Impact of a Multimodal Approach in Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Hepatic Transplant Recipients

Epidemiology of surgical site infections after solid organ transplants in the period 2015-2019: A single-center retrospective cohort study

Surgical site infections (SSI) are severe complications of solid organ transplant (SOT). This retrospective study assessed the epidemiology of and outcomes associated with invasive primary SSI (IP-SSI) occurring within 3 months of transplantation in adult SOT recipients at Duke University over a 5-year period (2015-2019). Among 2073 consecutive SOT recipients, 198 IP-SSI were identified. The IP-SSI rate declined over the period (14.4% in 2015 vs. 8.3% in 2019) and was higher among multi-organ compared with single-organ transplants (33.9% vs. 8.1%, p < .01). SOT recipients with IP-SSI had longer hospital stays than patients without SSI (30.0 vs. 17.0 days, p < .01). Transplant hospitalization (9.6% vs. 2.2%, p < .01), 6-month (11.6% vs. 3.3%, p < .01), and 1-year mortality (15.7% vs. 5.8%, p < .01) were higher in SOT recipients with IP-SSI than in those without. While Gram-positive bacteria were the most common pathogens, urogenital Mollicute and atypical Mycobacteria were identified as an unexpected cause of IP-SSI, particularly among lung transplant recipients. The median time to IP-SSI was 24.0 (IQR 13.8-48.3) days, although the time to IP-SSI varied based on organ transplanted and the causative pathogen. IP-SSI is an important and potentially modifiable complication of SOT, associated with prolonged hospitalizations and reduced survival, particularly in the lung transplant population.

Efficacy and safety of probiotics and prebiotics in liver transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Probiotics were used for liver transplantation (LT) patients to reduce postoperative infection, but clinical trials examining the combined use of prebiotics and probiotics are limited. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of combined use of prebiotics and probiotics in patients undergoing LT. PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were reviewed for the combined use of prebiotics and probiotics in patients undergoing LT. The weighted mean difference (WMD), risk ratio (RR), and 95% CI were calculated. A total of 6 related studies comprising 345 patients were included. Most prebiotics and probiotics were given for 7.14 days. The overall infection rate (RR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.14.0.60; P value for heterogeneity [P_H ] = .066; test for heterogeneity [I² ] = 51.7%) and the incidence of urinary tract infection (RR = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.04-0.47, P_H = .724; I² = 0%) were lower in the probiotics group when compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, probiotics significantly reduced the hospital length of stay (WMD = -1.37; 95% CI, -1.92 to 0.82; P_H = .506; I² = 0%) and the duration of antimicrobial therapy (WMD = -4.31; 95% CI, -5.41 to 3.22; P_H = .019; I² = 69.8%) in patients undergoing LT. These findings suggested that the combined use of prebiotics and probiotics (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) was effective in lowering the incidence of bacterial infections and shortening the hospital length of stay and duration of antibiotic therapy in patients undergoing LT, when compared with conventional nutrition.

Solid Organ Transplant Is Associated With Increased Morbidity and Mortality in Patients Undergoing One or Two-level Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective database review OBJECTIVE.: The aim of this study was to analyze the implications of solid organ transplant (SOT) on postoperative outcomes following elective one or two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Although SOTs have been associated with increased morbidity, postoperative outcomes in SOT recipients undergoing cervical spinal surgery are not well studied.

METHODS

A retrospective database review of Medicare patients younger than 85 years who underwent an elective one to two-level ACDF from 2006-2013 was conducted. Following our exclusion criteria, patients were then divided into the following groups: those with a prior history of kidney, liver, heart or lung transplant (SOT group) and non-SOT patients. Both groups were compared for hospital length of stay, 90-day major medical complications, 90-day hospital readmission, 1-year surgical site infection (SSI), 1-year revision ACDF, and 1-year mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 992 (0.5%) SOT recipients (1,144 organs) were identified out of 199,288 ACDF patients. SOT recipients had a significantly longer length of stay (2.32 vs. 5.22 days, p<0.001), higher rate of major medical complications (8.2% vs. 4.5%; OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.45-2.33, p<0.001) and hospital readmission (19.5% vs. 7.5%, OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.74-2.41, p<0.001). In addition, SOT patients had increased mortality within one year of surgery (5.8% vs. 1.3%; OR 3.01, 95% CI 2.26-3.94, p<0.001) compared to non-SOT patients. SOT was not independently associated with SSI (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.85-1.75, p=0.230), and there was no significant difference in revision rate (0.9% vs. 0.5%; OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.73-2.82, p=0.202) between both groups.

CONCLUSION

SOT is independently associated with longer hospital stay, increased rate of major medical complications, hospital readmission and mortality. Spine surgeons should be aware of the higher rates of morbidity and mortality in these patients and take it into consideration when developing patient-specific treatment plans.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Surgical site infection and risk factors following right lobe living donor liver transplantation in adults: A single-center prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Surgical site infection (SSI) is an important cause of decreased graft survival, prolonged hospital stay, and higher costs following living donor liver transplantation. There are several risk factors for SSI. In this cohort study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of SSI at our center and the associated risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult right lobe living donor liver transplantations were included in this prospective cohort. Patients who died postoperatively within 3 days; patients with infected ascites or open abdomen, cadaveric, or pediatric transplants; and patients with biologic or cryopreserved vascular grafts were excluded. Patients' demographic characteristics and perioperative surgical findings were recorded. SSI follow-up was continued for 90 days. CDC-2017 criteria were used to diagnose SSI. In the presence of superficial, deep, and organ/space SSI, only the organ in the poorest condition was included in SSI evaluation. The patients were administered similar to antibiotic prophylaxes and immunosuppressive protocols.

RESULTS

A total of 101 patients were enrolled in this study, of which 30 (29.7%) were diagnosed with SSI. Organ/space, only deep, and only superficial SSI were noted in 90% (27/30), 6.7% (2/30), and 3.3% (1/30) of the patients, respectively. Twenty-five of 30 patients with SSI had a remote site infection. One or more bacteria observed in cultures were obtained from 28 patients. A donor-recipient age difference of >10 years, cold ischemia lasting for ≥150 minutes, surgical duration of ≥600 minutes, intraoperative hemorrhage of ≥1000 mL, intraoperative blood transfusion, biliary leak or stricture, prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged intensive care unit and hospital stay, remote site infection, and the need for reoperation were associated with increased SSI incidence. Preoperative and intraoperative levels of blood glucose, albumin, and hemoglobin were not associated with SSI. A donor-recipient age difference of >10 years, remote site infection, and biliary leak were found to be independent risk factors for SSI. Hospital mortality with and without SSIs was 6.7% vs 4.4%, P = .61.

DISCUSSION

Organ/space SSIs were the essential part of SSIs following right lobe living donor liver transplantations. Donor-recipient age gap, prolonged cold ischemia time, complicated surgery, and postoperative biliary complications were the main causes of SSIs. Although they did not increase the perioperative mortality, they promote increased rate of reoperations, remote infections, prolonged intensive care unit, and hospital stays.

The preventable proportion of healthcare-associated infections 2005-2016: Systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The preventable proportion of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) may decrease over time as standards of care improve. We aimed to assess the proportion of HAIs prevented by multifaceted infection control interventions in different economic settings.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched OVID Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library for studies published between 2005 and 2016 assessing multifaceted interventions to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and hospital-acquired pneumonia not associated with mechanical ventilation (HAP) in acute-care or long-term care settings. For studies reporting raw rates, we extracted data and calculated the natural log of the risk ratio and variance to obtain pooled risk ratio estimates.

RESULTS

Of the 5,226 articles identified by our search, 144 studies were included in the final analysis. Pooled incidence rate ratios associated with multifaceted interventions were 0.543 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.445-0.662) for CAUTI, 0.459 (95% CI, 0.381-0.554) for CLABSI, and 0.553 (95% CI, 0.465-0.657) for VAP. The pooled rate ratio was 0.461 (95% CI, 0.389-0.546) for interventions aiming at SSI reduction, and for VAP reduction initiatives, the pooled rate ratios were 0.611 (95% CI, 0.414-0.900) for before-and-after studies and 0.509 (95% CI, 0.277-0.937) for randomized controlled trials. Reductions in infection rates were independent of the economic status of the study country. The risk of bias was high in 143 of 144 studies (99.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

Published evidence suggests a sustained potential for the significant reduction of HAI rates in the range of 35%-55% associated with multifaceted interventions irrespective of a country's income level.

Early Bacterial Pneumonia After Hepatic Transplantation: Epidemiologic Profile

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pulmonary complications are major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving liver transplantation (LT), particularly bacterial pneumonia occurring within the first 100 days after transplantation. Our aim in this study was to determine the incidence, microorganisms involved, associated factors, and morbidity of bacterial pneumonia presenting in the first 100 days posttransplant.

METHODS

We performed a cohort study in which patients receiving liver transplantation were included prospectively in our national database (Database of Infections in Transplantation of Solid Organs). The study period was from July 14, 2009 to July 24, 2015.

RESULTS

One hundred six patients were transplanted during the 6-year period. We documented 9 bacterial pneumonia cases with an incidence of 8.5 per 100 patients; 2 patients had hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and 7 had ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). In 4 of the 9 bacterial pneumonia cases, patients presented with bacteremia. Eleven microorganisms were isolated these 9 patients. Microbiologic diagnosis methods included 5 cases of alveolar bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), 1 case of BAL and pleural fluid puncture, 1 case of pleural fluid puncture, and 1 case through sputum study. Of the 11 isolated organisms, 9 corresponded to Gram-negative bacilli (GNB): Klebsiella spp, n = 3; Acinetobacter baumannii, n = 4; Morganella morganii, n = 1; and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, n = 1. Regarding the resistance profile, 7 presented with a multiresistance profile (MDR) and extreme resistance (XDR). Univariate analysis identified the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) pretransplant score as a factor associated with developing pneumonia (P < .001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.872-10.167), and early extubation, before 8 hours posttransplant, as a protective factor (P = .008; relative risk [RR] 0.124; 95% CI 0 .041-0.377). Hospital stay was longer in patients with pneumonia compared to those without pneumonia (P < .0001, 95% CI 17.79-43.11 days). There was also an increased risk of death in patients with pneumonia (RR 17.963; 95% CI 5106-63,195).

CONCLUSIONS

Early bacterial pneumonia after hepatic transplantation is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. At our center, 4 of 9 patients had bacteremia. GNB cases with MDR and XDR profiles are predominant. Early extubation is a protective factor.

Risk factors for development of surgical site infections among liver transplantation recipients: An integrative literature review

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is an important complication in the postoperative period of recipients of liver transplantation. The purpose of this integrative literature review is to summarize the knowledge available about the risk factors contributing to the development SSI among adults undergoing liver transplantation.

METHODS

We reviewed the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online/PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.

RESULTS

Two hundred sixteen articles were identified and the final sample of 9 articles was analyzed in full length. The SSI rate found in the investigations ranged between 9.6% and 35.5%. Risk factors for SSI were grouped into categories related to the preoperative period, such as Model for End-Stage Renal Disease score > 35 and ventilated support on day of transplant; to the intraoperative period activity, such as transfusion of packed red blood cells, extended surgical time, hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL, use of vasopressor drugs, and ascites flow >1 L; and to the donor/recipient relationship, such as age differences >10 years, ratio of donor liver mass to recipient body mass < 0.01. Additionally, centers that annually perform <50 transplants appear to have higher rates of SSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Few studies have addressed the subject of SSI in relation to liver transplantation in the scientific literature. Risk factors for SSI in patients who underwent liver transplantation vary between institutions.