Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an increasingly common cause of health careassociated urinary tract infections. Antimicrobials with in vitro activity against CRKP are typically limited to polymyxins, tigecycline, and often, aminoglycosides. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cases of CRKP bacteriuria at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from January 2005 through June 2010 to compare microbiologic clearance rates based on the use of polymyxin B, tigecycline, or an aminoglycoside. We constructed three active antimicrobial cohorts based on the active agent used and an untreated cohort of cases that did not receive antimicrobial therapy with Gram-negative activity. Microbiologic clearance was defined as having a follow-up urine culture that did not yield CRKP. Cases without an appropriate follow-up culture or that received multiple active agents or less than 3 days of the active agent were excluded. Eighty-seven cases were included in the active antimicrobial cohorts, and 69 were included in the untreated cohort. The microbiologic clearance rate was 88% in the aminoglycoside cohort (n ‫؍‬ 41), compared to 64% in the polymyxin B (P ‫؍‬ 0.02; n ‫؍‬ 25), 43% in the tigecycline (P < 0.001; n ‫؍‬ 21), and 36% in the untreated (P < 0.001; n ‫؍‬ 69) cohorts. Using multivariate analysis, the odds of clearance were lower for the polymyxin B (odds ratio [OR], 0.10; P ‫؍‬ 0.003), tigecycline (OR, 0.08; P ‫؍‬ 0.001), and untreated (OR, 0.14; P ‫؍‬ 0.003) cohorts than for the aminoglycoside cohort. Treatment with an aminoglycoside, when active in vitro, was associated with a significantly higher rate of microbiologic clearance of CRKP bacteriuria than treatment with either polymyxin B or tigecycline.

The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701).

ObjeCtiveTo estimate the association between guideline recommended drugs and death in older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Design Population based cohort study.setting Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey cohort, a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 65 years or more.PartiCiPants 8578 older adults with two or more study chronic conditions (atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and thromboembolic disease), followed through 2011.exPOsures Drugs included β blockers, calcium channel blockers, clopidogrel, metformin, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); statins; thiazides; and warfarin. Main OutCOMe MeasureAdjusted hazard ratios for death among participants with a condition and taking a guideline recommended drug relative to participants with the condition not taking the drug and among participants with the most common combinations of four conditions. results Over 50% of participants with each condition received the recommended drugs regardless of coexisting conditions; 1287/8578 (15%) participants died during the three years of follow-up. Among cardiovascular drugs, β blockers, calcium channel blockers, RAS blockers, and statins were associated with reduced mortality for indicated conditions. For example, the adjusted hazard ratio for β blockers was 0.59 (95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.72) for people with atrial fibrillation and 0.68 (0.57 to 0.81) for those with heart failure. The adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular drugs were similar to those with common combinations of four coexisting conditions, with trends toward variable effects for β blockers. None of clopidogrel, metformin, or SSRIs/SNRIs was associated with reduced mortality. Warfarin was associated with a reduced risk of death among those with atrial fibrillation (adjusted hazard ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.85) and thromboembolic disease (0.44, 0.30 to 0.62). Attenuation in the association with reduced risk of death was found with warfarin in participants with some combinations of coexisting conditions. COnClusiOnsAverage effects on survival, particularly for cardiovascular study drugs, were comparable to those reported in randomized controlled trials but varied for some drugs according to coexisting conditions. Determining treatment effects in combinations of conditions may guide prescribing in people with multiple chronic conditions.

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Background/Objectives Nursing home residents with do-not-hospitalize (DNH) orders are less likely to be hospitalized near the end of life. Because DNH orders are infrequently used, it has been suggested that more widespread adoption of these orders might help to reduce potentially burdensome nursing home-hospital transfers. Little, however, is known about the more basic issue of how a DNH order is interpreted and used in the nursing home once it is in place. Design Qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews performed from December 2013–April 2014. Setting Eight skilled nursing facilities in Connecticut that ranked in the top 10% or bottom 10% in hospitalization rates from 2008–2010. Participants 31 nursing facility staff members. Measurements A multidisciplinary team performed qualitative content analysis. The constant comparative method was used to develop a coding structure and identify themes. Results DNH orders were uncommon at both low- and high-hospitalizing facilities. Participants reported that they did not interpret these orders literally. A DNH order was not a prohibition against hospitalization. Instead, a DNH order was understood to have a variety of exceptions. These orders functioned primarily as a signal that hospitalization should be questioned and discussed with the family when an acute event occurred. Conclusion In-the-moment discussions about hospitalization are still necessary even when a DNH order is in place. Work to reduce potentially burdensome nursing home-hospital transfers needs to focus not just on eliciting preferences in advance but also on preparing patients and their families to make the best decisions about hospitalization when the time comes.

Background and Rationale: ICU clinicians regularly care for patients who lack capacity, an applicable advance directive, and an available surrogate decision-maker. Although there is no consensus on terminology, we refer to these patients as "unrepresented." There is considerable controversy about how to make treatment decisions for these patients, and there is significant variability in both law and clinical practice. Purpose and Objectives: This multisociety statement provides clinicians and hospital administrators with recommendations for decision-making on behalf of unrepresented patients in the critical care setting. Methods: An interprofessional, multidisciplinary expert committee developed this policy statement by using an iterative consensus process with a diverse working group representing critical care medicine, palliative care, pediatric medicine, nursing, social work, gerontology, geriatrics, patient advocacy, bioethics, philosophy, elder law, and health law. Main Results: The committee designed its policy recommendations to promote five ethical goals: 1) to protect highly vulnerable patients, 2) to demonstrate respect for persons, 3) to provide appropriate medical care, 4) to safeguard against unacceptable discrimination, and 5) to avoid undue influence of competing obligations and conflicting interests. These recommendations also are intended to strike an appropriate balance between excessive and insufficient procedural safeguards. The committee makes the following recommendations: 1) institutions should offer advance care planning to prevent patients at high risk for becoming unrepresented from meeting this definition; 2) institutions should implement strategies to determine whether seemingly unrepresented patients are actually unrepresented, including careful capacity assessments and diligent searches for potential surrogates; 3) institutions should manage decision-making for unrepresented patients using input from a diverse interprofessional, multidisciplinary committee rather than ad hoc by treating clinicians; 4) institutions should use all available information on the patient's preferences and values to guide treatment decisions; 5) institutions should manage decision-making for unrepresented patients using a fair process that comports with procedural due process; 6) institutions should employ this fair process even when state law authorizes procedures with less oversight. Conclusions: This multisociety statement provides guidance for clinicians and hospital administrators on medical decision-making for unrepresented patients in the critical care setting.

IMPORTANCE Disability and mortality are common among older adults with critical illness. Older adults who are socially isolated may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes for various reasons, including fewer supports to access services needed for optimal recovery; however, whether social isolation is associated with post-intensive care unit (ICU) disability and mortality is not known.OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether social isolation is associated with disability and with 1-year mortality after critical illness. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This observational cohort study included community-dwelling older adults who participated in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) from May 2011 through November 2018. Hospitalization data were collected through 2017 and interview data through 2018. Data analysis was conducted from February 2020 through February 2021. The mortality sample included 997 ICU admissions of 1 day or longer, which represented 5 705 675 survey-weighted ICU hospitalizations. Of these, 648 ICU stays, representing 3 821 611 ICU hospitalizations, were eligible for the primary outcome of post-ICU disability.EXPOSURES Social isolation from the NHATS survey response in the year most closely preceding ICU admission, which was assessed using a validated measure of social connectedness with partners, families, and friends as well as participation in valued life activities (range 0-6; higher scores indicate more isolation). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was the count of disability assessed during the first interview following hospital discharge. The secondary outcome was time to death within 1 year of hospital admission.RESULTS A total of 997 participants were in the mortality cohort (511 women [51%]; 45 Hispanic [5%], 682 non-Hispanic White [69%], and 228 non-Hispanic Black individuals [23%]) and 648 in the disability cohort (331 women [51%]; 29 Hispanic [5%], 457 non-Hispanic White [71%], and 134 non-Hispanic Black individuals [21%]). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 81 (75.5-86.0) years (range, 66-102 years), the median (IQR) preadmission disability count was 0 (0-1), and the median (IQR) social isolation score was 3 (2-4). After adjustment for demographic characteristics and illness severity, each 1-point increase in the social isolation score (from 0-6) was associated with a 7% greater disability count (adjusted rate ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.15) and a 14% increase in 1-year mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn this cohort study, social isolation before an ICU hospitalization was associated with greater disability burden and higher mortality in the year following critical illness. The study findings suggest a need to develop social isolation screening and intervention frameworks for older adults with critical illness.

Background/Objectives Advance care planning (ACP) traditionally involves asking individuals about their treatment preferences during a brief period of incapacity near the end of life. Because dementia leads to prolonged incapacity, with many decisions arising before a terminal event, it has been suggested that dementia‐specific ACP is necessary. We sought to elicit the perspectives of older adults with early cognitive impairment and their caregivers on traditional and dementia‐specific ACP. Design Qualitative study with separate focus groups for patients and caregivers. Setting Memory disorder clinics. Participants Twenty eight persons aged 65+ with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia and 19 caregivers. Measurements Understanding of dementia trajectory and types of planning done; how medical decisions would be made in the future; thoughts about these decisions. Results No participants had engaged in any written form of dementia‐specific planning. Barriers to dementia‐specific ACP emerged, including lack of knowledge about the expected trajectory of dementia and potential medical decisions, the need to stay focused in the present because of fear of loss of self, disinterest in planning because the patient will not be aware of decisions, and the expectation that involved family members would take care of issues. Some patients had trouble engaging in the discussion. Patients had highly variable views on what the quality of their future life would be and on the leeway their surrogates should have in decision making. Conclusions Even among patients with early cognitive impairment seen in specialty clinics and their caregivers, most were unaware of the decisions they could face, and there were many barriers to planning for these decisions. These issues would likely be magnified in more representative populations, and highlight challenges to the use of dementia‐specific advance directive documents.