Predictive Factors for Aortic Graft Infection: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Graft infections are one of the most serious complications in vascular surgery, with high mortality rates. Few studies addressed risk factors associated with a higher susceptibility to infection. The aim of this study is to identify perioperative factors associated with aortic graft infections (AGI). METHODS: We designed a retrospective, case-control study from patients subjected to open aortic repair between 2013 and 2019. Cases of AGI were defined according to the management of aortic graft infection collaboration (MAGIC) criteria and matched to controls without proven infection. Demographics, hospital complications, and laboratory workups were assessed. Predictors of AGI were identified through univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Most graft infections occurred in a late period (n = 17; 85%), after a median interval of 13.5 months interquartile range (IQR 1.5-36). Gram-negative bacteria were most frequently isolated in infected grafts, namely Enterobacteriaceae (n = 12). Cases had significantly lower postoperative serum albumin levels (1.9 g/dL vs. 2.4 g/dL; P = 0.002). Alcohol abuse, malignancy, prolonged lengths of stay, wound infection and dehiscence, in-hospital infection, postoperative heart failure or bowel ischemia were significantly correlated to the onset of AGI. In the multivariate analysis, prolonged hospital stays odds ratio (OR 1.05; P = 0.03), malignancy (OR 5.82; P = 0.03) and alcohol abuse (OR 42.41; P = 0.002) maintained a significant association. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of AGI seems to be higher in patients with concurrent malignancy, alcohol abuse or prolonged hospital stays. Strategies to mitigate this complication in these patients are of utmost importance.

Microbial evolution of vascular graft infections in a tertiary hospital based on positive graft cultures.

BACKGROUND: Vascular graft infections are a serious complication in vascular surgery. Correct antibiotic therapy targeted to the most likely infecting species is essential to treat these patients, although the bacterial epidemiology and pathogenesis are still not completely understood. We analyzed the behavior of vascular graft infections and the microbiologic patterns of resistance. METHODS: A 10-year (2008-2018), single-center, retrospective cohort study was performed of all patients admitted with vascular graft infection identified by positive direct graft cultures. An extensive microbiologic study was performed to analyze the bacterial strains, antibiotic resistance and sensitivity, and prevalence stratified by the year. RESULTS: A total of 72 vascular graft infections with positive graft cultures occurring in 65 patients were found. Their mean age was 67 ± 9.6 years, and 85% were men. Infection-related mortality was 11%. Of the 65 patients, 14 had undergone aortobifemoral bypass, 13 axillofemoral bypass, 5 femorofemoral bypass, 27 femoropopliteal bypass, and 4 femoral endarterectomy with synthetic patch angioplasty. The median interval from the index procedure to infection was longer for intracavitary than for extracavitary grafts (P = .011). Of the 72 infections, 48 were monomicrobial and 24 were polymicrobial. Gram-negative bacteria were predominantly identified in intracavitary graft infections (54%). In contrast, gram-positive bacteria were most frequent in the extracavitary graft group (58%). Multidrug-resistant bacterial species occurred more frequently in early graft infections (P = .002). Throughout the study duration, an overall decrease in gram-positive infections and an increase in gram-negative infections was observed, especially in extensively drug-resistant strains. A similar progression was found in all nosocomial infections. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has shown that vascular graft infection microbiology changed in accordance with graft location and interval to infection from revascularization surgery and had also evolved over the study period with patterns similar to those for all nosocomial infections. This highlights the importance of studying the specific microbiology of each healthcare center and its relationship to vascular graft infections to achieve the best treatment possible.

Extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: clinical features and treatment with ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam in a tertiary care university hospital center in Portugal - A cross-sectional and retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (XDR-PA) is a growing concern due to its increasing incidence, limited therapeutic options, limited data on the optimal treatment, and high mortality rates. The study aimed to characterize the population, the outcome and the microbiological characteristics of XDR-PA identified in a Portuguese university hospital center. Methods: All XDR-PA isolates between January 2019 and December 2021 were identified. XDR-PA was defined as resistance to piperacillin-tazobactam, third and fourth generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. A retrospective analysis of the medical records was performed. Results: One hundred seventy-eight individual episodes among 130 patients with XDR-PA detection were identified. The most common sources of infection were respiratory (32%) and urinary tracts (30%), although skin and soft tissue infections (18%) and primary bacteremia (14%) were also prevalent. Colonization was admitted in 64 cases. Several patients had risk factors for complicated infections, most notably immunosuppression, structural lung abnormalities, major surgery, hemodialysis or foreign intravascular or urinary devices. XDR-PA identification was more frequent in male patients with an average age of 64.3 ± 17.5 years. One non-susceptibility to colistin was reported. Only 12.4% were susceptible to aztreonam. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) was susceptible in 71.5% of the tested isolates. Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) was susceptible in 77.5% of the tested isolates. Antibiotic regimens with XDR-PA coverage were reserved for patients with declared infection, except to cystic fibrosis. The most frequently administered antibiotics were colistin (41 cases), CZA (39 cases), and C/T (16 cases). When combination therapy was used, CZA plus colistin was preferred. The global mortality rate among infected patients was 35.1%, significantly higher in those with hematologic malignancy (50.0%, p < 0.05), followed by the ones with bacteremia (44.4%, p < 0.05) and those medicated with colistin (39.0%, p < 0.05), especially the ones with respiratory infections (60.0%). Among patients treated with CZA or C/T, the mortality rate seemed to be lower. Discussion: XDR-PA infections can be severe and difficult to treat, with a high mortality rate. Even though colistin seems to be a viable option, it is likely less safe and efficient than CZA and C/T. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of the clinical infection characteristics and treatment of XDR-PA in Portugal.