[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): an infection control perspective]

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Infectious Disease Prevention
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe respiratory failure.
• This led to the establishment of new ECMO centers, posing challenges for infection control and prevention programs.
• Existing national regulations for nosocomial infections in ECMO patients are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a comprehensive approach for preventing, controlling, and surveilling nosocomial infections in patients undergoing ECMO.
• To address the lack of specific national guidelines for infection control in ECMO settings.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for managing infection risks in critically ill ECMO patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of specific risks associated with ECMO treatment.
• Definition of essential prevention measures for ECMO patients.
• Development of a specific bundle for ECMO installation and maintenance.
• Guidance on antibiotic prophylaxis and infectious event monitoring.

Main Results:

• Identification of unique infection risks for ECMO patients.
• Proposal of a tailored prevention bundle for ECMO procedures.
• Recommendations for prophylactic antibiotic use.
• Suggested surveillance targets for infectious events in ECMO patients.

Conclusions:

• Implementing standardized infection control measures is crucial for ECMO patient safety.
• A proactive approach to infection prevention and surveillance is necessary in ECMO units.
• This proposed framework can guide healthcare facilities in managing nosocomial infections in ECMO patients.