Relief Therapeutics Holding AG (RLFTF)

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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life support technique used in patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. The ECMO circuit consists of vascular cannulae, a pump and an artificial lung. Infections are among the most common complications associated with ECMO and have a significant impact on the mortality rate. Here we present a narrative literature review regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis and prevention of infectious complications during ECMO support. The prevalence of hospital-acquired infections during ECMO is 10-12% and their occurrence is likely to be more frequent compared with other critically ill patients. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Candida spp., Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most frequently involved pathogens.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28528989/