Incidence of nosocomial infection and causative microorganism during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adult patients, a single center study.

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an organ support whose use is increasing in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) cases where adequate gas exchange cannot be achieved despite mechanical ventilation. Patients who were followed up on ECMO are at risk for developing nosocomial infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of nosocomial infection and define isolated pathogens from microbiological samples in a single center in Turkey.

Methods: Patients who were followed up on ECMO due to ARDS between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, were included in the study. Nosocomial infections that were diagnosed after the first 48 h of ECMO cannulation and after 48 h of ECMO decannulation were accepted as ECMO-related infections.

Results: A total of 50 patients with ARDS were followed up with ECMO. Mean age of patients was 46,8 ± 15,4 and 38 (78%) patients were male. A total of 30 patients (60%) had at least one nosocomial infection, for a rate of 37.6 per 1000 ECMO days. COVID-19, steroid treatment, and ECMO duration were found to be associated with nosocomial infections in patients who underwent ECMO support. In multivariate analysis, antibiotic use was found to be protective against nosocomial infection (OR:0.14, 95% CI: 0.03 - 0.70, = .017). In addition, prolonged ECMO duration was associated with an increased risk of nosocomial infection in multivariate analysis (OR:1.13, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.23, = .010). Gram-negative pathogens were isolated dominantly in blood cultures and tracheal secretion samples, followed by fungi and Gram-positive bacteria.

Conclusion: Patients are prone to nosocomial infections during ECMO. Microorganisms causing nosocomial infections in ECMO patients seem similar to the flora of each center, and this should be taken into account in the choice of empirical antibiotics.