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Microbiological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Surgical Site Infections Following Hollow Viscus Injury

  • Original Article
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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to assess the microbiological profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and adequacy of the empiric antibiotic therapy in surgical site infections (SSI) following traumatic hollow viscus injury (HVI).

Methods

This is a retrospective study of patients admitted with an HVI from March 2003 to July 2009. SSI was defined as a wound infection or intra-abdominal collection confirmed by positive cultures and requiring percutaneous or surgical drainage.

Results

A total of 91 of 667 (13.6%) patients with an HVI developed an SSI confirmed by positive culture. Mean age was 33.0 ± 14.1 years, mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 17.7 ± 9.6, 91.2% were male, and 80.2% had sustained penetrating injuries. The SSI consisted of 65 intra-abdominal collections and 26 wound infections requiring intervention. The most commonly isolated species in the presence of a colonic injury was Escherichia coli (64.7%), Enterococcus spp. (41.2%), and Bacteroides (29.4%), and in the absence of a colonic perforation, Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacter cloacae (both 38.9%). Susceptibility rates of E. coli and E. cloacae, respectively, were 38% and 8% for ampicillin/sulbactam, 82% and 4% for cefazolin, 96% and 92% for cefoxitin, with both 92% to piperacillin/tazobactam, and 100% to ertapenem. The initial empirical antibiotic therapy adequately targeted the pathogens in 51.6% of patients who developed an SSI.

Conclusion

The distribution of the microorganisms isolated from SSIs differed significantly according to whether or not a colonic injury was present. Empiric antibiotic treatment was inadequate in upwards of 50% of patients who developed an SSI. Further investigation is warranted to determine the optimal empiric antibiotic regimen for reducing the rate of postoperative SSI.

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The authors have no conflict of interest to report and have received no financial or material support related to this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Acute Care Surgery (Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care), LAC + USC Medical Center, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, Inpatient Tower (C), 5th Floor, Room C5L100, Los Angeles, CA, 90033-4525, USA

    Beat Schnüriger, Kenji Inaba, Barbara M. Eberle, Tiffany Wu, Peep Talving, Marko Bukur, Howard Belzberg & Demetrios Demetriades

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  1. Beat Schnüriger
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Correspondence to Kenji Inaba.

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Oral Presentation at the American College of Surgeons, Southern California Chapter Meeting, January 2010, Santa Barbara, California, USA.

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Schnüriger, B., Inaba, K., Eberle, B.M. et al. Microbiological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Surgical Site Infections Following Hollow Viscus Injury. J Gastrointest Surg 14, 1304–1310 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-010-1231-x

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