Effects of selective decontamination on gram-negative colonisation, infections and development of bacterial resistance in esophageal resection.

Patients undergoing an esophageal resection because of carcinoma are at risk of developing postoperative respiratory tract infections. These patients were studied with respect to preceding colonisation with gram-negative bacilli and the effect of selective decontamination (SD) in decreasing this phenomenon, thereby reducing gram-negative infections. We randomised prospectively 114 patients into a test group receiving SD-medication (n = 56) and a control group receiving conventional prophylaxis. Postoperatively, all patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and mechanically ventilated. The preoperative administration of SD-medication resulted in adequate decontamination within 3-4 days in most patients, and SD could prevent gram-negative colonisation and infections effectively. Discontinuation of SD showed gram-negative (re-)colonisation, and resulted in 12 infections in 4 patients having late complications. This indicates that prolonged use in these patients might be beneficial. This new antibiotic prophylaxis proved effective, without causing an increase in bacterial resistance.