ISSN Online: 2177-1235 | ISSN Print: 1983-5175

Bloodstream infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria in patients in an intensive care unit for the treatment of burns: a 4-year-experience
Infecções de corrente sanguínea por bactérias multirresistentes em UTI de tratamento de queimados: experiência de 4 anos

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Original Article - Year2012 - Volume27 - Issue 3

Lincoln Saito Millan1; Carlos Eduardo Marins de Benedette2; Luiza Zonzini Maximo3; Paulo Cezar Cavalcante de Almeida4; David Souza Gomes4; Rolf Gemperli5; Marcus Castro Ferreira6

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the profile of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in a hospital is essential for guiding appropriate patient treatment. This is especially important for the severely ill patients, because treatment must be initiated before the results of cultures can be obtained. In this study, we aimed to analyze the profile of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MR) found in blood cultures from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Burns Unit of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo.
METHODS: We evaluated 178 patients (131 men) admitted to the ICU for the treatment of burns from 2009 to 2011, with a mean age of 29.2 years.
RESULTS: Eighty (44.9%) patients indicated positive results in peripheral blood cultures, and there were 66 (82.5%) cases with MR bacteria. Staphylococcus sp. was isolated in 48 cases, of which 33 cases showed resistance to oxacillin. Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated in 11 cases, and 8 of these cases were resistant to imipenem. Pseudomonas sp. was isolated in 19 cases, and 16 of these cases were resistant to imipenem. Enterobacter sp. was isolated in 10 cases, and 2 of these cases were resistant to ciprofloxacin and amikacin. The presence of MR bacteria was not associated with a higher incidence of deaths but was associated with longer hospital stay (52.6 vs. 36.3 days for those with and without MR bacteria, respectively, P = 0.0306). There was no significant association between burned body surface and the presence of MR bacteria.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MR bacteria is an important problem, because of the prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Burn units. Intensive care. Drug resistance, bacterial.

RESUMO

INTRODUÇÃO: O conhecimento do perfil de resistência aos antibióticos das bactérias de um nosocômio é essencial para orientar tratamento adequado dos pacientes. Isso é especialmente importante para os pacientes mais graves, já que o tratamento deve ser instituído antes do resultado das culturas. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o perfil das bactérias multirresistentes encontradas nas hemoculturas de pacientes admitidos na Unidade de Tratamento Intensivo (UTI) da Unidade de Queimados do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo.
MÉTODO: Foram analisados 178 pacientes internados na UTI para tratamento de queimados, no período de 2009 a 2011, sendo 131 do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 29,2 anos.
RESULTADOS: Entre os pacientes analisados, 80 (44,9%) apresentaram hemocultura periférica positiva, sendo 66 (82,5%) casos com bactérias multirresistentes. Em 48 pacientes, foram isoladas Staphylococcus sp., que se apresentaram resistentes à oxacilina em 33 deles. Em 11 pacientes, foram isoladas Acinetobacter baumanii, que se apresentaram resistentes a imipenem em 8 casos. Em 19 pacientes, foram isoladas Pseudomonas sp., resistentes a imipenem em 16 casos. Em 10 pacientes foram isoladas Enterobacter sp., resistentes a amicacina e ciprofloxacina em 2 casos. A presença de bactérias multirresistentes não foi associada a maior ocorrência de óbitos, porém foi verificado maior tempo de internação (52,6 dias vs. 36,3 dias para os grupos com e sem bactérias multirresistentes, respectivamente; P = 0,0306). Não foi encontrada interação significante entre superfície corpórea queimada e presença de bactérias MR.
CONCLUSÕES: A presença de bactérias multirresistentes é um problema grave, tanto pela prevalência como pela morbidade e mortalidade associadas.

Palavras-chave: Unidades de queimados. Terapia intensiva. Farmacorresistência bacteriana.

INTRODUCTION

Severely burned patients are more susceptible to infections because of immunosuppression and loss of cutaneous coverage1. Furthermore, prolonged hospitalizations associated with invasive measures such as mechanical ventilation, and vascular and bladder catheterization, further expose these patients to nosocomial infections2.

Recent changes in patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU), such as reduced time of catheter presence, greater care with patient manipulation, attempted earlier weaning from mechanical ventilation, better patient nutrition, prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis and stress ulcers, and tighter controls for blood glucose, have resulted in increased survival of these patients. However, this has been accompanied by increases in nosocomial infection rates3.

Knowledge of the profile of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is essential for guiding appropriate treatment of patients. This is especially important for seriously ill patients, because treatment must be initiated before the results of cultures can be obtained.

In 2003, a study performed in our ICU showed that bloodstream infections are the most common; 24%, 18%, 14%, 12%, and 8% of these infections were caused by Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Candida spp., respectively1.

However, the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is more common in burn units4. This is because cross-infection is common and patients are often treated with topical and systemic antimicrobial therapies at some point during their long hospitalization period. Acinetobacter baumannii2,5, P. aeruginosa6, and Staphylococcus aureus7 are the most common multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, others such as Serratia marcescens8 are also found.

In this study, we aimed to analyze the profile of multidrug-resistant bacteria found in blood cultures from patients admitted to the ICU of the burn unit of the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil).


METHODS

This was a retrospective study that analyzed all patients admitted to the ICU for the treatment of burns from 2009 through 2011.

Data including identification; age; cause of burn; percentage of body area burned; presence of inhalation injury; and dates of admission, discharge, or death were obtained from the burns unit. Data related to bacteria isolated in blood cultures were obtained from the electronic database. The profiles of antibiotic resistance from species identified to be multidrug resistant were analyzed.

According to the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), multidrug-resistant microorganisms are defined as follows:

• Gram-negative

- Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Proteus, and Klebsiella resistant to any 2 of the following antibiotics: amikacin, ceftriaxone, cefepime, and ciprofloxacin.

- Large-spectrum beta lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella (ESBL).

- Pseudomonas and A. resistant to imipenem or sensitive only to imipenem and polymyxin


• Gram-positive

- Staphylococcus: resistant to oxacillin.

- Enterococcus: resistant to vancomycin or teicoplanin9.


During the study period, 178 patients were hospitalized in the ICU of the burn unit of the HCFMUSP, including 131 (73.6%) men. The mean age of the patients was 29.2 years, ranging from 3 months to 95 years.


RESULTS

The most common cause of burns was fire (54 cases; 30.3%), followed by alcohol combustion (36 patients, 20.2%), blasts (29 cases; 16.3%), and other causes (59 cases; 33.2%). The mean percentage of body surface area burned was 30.6% (range: 0.2-96.5%).

Inhalation injury confirmed by bronchoscopy was present in 45 (25.3%) of the patients admitted and was usually caused by fire (17 cases, 37.8%) or explosion (12 cases, 26.7%).

Eighty (44.9%) patients had positive results on peripheral blood cultures, and 66 patients had multidrug-resistant bacteria (82.5% of cases with positive results on blood culture and 37% of all patients).

Staphylococcus sp. was isolated from 48 patients; 33 (68.8%) of these cases indicated resistance to oxacillin. Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated from 11 patients; 8 (72.7%) of these cases indicated resistance to imipenem. Pseudomonas sp. was isolated from 19 patients; 16 (84.2%) of these cases indicated resistance to imipenem. Enterobacter sp. was isolated from 10 patients; 2 (20%) of these cases indicated resistance to ciprofloxacin and amikacin.

The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria was not associated with increased mortality (25 deaths in the group with multidrug-resistant bacteria vs. 32 deaths in the group without multidrug-resistant bacteria, P = 0.2445) but was associated with longer hospitalization in those who were discharged (mean of 52.6 days for those with multidrug-resistant bacteria vs. 36.3 days for those without multidrug-resistant bacteria, P = 0.0306).

Logistic regression analysis of the variables of percentage of body surface burned and the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in blood cultures revealed no significant association (confidence interval 95% of the odds ratio = 0.9901 to 1.0161).


DISCUSSION

Infection followed by sepsis is the major cause of death in burn units. This is due to immunosuppression resulting from burns, the low level of T lymphocytes in the bloodstream, and increase in suppressive cellular activity10,11. Furthermore, the need for monitoring critical patients with vascular and urinary catheters and nasogastric enteral probes, and those who have undergone tracheal intubation, coupled with a lack of skin coverage, are important risk factors for infection7.

Burn patients are also more susceptible to serious staphylococcal infection; the increasing rates of multidrugresistant Staphylococcus aureus in ICU burn units have resulted in a remarkable increase in morbidity and mortality in these centers7.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in burn units is not a new concern. Since the 1970s, bacteria have already become resistant to multiple antibiotics12. The presence of such microorganisms can worsen the clinical course of patients13.

Critically ill patients usually undergo lengthy hospitalizations, which is associated with a higher incidence of infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, this study did not demonstrate increased mortality associated with infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria, but such infections were associated with a longer hospital stay. The importance of preventing infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria is critical, since many studies indicate that this results in a significant reduction in the costs of hospitalization and antibiotic treatment14.

In this study, 25.3% of patients had some type of inhalation injury; the most common causes of burns were fire (37.8%) and blasts (26.7%). The factor of inhalation injury is less important than the need for intubation for acquiring nosocomial infections, because prolonged mechanical ventilation is strongly associated with pneumonia, wound infections, and bacteremia15.

Besides endotracheal intubation, a burned body surface exceeding 50% is strongly associated with the acquisition of nosocomial infections2. In this study, the mean percentage of body surface area burned was 30.6%, which was not associated with the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa are the most common multidrug-resistant bacteria in the ICU of the burn unit of the HCFMUSP.

In this study, 18.5% of patients showed positive results in blood cultures for multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA) represent reservoirs for the spread of these bacteria to other hospital departments. However, a greater extent of burns favors colonization by MRSA7. Experiences from other burn units attempting to contain MRSA outbreaks show that burn patients are more vulnerable to these bacteria and that it is harder to contain outbreaks in burn units than other ICUs7.

Among the patients studied, 9% indicated the presence of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa in their blood culture. Morbidity and mortality associated with Pseudomonas infections in burn patients are higher in some studies than in the present study16. However, this study found no increase in mortality due to multidrug-resistant bacteria, although such infections were associated with morbidity and prolonged hospitalization. Environmental reservoirs represent a major factor in the spread of Pseudomonas. In such cases, the prevention of barrier contact, patient isolation, and restricting visits are very effective16. It is assumed that restricting antibiotics from being prescribed prior to confirmation by blood culture is also a way to contain the spread of P. aeruginosa.

Acinetobacter baumannii was present in 6.2% of patients in this study and was multidrug resistant in 72.7% of cases. The high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and P. aeruginosa identified in this study is similar to other studies1. However, the high incidence of A. baumannii in our center contrasts with the literature but is consistent with a study conducted in a hospital in Singapore. The authors of that study suggest the hot and humid climate is responsible for the increased colonization and nosocomial infection2. Other studies report on endemic A. baumannii in Hong Kong17 as well as increases in A. baumannii infections in hospitals in France18 and England19 in the summer months.

Some initial steps must be taken to contain the spread of these bacteria, such as training health professionals to improve the practice of appropriate aseptic techniques for handling these patients, identifying environmental reservoirs (e.g., stethoscopes, cuffs, injection pumps, etc.), screening for the colonization of patients, preventing crossinfection, and reinforcing the importance of barrier contact (i.e., aprons, gloves, masks, and caps). However, these measures alone are insufficient. Although limited, restricting the use of antibiotics has been shown to be effective20.

At the time of the identification of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the blood culture of a critically ill patient, initial regimens of antibiotics (mixed or not) with increasingly larger spectra11 and even some unusual antibiotics are administered21. This can lead to a vicious cycle by selecting increasingly multidrug-resistant strains.


CONCLUSIONS

The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a major problem because of its prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality.

This study shows the resistance profiles of bacteria found in the blood cultures of patients in an ICU burn unit, which can guide better treatment and the rational use of antibiotics.


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21. Gang RK, Sanyal SC, Mokaddas E, Lari AR. Rifampicin as an adjunct to vancomycin therapy in MRSA septicaemia in burns. Burns. 1999;25(7):640-4.










1. Plastic surgeon, Teaching physician in the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), Assistant physician at the Plastic Surgery Department, Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2. Rsident physician of Department of General Surgery of the HCFMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
3. Resident physician of Department of Plastic surgery of the HCFMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
4. Plastic surgeon at the HCFMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
5. Plastic surgeon at the HCFMUSP, Associate professor of the Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
6. Full professor of Plastic Surgery at the HCFMUSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Correspondence to:
Lincoln Saito Millan
Av. Dr. Enéas Carvalho de Aguiar, 255 - 8º andar - sala 8128
São Paulo, SP, Brazil - CEP 05403-900
E-mail: lincolnsaito@gmail.com

Submitted to SGP (Sistema de Gestão de Publicações/Manager Publications System) of RBCP (Revista Brasileira de Cirurgia Plástica/Brazilian Journal of Plastic Surgery).
Article received: April 4th, 2012
Article accepted: July 13, 2012

This study was performed at Department of Plastic Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

 

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