Dynamic Changes in Microbial Composition During Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in ICU Patients

Michael Thy; Sébastien Tanaka; Alexy Tran-Dinh; Lara Ribeiro; Brice Lortat-Jacob; Julia Donadio; Nathalie Zappella; Mouna Ben-Rehouma; Parvine Tashk; Aurelie Snauwaert; Enora Atchade; Nathalie Grall; Philippe Montravers

doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.609497

Dynamic Changes in Microbial Composition During Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections in ICU Patients

Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Mar 4:7:609497. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.609497. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Michael Thy^{1

2}, Sébastien Tanaka^{1

3}, Alexy Tran-Dinh^{1

4

5}, Lara Ribeiro^{4

6}, Brice Lortat-Jacob¹, Julia Donadio⁷, Nathalie Zappella¹, Mouna Ben-Rehouma^{1

8}, Parvine Tashk¹, Aurelie Snauwaert¹, Enora Atchade¹, Nathalie Grall^{4

9

10}, Philippe Montravers^{1

4

11}

Affiliations

¹ Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
² EA 7323 - Pharmacology and Therapeutic Evaluation in Children and Pregnant Women, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France.
³ Réunion Island University, French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), U1188 Diabetes atherothrombosis Réunion Indian Ocean (DéTROI), CYROI Plateform, Saint-Denis de La Réunion, France.
⁴ Université de Paris, UFR Denis Diderot, Paris, France.
⁵ French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1148, Laboratory for Vascular Translational Science, Paris, France.
⁶ Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
⁷ Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
⁸ Paris-Saclay University, French Institute of Health and Medical Research, INSERM UMR 1195, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
⁹ Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Bacteriology, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
¹⁰ French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), IAME, UMR 1137, Paris, France.
¹¹ French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) U1152, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases, Paris, France.

Abstract

Introduction: Recent studies described the threat of emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, but few data are available for necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTI). In a cohort of ICU patients admitted for NSTI, we describe the dynamic changes of microbial population during repeated surgeries. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study compiled consecutive cases admitted for the management of severe NSTI. Clinical characteristics, NSTI features, morbidity and mortality data were collected. The microbiological characteristics of surgical samples obtained during initial surgery were compared with those obtained during the first reoperation, including persistence of initial pathogens and/or emergence of microorganisms. Risk factors for emergence of microorganisms and MDR bacteria were assessed by univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: Among 100 patients {63% male, 58 years old [interquartile ratio (IQR) 50-68]} admitted for NSTI, 54 underwent reoperation with a median [IQR] delay of 3 (1-7) days. Decreased proportions of susceptible strains and emergence of Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and enterococci strains, were reported based on the cultures of surgical specimen collected on reoperation. On reoperation, 22 (27%) of the isolated strains were MDR (p < 0.0001 vs. MDR bacteria cultured from the first samples). Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy as first-line therapy was significantly associated with a decreased emergence of microorganisms. Adequate antibiotic therapy from the initial surgery did not modify the frequency of emergence of microorganisms (p = 0.79) and MDR bacteria (p = 1.0) or the 1-year survival rate. Conclusion: The emergence of microorganisms, including MDR bacteria, is frequently noted in NSTI without affecting mortality.

Keywords: antimicrobial therapy; intensive care unit (ICU); multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria; necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI); outcome; sepsis.