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Prognostic factors among critically ill patients with community-acquired acute bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate prognostic factors among critically ill patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury.

Methods:

A retrospective study including patients admitted to a tertiary infectious disease hospital in Fortaleza, Brazil diagnosed with community-acquired bacterial meningitis complicated with acute kidney injury. Factors associated with death, mechanical ventilation and use of vasopressors were investigated.

Results:

Forty-one patients were included, with a mean age of 41.6 ± 15.5 years; 56% were males. Mean time between intensive care unit admission and acute kidney injury diagnosis was 5.8 ± 10.6 days. Overall mortality was 53.7%. According to KDIGO criteria, 10 patients were classified as stage 1 (24.4%), 18 as stage 2 (43.9%) and 13 as stage 3 (31.7%). KDIGO 3 significantly increased mortality (OR = 6.67; 95%CI = 1.23 - 36.23; p = 0.028). Thrombocytopenia was not associated with higher mortality, but it was a risk factor for KDIGO 3 (OR = 5.67; 95%CI = 1.25 - 25.61; p = 0.024) and for mechanical ventilation (OR = 6.25; 95%CI = 1.33 - 29.37; p = 0.02). Patients who needed mechanical ventilation by 48 hours from acute kidney injury diagnosis had higher urea (44.6 versus 74mg/dL, p = 0.039) and sodium (138.6 versus 144.1mEq/L; p = 0.036).

Conclusion:

Mortality among critically ill patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis and acute kidney injury is high. Acute kidney injury severity was associated with even higher mortality. Thrombocytopenia was associated with severer acute kidney injury. Higher urea was an earlier predictor of severer acute kidney injury than was creatinine.

Keywords:
Meningitis; Acute kidney injury; Prognosis; Mortality; Critical care

RESUMO

Objetivo:

Investigar os fatores prognósticos em pacientes graves com meningite bacteriana adquirida na comunidade e lesão renal aguda.

Métodos:

Estudo retrospectivo com inclusão de pacientes em um hospital terciário dedicado a doenças infecciosas localizado em Fortaleza (CE), com diagnóstico de meningite bacteriana adquirida na comunidade complicada por lesão renal aguda. Investigaram-se os fatores associados a óbito, ventilação mecânica e uso de vasopressores.

Resultados:

Incluíram-se 41 pacientes, com média de idade de 41,6 ± 15,5 anos, 56% dos quais do sexo masculino. O tempo médio entre a admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva e o diagnóstico de lesão renal aguda foi de 5,8 ± 10,6 dias. A mortalidade global foi de 53,7%. Segundo os critérios KDIGO, 10 pacientes foram classificados como estágio 1 (24,4%), 18 como estágio 2 (43,9%) e 13 como estágio 3 (31,7%). A classificação em estágio KDIGO 3 aumentou de forma significante a mortalidade (OR = 6,67; IC95% = 1,23 - 36,23; p = 0,028). A presença de trombocitopenia não se associou com aumento da mortalidade, porém foi um fator de risco para a ocorrência da classificação KDIGO 3 (OR = 5,67; IC95% = 1,25 - 25,61; p = 0,024) e para necessidade de utilizar ventilação mecânica (OR = 6,25; IC95% = 1,33 - 29,37; p = 0,02). Os pacientes que necessitaram de ventilação mecânica 48 horas após o diagnóstico de lesão renal aguda tiveram níveis mais elevados de ureia (44,6 versus 74mg/dL; p = 0,039) e sódio (138,6 versus 144,1mEq/L; p = 0,036).

Conclusão:

A mortalidade de pacientes graves com meningite bacteriana adquirida na comunidade e lesão renal aguda é alta. A severidade da lesão renal aguda se associou com mortalidade ainda mais elevada. A presença de trombocitopenia se associou com lesão renal aguda mais grave. Níveis mais elevados de ureia podem prever mais precocemente a ocorrência de lesão renal aguda de maior gravidade.

Descritores:
Meningite; Lesão renal aguda; Prognóstico; Mortalidade; Cuidados críticos

INTRODUCTION

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) is a severe disease with a high rate of mortality that further increases if antibiotic therapy is delayed. Hence, this condition is considered a medical emergency.(11 Proulx N, Fréchette D, Toye B, Chan J, Kravcik S. Delays in the administration of antibiotics are associated with mortality from adult acute bacterial meningitis. QJM. 2005;98(4):291-8.,22 Aronin SI, Peduzzi P, Quagliarello VJ. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis: risk stratification for adverse clinical outcome and effect of antibiotic timing. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129(11):862-9.) The main etiologic agents involved with CABM are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis.(33 van de Beek D, de Gans J, Spanjaard L, Weisfelt M, Reitsma JB, Vermeulen M. Clinical features and prognostic factors in adults with bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(18):1849-59.,44 Bhimraj A. Acute community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults: an evidence-based review. Cleve Clin J Med. 2012;79(6):393-400.) Haemophilus influenzae was once an important pathogen of CABM in children. However, because of vaccines, H. influenzae is currently a rare cause of CABM. Moreover, because of widespread vaccination, CABM became more frequent in adults than in children.(55 McIntyre PB, O'Brien KL, Greenwood B, van de Beek D. Effect of vaccines on bacterial meningitis worldwide. Lancet. 2012;380(9854):1703-11.) Listeria monocytogenes is another etiologic agent, but its role in CABM is usually restricted to extremes of age and immunocompromised patients.(66 VanDemark M. Acute bacterial meningitis: current review and treatment update. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2013;25(3):351-61.)

The classic triad of altered mental status, neck stiffness and fever is being slowly replaced by a tetrad that also includes headache. Although only a few patients present with all these classic findings, at least 2 of them will be present in 95% of cases.(33 van de Beek D, de Gans J, Spanjaard L, Weisfelt M, Reitsma JB, Vermeulen M. Clinical features and prognostic factors in adults with bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(18):1849-59.) Definite diagnosis relies on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, but no diagnostic procedure should prevent early treatment of suspected cases.

Overall mortality in CABM ranges from 8.5 to 25%.(77 Flores-Cordero JM, Amaya-Villar R, Rincón-Ferrari MD, Leal-Noval SR, Garnacho-Montero J, Llanos-Rodríguez AC, et al. Acute community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults admitted to the intensive care unit: clinical manifestations, management and prognostic factors. Intensive Care Med. 2003;29(11):1967-73.

8 Bijlsma MW, Brouwer MC, Kasanmoentalib ES, Kloek AT, Lucas MJ, Tanck MW, et al. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults in the Netherlands, 2006-14: a prospective cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016;16(3):339-47.

9 Durand ML, Calderwood SB, Weber DJ, Miller SI, Southwick FS, Caviness VS Jr, et al. Acute bacterial meningitis in adults. A review of 493 episodes. N Engl J Med. 1993;328(1):21-8.
-1010 Daher EF, Maia RC, Ciarlini BS, Silva SL, Silva EC, Silva Jr GB. Clinical and laboratory aspects of adults and children admitted with meningococcal meningitis to a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2012;5(5):483-8.) Patients may require intensive care, mostly due to severe impairment of mental status, septic shock and organ failure.(1010 Daher EF, Maia RC, Ciarlini BS, Silva SL, Silva EC, Silva Jr GB. Clinical and laboratory aspects of adults and children admitted with meningococcal meningitis to a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. Ann Trop Med Public Health. 2012;5(5):483-8.) In this group of patients, mortality rises to 40 - 56%.(1111 Fernandes D, Gonçalves-Pereira J, Janeiro S, Silvestre J, Bento L, Póvoa P. Acute bacterial meningitis in the intensive care unit and risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes: retrospective study. J Crit Care. 2014;29(3):347-50.,1212 Milhaud D, Bernardin G, Rastello M, Matteï M, Blard JM. [Bacterial meningitis in adults in the intensive care unit. Clinical analysis and study of prognostic factors]. Presse Med. 1996;25(8):353-9. French.) Among septic patients, mortality can be as high as 77.4%.(1313 Hsu CL, Chang CH, Wong KN, Chen KY, Yu CJ, Yang PC. Management of severe community-acquired septic meningitis in adults: from emergency department to intensive care unit. J Formos Med Assoc. 2009;108(2):112-8.)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has a significant prevalence (6 - 23%) in intensive care units (ICU)(1414 Hoste EA, Kellum JA. Acute kidney dysfunction and the critically ill. Minerva Anestesiol. 2006;72(3):133-43.,1515 Uchino S, Kellum JA, Bellomo R, Doig GS, Morimatsu H, Morgera S, Schetz M, Tan I, Bouman C, Macedo E, Gibney N, Tolwani A, Ronco C; Beginning and Ending Supportive Therapy for the Kidney (BEST Kidney) Investigators. Acute renal failure in critically ill patients: a multinational, multicenter study. JAMA. 2005;294(7):813-8.) and is also an important determinant of outcome in this group of patients.(1616 Daher EF, Silva Junior GB, Santos SQ, R Bezerra CC, Diniz EJ, Lima RS, et al. Differences in community, hospital and intensive care unit-acquired acute kidney injury: observational study in a nephrology service of a developing country. Clin Nephrol. 2012;78(6):449-55.,1717 Nash K, Hafeez A, Hou S. Hospital-acquired renal insufficiency. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002;39(5):930-6.) Nevertheless, there are very few studies assessing AKI in critically ill patients with meningitis. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of poorer outcome in critically ill patients with CABM and AKI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study including patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care infectious disease hospital in Fortaleza (CE), Brazil with a confirmed diagnosis of CABM complicated with AKI in the period between January 2003 and December 2015. This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital São José de Doenças Infecciosas (CAAE: 12565613.4.0000.5054).

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis was diagnosed by CSF analysis. Patients who presented with previous kidney disease or used nephrotoxic drugs that were not related to the current hospitalization were excluded from the study. Acute kidney injury was diagnosed and classified according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria.(1818 KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury. Kidney Int Suppl. 2012;2(1):19-36.) To determine the impact of CABM infection on the kidney, renal function was assessed using serum creatinine and urea as well as urine output quantification. Further data included patient demographics, drugs in use, and in-hospital survival. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell count, platelet count, sodium, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and arterial blood gas analysis were among the laboratory data collected in the study.

Clinical and laboratory data were compared between groups, such as survivors versus non-survivors, severe versus non-severe AKI (KDIGO 3 versus non-KDIGO 3), vasopressors use versus non-vasopressors use, mechanical ventilation (MV) versus non-MV. Parameters on admission and at AKI diagnosis were also correlated with poor outcome in the following 48 hours.

Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 20.0 for Windows (IBM, USA). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to sort out the continuous variables that follow a normal distribution from the variables that do not follow a Gaussian curve. Student's t or Mann-Whitney tests were applied accordingly. Likewise, chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were performed to make comparisons between categorical variables of different groups of patients. Variables that presented a relationship in the chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests (p < 0.05) underwent multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression. Continuous variables were recoded into categorical variables so that chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests could be performed; if statistical significance was found, binary logistic regression was carried out. Significance was set on 5% (p < 0.05). For the assessment of mortality outcome, the variables entered in the logistic regression analysis were "need for vasopressors" and "KDIGO 3"; for respiratory outcome, the variables "thrombocytopenia" and "sodium levels above 140mEq/L" were analyzed; for renal outcome, "thrombocytopenia" was entered into regression analysis; and for circulatory outcome (need for vasopressors), the variable "hematocrit above 35%" was analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 41 patients were included, with a mean age of 41.6 ± 15.5 years, and 56% were males. Mean time between ICU admission and AKI diagnosis was 5.8 ± 10.6 days. Overall mortality was 53.7%. There was no statistically significant difference between survivors and non-survivors regarding age (42.72 ± 19.09 versus 41.76 ± 11.84 years, p = 0.855). The most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (22%), followed by arterial hypertension (14.6%) and liver disease (7.3%). One patient had history of cancer (2.4%).

Non-survivors required vasopressors during ICU stay more often than survivors (p = 0.001) and, in the multivariate analysis, need for vasopressors was a risk factor for dying (p = 0.004; OR = 12.5, 95%CI = 2.23 - 70.19). However, patients who used vasopressor drugs in the first 48 hours after AKI diagnosis did not present increased mortality (p = 0.220).

Vancomycin was administered to 24 patients (58.5%), ceftriaxone to 32 patients (78%), furosemide to 9 patients (22%), polymyxin B to 6 patients (14.6%) and aminoglycosides to 4 patients (9.8%). Twenty-nine patients (70.7%) required vasopressors. Vancomycin (p = 0.678), ceftriaxone (p = 0.113), polymyxin B (p = 0.645) and aminoglycosides (p = 1.00) did not correlate with severer AKI (KDIGO 3). None of these drugs was associated with higher or lower mortality.

According to KDIGO criteria, 10 patients were classified as stage 1 (24.4%), 18 as stage 2 (43.9%) and 13 as stage 3 (31.7%). KDIGO stage 3 was associated with increased mortality (p = 0.018) but not with increased need for vasopressors (p = 0.276) or invasive ventilation (p = 0.458). In the multivariate analysis, AKI classification in KDIGO 3 significantly increased the risk of death (p = 0.028; OR = 6.67, 95%CI = 1.23 - 36.23). There was no statistically significant age difference between patients who developed KDIGO 3 and those who did not (43.08 ± 13.51 versus 41 ± 16.66 years, p = 0.698). Seven patients required hemodialysis (17.1%).

Patients who developed early AKI (in the first 24 hours after ICU admission) did not have higher mortality (p = 1.00) but required MV in the first 2 days after AKI diagnosis more often than those who had delayed AKI (p = 0.029). Likewise, patients who needed MV by 48 hours from AKI diagnosis had greater urea (44.62 ± 27.30 versus 74.05 ± 33.69mg/dL, p = 0.039) and sodium levels (138.62 ± 3.50 versus 144.11 ± 6.54mEq/L, p = 0.036) and presented a tendency to higher AST levels (50 ± 44.62 versus 330.82 ± 754.61UI/L, p = 0.052). Urea levels above 85mg/dL at AKI diagnosis tended to predict the need for MV in 48 hours (p = 0.061). In the multivariate analysis, sodium levels above 140mEq/L at the time of AKI diagnosis showed a tendency to increase the risk of requiring MV in 48 hours (p = 0.061; OR = 6, 95%CI = 0.92 - 39.18). There was no statistically significant age difference between patients who required intubation and those who did not (41.67 ± 14.54 versus 41.7 ± 19.19 years, p = 0.995).

Tables 1 - 4 display mean laboratory values on ICU admission and AKI diagnosis and correlate them with worse outcomes. Patients who developed KDIGO 3 AKI had higher sodium levels on ICU admission, as shown in table 2. At AKI diagnosis, the only parameter apart from creatinine and urea that was significantly different in the KDIGO 3 group was platelet count, as shown in table 4. However, patients who developed thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150.000/mm3) during the ICU stay did not have increased mortality (p = 1.00).

Table 1
Comparison of mean laboratory parameters on intensive care unit admission of patients who required and those who did not require invasive mechanical ventilation or vasopressors
Table 2
Comparison of mean laboratory parameters on intensive care unit admission of patients who died/survived and developed/did not develop Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 3 acute kidney injury
Table 3
Comparison of mean laboratory parameters at acute kidney injury diagnosis of patients who required and those who did not require invasive ventilation or vasopressors
Table 4
Comparison of mean laboratory parameters at acute kidney injury diagnosis of patients who died/survived and developed/did not develop Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 3 acute kidney injury

At the time of AKI diagnosis, thrombocytopenia was associated with a higher incidence of KDIGO 3 (p = 0.018) and need for dialysis (p = 0.044). In the multivariate analysis, it was a risk factor for KDIGO 3 (OR = 5.67, 95%CI = 1.25 - 25.61; p = 0.024) and tended to increase the risk of requiring dialysis (OR = 8.77, 95%CI = 0.94 - 81.67; p = 0.057). Thrombocytopenia at any point of the ICU stay was a risk factor for invasive ventilatory support (OR = 6.25, 95%CI = 1.33 - 29.37; p = 0.02) in the multivariate analysis.

Hematocrit above 35% at AKI diagnosis correlated with a higher need for vasopressors (p = 0.041) and an increased risk for needing vasopressors in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.036; OR = 4.75, 95%CI = 1.11 - 20.39). There was no statistically significant age difference between patients who required such drugs and those who did not (41.9 ± 13.1 versus 41 ± 20.8 years, p = 0.860).

DISCUSSION

Acute kidney injury is still a poorly studied complication among patients with CABM, a disease that was associated in the present study with very high mortality at a rate higher than described in the literature.(1111 Fernandes D, Gonçalves-Pereira J, Janeiro S, Silvestre J, Bento L, Póvoa P. Acute bacterial meningitis in the intensive care unit and risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes: retrospective study. J Crit Care. 2014;29(3):347-50.,1212 Milhaud D, Bernardin G, Rastello M, Matteï M, Blard JM. [Bacterial meningitis in adults in the intensive care unit. Clinical analysis and study of prognostic factors]. Presse Med. 1996;25(8):353-9. French.) A study performed in another city in Brazil, which included 294 CABM patients from both the ICU and general wards, highlighted a threefold increase in mortality among patients with thrombocytopenia or a positive blood culture.(1919 de Fátima Magalhães Acioly Mendizabal M, Bezerra PC, Guedes DL, Cabral DB, de Barros Miranda-Filho D. Prognostic indicators in bacterial meningitis: a case-control study. Braz J Infect Dis. 2013;17(5):538-44.) Low platelet count also increases mortality in septic patients.(2020 Boechat TO, Silveira MF, Faviere W, Macedo GL. Thrombocytopenia in sepsis: an important prognosis factor. Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2012;24(1):35-42.) Thrombocytopenia was an important prognostic factor in this study , but it was not a predictor of mortality. This may be explained by the obvious differences between the samples of the two studies. Nonetheless, the fact that thrombocytopenia was a risk factor for intubation and, at AKI diagnosis, for severer AKI and dialysis corroborates that the clinician should be careful to monitor variations in platelet count. A study by Hollestelle et al. has suggested that disseminated intravascular coagulation and consumption of von Willebrand factor and granzyme-B may be involved in the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in CABM.(2121 Hollestelle MJ, Sprong T, Bovenschen N, de Mast Q, van der Ven AJ, Joosten LA, et al. von Willebrand factor activation, granzyme-B and thrombocytopenia in meningococcal disease. J Thromb Haemost. 2010;8(5):1098-106.)

Thrombocytopenia has been associated with severe AKI in various conditions, such as heat stroke, Hantaan virus infection, and other infectious diseases, including leptospirosis, dengue and malaria.(2222 Fan H, Zhao Y, Zhu JH, Song FC, Ye JH, Wang ZY, et al. Thrombocytopenia as a predictor of severe acute kidney injury in patients with heat stroke. Ren Fail. 2015;37(5):877-81.

23 Wang M, Wang J, Wang T, Li J, Hui L, Ha X. Thrombocytopenia as a predictor of severe acute kidney injury in patients with Hantaan virus infections. PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e53236.
-2424 Prabhu MV, S A, Ramesh V. Fever, thrombocytopenia, and AKI-A profile of malaria, dengue, and leptospirosis with renal failure in a South Indian tertiary-care hospital. Clin Nephrol. 2016 Supplement 1;86 (2016)(13):128-30.) The mechanism of such an association is still elusive. The present study suggests that CABM follows the same pattern, since thrombocytopenia at AKI diagnosis increased almost sixfold the risk of KDIGO 3 and tended to be a risk factor for dialysis.

Higher serum creatinine correlated with worse renal outcome only at AKI diagnosis, while higher serum urea predicted KDIGO 3 both on admission and AKI diagnosis. Since KDIGO diagnostic criteria for AKI diagnosis are based on creatinine rather than urea levels, it is expected that AKI is diagnosed with the rise of creatinine in the serum. However, table 2 shows that patients who eventually developed KDIGO 3 AKI already had higher urea levels on ICU admission before the rise in serum creatinine took place. This finding suggests a faster increase in urea than in creatinine levels.

Another study compared early and delayed AKI in the same ICU, but in a different period from the present study. It included 147 patients with various infectious diseases who developed AKI and drew the conclusion that delayed AKI predicted MV and showed a tendency to increase mortality, although patients who developed early AKI had higher APACHE II scores.(2525 Lima RS, Marques CN, Silva Júnior GB, Barbosa AS, Barbosa ES, Mota RM, et al. Comparison between early and delayed acute kidney injury secondary to infectious disease in the intensive care unit. Int Urol Nephrol. 2008;40(3):731-9.) In the present study, such a tendency was not observed, and early AKI was associated with intubation within 48 hours from AKI diagnosis.

Older age was not a predictor of severe AKI, death or need for vasopressors or invasive ventilatory support. However, a study that included 65 CABM critically ill patients (who did or did not develop AKI) showed that patients who presented "adverse clinical outcomes" (e.g., neurologic sequelae or death) were older than those who did not.(1111 Fernandes D, Gonçalves-Pereira J, Janeiro S, Silvestre J, Bento L, Póvoa P. Acute bacterial meningitis in the intensive care unit and risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes: retrospective study. J Crit Care. 2014;29(3):347-50.)

S. pneumoniae is capable of elevating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in CSF. It could be involved in the pathogenesis of brain edema in some CABM patients via an increase in vascular permeability, although VEGF inhibition did not diminish cerebral edema.(2626 van der Flier M, Stockhammer G, Vonk GJ, Nikkels PG, van Diemen-Steenvoorde RA, van der Vlist GJ, et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor in bacterial meningitis: detection in cerebrospinal fluid and localization in postmortem brain. J Infect Dis. 2001;183(1):149-53.,2727 van der Flier M, Coenjaerts FE, Mwinzi PN, Rijkers E, Ruyken M, Scharringa J, et al. Antibody neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) fails to attenuate vascular permeability and brain edema in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. J Neuroimmunol. 2005;160(1-2):170-7.) However, VEGF production stimulation is not limited to the CSF, as it was first demonstrated that S. pneumoniae was capable of inducing VEGF production by human neutrophils in the peripheral blood.(2828 van der Flier M, Coenjaerts F, Kimpen JL, Hoepelman AM, Geelen SP. Streptococcus pneumoniae induces secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor by human neutrophils. Infect Immun. 2000;68(8):4792-4.) This phenomenon may constitute a mechanism of hypotension via increased vascular permeability and third-space fluid loss. Such a proposition is consistent with the finding that higher hematocrit at AKI diagnosis elevated the risk of requiring vasopressors almost fivefold.

Some laboratory variables at AKI diagnosis seemed to predict intubation in 48 hours, such as higher urea and sodium levels. There are studies in the literature proposing an association between high urea levels and an increased need for ventilatory support.(2929 Piriyapatsom A, Williams EC, Waak K, Ladha KS, Eikermann M, Schmidt UH. Prospective observational study of predictors of re-intubation following extubation in the surgical ICU. Respir Care. 2016;61(3):306-15.,3030 Clark PA, Lettieri CJ. Clinical model for predicting prolonged mechanical ventilation. J Crit Care. 2013;28(5):880.e1-7.) A recent prospective study has pointed to urea levels > 49.25mg/dL as an independent risk factor for re-intubation in a surgical ICU.(2727 van der Flier M, Coenjaerts FE, Mwinzi PN, Rijkers E, Ruyken M, Scharringa J, et al. Antibody neutralization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) fails to attenuate vascular permeability and brain edema in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. J Neuroimmunol. 2005;160(1-2):170-7.) Clark and Lettieri(3030 Clark PA, Lettieri CJ. Clinical model for predicting prolonged mechanical ventilation. J Crit Care. 2013;28(5):880.e1-7.) developed a very specific clinical model to predict prolonged intubation, in which urea > 25mg/dL increased the risk of requiring MV for more than 14 days. A previous study by Milhaud et al.(1212 Milhaud D, Bernardin G, Rastello M, Matteï M, Blard JM. [Bacterial meningitis in adults in the intensive care unit. Clinical analysis and study of prognostic factors]. Presse Med. 1996;25(8):353-9. French.) also showed that high urea is an important prognosis factor in CABM patients.

The main limitations of this study derive from its retrospective nature and small sample size. Data regarding the etiological diagnosis of the agents causing CABG were not available. The study was conducted in only one region of Brazil, so disease patterns may be different in other regions of the globe.

CONCLUSION

Mortality among critically ill patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis complicated with acute kidney injury is very high, and the clinician should be particularly careful to monitor prognostic factors in order to improve patient care. High hematocrit, serum urea and thrombocytopenia were associated with worse hemodynamic, ventilatory and renal outcomes, respectively. Low sodium levels at acute kidney injury diagnosis may also be an important prognostic factor in this group of patients. Higher serum urea was an earlier predictor of worse renal outcome compared to serum creatinine.

  • This research was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are very grateful to the team of attending physicians, residents, medical students and nurses from Hospital São José de Doenças Infecciosas for the assistance provided to the patients and for the technical support provided for the development of this research.

REFERÊNCIAS

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  • 2
    Aronin SI, Peduzzi P, Quagliarello VJ. Community-acquired bacterial meningitis: risk stratification for adverse clinical outcome and effect of antibiotic timing. Ann Intern Med. 1998;129(11):862-9.
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    van de Beek D, de Gans J, Spanjaard L, Weisfelt M, Reitsma JB, Vermeulen M. Clinical features and prognostic factors in adults with bacterial meningitis. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(18):1849-59.
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    Hoste EA, Kellum JA. Acute kidney dysfunction and the critically ill. Minerva Anestesiol. 2006;72(3):133-43.
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    Uchino S, Kellum JA, Bellomo R, Doig GS, Morimatsu H, Morgera S, Schetz M, Tan I, Bouman C, Macedo E, Gibney N, Tolwani A, Ronco C; Beginning and Ending Supportive Therapy for the Kidney (BEST Kidney) Investigators. Acute renal failure in critically ill patients: a multinational, multicenter study. JAMA. 2005;294(7):813-8.
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Edited by

Responsible editor: Felipe Dal Pizzol

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Apr-Jun 2018
  • Date of issue
    June 2018

History

  • Received
    15 July 2017
  • Accepted
    10 Jan 2018
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