Microbiological Findings, Infection Risk Factors and Complications Among Children after Tracheostomy

Marta Daina (Corresponding Author), Ineta Grantiņa, Katrīna Tomiņa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Summary. Introduction. Bacterial infection of the respiratory tract is highly common among pediatric patients with tracheostomy, yet there is no wide knowledge about the prevalence of different airway microbes, the incidence of bacterial infection, infection risk factors, and complications.

The study aimed to analyze the prevalence of airway microbes, the incidence of bacterial infection, infection risk factors, and complications.

Methods. Retrospective data of officially reported cases were collected from 2018 to 2022 at Riga Children's Clinical University Hospital (RCCUH). Demographic factors, airway microbiological findings, tracheostomy-related complications, underlying conditions, and outcomes for 37 patients were gathered from the hospital's database Andromeda. The data were analyzed using MS Excel. This study received ethical approval from RSU Ethics Committee.

Results. Microbiological analyses were done in 78.3% (n=29) of the cases. Most cultures were obtained from airway aspirate. Altogether 46 different species of microbes were identified. The most frequently identified bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 72.4% of the cases; n=21) and Staphylococcus aureus (65.5%; n=19). Forty-eight percent (n=18) of the patients had respiratory tract infections that required hospitalization. Overall, there were 60 hospitalization episodes of which 51.6% (n=31) were caused by pulmonary bacterial infection, 25.0% (n=15) by non-bacterial infection, and 0.05% (n=3) because of local wound infection. The rest 18.3% (n=11) of hospitalization episodes were due to granulation tissue. The risk factor that showed the greatest significance in the development of bacterial infection was ventilator dependency. Formation of granulation tissue in the airways was found to be the most common complication among pediatric patients with tracheostomy.

Conclusion. This study summarizes the most common pathogens, risk factors, and complications, which should be considered while treating pediatric patients after tracheostomy. The results of this study demonstrate that P. aeruginosa and S. aureus have the highest prevalence among these patients. This research is currently used to develop guidelines for pediatric patients with tracheostomy care in RCCUH.

Keywords. Pediatric tracheostomy; Respiratory infections; Tracheostomy complications
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)16-22
JournalBaltic Journal of Clinical Medicine and Research (BJCMR)
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 May 2024

Keywords*

  • Pediatric tracheostomy
  • Respiratory infections
  • Tracheostomy complications

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.4. Reviewed scientific article published in Latvia or abroad in a scientific journal with an editorial board (including university editions)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Microbiological Findings, Infection Risk Factors and Complications Among Children after Tracheostomy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this