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[Pharyngeal flora as a reference spectrum for infection pathogens in intensive care patients]
Abstract:
Differentiation according to species, phage type and enterocinogenotype shows that isolates of enterococci obtained from throat swabs and simultaneously from other localisations can mostly be considered as isotypical. However, it is also possible to demonstrate with other pathogens that there is an isotypicality between the spectra of other pathogens in the throat swab and in other pathological material including blood cultures, the agreement increasing with the severity of the disease. For example, in patients with multiple injuries 61% of the facultatively pathogenic opportunistic germs in the oropharynx correspond with the germs localised elsewhere; in septic patients, this agreement amounts to 96%. This means that especially with most severely ill patients the daily throat swab can yield early hints to the spectrum of pathogens responsible for an infection.
Insights
Throat swabs can predict pathogens in severe infections. Isotypicality between throat and other infection sites increases with disease severity, aiding early pathogen identification in critically ill patients.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Context:
- Enterococci and other pathogens in throat swabs often match those in other body sites.
- This isotypicality is particularly pronounced in severe infections.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between microbial flora in throat swabs and other infection sites.
- To determine if throat swabs can serve as an early indicator of pathogens in severe diseases.
Summary:
- Analysis of enterococci and other pathogens revealed significant isotypicality between throat swabs and other localizations.
- The concordance rate of pathogens increased with disease severity, reaching 96% in septic patients.
- This suggests throat swabs can provide early insights into causative pathogens, especially in critically ill individuals.
Impact:
- Highlights the diagnostic value of throat swabs in predicting systemic infections.
- Facilitates earlier and more targeted antimicrobial therapy in severe cases.
- Improves patient outcomes by enabling prompt pathogen identification and treatment.