
GM-CSF to Decrease ICU Acquired Infections
Septic ShockSevere SepsisThe concept of acquired immunodeficiency after a first severe infection in the ICU is widely described in the literature. There is a dual risk: increased mortality and increased secondary infections. Several approaches of immunostimulatory treatments have been proposed in the literature. The treatment proposed by this study consists of the administration of Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), colony stimulating factor widely used particularly in the USA where it is marketed. A phase 2 clinical trial was conducted in Germany in 2009. The main objective is to measure the incidence of ICU-acquired infections in 2 groups of patients treated by GM-CSF or placebo. ICU patients at risk are defined as surviving at D3 from a severe sepsis or septic shock and presenting a sepsis associated immunodepression. The detection of immunosuppressed patients will be achieved by measuring the HLA-DR (Human Leucocyte Antigen DR)with a threshold of less to 8000 sites. Our hypothesis is that the number of secondary infections (primary endpoint) will be significantly reduced in the treated group.

Project 4B: Lower Extremity Strength Training in ICU Patients
SepsisThe purpose of this research study is to see if electrical stimulation of the leg muscles will improve strength in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU). ICU care frequently results in chronically critically ill (CCI) patients. Some CCI patients develop persistent inflammation/immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS), and they have morbid long-term outcomes. CCI patients with PICS often develop severe limb muscle atrophy, weakness and accelerated protein catabolism. Limb muscle dysfunction in PICS is due to many factors including sepsis/inflammation, proteolysis, apoptosis, and inactivity. Despite the seriousness of limb muscle weakness in CCI patients receiving mechanical ventilation, little is known about exercise strategies to treat this problem. There is limited knowledge about how strength training impacts inflammation and catabolism in CCI patients. In addition, an assessment of the effect of exercise on markers of inflammation and protein catabolism on muscle samples obtained with biopsy techniques and venous blood samples will be performed. This project will further understanding of how treating CCI-related muscle weakness with strength training cannot only improve muscle function, but also potentially blunt the inflammation and catabolism of PICS.

BetaLACTA® Test for Early De-escalation of Empirical Carbapenems in Pulmonary, Urinary and Bloodstream...
PneumoniaUrinary Tract Infections1 moreThe emergence and rapid worldwide spread of Extended- Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-producing enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE) both in hospital and community, led physicians, and notably intensivists, to prescribe more carbapenems, particularly in the most fragile patients such as ICU patients. Unfortunately, the increased carbapenem consumption favored the emergence of carbapenem resistance mechanisms. Moreover, several preliminary results suggest that carbapenem could markedly impact the human intestinal microbiota, Thus, reduction of carbapenem exposure is widely desired both by national and international antibiotic plans. Therefore, the use of rapid diagnostic tests evaluating bacterial resistance to reduce inappropriate exposure to carbapenems could be a relevant solution. Due to its good diagnostic performance, the betaLACTA® test could meet these objectives. Experimental plan : Randomized, open-labeled non-inferiority clinical trial involving an in vitro diagnostic medical device (close to a phase III study), comparing two parallel groups: Experimental group: early carbapenems de-escalation since the second dose, guided by results of the betaLACTA® test performed directly on the bacterial pellet from the microbiological sample positive on direct examination. Control group: carbapenems de-escalation guided by definitive results of the antibiotic susceptibility test obtained 48 to 72h after microbiological sampling (reference strategy).

The Efficacy and Safety of Ta1 for Sepsis
SepsisThe purpose of this study is to determine whether thymalfasin is safe and effective in patients who have sepsis

Efficacy of Betalactam Antibiotics in Prolonged Infusion Compared to Intermittent in Pediatric Patients...
SepsisThis study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the administration of betalactam antibiotics in prolonged infusion compared to intermittent infusion in children with sepsis. Half of participants will receive piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem or meropenem in continuous or extended infusion, while the other half will receive piperacillin/tazobactam, imipenem or meropenem in intermittent infusion.

Pharmacokinetics of XueBiJing in Patients With Sepsis
SepsisSeptic Shock1 morePharmacokinetics and disposition of XueBiJing compounds in patients with sepsis

Balanced Salt Solution VS. Normal Saline Solution in Septic Shock
ShockSeptic1 moreThe Purpose of this study is to determine the impact of balanced salt solution versus chloride rich solution on clinical outcomes in paediatric severe sepsis or septic shock

Randomized Controlled Trial of Calcitriol vs. Placebo Among Critically-ill Patients With Sepsis...
Severe Sepsis or Septic ShockObservational studies among critically ill patients have shown strong associations between vitamin D deficiency and adverse outcomes, including increased length of stay, infection, and mortality. It is unknown whether vitamin D deficiency contributes directly to adverse outcomes or whether it is simply a biomarker of severity of illness or overall health status. However, vitamin D plays a key role in host defense, largely by stimulating production of the anti-microbial peptide cathelicidin (LL-37). We will test the hypothesis that administration of activated vitamin D (calcitriol) will increase serum levels of cathelicidin.

Impact of Low Dose Unfractionated Heparin Treatment on Inflammation in Sepsis
Severe Sepsis With Septic ShockSevere Sepsis Without Septic ShockSepsis is a clinical syndrome which infection trigger systemic inflammatory response. Uncontrolled inflammatory process leads to multiple organ dysfunction and cause early mortality in severe sepsis. Unfractionated heparin is an anticoagulant that widely used either for DVT prophylaxis or treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Heparin also have an anti-inflammatory effect through downregulates nuclear factor kappa B and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Aim of this study is to determine effects of low dose unfractionated heparin treatment on inflammation in severe sepsis patient.

Preemptive Ethanol Lock Therapy in Pediatric Bloodstream Infection
LeukemiaLymphoma2 moreThe study team will compare hospital length of stay (LOS) and attributable length of stay (ALOS, the LOS attributable to CRI), in a randomized, un-blinded prospective trial utilizing short-dwell ethanol-lock therapy (ELT) (4 hours to 24 hour dwell times per day, repeated for up to 72 hours) placed within 24 - 36 hours of admission(Group 1, Preemptive ELT) versus ELT placed at the time of first positive blood culture report (Group 2, Rescue ELT (Standard of Care ). ELT will be given in both groups, in combination with systemic antibiotics, for the treatment of CRI (suspected or proven) of the blood in children with central catheters. Participants will be enrolled from patients with hematologic/oncologic disorders and bone marrow or hematopoetic stem cell transplants (BMT) admitted for care to Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM), a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Detroit, Michigan. ALOS will be defined as the number of hospital days between first symptoms of Catheter-related infection (CRI) (or date of admission for those admitted with symptoms) and first negative blood culture. Study Hypothesis: The main hypothesis is that the short-dwell ethanol-lock therapy, defined above, placed within 24 - 36 hours of symptoms/admission (Arm 1) versus ELT placement at the time of first positive blood culture report (Arm 2), with concomitant systemic antibiotics, for the treatment of CRI (suspected or proven) of the blood in children with central catheters in the H/O/BMT population will have shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) and attributable LOS (ALOS) and therefore lower hospital costs.