Secular trends in nosocomial infections and mortality associated with noninvasive ventilation in patients with exacerbation of COPD and pulmonary edema.
BACKGROUND
Randomized controlled trials have shown that the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) reduces the need for endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation and reduces complication rates and mortality in selected groups of patients. But whether these benefits translate to a clinical setting is unclear.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate longitudinally the routine implementation of NIV and its effect on patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE).


METHODS
Retrospective, observational cohort study using prospectively collected data from January 1, 1994, through December 31, 2001.


METHODS
A 26-bed medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a French university referral hospital.


METHODS
A cohort of 479 consecutive patients ventilated for acute exacerbation of COPD or CPE.


METHODS
The ICU mortality and incidence rates of ICU-acquired infections.


RESULTS
A significant increase in NIV use and a concomitant decrease in mortality and ICU-acquired infection rates were observed over the study years. With adjustment for relevant covariates and propensity scores, NIV was identified as an independent factor linked with a reduced risk of death in the cohort (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.78), whereas a high severity score on admission (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10) and the occurrence of a nosocomial infection (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.62-5.84) were independently associated with death. Rates of ICU-acquired pneumonia decreased from 20% in 1994 to 8% in 2001 (P =.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing routine use of NIV in critically ill patients with acute exacerbation of COPD or severe CPE was associated with improved survival and reduction of nosocomial infections.
Girou
Emmanuelle
E
Unité d'Hygiène et Prévention de l'Infection, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France. emmanuelle.girou@hmn.ap-hop-paris.fr
Brun-Buisson
Christian
C
Taillé
Solenne
S
Lemaire
François
F
Brochard
Laurent
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis