Effects of gastric acidity on peristomal infection after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy through the sinus tract of a surgical gastrostomy

We present the case of a woman on whom a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) was performed through the sinus tract of a previous surgical gastrostomy for supraglottic obstructing malignancy. Five years after the induction of the surgical gastrostomy, she experienced a peristomal leakage, leading to severe necrotizing fasciitis, with skin irritation and inflammation. Despite extensive treatment to heal the abdominal wall close to the feeding tube, it recurred 3 months later, without any obvious cause. It was thus decided to perform a new gastrostomy in a nearby normal skin area, but, since it was totally impossible for the endoscope to be passed by mouth, due to obstruction, the sinus tract of the gastrostomy was used to facilitate endoscope insertion into the stomach for a new PEG.

Proton pump inhibitor use before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is associated with adverse outcomes

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Knowledge of the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) may be helpful for developing PEG recommendations. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical risk factors associated with adverse clinical outcomes after PEG, especially regarding the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data from PEG patients at seven university hospitals between June 2006 and January 2012. All patients were followed up through February 2012 after PEG, and the clinical risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes after PEG were analyzed.

RESULTS

Data from 1,021 PEG patients were analyzed. PPI users were more frequently included in the complication group than the noncomplication group (p=0.040). PEG-related complications (p=0.040) and mortality (p=0.003) were more frequent in the PPI group than in the control group. In the subgroup analysis of complicated PEG cases, infectious complications were more frequently found in the PPI group than in the control group (35.8% vs 27.8%). After adjustment for multiple possible confounding factors, PPI users (odds ratio, 1.531; 95% confidence interval, 1.017 to 2.305) and diabetic patients had increased mortality after PEG.

CONCLUSIONS

PPI use may be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with PEG; however, further prospective studies investigating this issue are warranted.

Different clinical utility of oropharyngeal bacterial screening prior to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in oncological and neurological patients

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to monitor oropharyngeal bacterial colonization in patients indicated for percutaneous endoscopic gastronomy (PEG).

METHODS

Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from patients prior to PEG placement. A development of peristomal infection was evaluated. The analysis of oropharyngeal and peristomal site pathogens was done.

RESULTS

Consecutive 274 patients referred for PEG due to neurological disorder or cancer completed the study. Oropharyngeal colonization with pathogens was observed in 69% (190/274), dominantly in the neurologic subgroup of patients (P < 0.001). Peristomal infection occurred in 30 (10.9%) of patients and in 57% of them the correlation between oropharyngeal and peristomal agents was present. The presence of oropharyngeal pathogens was assessed as an important risk factor for the development of peristomal infection only in oncological patients (OR = 8.33, 95% CI: 1.66-41.76). Despite a high prevalence of pathogens in neurological patients, it did not influence the risk of peristomal infection with the exception for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.08-18.76).

CONCLUSION

During oropharyngeal microbial screening prior to the PEG insertion, the detection of pathogens may be a marker of the increased risk of peristomal infection in cancer patients only. In neurological patients the benefit of the screening is limited to the detection of MRSA carriers.