Microbial Pathogen Spectrum in Anastomotic Leaks after Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy.

Anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy cause significant morbidity and mortality. In addition to their early detection and prompt endoscopic or surgical management, providing adequate antimicrobial agents is a fundamental aspect of therapy. In this study, different types of microbiological samples were analyzed to provide insight into the microbial pathogen spectrum of anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy. We retrospectively reviewed patients who developed anastomotic leak after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy at a German high-volume center between 2016 and 2018. Results of microbiological cultures from surgical samples, chest tube fluid, endoscopic aspirates, and blood cultures were analyzed to determine species and antimicrobial susceptibility. Out of 513 consecutive patients undergoing esophagectomy, 74 developed an anastomotic leak. About 88%-100% of positive samples showed growth of gram-positive bacteria, mainly viridians streptococci but also enterococci. Gram-negative bacteria were found in 48%-82% of positive samples, mainly enterobacterales. Yeasts were found in 43%-64%. The prevalance of multidrug-resistant bacteria was low in our patient population. Expected failure of empiric antibiotic treatment was <10% for piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, and tigecycline (each combined with an echinocandin) but not for ampicillin-sulbactam, ceftriaxone plus metronidazole, moxifloxacin, or gentamicine plus clindamycin. There is a broad microbial pathogen spectrum in anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy. Implications for empiric antimicrobial treatment arise from enterobacterales, enterococci, and yeasts.