Trends in microbial profile of burn patients following an event of dust explosion at a tertiary medical center.

BACKGROUND: Microbial infection is the main cause of increased morbidity and mortality in burn patients, especially infections caused by multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDRO). The purpose of this study was to explore major microbial trends in burn patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at burn wards and intensive care units, where burn patients were admitted following an event of dust explosion. Data were collected for a number of variables including severity of burns, demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory data, and therapeutic devices. RESULTS: A total of 1132 specimens were collected from 37 hospitalized burn patients with mean TBSA of 46.1%.The most commonly isolated species were Staphylococcus spp. (22.4%). The highest rate of antibiotic resistance was observed in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (14.6%), followed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (11.3%). For each additional 10% TBSA, the isolation of MDRO increased 2.58-17.57 times (p < 0.05); for each additional 10% of the third-degree burn severity, the risk of MDRO significantly decreased by 47% (95% CI, 0.38-0.73, p < 0.001) by Cox model. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of overall microbial isolates increased with the increase in TBSA and duration of time after burns. The extent of TBSA was the most important factor affecting MDRO.

Factors influencing microbial colonies in the air of operating rooms.

BACKGROUND: The operating room (OR) of the hospital is a special unit that requires a relatively clean environment. The microbial concentration of an indoor OR extrinsically influences surgical site infection rates. The aim of this study was to use active sampling methods to assess microbial colony counts in working ORs and to determine the factors affecting air contamination in a tertiary referral medical center. METHODS: This study was conducted in 28 operating rooms located in a 3000-bed medical center in northern Taiwan. The microbiologic air counts were measured using an impactor air sampler from May to August 2015. Information about the procedure-related operative characteristics and surgical environment (environmental- and personnel-related factors) characteristics was collected. RESULTS: A total of 250 air samples were collected during surgical procedures. The overall mean number of bacterial colonies in the ORs was 78 ± 47 cfu/m3. The mean number of colonies was the highest for transplant surgery (123 ± 60 cfu/m3), followed by pediatric surgery (115 ± 30.3 cfu/m3). A total of 25 samples (10%) contained pathogens; Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (n = 12, 4.8%) was the most common pathogen. After controlling for potentially confounding factors by a multiple regression analysis, the surgical stage had the significantly highest correlation with bacterial counts (r = 0.346, p < 0.001). Otherwise, independent factors influencing bacterial counts were the type of surgery (29.85 cfu/m3, 95% CI 1.28-58.42, p = 0.041), site of procedure (20.19 cfu/m3, 95% CI 8.24-32.14, p = 0.001), number of indoor staff (4.93 cfu/m3, 95% CI 1.47-8.38, p = 0.005), surgical staging (36.5 cfu/m3, 95% CI 24.76-48.25, p < 0.001), and indoor air temperature (9.4 cfu/m3, 95% CI 1.61-17.18, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Under the well-controlled ventilation system, the mean microbial colony counts obtained by active sampling in different working ORs were low. The number of personnel and their activities critically influence the microbe concentration in the air of the OR. We suggest that ORs doing complex surgeries with more surgical personnel present should increase the frequency of air exchanges. A well-controlled ventilation system and infection control procedures related to environmental and surgical procedures are of paramount importance for reducing microbial colonies in the air.

Comparison of the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infection by Replacement Time of the Urinary Drainage System.

BACKGROUND: Urinary catheters (UCs) with a closed urinary drainage system have been widely used in patients for many years. However, the frequency of replacing and operating these devices may be associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the incidence of CAUTI by replacement time (every 14 or ≥ 15 days) of the urinary drainage system. METHODS: This 1-year prospective, nonrandomized controlled study was conducted in a major teaching hospital. The Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs Statement checklist was used. All of the patients with UCs were divided into two groups based on each patient's preference with regard to replacement time of the urinary drainage system. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-two patients were evaluated, and 341 patients with UCs were enrolled as participants in the study. In the per-protocol analysis, 16 patients (22.2%; 9.3 episodes/1,000 catheter-days) in the 14-day group and 15 patients (17.9%; relative risk = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [0.66, 2.34]) in the ≥ 15-day group (7.7 episodes/1,000 catheter-days; incidence density ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval [0.60, 2.43]) had CAUTIs. A comparison of cleanliness within urinary bags showed no significant intergroup difference (p > .05). In the intention-to-treat analysis, the incidence of CAUTI between the two groups was also not significantly different (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference in the incidence of CAUTI was identified between patients who used the 14-day replacement interval and those who used the ≥ 15-day replacement interval for their urinary drainage system.

Incidence and mortality of healthcare-associated infections in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe burns.

PURPOSE: This study was to examine the incidence of different types, and isolated pathogens, of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and also to determine their prognostic factors for mortality. METHODS: Prospective surveillance was conducted in a medical center from 2005 through to 2016. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess prognostic factors of mortality. RESULTS: A total of 709 patients with moderate to severe burns were hospitalized. There were 83 patients (11.7%) with HAIs (158 episodes) and 203 isolated pathogens. The most common HAI types were bloodstream infection (BSI) at 39.2% (8.7% of all patients) and central line-associated BSI (mean 4.8 per 1000 central line days). Overall, S. aureus (13.8%) were the most common isolated pathogens, while the most commonly found type of multidrug-resistant pathogen was carbapenems-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (23%). The crude mortality rate was 15.7%, and the independent factors (p < .05) for mortality were BSI (Odds ratio [OR] 2.70), intensive care unit (OR 5.19) and total body surface area with full-thickness injuries ≥50% (OR 5.22). CONCLUSIONS: Burn patients with BSI were the most common HAI sites, and this was an independent factor for mortality. Effective integrated care and appropriate infection control can reduce the incidence of infection and death.