Background: Conceptually, the ‘control of gut overgrowth’ (COGO), including ‘abnormal Gram-negative bacilli’ (AGNB), is key to the mediation of infection prevention by Selective Digestive Decontamination (SDD). However, the relative importance of the SDD components; topical (TAP), enteral (EAP) and protocolized parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis (PPAP), versus other methods of infection prevention and versus other contextual exposures cannot be resolved within individual studies.
Methods: Generalized structural equation models (GSEM) based on COGO concepts were confronted with data derived from >200 infection prevention studies reporting incidences of overall, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter bacteremia as well as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) data including the following group level exposures; TAP, EAP and PPAP use versus antiseptic versus non-decontamination mode of infection prevention; proportion receiving mechanical ventilation (MV); trauma ICU; mean length of ICU stay and concurrency versus non-concurrency of TAP study control groups.
Results: In GSEM modelling of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter gut overgrowth (GO) as latent variables, anti-septic interventions had the strongest negative effect against Pseudomonas GO but no intervention was significantly negative against Acinetobacter GO. Strikingly, PPAP and concurrency each have positive effects in the model, EAP is neutral and Acinetobacter bacteremia incidences are high within TAP studies, moreso with PPAP exposure. Paradoxically, TAP (moreso with PPAP) appears to provide the strongest summary prevention effects against bacteremia and VAP overall.
Conclusions: GSEM modelling of published data provides novel insights into the COGO concept and the complex and profoundly paradoxical relationships between various interventions, concurrency and other exposures in relation to infection with AGNB.

Figure 1

Figure 2
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Loading...
On 14 Apr, 2020
On 14 Apr, 2020
On 13 Apr, 2020
On 13 Apr, 2020
On 04 Apr, 2020
Received 16 Mar, 2020
On 11 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 11 Mar, 2020
On 11 Mar, 2020
On 10 Mar, 2020
On 10 Mar, 2020
Posted 27 Jan, 2020
On 28 Feb, 2020
Received 23 Feb, 2020
Received 14 Feb, 2020
On 13 Feb, 2020
On 11 Feb, 2020
Received 09 Feb, 2020
On 30 Jan, 2020
Invitations sent on 30 Jan, 2020
On 26 Jan, 2020
On 25 Jan, 2020
On 23 Jan, 2020
On 13 Jan, 2020
On 14 Apr, 2020
On 14 Apr, 2020
On 13 Apr, 2020
On 13 Apr, 2020
On 04 Apr, 2020
Received 16 Mar, 2020
On 11 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 11 Mar, 2020
On 11 Mar, 2020
On 10 Mar, 2020
On 10 Mar, 2020
Posted 27 Jan, 2020
On 28 Feb, 2020
Received 23 Feb, 2020
Received 14 Feb, 2020
On 13 Feb, 2020
On 11 Feb, 2020
Received 09 Feb, 2020
On 30 Jan, 2020
Invitations sent on 30 Jan, 2020
On 26 Jan, 2020
On 25 Jan, 2020
On 23 Jan, 2020
On 13 Jan, 2020
Background: Conceptually, the ‘control of gut overgrowth’ (COGO), including ‘abnormal Gram-negative bacilli’ (AGNB), is key to the mediation of infection prevention by Selective Digestive Decontamination (SDD). However, the relative importance of the SDD components; topical (TAP), enteral (EAP) and protocolized parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis (PPAP), versus other methods of infection prevention and versus other contextual exposures cannot be resolved within individual studies.
Methods: Generalized structural equation models (GSEM) based on COGO concepts were confronted with data derived from >200 infection prevention studies reporting incidences of overall, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter bacteremia as well as ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) data including the following group level exposures; TAP, EAP and PPAP use versus antiseptic versus non-decontamination mode of infection prevention; proportion receiving mechanical ventilation (MV); trauma ICU; mean length of ICU stay and concurrency versus non-concurrency of TAP study control groups.
Results: In GSEM modelling of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter gut overgrowth (GO) as latent variables, anti-septic interventions had the strongest negative effect against Pseudomonas GO but no intervention was significantly negative against Acinetobacter GO. Strikingly, PPAP and concurrency each have positive effects in the model, EAP is neutral and Acinetobacter bacteremia incidences are high within TAP studies, moreso with PPAP exposure. Paradoxically, TAP (moreso with PPAP) appears to provide the strongest summary prevention effects against bacteremia and VAP overall.
Conclusions: GSEM modelling of published data provides novel insights into the COGO concept and the complex and profoundly paradoxical relationships between various interventions, concurrency and other exposures in relation to infection with AGNB.

Figure 1

Figure 2
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Loading...