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[Tracheal infection following oncological surgery in larynx and pharynx]

A Enrique1, A Ferrer, J Lorente

  • 1Servicio ORL y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.

Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola
|May 12, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Surgical wound infections are common after pharyngo-laryngeal surgery. Tracheal contamination during intubation often leads to polymicrobial infections, with mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria being most frequent.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Surgical Infections
  • Microbiology

Context:

  • Pharyngo-laryngeal external surgery carries a high risk of surgical wound infections.
  • These infections are typically polymicrobial, involving both Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms.
  • The trachea, normally sterile, can become contaminated during endotracheal intubation from the oropharyngeal flora.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the microbial flora of the trachea in patients undergoing pharyngo-laryngeal external surgery.
  • To determine the prevalence and types of microorganisms present in the trachea post-intubation in this patient cohort.

Summary:

  • A retrospective study analyzed tracheal cultures from 40 patients with pharyngo-laryngeal carcinoma undergoing tracheostomy.
  • Only one patient presented with a sterile tracheal culture.
  • The majority of patients (37/40) had polymicrobial colonization, with mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora being the most common finding.

Impact:

  • Highlights the high incidence of tracheal contamination in patients undergoing pharyngo-laryngeal surgery.
  • Informs surgical protocols and antibiotic strategies to mitigate infection risk.
  • Emphasizes the polymicrobial nature of these infections, guiding empirical treatment choices.

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