Publications by authors named "Ignacio-Martin Loeches"

Epidemiology, ventilator management, and outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described extensively but have never been compared between countries. We performed an individual patient data analysis of four observational studies to compare epidemiology, ventilator management, and outcomes. We used propensity score weighting to control for confounding factors.

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species is the most common cause of invasive fungal infection in the critically ill population admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Numerous risk factors for developing invasive candidiasis (IC) have been identified, and some, like the breach of protective barriers, abound within the ICU. Given that IC carries a significant mortality, morbidity, and healthcare cost burden, early diagnosis and treatment have become an essential topic of discussion.

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Background: ( ) is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause multiple life-threatening infections. Recently, there has been an upward trend in carbapenem-resistant infections in China. This epidemiological trend needs to be examined to enable better disease control.

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Purpose: Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are frequently prescribed antibiotics, with many reporting an antibiotic allergy label, predominantly to penicillin. Mislabeling contributes to suboptimal antibiotic use, increasing multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile infections, and increased hospital length of stay. This prospective study implemented an antibiotic allergy assessment and testing program in the ICU, independently of clinical immunology/allergy services.

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Progress in the management of critical care syndromes such as sepsis, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), and trauma has slowed over the last two decades, limited by the inherent heterogeneity within syndromic illnesses. Numerous immune endotypes have been proposed in sepsis and critical care, however the overlap of the endotypes is unclear, limiting clinical translation. The SUBSPACE consortium is an international consortium that aims to advance precision medicine through the sharing of transcriptomic data.

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Sepsis remains a major contributor to critical care mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite advances in understanding its complex immunopathology, the compartmentalized nature of immune responses across different organs has yet to be fully translated into targeted therapies. This review explores the burden of sepsis on organ-specific immune dysregulation, immune resilience, and epigenetic reprogramming, emphasizing translational challenges and opportunities.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patients with COVID-19 on ventilators have a higher risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), which can lead to increased healthcare costs and worse outcomes.* -
  • This study analyzed the lung microbiome and immune responses in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients to understand the mechanisms leading to VAP, comparing samples taken shortly after intubation and 72 hours later.* -
  • Results showed differences in the microbiome related to VAP, along with higher viral loads and unique metabolic changes in patients who developed VAP, highlighting the complex interactions between microbiota, viral response, and inflammation.*
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This review explores the current landscape and evolving understanding of sepsis, highlighting both challenges and future directions. Sepsis remains a major global health burden, with diverse clinical presentations complicating timely diagnosis and management. Existing definitions, including the Sepsis-3 criteria, emphasize the importance of organ dysfunction, yet early sepsis detection remains limited by available tools.

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Background: The management of nosocomial pneumonia represents a major challenge in the ICU. European guidelines from 2017 proposed an algorithm for the prescription of empirical antimicrobial treatment based on medical history, local ecology, and severity (ie, presence or absence of septic shock). We assessed this algorithm's usefulness by comparing outcomes with and without guideline adherence in a population at high risk of multiresistance and mortality.

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: Bacterial/fungal coinfections (COIs) are associated with antibiotic overuse, poor outcomes such as prolonged ICU stay, and increased mortality. Our aim was to develop machine learning-based predictive models to identify respiratory bacterial or fungal coinfections upon ICU admission. : We conducted a secondary analysis of two prospective multicenter cohort studies with confirmed influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 and COVID-19.

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Article Synopsis
  • The ESICM Green Paper addresses the importance of environmental sustainability in intensive care units (ICUs) and proposes actionable strategies to reduce their ecological impact.
  • A task force of experts assessed key areas for improvement and refined their strategies through a series of meetings and drafts.
  • The paper emphasizes the need for energy efficiency, waste reduction, and education among healthcare professionals to ensure that high-quality patient care and sustainability go hand in hand.
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Background: Compare the changes and differences in metabolome and lipidome profiles among severe COVID-19 and CAP patients with ARF to identify biomarkers that could be used for personalized diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Research Design And Methods: Plasma samples were taken at hospital admission (baseline) and on the 5 day of hospitalization (follow-up) and examined by RP-LC-QTOF-MS and HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS.

Results: 127 patients, 17 with CAP and 110 with COVID-19, were included.

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Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) remain a significant global cause of mortality and disability. Viruses constitute a substantial proportion of LRTI cases, with their pandemic potential posing a latent threat. After the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the resurgence of other respiratory viruses, including Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus responsible for LRTI has been observed especially in susceptible populations.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Dysregulation of these systems can lead to problems like coagulopathy (abnormal blood clotting), endothelial dysfunction (issues with blood vessel linings), and multi-organ failure.
  • * The review focuses on the underlying mechanisms of these dysfunctions, their clinical importance, how to evaluate them, and potential treatments aimed at improving patient outcomes in sepsis.
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Article Synopsis
  • Liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) is a key treatment for severe fungal infections, but it may pose risks for kidney damage in critically ill patients.
  • A study analyzed 67 patients treated with L-AmB for over 48 hours to determine the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), revealing that 26.8% of patients developed AKI, with lower rates in those at higher initial risk.
  • Key factors contributing to AKI included norepinephrine use, SOFA scores, and certain laboratory results, indicating that while L-AmB appears safe, AKI development is influenced by multiple factors.
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Background: Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAI) represent a public health priority in most countries worldwide. Our main objective was to systematically review the quality of the predictive modeling literature regarding multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Methods: We conducted and reported a Systematic Literature Review according to the recommendations of the PRISMA statement.

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Background: Ventilation management may differ between COVID-19 ARDS (COVID-ARDS) patients and patients with pre-COVID ARDS (CLASSIC-ARDS); it is uncertain whether associations of ventilation management with outcomes for CLASSIC-ARDS also exist in COVID-ARDS.

Methods: Individual patient data analysis of COVID-ARDS and CLASSIC-ARDS patients in six observational studies of ventilation, four in the COVID-19 pandemic and two pre-pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to compare epidemiology and ventilation characteristics.

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Purpose Of Review: This review explores the similarities and differences between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related and non-COVID-related nosocomial pneumonia, particularly hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). It critically assesses the etiology, prevalence, and mortality among hospitalized patients, emphasizing the burden of these infections during the period before and after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic.

Recent Findings: Recent studies highlight an increase in nosocomial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant rise in cases involving severe bacterial and fungal superinfections among mechanically ventilated patients.

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Background: The accuracy of a diagnostic test depends on its intrinsic characteristics and the disease incidence. This study aims to depict post-test probability of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP), according to results of PCR and Beta-D-Glucan (BDG) tests in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF).

Materials And Methods: Diagnostic performance of PCR and BDG was extracted from literature.

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Fungal diseases represent a considerable global health concern, affecting >1 billion people annually. In response to this growing challenge, the World Health Organization introduced the pivotal fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL) in late 2022. The FPPL highlights the challenges in estimating the global burden of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance (AFR), as well as limited surveillance capabilities and lack of routine AFR testing.

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Severe acute respiratory infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and ventilator-associated pneumonia, constitute frequent and lethal pulmonary infections in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite optimal management with early appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy and adequate supportive care, mortality remains high, in part attributable to the aging, growing number of comorbidities, and rising rates of multidrug resistance pathogens. Biomarkers have the potential to offer additional information that may further improve the management and outcome of pulmonary infections.

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Introduction: Expert opinion is widely used in clinical guidelines. No research has ever been conducted investigating the use of expert opinion in international infectious disease guidelines. This study aimed to create an analytical map by describing the prevalence and utilization of expert opinion in infectious disease guidelines and analyzing the methodological aspects of these guidelines.

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