Microbiological characteristics of early and late infectious complications following total pelvic exenteration due to cervical cancer recurrence—the significance of infections in long-term outcomes

Abstract

We analysed microbiological results of early and late infectious complications following total pelvic exenteration (TPE) due to cervical cancer recurrence and evaluated the significance of infections in patient survival. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 13 out of 31 patients who had undergone TPE due to cervical cancer, from February 2013 to January 2018. Results: Early and late infections occurred in 7 (53.8%) patients and 6 (46.1%) patients, respectively. Superficial and deep surgical site infections (SSIs) were the only ones that appeared as early infections. Late infections, besides SSIs (4/13; 30.8%), also included urinary infections (2/13; 15.4%). The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Enterococcus spp. (9/28; 32.1%) and Escherichia coli (6/28; 21.4%). There was no resistance to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid among Enterocccus spp. Among gram-negative rods, there was no resistance to meropenem and imipenem. We found three ESBL (extendedspectrum ß-lactamase) producers. Patients diagnosed with early deep SSIs had a shortened median overall survival (5.0 months vs. 11.5 months, P = 0.03). Patient survival was neither related to the occurrence of early superficial infections nor to late infections. Conclusions: Our results suggest that early, especially early deep, SSI may worse the prognosis of patients after TPE. The time of infection management after the operation should be especially intensified within 1 month after TPE.