Surgical infection

Surgical Infections and Antibiotic Stewardship: In Need for New Directions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients undergoing surgery are prone to infections, either at the site of surgery (superficial or organ-space) or at remote sites (e.g. pneumonia or urinary tract). Surgical site infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, increased length of hospital stay and represent a huge burden to the health economy across all healthcare systems. Here we discuss recent advances and challenges in the field of surgical site infections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Review of pertinent English language literature.

RESULTS

Numerous guidelines and recommendations have been published in order to prevent surgical site infections. Compliance with these evidence-based guidelines vary and has not resulted in any major decrease in the surgical site infection rate. To date, most efforts to reduce surgical site infection have focused on the role of the surgeon, but a more comprehensive approach is necessary.

CONCLUSION

Surgical site infections need to be addressed in a structured way, including checklists, audits, monitoring, and measurements. All stakeholders, including the medical profession, the society, and the patient, need to work together to reduce surgical site infections. Most surgical site infections are preventable-and we need a paradigm shift to tackle the problem.

The microbiota of the bilio-pancreatic system: a cohort, STROBE-compliant study

Background: The gut microbiota play an essential role in protecting the host against pathogenic microorganisms by modulating immunity and regulating metabolic processes. In response to environmental factors, microbes can hugely alter their metabolism. These factors can substantially impact the host and have potential pathologic implications.  Particularly pathogenic microorganisms colonizing pancreas and biliary tract tissues may be involved in chronic inflammation and cancer evolution.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of bile microbiota on survival in patients with pancreas and biliary tract disease (PBD).

Patients and Methods: We investigated 152 Italian patients with cholelithiasis (CHL), cholangitis (CHA), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), pancreas head carcinoma (PHC), ampullary carcinoma (ACA), and chronic pancreatitis (CHP). Demographics, bile cultures, therapy, and survival rates were analyzed in cohorts (T₁ death <6 months; T₂ death <12 months; T₃ death <18 months, T_3S alive at 18 months).

Results: The most common bacteria in T₁ were E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa. In T₂, the most common bacteria were E. coli and P. aeruginosa. In T₃, there were no significant bacteria isolated, while in T_3S the most common bacteria were like those found in T₁. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were positive predictors of survival for PHC and ACA, respectively. E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa showed a high percentage of resistant bacteria to 3CGS, aminoglycosides class, and quinolone group especially at T₁ and T₂ in cancer patients.

Conclusions: An unprecedented increase of E. coli in bile leads to a decrease in survival. We suggest that some strains isolated in bile samples may be considered within the group of risk factors in carcinogenesis and/or progression of hepato-biliary malignancy. A better understanding of bile microbiota in patients with PBD should lead to a multifaceted approach to rapidly detect and treat pathogens before patients enter the surgical setting in tandem with the implementation of the infection control policy.