Joanne Jung
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Alvaro Rojas-Peña
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Department of Surgery-Transplantation / Medicine
Program:
Authors: Joanne Jung, Alvaro Rojas Pena, Daniela Pelaez-Palacio, Robert Bartlett, Chuanwu Xi, Jianfeng Wu, Megan Stein
Session: Session 3 11:00 – 12:50 a.m. Hussey Room
Poster:
Abstract
Sepsis is a major complication that arises with patients on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) systems and is broadly seen in patients requiring longer periods of time under ECLS. Microorganisms cultured on patients under ECLS demonstrate extensive methods of resistance, needing the use of multiple combinations of antibiotic therapies to achieve optimal outcomes. Ascorbic acid has emerged as a novel coadjuvant in achieving bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in antibiotic regimes. This research aims to test the efficacy of ascorbic acid at diminishing bacterial growth in an in-vitro model. A prospective, experimental study was performed between September 2023 and March 2024. A 150 mL perfusate consisting of packed red blood cells (pRBCs) and plasma was collected from donor animals under anesthesia. The perfusate was placed in a previously sterilized in-vitro ECLS model (Figure 1). Bacterial loads of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (106 CFU/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (106 CFU/mL) were introduced to the system at hour 0. The bacterial-loaded perfusate behavior was followed for twelve hours, and interventions were added in two groups (Group A. Control, no intervention (NI); Group B. Ascorbic acid 10mg/mL; n=3 per group). Data collected: arterial blood gases (ABGs), activated clotting time (ACT). Cultures were collected q6h, and blood chemistry was collected q12h. Four in-vitro studies were completed successfully. Two experiments were incomplete due to high levels of hemolysis and coagulation in-system. Acid base variables (pH, pCO2, bicarbonate, lactate), blood chemistry, and electrolytes were maintained within ideal parameters throughout the experiments. ACTs were sustained above ECMO targets. Addition of ascorbic acid demonstrated diminishing bacterial growth over experimental time in the in-vitro system in comparison with the NI group (NI= H0: 35500 ±21920, H6: 137500 ±130814, H12: 1460000 ±1895046.174 CFU/mL; vs AA= H0: 7850 ±5869; H6: 5150 ±4031; H12: 2800 ±2263 CFU/mL) (Figure 2). Ascorbic acid shows potential to be used as a coadjuvant to antibiotics in an ECLS system in in-vitro models. Further studies need to be done to potentiate relevancy in clinical in-vivo models. For the abstract with Figure 1 and Figure 2 included, refer to this link: https://shorturl.at/giowT.
