Preoperative colonization in pediatric cardiac surgery and its impact on postoperative infections

Significance of colonization by antibiotic-resistant organisms prior to congenital heart disease surgery in children from low- to middle-income countries sent by non-governmental organizations to Switzerland

PURPOSE

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) from low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) are suspected to have a high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms (ARMOs) carriage, but data are currently lacking. Carriage of ARMOs could impact the post-operative course in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of ARMOs carriage in children with CHD from LMIC and its impact on post-operative outcomes.

METHODS

This was a retrospective monocentric study from 01/2019 to 12/2022. Included patients were children (0-18 years) from a LMIC admitted after CHD surgery and with AMRO screening performed the week before. Infections and post-operative evolution were compared based on ARMOs carriage status.

FINDINGS

Among 224 surgeries (median age 38.5 months (IQR 22-85.5)), ARMOs carriage was evidenced in 95 cases (42.4%). Main organisms isolated were Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli (75/224) 33.5%)) and ESBL-K. pneumoniae (30/224) 13.4%)). Median mechanical ventilation duration was 1 day (IQR 0-1), PICU stay 3 days (IQR 2-4) and hospital stay 6.5 days (IQR 5-10). A total of 17 infectious episodes occurred in 15 patients, mostly consisting in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) (12/17). Only two infections were caused by a colonizing ARMO. Occurrence of infections and patients' outcome were similar between ARMO carriers and non-carriers. Higher use of carbapenems (6 (6.3%) vs 1 (0.8%), p = 0.04) and a trend to a higher use of vancomycin (14 (13.7%) vs 9 (6.9%), p = 0.04) in case of ARMOs carriage. Applying current guidelines, negative swab screening could have led to sparing most of empirical vancomycin therapy (11/12) for HAP based on current guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of AMROs carriage is high in children from LMIC and has a limited impact on patients' outcome. However, ARMOs carriage leads to higher consumption of antibiotics. Screening may help saving use of broad-spectrum antibiotic in non-carrier patients.

Management of pediatric cardiac surgery wound: a literature review

Background:

Sternal wound infection is a severe complication of cardiac surgery in the pediatric population (0-18 years old) that can lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospitalization. Health professionals have the ability to perform some interventions during the pre, intra and post-surgery to correctly manage sternal wounds, with the goal of preventing infections.

Objectives:

To identify and discuss current best practice in the prevention, incidence, and treatment of infections of the cardiac surgery site in the pediatric population.

Methods:

Between February 20^th 2021 and February 28^th 2021 we consulted the PubMed database adopting full text, 20 years, Humans, English, Child aged 0 to 18 years as criteria. Twenty articles out of sixty-six were considered relevant to this study. These were divided into four themes.

Results:

All studies highlight the lack of standard guidelines for managing pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Some centers developed protocols for managing antibiotic prophylaxis supported by measurable interventions; others implemented infection surveillance systems involving families taking care of patients after hospital discharge.

Discussions:

the identification of healthcare-associated infections in the pediatric population after cardiac surgery is useful in all peri-operative phases. The limited and restricted literature connected to single centers, with relatively small sample sizes, the use of a single database.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of standard guidelines. The prevention of site infection ought to the goal of reducing surgical site infections. Building a network between the multidisciplinary staff and the pediatric patient’s family improves the infection surveillance system, reducing the incidence of infections. (www.actabiomedica.it)

Survey on Sternal Wound Management in the Italian Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Units

(1) Background: a review of the literature found a lack of standardized pediatric guidelines regarding wound management after cardiac surgery. (2) Objective: the aim of the study is to investigate the cardiac surgical wound management in Italian pediatric cardiac intensive care units. (3) Methods: we sent an online questionnaire to the 13 Italian pediatric cardiac intensive care units. (4) Results: ten pediatric cardiac intensive care units (77%) have a protocol for the management of the cardiac surgical wound. The staff members that mainly have the responsibility for the wound management after cardiac surgery are registered nurses and physicians together both in the pediatric cardiac intensive care units (69%), and when a patient is transferred to another ward (62%). Thirty-eight percent of the pediatric cardiac intensive care units have a protocol used to monitor wound infection, and the staff mostly uses a written shift report (54%) to monitor the infection. (5) Discussion: this is the first survey to investigate the management of the wound after cardiac surgery in Italian pediatric cardiac intensive care units. The small sample size and the fact that the centers involved are only Italian cardiac intensive care units are the limits of this study. (6) Conclusions: in the Italian pediatric cardiac intensive care units it emerged that there is a diversity in the treatments adopted and a lack of specific protocols in the management of the pediatric cardiac surgical wound.

The Role of the Environment and Colonization in Healthcare-Associated Infections

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) can be caused by endogenous host microbial flora or by exogenous microbes, including those found in the hospital environment. Efforts to decrease endogenous pathogens via decolonization and skin antisepsis may decrease the risk of infection in some settings. Controlling the spread of potential pathogens from the environment requires meticulous attention to cleaning and disinfection practices. In addition to selection of the appropriate cleaning agent, use of tools that assess the adequacy of cleaning and addition of no-touch cleaning technology may decrease environmental contamination. Hand hygiene is also a critical component of preventing transmission of pathogens from the environment to patients via healthcare worker hands.