Internal and emergency medicine
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Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common cause of emergency department (ED) visits, and has various prognoses. This study aimed to verify the prognostic ability of the lactate/albumin (L/A) ratio in patients with GIB compared with the AIMS65 score and blood urea nitrogen/albumin (B/A) ratio. This retrospective study included patients with GIB symptoms who visited the ED in 2019. ⋯ The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the L/A ratio significantly predicted ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. The AUROC curve for predicting ICU admission were 0.788, 0.695, and 0.586 for the L/A, B/A, and AIMS65 scores, respectively, while the AUROC curve for predicting in-hospital mortality were 0.807, 0.799, and 0.683 for the L/A, B/A, and AIMS65 scores, respectively. The L/A ratio, which consists of the serum lactate and albumin levels, showed superior performance relative to the B/A ratio and AIMS65 score in predicting the prognosis of patients with GIB.
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Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are prevalent in patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) and increase the risk of inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy. Risk stratification for MDRO infection is essential to early identify patients requiring empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, but it remains challenging for emergency physicians. This study aimed to evaluate prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of patients admitted to the ED with a bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by MDROs. ⋯ Patients with BSI due to MDRO had a higher rate of inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy (50%) and longer length of stay, but no higher in-hospital mortality. Among patients admitted to the ED with a BSI, MDROs are frequent and often associated with inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy. Specific updated risk factors for MDRO may help clinicians to better identify patients requiring a broader antibiotic therapy in the ED, while awaiting microbiological results.
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Older patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) after falling are increasingly prevalent. Falls are associated with functional decline and death. Biomarkers predicting short-term mortality might facilitate decisions regarding resource allocation and disposition. D-dimer levels are used to rule out thromboembolic disease, while copeptin and adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) may be used as measures of the patient`s stress level. These nonspecific biomarkers were selected as potential predictors for mortality. ⋯ D-dimer and MR-proADM levels might be useful as prognostic markers in older patients presenting to the ED after a fall, by identifying patients at low risk of short-term mortality.