A better method for preventing infection of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been widely used to maintain enteral nutrition in dysphagic patients. Local and occasional life-threatening systemic infections are still the most common complications, and the major infection source may be nosocomial flora. The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis on reducing peristomal infection is popularly accepted. However, it is accompanied with a possible risk of increasing antibiotic resistance.

This study attempted to determine whether 14-day discharge before PEG could reduce the rate of peristomal infection.

Fifty patients who had received PEG in our hospital were included in this study and followed for at least 6 months (except for those patients who died during this period). Patients were separated into two groups randomly. Twenty-five patients received PEG during in-hospitalization (group A). The other 25 patients received PEG until discharge at least for 14 days (group B). The most frequent indication for PEG insertion was the neurological condition. Risk factors for peristomal infection were analyzed statistically using logistic regression and expressed by odds ratios. Every possible factor was analyzed by chi-square test or Student's t test.

Our data showed that group A had a higher peristomal infection rate than group B (32 vs 8%) (p < 0.05). Group A also showed more need of antibiotics. The risk factors related to peristomal infection were group A and lower albumin. The total rate of 30-day mortality was 4%.

When compared with previous data, our study showed a similar infection rate in group A, a lower infection rate in group B, and a lower 30-day mortality rate. This meant that one period of discharge could reduce the peristomal infections caused by colonized bacteria. It also decreased the need of using antibiotics and might avoid the possible adverse consequence of promoting bacterial resistance, which is an alarming and growing problem in hospital practice.

We suggest that a 14-day grace period after discharge, before PEG insertion, may decrease peristomal infection rate, length of hospital stay after PEG, and the need for antibiotics. This is suitable for moral and ethical considerations.