Structural equation modelling the relationship between anti-fungal prophylaxis and Pseudomonas bacteremia in ICU patients

PURPOSE: Animal models implicate candida colonization facilitating invasive bacterial infections. The clinical relevance of this microbial interaction remains undefined and difficult to study directly. Observations from studies of anti-septic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, and non-decontamination-based interventions to prevent ICU acquired infection collectively serve as a natural experiment. METHODS: Three candidate generalized structural equation models (GSEM), with Candida and Pseudomonas colonization as latent variables, were confronted with blood culture and respiratory tract isolate data derived from 464 groups from 279 studies including studies of combined antibiotic and antifungal exposures within selective digestive decontamination (SDD) interventions. RESULTS: Introducing an interaction term between Candida colonization and Pseudomonas colonization substantially improved GSEM model fit. Model derived coefficients for singular exposure to anti-septic agents (− 1.23; − 2.1 to − 0.32), amphotericin (− 1.78; − 2.79 to − 0.78) and topical antibiotic prophylaxis (TAP; + 1.02; + 0.11 to + 1.93) versus Candida colonization were similar in magnitude but contrary in direction. By contrast, the model-derived coefficients for singular exposure to TAP, as with anti-septic agents, versus Pseudomonas colonization were weaker or non-significant. Singular exposure to amphotericin would be predicted to more than halve candidemia and Pseudomonas bacteremia incidences versus literature benchmarks for absolute differences of approximately one percentage point or less. CONCLUSION: GSEM modelling of published data supports the postulated interaction between Candida and Pseudomonas colonization towards promoting bacteremia among ICU patients. This would be difficult to detect without GSEM modelling. The model indicates that anti-fungal agents have greater impact in preventing Pseudomonas bacteremia than TAP, which has no impact. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40635-022-00429-8.