García-Boyano M, Alcalá FJC, Alonso AR, de Villalta MGF, Alonso OZ, Retolaza IR, Melero IQ, Calvo C, García LE. Microbiological patterns of bacterial infections in tracheostomized children: Reducing uncertainty in continuous care.
Pediatr Pulmonol 2023;
58:3507-3515. [PMID:
37701951 DOI:
10.1002/ppul.26684]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Respiratory infections are the most frequent cause of hospitalization in tracheostomized children. However, there is a lack of publications to guide their management. The primary objective was to describe the microbiological isolates and their antibiotic susceptibilities of bacterial respiratory infections in a population of tracheostomized children.
METHODS
Retrospective follow-up study of children with tracheostomy seen at a tertiary hospital. Respiratory infection episodes in patients under 18 years of age who had a tracheostomy and bacterial isolation with a count ≥104 Colony Forming Units/mL in tracheal aspirate were included.
RESULTS
The study analyzed 328 respiratory infection episodes: 164 tracheobronchitis (50%), 112 nonspecific respiratory episodes (34.1%), and 52 pneumonias (15.9%). The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus. The antibiotics that exhibited the highest effectiveness were meropenem (92%), imipenem (87%), and levofloxacin (86%). When hospitalization exceeded 7 days, there was a higher chance of isolating Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively), as well as an increased rate of multidrug resistance (27% vs. 7%, p = 0.035). In 75.3% of cases, the microorganism had been previously isolated in a sample taken 7-30 days before the current one, with a higher frequency observed in the case of P. aeruginosa (95.2%) compared to other microorganisms (65.3%, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Meropenem, imipenem, and levofloxacin provided the most effective coverage for these infections. The risk of multidrug resistance increased with longer hospital stays, especially for E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Recent isolation of P. aeruginosa may justify empirical coverage.
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