Objective. To describe the prevalence of burnout syndrome among intensive care physicians in Salvador, Brazil, and analyze it for associations with demographic data and aspects of their working conditions (psychological demands and control over tasks).MethOds. This was a cross-sectional study investigating associations between psychosocial aspects of work and professional burnout in a population of 297 intensive care physicians in Salvador. A selfadministered individual questionnaire was used to collect data on psychosocial features of work using the demand-control model (Job Content Questionnaire) and on the mental health of the physicians using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).Results. An elevated level of working hours overload and on-call work overload was observed. The prevalence of professional burnout was 7.4% and was more strongly associated with the psychological demands of work than with intensive care physician's control over that work. cOnclusiOns. Physicians doing highly demanding work (many demands and little control) suffered 10.2 times more burnout than those with undemanding work (few demands and a high degree of control).

Médicos plantonistas de unidade de terapia intensiva: perfil sócio-demográfico, condições de trabalho e fatores associados à síndrome de burnout

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) affects 10-20% of mechanically ventilated patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and high costs. Early diagnosis is crucial for rapid appropriate antimicrobial therapy to be instituted, but debate remains as to the optimal diagnostic strategy. Noninvasive clinical-based diagnosis is rapid but may not be as accurate as invasive techniques. Increased use of biomarkers and advances in genomics and proteomics may help speed up diagnosis. Management of VAP relies principally on appropriate antimicrobial therapy, which should be selected according to individual patient factors, such as previous antibacterial therapy and length of hospitalization or mechanical ventilation, and local infection and resistance patterns. In addition, once bacterial culture and sensitivity results are available, broad-spectrum therapy should be de-escalated to provide a more specific, narrower-spectrum cover. Optimum duration of antibacterial therapy is difficult to define and should be tailored to clinical response. Biomarker levels may be useful to monitor response to therapy. With the high morbidity and mortality, prevention of VAP is important and several strategies have been shown to reduce the rates of VAP in mechanically ventilated patients, including using noninvasive ventilation where possible, and semi-recumbent positioning. Other potentially beneficial preventive techniques include subglottal suctioning, oral decontamination strategies and antimicrobial-coated endotracheal tubes, although further study is needed to confirm the cost effectiveness of these strategies.

ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of burnout in intensivist doctors working in adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care units in five Brazilian capitals.MethodsDescriptive epidemiological study with a random sample stratified by conglomerate with 180 intensivist doctors from five capitals representing the Brazilian geographic regions: Porto Alegre (RS), Sao Paulo (SP), Salvador (BA), Goiania (GO) and Belem (PA). A self-administered questionnaire examining sociodemographic data and the level of burnout was evaluated through the Maslach Burnout Inventory.ResultsA total of 180 doctors were evaluated, of which 54.4% were female. The average age was 39 ± 8.1 years, 63.4% had specialization as the highest degree, 55.7% had up to 10 years of work experience in an intensive care unit, and 46.1% had the title intensive care specialist. Most (50.3%) had weekly workloads between 49 and 72 hours, and the most frequent employee type was salaried. High levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and inefficacy were found (50.6%, 26.1% and 15.0%, respectively). The prevalence of burnout was 61.7% when considering a high level in at least one dimension and 5% with a high level in three dimensions simultaneously.ConclusionA high prevalence of burnout syndrome among intensivist doctors was observed. Strategies for the promotion and protection of health in these workers must be discussed and implemented in hospitals.

In this clinically relevant model of sepsis, tetrahydrobiopterin supplementation attenuated the impairment in sublingual microvascular perfusion and permeability, which was accompanied by better preserved gas exchange, renal flow and urine output, and prolonged survival.

A Síndrome da Estafa Profissional constitui um quadro bem definido, caracterizado por exaustão emocional, despersonalização e ineficácia. Este trabalho descreve a prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout, características sociodemográficas e condições de trabalho dos médicos intensivistas de Salvador (BA). Realizou-se um estudo de corte transversal, que avalia os médicos que trabalham em UTI adulto nessa cidade. Foram avaliados 297 plantonistas, sendo 70% homens. A média de idade e de tempo de formado foi de 34,2 e 9,0 anos, respectivamente. Foram encontrados níveis elevados de exaustão emocional (47,5%), despersonalização (24,6%) e ineficácia (28,3%). A prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout, considerada como nível elevado em pelo menos uma dimensão, foi de 63,3% e de 7,4% nas três dimensões. A prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout foi elevada entre os médicos avaliados.

Background Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. MethodsIn this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middleincome countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42•4% vs 44•2%; absolute difference -1•69 [-9•58 to 6•11] p=0•67; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5-8] vs 6 [5-8] cm H 2 O; p=0•0011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30•5% vs 19•9%; p=0•0004; adjusted effect 16•41% [95% CI 9•52-23•52]; p<0•0001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0•80 [95% CI 0•75-0•86]; p<0•0001).Interpretation Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status.

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