cost of crystalloid fluids, costing between 3 and 4 USD per 100 mL. CONCLUSION:The cost of fluid varies substantially between fluid types and between countries, although normal (0.9%) saline is consistently less costly than colloid preparations and some buffered salt solutions. These data can be used to inform future economic evaluations of fluid preparations.

This paper proposes randomized controlled clinical trial design to evaluate external cooling as a means to control fever and thereby reduce mortality in patients with septic shock. The trial will include concurrent external cooling and control arms while adaptively incorporating historical control arm data. Bayesian group sequential monitoring will be done using a posterior comparative test based on the 60-day survival distribution in each concurrent arm. Posterior inference will follow from a Bayesian discrete time survival model that facilitates adaptive incorporation of the historical control data through an innovative regression framework with a multivariate spike-and-slab prior distribution on the historical bias parameters. For each interim test, the amount of information borrowed from the historical control data will be determined adaptively in a manner that reflects the degree of agreement between historical and concurrent control arm data. Guidance is provided for selecting Bayesian posterior probability group-sequential monitoring boundaries. Simulation results elucidating how the proposed method borrows strength from the historical control data are reported. In the absence of historical control arm bias, the proposed design controls the type I error rate and provides substantially larger power than reasonable comparators, whereas in the presence bias of varying magnitude, type I error rate inflation is curbed.