Bronchial bacterial colonization and the susceptibility of isolated bacteria in patients with primary non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Postoperative pneumonia (POP) remains a significant cause of postoperative mortality following lung surgery. Recent studies reveal that the respiratory tract beneath the vocal cords is not sterile, often involving potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs). Therefore, patients with primary lung cancer face an elevated risk of pulmonary infections.

A total of 149 patients who underwent bronchoscopy due to lung lesions, suspicious for lung cancer were analysed. Protected specimen brush (PSB) samples were obtained from each patient at the time of bronchoscopy and before any specific treatment. Identification of isolated bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted.

Bacterial colonization was observed in 88.6% of patients, with 21.5% harboring PPMs. Susceptibility testing showed no significant difference between amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and first-generation cephalosporin for both colonized patients and those colonized by PPMs.

Our findings indicate a slightly lower rate of colonization by PPMs compared to previously reported literature. We found no statistically significant difference in bacterial susceptibility between amoxicillin with clavulanic acid and first-generation cephalosporin, and notably, we did not identify any multidrug-resistant bacteria.