Clinical phenotypes and outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineage JN.1 in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective, multicenter cohort study in France, November 2022 to January 2024.

Background: A notable increase in severe cases of COVID-19, with significant hospitalizations due to the emergence and spread of JN.1 was observed worldwide in late 2023 and early 2024. However, no clinical data are available regarding critically-ill JN.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections in critically ill neutropenic patients: a French multicentre retrospective cohort study.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare life-threatening bacterial infections. Few data are available regarding neutropenic patients with NSTIs. Our objectives were to describe the characteristics and management of neutropenic patients with NSTIs in intensive care units (ICUs).

Use of almitrine in spontaneously breathing patients with COVID-19 treated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy and with persistent hypoxemia.

Background: Almitrine, a selective pulmonary vasoconstrictor in hypoxic area, improves oxygenation in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 but its effects in spontaneously breathing patients with COVID-19 remain to be determined.

Methods: We prospectively studied the effects of almitrine (16 µg/kg/min over 30 min followed by continuous administration in responders only) in 62 patients (66% of male, 63 [53-69] years old) with COVID-19 treated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNO) and with persistent hypoxemia, defined as a PaO/FiO ratio < 100 with FiO > 80% after a single awake prone positioning session. Patients with an increase in PaO/FiO ratio > 20% were considered as responders.

Spontaneous-Breathing Trials with Pressure-Support Ventilation or a T-Piece.

Background: Spontaneous-breathing trials can be performed with the use of either pressure-support ventilation (PSV) or a T-piece. Whether PSV trials may result in a shorter time to tracheal extubation than T-piece trials, without resulting in a higher risk of reintubation, among patients who have a high risk of extubation failure is unknown.

Methods: In this multicenter, open-label trial, we randomly assigned patients who had a high risk of extubation failure (i.

Impact of Isolation Time of COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit on Healthcare Workers Contamination and Nursing Care Intensity.

Background: The optimal isolation time of COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) is debated. We investigated the impact of two different COVID-19 patient isolation time strategies on healthcare workers (HCW) contamination, intensity of nursing care and potential associated adverse events.

Methods: We prospectively included all consecutive COVID-19 patients and HCW in our ICU in the first two pandemic waves (March to May 2020 and August to November 2020).

Characteristics of Cardiac Injury in Critically Ill Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Cardiac injury has been reported in up to 30% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, cardiac injury is defined mainly by troponin elevation without description of associated structural abnormalities and its time course has not been studied.

Research Question: What are the ECG and echocardiographic abnormalities as well as their time course in critically ill COVID-19 patients?

Study Design And Methods: The cardiac function of 43 consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to two ICUs was assessed prospectively and repeatedly, combining ECG, cardiac biomarker, and transthoracic echocardiographic analyses from ICU admission to ICU discharge or death or to a maximum follow-up of 14 days.

ICU-acquired weakness, diaphragm dysfunction and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness and diaphragm dysfunction are frequent conditions, both associated with poor prognosis in critically ill patients. While it is well established that ICU-acquired weakness severely impairs long-term prognosis, the association of diaphragm dysfunction with this outcome has never been reported. This study investigated whether diaphragm dysfunction is associated with negative long-term outcomes and whether the coexistence of diaphragm dysfunction and ICU-acquired weakness has a particular association with 2-year survival and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).