A Comparison of HIV-Infected Patients With and Without Opportunistic (AIDS-Related) Infection
Cytomegalovirus InfectionsCytomegalovirus Retinitis3 moreThe purpose of this study is to understand how changes in the immune system of HIV-infected patients affect their risk for 3 serious infections: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, or CMV organ disease. The purpose also is to understand how anti-HIV medicines may improve the immune system in these patients. (This purpose reflects a change in the AIDS-related [opportunistic] infections studied.) Presently, HIV-infected patients who have had PCP or CMV disease stay on lifelong therapy to prevent the return of the disease. This study is trying to see if a special lab test can help identify which patients can stop this preventive therapy without having another episode of PCP or CMV organ disease. (This rationale reflects a change in the AIDS-related infections studied.)
Transthoracic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Ventilator Associated PneumoniaLung UltrasoundTo evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of bedside transthoracic ultrasound examination in the diagnosis and follow up of ventilator associated pneumonia.
Neoadjuvant Therapy for Esophageal Cancer and Cardiopulmonary Physiology
Esophageal CancerRadiation Pneumonitis9 moreAlthough recent global trends indicate reduced postoperative mortality after esophagectomy, major morbidity, in particular pulmonary, remains high, with considerable health and economic costs. In a recent modern international collaborative series of 2704 patients from high-volume centers, with an approximate equal mix of open and minimally invasive approaches, respiratory complications were evident in 28% of patients, pneumonia in 15%, and respiratory failure in 7%.1 In other series, respiratory failure is reported in up to 15% of patients and is the most common cause of mortality. Prediction of risk and prevention of respiratory morbidity is therefore of considerable importance, and in this context baseline assessment of respiratory physiology compliments clinical assessment, history and enhanced recovery pathways representing key elements of current patient management. In this study, which will include all prospective patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer treated at a National Center, pulmonary function will be systematically measured before and after neoadjuvant therapy. The investigators seek to evaluate the incidence of radiation induced lung injury (RILI), as well as subclinical changes in pulmonary physiology that may be linked to postoperative complications, and quality-of-life in survivorship, and to compare cohorts who received radiation therapy or chemotherapy alone, preoperatively.
Granulomatous Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Pulmonary NoduleInvasive Fungal Infections1 moreThe intra-alveolar form of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PjP) is a common pathology in immunocompromised patients, particularly those infected with HIV. The diagnosis is based on the detection of Pj in a LBA. Intra-tissue granulomatous form (PGP) is a rare entity observed in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. In this case, the LBA is mostly non-contributory and the diagnosis is based solely on the detection of cysts on histological examination on biopsy of a pulmonary nodule. For many years, it has been clearly demonstrated that the use of a specific PCR clearly improves the biological diagnosis of PcP. However, in case of granulomatous form this method is not implemented because the diagnostic hypothesis is not mentioned. In 2018, two cases of PGP were diagnosed at 3-month intervals at Montpellier University Hospital Center. The diagnostic confirmation was obtained with PCR Pj. In this context the investigators will investigate the interest of implementing PCR Pj on biopsies on pulmonary nodules from hospitalized patients between 2015 and 2018. In all selected patients, histopathological aspect of the nodule was compatible with a PGP and, no other diagnosis has been confirmed (infectious, tumoral, inflammatory ...). Finally, 17 patients were selected to check retrospectively, if the presence of Pj could be at the origin of the pathology.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia Diagnosis Using Lung Ultrasound in Emergency Room Adults
Community-acquired PneumoniaCommunity-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a major problem in Emergency Department (ED). Diagnosis relies on combination of clinical symptoms and results of chest radiography (CR). Patients' management (treatment, support) depends on delay and quality of the diagnosis. However, signs and symptoms are highly aspecific and interpretation of CR is subject to frequent discrepancies. Then diagnosis of CAP may be uncertain; therefore, overdiagnosis is frequent and leads to over-use of antimicrobial therapy; missing diagnosis is also deleterious and delays adequate treatment including antibiotics. CT scan completes CR and helps clinician making properly diagnosis of CAP; obtaining CT in a 4-hour time-lapse allows better diagnosis and management as accurate as an independent expert adjudication committee does. However availability of CT as well as radiation interrogates on the benefit that Lung Ultrasounds (LUS) may have in diagnosis strategy of suspected CAP. LUS is a noninvasive easy-to-use device whose practice is widely endorsed worldwide by emergency medicine associations and societies. Additionally, previous studies advocate for the use of LUS for diagnosis of CAP in the ED. Therefore the Promotor developed a study to compare LUS and CR as a primary imaging for diagnosis of CAP at the ED.
Hospital-acquired Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit
Hospital Acquired PneumoniaVentilator-Associated Pneumonia2 morehospital-acquired pneumonia are a common disease in intensive care unit. The prevention, the diagnosis and the treatment of hospital acquired pneumonia are a frequent challenge. Nevertheless it seems that there are great differences in standard of care between hospitals. The investigators hypothesized that medical education and implementation of evidence-base guidelines can reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients presenting of hospital acquired pneumonia
Toward Self-management in ILD
Interstitial Lung DiseaseIdiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis3 moreTreating and caring for people with long term conditions accounts for a substantial proportion of health care resources. Self-management is advocated as a mechanism that can empower service users with long term conditions to choose healthier options and also transform the relationship between service user and caregivers from one in which the former is a passive recipient of care to one in which they are an active partner in decision-making. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one such long term condition. Patients with ILD often express concern about the lack of information on possible rehabilitation programmes and other services that could potentially improve self-management of the disease. In addition, there is a general perception about a lack of co-ordination between health care professionals especially in relation to referral to services for comprehensive management of the disease. Therefore, the needs of patients with ILD and their carers, and possible gaps in service provision need to be explored further. In this study, the investigators propose to explore the needs of ILD patients from all types of ILD and all stages of severity and to also involve carers and clinicians. The investigators will conduct three focus groups for patients and carers and six one-to-one interviews with clinicians to explore perceptions about service gaps and needs in two ILD centres in South and North London, UK. This study will provide valuable information to develop the building blocks of a self-management resource and will enable the investigators to make it specific to the different types of ILD.
ePneumonia: Development of an Electronic Clinical Decision Support System for Community-Onset Pneumonia...
PneumoniaThe investigators plan to further develop a prototype, evidence-based, electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) for pneumonia care (ePneumonia) with interoperability across Electronic Health Records in order to improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare resource utilization. The specific aims of this study are to evaluate the usability of ePneumonia adapted for Cerner and its impact on clinical, patient-centered and healthcare resource utilization outcomes in a stepped-wedge implementation study in 16 hospital emergency departments (EDs) across the Intermountain Healthcare integrated health system.
Lactate Clearance in Hospital-acquired Pneumonia
PneumoniaMortality2 moreThere is no clear consensus on the use of pneumonia severity index (PSI) developed for community-acquired pneumonia in hospital-acquired pneumonia cases. In another aspect, PSI is a relatively difficult scoring system that includes many parameters. This study evaluated whether lactate clearance could be used as a mortality marker instead of PSI in hospital-acquired pneumonia. As a result, lactate clearance was lower in the mortal group and when the diagnostic statistics were evaluated, it was seen that the sensitivity and specificity rates were significantly higher. In conclusion, lactate clearance has been evaluated as a strong predictor of mortality in hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosing Dysphagia Patients
Respiration DisordersSwallowing Disorder4 moreIn this prospective study we extracted acoustic parameters using PRAAT from patient's attempt to phonate during the clinical evaluation using a digital smart device. From these parameters we attempted (1) to define which of the PRAAT acoustic features best help to discriminate patients with dysphagia (2) to develop algorithms using sophisticated ML techniques that best classify those i) with dysphagia and those ii ) at high risk of respiratory complications due to poor cough force.