ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
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The importance of microbial colonization during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is unclear. We prospectively cultured ECMO oxygenators and retrospectively reviewed the culture results, clinical outcomes, and associated factors in 112 ECMO patients (122 oxygenators, 1,196 ECMO days). Of the oxygenators, 11.6% (n = 13) had positive cultures. ⋯ In multivariate analyses, age (per decade) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.28-2.95; p = 0.002), oxygenator colonization (OR = 15.49, 95% CI = 3.31-72.46; p < 0.001), and renal replacement therapy (OR = 4.61, 95% CI = 1.69-12.58; p = 0.003) were significantly associated with mortality. Oxygenator colonization was associated with poor outcomes in ECMO patients. These results support the early exchange and culture of oxygenators in patients with persisting bacteremia.