Infectious complications and optimising infection prevention for children with cochlear implants

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Medical Device Management

Background:

• Cochlear implantation is a vital intervention for pediatric hearing loss.
• Infections post-cochlear implantation pose significant risks and treatment burdens.
• Adherence to infection prevention protocols is critical for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the clinical epidemiology of pediatric cochlear implant recipients.
• To analyze the management and outcomes of cochlear implant infections.
• To assess adherence to infection prevention measures in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of children (≤18 years) undergoing cochlear implantation.
• Data collected from medical, laboratory, and immunization records.
• Analysis of demographics, infection details, and prevention strategy adherence.

Main Results:

• A 3.8% infection rate (6/158 devices) was observed, primarily pneumococcal and S. aureus.
• Infections necessitated surgical management and prolonged antibiotic therapy (median 37 days).
• Low adherence to Staphylococcus aureus screening/decolonisation (0%) and suboptimal pneumococcal vaccination rates (50% up-to-date) were noted.

Conclusions:

• Cochlear implant retention was achieved, but infections caused substantial family burden.
• Significant improvements in adherence to infection prevention strategies are needed.
• Implementing a bundled approach including parental education, vaccinations, and S. aureus decolonisation is recommended.