Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in lung transplant patients in the cardiothoracic intensive

P Biderman1, Y Bugaevsky2, H Ben-Zvi3,4

  • 1Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Petach-Tikva, Israel.

Abstract

Insights

Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections pose a significant risk to solid organ transplantation (SOT) patients. Mortality rates were high in both SOT and other cardiothoracic surgery patients, indicating a critical need for effective infection control strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Transplantation Surgery

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria present a substantial and increasing threat to patients undergoing solid organ transplantation (SOT), particularly those in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • Understanding the comparative mortality associated with MDR gram-negative bacterial infections in SOT recipients versus other cardiothoracic surgery patients under similar ICU conditions is crucial for risk stratification and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the mortality rates of gram-negative MDR bacterial infections in SOT patients against a cohort of patients undergoing other cardiothoracic surgeries within the same ICU environment.
  • To assess the prevalence and outcomes of MDR gram-negative bacterial infections in a vulnerable SOT patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study was conducted at a single medical center, focusing on patients diagnosed with MDR Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.
  • Data were meticulously collected from computerized databases and validated through hospitalization files, with microbiological data sourced from the central microbiology laboratory.

Main Results:

  • The study included 205 SOT patients and 5031 other patients in the cardiothoracic ICU. Active MDR gram-negative bacterial infections were identified in 147 patients (37 SOT recipients and 110 non-SOT cardiothoracic surgery patients).
  • While infections were more prevalent in SOT recipients (18% of transplant recipients vs. 2% of non-transplant recipients), mortality rates were comparably high across both groups, showing no statistically significant difference.

Conclusions:

  • Infections caused by resistant bacteria are demonstrably more common in patients following SOT compared to those who have undergone other cardiothoracic surgeries.
  • High mortality rates were observed in all infected patients, irrespective of their immunocompromised status, underscoring the severity of these infections in critically ill patients.

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