Abstract

Introduction

Tracheostomy is the most common procedure performed in critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure.Although the indications, technique, timing, and selection of critically ill patients for tracheostomy have been topics of considerable debate, not much has been researched about the microorganisms that colonize on the tracheostomy tube or on the stoma and peristomal region often leading to septicemia.

Objective

To analyze and compare the presence of microorganisms in the tracheostomy tubes of patients managed in tertiary care setup and to compare and correlate the type of tracheostomy tube, material of tracheostomy tube, duration, type of care given and the micro-organism isolated from the tracheostomy tube.

Conclusion

The most common organism isolated on culture was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28%), Streptococcus species (26%) and Staphylococcus species (27%)
The type of tracheostomy tube used had no significant correlation with the type of organism seen on Gram stain, fungal smear & cultures isolated. The most significant dependant variable for positive fungal smear gram-negative bacteria, polymicrobial infection and granulation tissue formation was in the duration of tracheostomy tube left in situ.
In conclusion, frequent changes of the tracheostomy tube , proper care and management of the tracheostomy stoma site is helpful in avoiding the potentially serious complications that can arise as a result of growth of infective microorganisms within the tracheostomy tube.