Autonomic nervous system activity and the risk of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients with brain injury.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Nosocomial infection contributes to adverse outcome after brain injury. This study investigates whether autonomic nervous system activity is associated with a decreased host immune response in patients following stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

A prospective study was performed in adult patients with TBI or stroke who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of our tertiary university hospital between 2013 and 2016. Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded daily and assessed for autonomic nervous system activity. Outcomes were nosocomial infections and immunosuppression, which was assessed ex vivo using whole blood stimulations with plasma of patients with infections, matched non-infected patients and healthy controls.

Results

Out of 64 brain i

SUBMITTER: Wirtz MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7688871 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature