Heterogeneity in HeartMate 3 implanting center infection management reveals opportunities for quality improvement and best practice initiatives during left ventricular assist device support

作者：Jennifer Cowger, Sarah Schettle, Francis D. Pagani, Farooq H. Sheikh, Jennifer M. Hajj, Kulpreet Barn, James K Kirklin, B. Singletary, Ezequiel Molina, Edward G. Soltesz, Mirnela Byku, Mani A. Daneshmand, Nir Uriel, Laura Coyle, Katherine Wood, Kelly A. O’Connell, Robert L. Kormos, Manreet Kanwar · 发表于：The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.healun.2025.07.024 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices、Transplantation: Methods and Outcomes、Nosocomial Infections in ICU

BACKGROUND: There is marked variability in device-related (DR) infection frequencies across HeartMate 3 (HM3) centers. The goal is to correlate center driveline (DL) management and infection mitigation practices with DR-infection development, laying foundation for development of best practice recommendations for one facet of HM3 patient care. METHODS: Coordinators at 30 HM3 centers were surveyed about center practices for infection prophylaxis, intraoperative DL placement and postoperative care, and infection mitigation. Early (≤90 days) and late (>90 day) center DR-infection frequencies were calculated from Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs data linkage. Correlations between center practice patterns and incident DR-infection were examined with multivariable Cox modeling (clustering adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]). RESULTS: Within Intermacs (3,725 patients), 1-year freedom from DR-infection was 87% (80.6-87.3%). Initially, DL dressing changes were performed daily, weekly, and variably at 48%, 21% and 31% of centers. After 4 weeks, 57% deescalated dressing changes to weekly. Chlorhexidine cleanser with a silver-impregnated dressing (Chl-Sil) was standard at 52.7% of programs; 47.3% used chlorhexidine alone or other supplies. Use of Chl-Sil was associated with reduced early (aHR 0.48, p=0.004) and late (aHR 0.64, p=0.02) DR-infection while frequent dressing changes conferred higher late DR-infection (aHR 1.4, p=0.05). Antibiotic prophylaxis, DL tunneling, and diabetes practic...