Infections
The Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation (ELSO) approximates the
incidence of infection of 13.0% and 17.5% in VA-ECMO and VV-ECMO
respectively. The prevalence of infection during ECMO is 10-12%, withStaphylococcus aureus , Candida , Enterobacteriaceaeand Pseudomonas aeruginos a being the most common bloodstream
infective organisms. Identifying infected patients is difficult due to
their inability to mount a pyrexic response possible due to heat loss
from ECMO circuit, and leukocytosis is common due to inflammatory
response from ECMO treatment itself. Hence, regular cultures could be
done if an infection is suspected, especially with prolonged ECMO use.