Nosocomial infections in adult patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in China: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used in China, but nosocomial infections (NI) in patients receiving ECMO remain poorly characterized. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the incidence rate, causative was pathogens, and risk factors of NIs in ECMO patients. A retrospective cohort study of patients receiving ECMO between January 2015 and October 2021 was conducted in a tertiary hospital. General demographics and clinical data of the included patients were collected from the electronic medical record system and the real-time NI surveillance system. A total of 86 infected patients with 110 episodes of NIs were identified in 196 patients receiving ECMO. The incidence of NI was 59.2/1000 ECMO days. The median time for the first NI in ECMO patients was 5days (interquartile range: 2-8days). Hospital-acquired pneumonia and bloodstream infections were common types of NIs in ECMO patients, and the main pathogens were gram-negative bacteria. Pre-ECMO invasive mechanical ventilation (OR=2.40, 95%CI:1.12-5.15) and prolonged duration of ECMO (OR=1.26, 95%CI:1.15-1.39) were risk factors for NIs during ECMO support. This study identified the main infection sites and pathogens of NIs in ECMO patients. Although NIs may not affect successful ECMO weaning, additional measures should be implemented to reduce the incidence of NI during ECMO support.