Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Risk factors for infections after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and their association with outcomes are unknown. We hypothesized there are predictors of poststroke infection and infections drive worse outcomes. METHODS: We determined prevalence of infections in a multicenter, triethnic study of ICH. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the association of infection with admission characteristics and hospital complications. We performed logistic regression on association of infection with outcomes after controlling for known determinants of prognosis after ICH (volume, age, infratentorial location, intraventricular hemorrhage, and Glasgow Coma Scale). RESULTS: Among 800 patients, infections occurred in 245 (31%). Admission characteristics associated with infection in multivariable models were ICH volume (odds ratio [OR], 1.02/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.03), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (OR, 0.91 per point; 95% CI, 0.87-0.95), deep location (reference lobar: OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.28-2.88), and black race (reference white: OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.01-2.32). In a logistic regression of admission and hospital factors, infections were associated with intubation (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.1-4.5), dysphagia (with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 2.03-5.05 and without percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.04-4.23), pulmonary edema (OR, 3.71; 95% CI, 1.29-12.33), and deep vein thrombosis (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.86-21.02), but not ICH volume or Glasgow Coma Scale. Infected patients had higher discharge mortality (16% versus 8%; P=0.001) and worse 3-month outcomes (modified Rankin Scale >/=3; 80% versus 51%; P<0.001). Infection was an independent predictor of poor 3-month outcome (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.8-3.9). CONCLUSIONS: There are identifiable risk factors for infection after ICH, and infections predict poor outcomes.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine whether therapeutic temperature modulation (TTM) to treat fever after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with improved hospital complications and discharge outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study of patients admitted with spontaneous ICH having two consecutive fevers >/=38.3 degrees C despite acetaminophen administration. Cases were enrolled from a prospective database of patients receiving TTM from 2006 to 2010. All cases received TTM for fever control with goal temperature of 37 degrees C with a shiver-control protocol. Controls were matched in severity by ICH score and retrospectively obtained from 2001 to 2004, before routine use of TTM for ICH. Primary outcome was discharge-modified Rankin score. RESULTS: Forty patients were enrolled in each group. Median admission ICH Score, ICH volume, and GCS were similar. TTM was initiated with a median of 3 days after ICH onset and for a median duration of 7 days. Mean daily T max was significantly higher in the control group over the first 12 days (38.1 vs. 38.7 degrees C, p