Orthopaedic Surgical Site Infections

BackgroundCoryneform species other than Corynebacterium diphtheriae are coming up as important pathogens with the potential to cause serious and life-threatening infections not only in immunocompromised but in immunocompetent individuals as well. The exact infectious potential of these bacteria and their rational antimicrobial treatment is a challenging but essential task.Method  The study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Orthopaedics, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh between August 2007 and May 2009. Pus samples were collected from patients of osteomyelitis and other bone infections including orthopaedic surgical site infections. The Corynebacterium species isolated in the study was identified using standard microbiological techniques and antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done by Kirby bauer disc diffusion method.ResultsA total of 312 Corynebacterium species were isolated. The majority of the coryneforms were isolated from the immunocompetent patients 270 (86.54%). C.jeikium was the most common coryneform isolated. Nearly half of the patients 153 (49.04%) had acute infection caused by Corynebacterium species after orthopaedic surgery, a quarter 66 (21.15%) had chronic infection and 72 (23.08%) patients had device-related infection. Coryneforms exhibited maximum resistance to aminoglycosides (58.65%) and β-lactams (penicillin group- 57.55%. C.jeikium was found to be the most resistant amongst all the Corynebacterium species.ConclusionThe study highlights the fact that the coryneforms are no longer just  opportunistic pathogens but they are also becoming important pathogens among immunocompetent individuals as well. The emergence of drug resistance amongst these isolates is of most concern. More studies should be done on identification and on antimicrobial susceptibility of these organisms for the proper treatment of patients with such infections

Metastasis to left scapula with unknown primary: Approach to pathological diagnosis

Bony metastasis is a frequent occurrence in malignancy. However, the clinical presentation and pathological findings may sometimes be more in favor of a primary bone lesion. In such cases, immunochemistry has a very important role to play in reaching a final diagnosis. We present the case of a 35 year male patient who was investigated for a lytic lesion in the left scapula and was finally diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma with the help of immunostaining

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair

Importance Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.Objective To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.Design, Setting, and Participants The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) study, an international, prospective cohort study, recruited participants between March 1 and October 31, 2021. This study was conducted across 209 centers in 32 countries in a consecutive sample of adult patients undergoing elective IHR.Exposure Open or minimally invasive IHR by any surgical technique, under local, neuraxial regional, or general anesthesia.Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the incidence of POUR following elective IHR. Secondary outcomes were perioperative risk factors, management, clinical consequences, and health service outcomes of POUR. A preoperative International Prostate Symptom Score was measured in male patients.Results In total, 4151 patients (3882 male and 269 female; median [IQR] age, 56 [43-68] years) were studied. Inguinal hernia repair was commenced via an open surgical approach in 82.2% of patients (n = 3414) and minimally invasive surgery in 17.8% (n = 737). The primary form of anesthesia was general in 40.9% of patients (n = 1696), neuraxial regional in 45.8% (n = 1902), and local in 10.7% (n = 446). Postoperative urinary retention occurred in 5.8% of male patients (n = 224), 2.97% of female patients (n = 8), and 9.5% (119 of 1252) of male patients aged 65 years or older. Risk factors for POUR after adjusted analyses included increasing age, anticholinergic medication, history of urinary retention, constipation, out-of-hours surgery, involvement of urinary bladder within the hernia, temporary intraoperative urethral catheterization, and increasing operative duration. Postoperative urinary retention was the primary reason for 27.8% of unplanned day-case surgery admissions (n = 74) and 51.8% of 30-day readmissions (n = 72).Conclusions The findings of this cohort study suggest that 1 in 17 male patients, 1 in 11 male patients aged 65 years or older, and 1 in 34 female patients may develop POUR following IHR. These findings could inform preoperative patient counseling. In addition, awareness of modifiable risk factors may help to identify patients at increased risk of POUR who may benefit from perioperative risk mitigation strategies