Interstitial Lung Disease: Gram-negative Bacteria Increases Mortality, ICU Admission

Researchers have found that the presence of gram-negative bacteria, excluding Pseudomonas, was a risk factor for worse outcomes including higher mortality, ICU admission and vasopressor use in hospitalized patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). However, the use of immunosuppressive medications or antifibrotics had no influence on the outcomes including development of resistant pathogens in patients.

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Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 472 patients with interstitial lung diseases who were admitted to a large tertiary care academic center from Jan. 1st, 2010, to Dec. 31st, 2016. Patient data were extracted from electronic records using ICD-9 and ICD-10 billing codes for various ILD. The majority of the patients had either pulmonary fibrosis or sarcoidosis.

One hundred and seventy respiratory cultures were collected in this population. The majority of the respiratory isolates were gram-negative pathogens (39% Pseudomonas and 18% other gram-negative organisms); 27% were methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Patients infected with gram-negative organisms (other than Pseudomonas) and MRSA had the highest 30-day mortality (39% and 32% respectively) compared with lower mortality for those infected with Pseudomonas and other gram positive organisms (7% and 14% respectively).

Patients infected with gram-negative organisms other than Pseudomonas also had higher rates of vasopressin administration compared with those infected with other organisms. Rates of ICU admission also differed according to organism that was cultured. These associations persisted even after adjustment for the other variables including type of ILD, age, gender, comorbid conditions and smoking history. There was no association between the use of immunosuppressant medications or antifibrotics and the development of resistant pathogens.

“The presence of gram-negative bacteria is a risk factor for adverse events,” says Dr. Hira Iftikhar, lead researcher, “This bacteria could lead to a higher mortality rate, ICU admission and increased vasopressor use. A larger study should be conducted to establish the risk factors for the mortality in hospitalized ILD patients including results of respiratory cultures.”