Colonization and infection in surgical intensive care patients--a prospective study.

Nosocomial infections are a major problem in intensive care patients. Thirty-nine patients, requiring intensive care for 5 days or more (mean 15.8 days) were prospectively investigated, to determine the relation between colonisation and nosocomial infection. Thrice weekly, cultures from the oropharynx, respiratory and digestive tract were obtained. Colonization with aerobic gram-negative microorganisms of the oropharynx, respiratory and digestive tract significantly increased during the stay in the Intensive Care Unit. In 29 patients (74%) 78 nosocomial infections were diagnosed. The most frequent nosocomial infections were pneumonia (26 patients, 66.6%), catheter-related bacteraemia (11 patients, 28.2%), and wound infections (7 patients, 17.9%). In 59 instances (75.6%), colonization with the same potential pathogenic microorganism preceded the nosocomial infection. The overall mortality was 25.6% (10 patients), bacteraemia with aerobic gram-negative microorganisms being the cause of death in 7 patients.

Effect of iron on serotypes and haemagglutination patterns of Escherichia coli in bottle-fed infants.

Strains of Escherichia coli isolated from faecal specimens of ten infants receiving breast milk, six receiving a cow-milk preparation with iron supplement (5 mg/l) and six the preparation without iron supplement (less than 0.5 mg/l), were serotyped and examined for their haemagglutinating activity. The Escherichia coli flora of breast-fed and bottle-fed infants consisted of one resident strain, accompanied by one or more transient strains. Changes in the serotype of the Escherichia coli flora and in the frequency of occurrence of strains associated with urinary tract infections were more often seen in bottle-fed than in breast-fed infants. In breast-fed and bottle-fed infants without iron supplement most strains of Escherichia coli were non-haemagglutinating, while most strains in infants bottle-fed with iron supplement showed mannose-resistant haemagglutination. It is concluded that human milk favours the establishment of a stable non-pathogenic Escherichia coli flora and that a low iron content in standard cow-milk preparation favours colonization with non-adherent strains of Escherichia coli.

Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Clostridium spp. in fecal samples from breast-fed and bottle-fed infants with and without iron supplement.

Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Clostridium spp. isolated from the feces of 23 neonates during the first 3 months of life were identified. Of the 23 neonates, 10 were breast fed, 6 received an infant formula with iron supplement (5 mg/liter), and 7 received the formula without iron supplement (iron concentration, less than 0.5 mg/liter). The Bifidobacterium spp. most frequently isolated from the three groups of infants were B. longum, B. breve, B. adolescentis, and B. bifidum. The bacteroides spp. most frequently isolated were B. fragilis and B. vulgatus. The most common Clostridium sp. in the three groups of infants was C. perfringens. The type of milk did not select for species of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, or Clostridium, except for Clostridium butyricum, which was isolated significantly more often from bottle-fed infants with iron supplement than from the other groups, and Clostridium tertium, which was more often isolated from breast-fed infants. The species of the three anaerobic genera did not persist for a long period of time in the three groups of infants.

Effect of iron on neonatal gut flora during the first three months of life.

To study the effect of milk supplemented with iron on neonatal gut flora, faecal specimens of ten infants receiving breast milk, six receiving a cow-milk preparation supplemented with iron (5 mg/l) and seven receiving the same product without iron supplement (iron concentration less than 0.5 mg/l) were examined during the first 12 weeks of life. In breast-fed infants bifidobacteria was predominant, counts of Escherichia coli were low, and other bacteria were rarely present. Infants receiving fortified cow-milk preparation had high counts of Escherichia coli, counts and isolation frequency of bifidobacteria were low and other bacteria were frequently isolated. In those on unfortified cow-milk preparation isolation frequency of Escherichia coli, bifidobacteria and bacteroides was comparable with that in breast-fed infants; however, counts of Escherichia coli were high. It is concluded that the faecal flora of infants fed unfortified cow-milk preparation acquires characteristics of that found in breast-fed infants.

Prevention of colonization and infection in critically ill patients: a prospective randomized study.

In a prospective randomized study to determine whether prevention of colonization of Gram-negative bacteria results in prevention of Gram-negative bacterial infections, 96 intensive care patients were randomly allocated into a control group and a study group. The study group received oral nonabsorbable antimicrobial agents (i.e., tobramycin, amphotericin B, and polymyxin E) in addition to parenteral antibiotics. Colonization with Gram-negative microorganisms in the oropharynx, and respiratory and digestive tracts increased in the control group during their stay, while the study group did not tend to colonize with Gram-negative bacteria. In the control group, 107 nosocomial infections were diagnosed, vs. 42 nosocomial infections in the study group. Nosocomial infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria were significantly less frequent in the study group. Mortality due to an acquired infection was significantly less frequent in the study group. We conclude that colonization, infection, and subsequent mortality by nosocomial Gram-negative bacteria can be prevented by a regime of topically applied nonabsorbable antibiotics.

Effect of iron on neonatal gut flora during the first week of life.

Faecal specimens from 23 infants during the first week of life were compared. Ten infants received breast milk, six received cow-milk preparation supplemented with iron (+/- 5 mg/l) and seven unfortified cow-milk preparation (iron concentration less than 0.5 mg/l). Those on breast milk had low faecal pH, high counts of bifidobacteria and low counts of Enterobacteriaceae, bacteroides and clostridia. Infants receiving fortified cow-milk preparation had a high faecal pH and high counts of Enterobacteriaceae and putrefactive bacteria such as bacteroides and clostridia. Counts of bifidobacteria were also high. In those on unfortified cow-milk preparation a slow rise was observed in counts of Enterobacteriaceae followed by an increase in counts and isolation frequency of bifidobacteria: the latter was still rising on day 7. It is concluded that a low iron content in standard preparations of cow's milk enhances resistance of the neonatal gut to colonization.