Marjolein Geurts1, Malcolm R Macleod, Rainer Kollmar, Philip H C Kremer, H Bart van der Worp. 1. 1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 2Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. 3Klinik für Neurologie und Neurogeriatrie, Klinikum Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Observational studies suggest that infections are a common complication of therapeutic hypothermia. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials to examine the risk of infections in patients treated with hypothermia. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched for eligible studies up to October 1, 2012. STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled clinical trials of therapeutic hypothermia induced in adults for any indication, which reported the prevalence of infection in each treatment group. DATA EXTRACTION: For each study, we collected information about the baseline characteristics of patients, cooling strategy, and infections. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-three studies were identified, which included 2,820 patients, of whom 1,398 (49.6%) were randomized to hypothermia. Data from another 31 randomized trials, involving 4,004 patients, could not be included because the occurrence of infection was not reported with sufficient detail or not at all. The risk of bias in the included studies was high because information on the method of randomization and definitions of infections lacked in most cases, and assessment of infections was not blinded. In patients treated with hypothermia, the prevalence of all infections was not increased (rate ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.95-1.54]), but there was an increased risk of pneumonia and sepsis (risk ratios, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.10-1.90]; 1.80 [95% CI, 1.04-3.10], respectively). CONCLUSION: The available evidence, subject to its limitations, strongly suggests an association between therapeutic hypothermia and the risk of pneumonia and sepsis, whereas no increase in the overall risk of infection was observed. All future randomized trials of hypothermia should report on this important complication.
OBJECTIVE: Observational studies suggest that infections are a common complication of therapeutic hypothermia. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials to examine the risk of infections in patients treated with hypothermia. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched for eligible studies up to October 1, 2012. STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled clinical trials of therapeutic hypothermia induced in adults for any indication, which reported the prevalence of infection in each treatment group. DATA EXTRACTION: For each study, we collected information about the baseline characteristics of patients, cooling strategy, and infections. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty-three studies were identified, which included 2,820 patients, of whom 1,398 (49.6%) were randomized to hypothermia. Data from another 31 randomized trials, involving 4,004 patients, could not be included because the occurrence of infection was not reported with sufficient detail or not at all. The risk of bias in the included studies was high because information on the method of randomization and definitions of infections lacked in most cases, and assessment of infections was not blinded. In patients treated with hypothermia, the prevalence of all infections was not increased (rate ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.95-1.54]), but there was an increased risk of pneumonia and sepsis (risk ratios, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.10-1.90]; 1.80 [95% CI, 1.04-3.10], respectively). CONCLUSION: The available evidence, subject to its limitations, strongly suggests an association between therapeutic hypothermia and the risk of pneumonia and sepsis, whereas no increase in the overall risk of infection was observed. All future randomized trials of hypothermia should report on this important complication.
Authors: Siew Hon Benjamin Leong; Enoch Chan; Benjamin Choon Heng Ho; Colin Yeo; Sennen Lew; Duu Wen Sewa; Shir Lynn Lim; Chee Wan Lee; Pow Li Chia; Tien Siang Eric Lim; Eng Kiang Lee; Marcus Eng Hock Ong Journal: Singapore Med J Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 1.858
Authors: Adrian T Billeter; Jason Hellmann; Henry Roberts; Devin Druen; Sarah A Gardner; Harshini Sarojini; Susan Galandiuk; Sufan Chien; Aruni Bhatnagar; Matthew Spite; Hiram C Polk Journal: FASEB J Date: 2014-09-17 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: D James Cooper; Alistair D Nichol; Michael Bailey; Stephen Bernard; Peter A Cameron; Sébastien Pili-Floury; Andrew Forbes; Dashiell Gantner; Alisa M Higgins; Olivier Huet; Jessica Kasza; Lynne Murray; Lynette Newby; Jeffrey J Presneill; Stephen Rashford; Jeffrey V Rosenfeld; Michael Stephenson; Shirley Vallance; Dinesh Varma; Steven A R Webb; Tony Trapani; Colin McArthur Journal: JAMA Date: 2018-12-04 Impact factor: 56.272