Value of inflammatory mediator profiles and procalcitonin in predicting postoperative infection in patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage(HICH)is a common clinical cerebrovascular disease and one of the most serious complications of hypertension.Early warning of the occurrence of infection during treatment and timely anti-infective treatment are of great significance for the early prevention and treatment of postoperative infection in patients with HICH.Changes in the levels of inflammatory mediators,which are closely related to the occurrence and development of postoperative infection,and procalcitonin(PCT),which is a sensitive indicator for diagnosing bacterial infections,are widely used in clinical practice.AIM To explore the application value of inflammatory mediator profiles and PCT in predicting postoperative infection in patients with HICH.METHODS A total of 271 patients who underwent HICH surgery at our hospital between March 2019 and March 2021 were selected and divided into the infection(n=80)and non-infection(n=191)groups according to whether postoperative infection occurred.The postoperative infection status and etiological characteristics of the infective pathogens in the infection group were analyzed.Changes in inflammatory mediator profile indices and PCT levels were compared between the two groups,pre-and postoperatively.RESULTS A total of 109 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected in the infection group,including 67 strains(61.47%)of gram-negative bacteria,32 strains(29.36%)of gram-positive bacteria,and 10 strains(9.17%)of fungi.The main infection site of the patients in the infection group was the respiratory system(63.75%).Preoperative interleukin(IL)-4,IL-6,IL-10,tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,and PCT levels were higher in the infection group than in the non-infection group(P<0.05),and there were no significant differences in the IL-2 Levels between the two groups(P>0.05).The inflammatory mediator profile indices and PCT levels were higher in the two groups of patients on the first postoperative day than preoperatively(P<0.05),and were higher than those in the non-infection group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative IL-6 and PCT levels correlated with postoperative infection(P<0.05).Operating characteristic curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)values of preoperative IL-6 and PCT levels in predicting postoperative infection in patients with HICH were 0.755 and 0.824,respectively.The AUC value of joint detection was 0.866,which was significantly higher than that of the single index(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Preoperative IL-6 and PCT levels are correlated with postoperative infection in patients with HICH.Their detection is clinically significant for early identification of patients at high risk for postoperative infection.

Effects of cooperative nursing and patient education on postoperative infection and self-efficacy in gastrointestinal tumors

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal tumors have a high incidence rate.The application value of the cooperative nursing care system of medical care has received widespread attention in recent years.However,there are few studies on the value of the joint application of collaborative nursing care and self-efficacy education.AIM To explore the effect of cooperative nursing care management/self-efficacy education on postoperative infection and self-efficacy in gastrointestinal tumor surgery patients.METHODS A total of 102 patients with gastrointestinal tumors treated in our hospital from October 2018 to February 2020 were selected and divided into a conventional group(n=51)and a combined group(n=51)according to the nursing plan.The routine group adopted routine nursing,and the joint group adopted the medical care cooperative responsibility system nursing management combined with selfefficacy education.The self-efficacy scores,coping style scores,self-experience burden scores,and postoperative complication rates of the two groups before and after intervention were counted.RESULTS After intervention,the daily life behavior management,cognitive symptom management,and disease management scores of the two groups were higher than those before the intervention,and those of the combined group were higher than those of the conventional group(all P=0.000).After the intervention,the positive response scores of the two groups were higher than those before the intervention,the negative response scores were lower than those before the intervention,and the combined group was better than the conventional group(all P=0.000).After the intervention,the two groups’emotional,economic,and physical factor scores were lower than those before the intervention,and the combined group was lower than the conventional group(all P=0.000).The incidence of infection in the combined group(1.96%)was lower than that in the conventional group(15.69%)(P=0.036).CONCLUSION Cooperative nursing care management and self-efficacy education improved the physical and mental states of gastrointestinal cancer surgery patients,change the response to disease,and reduce the risk of postoperative infection.

Postoperative infection of the skull base surgical site due to suppurative parotitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Paraganglioma occurring at the lateral skull base is a rare tumor.Surgery is the primary treatment of benign paragangliomas.Postoperative infection of the surgical site at the lateral skull base is very dangerous and hard to manage.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old man with a 1-year history of left-side progressive hearing loss,tinnitus,facial palsy,and choking failed conventional treatment and is the focus of this case report.Imaging revealed a mass around the left jugular foramen that was approximately 47 mm×38 mm×34 mm in size and had eroded the bone of the vertebral and horizontal segments of the internal carotid artery.The tumor breached the meninges and occupied the cerebella pontine region.A two-stage surgery was designed for the resection of the mass.In the first-stage,the epidural portion of the mass was removed.The abdominal fat and the temporal muscle flap were transposed within the surgical site.The surgery was successful;however,25 d after surgery,he developed suppurative parotitis,and the infection spread to the surgical site at the skull base.Broad-spectrum antibiotics were used,and debridement was deployed.After that,the wound was cleaned daily.Five months after the first-stage surgery,the wound was still unclosed,and there was intermittent purulent exudation within the surgical site.vacuum sealing drainage(VSD)was used,and the wound healed in a month.One year after the first surgery,the second-stage of the operation was performed to remove the intracranial portion of the tumor.Recurrence of the tumor was not detected after a 6-month follow-up.CONCLUSION After a lateral skull base surgery,suppurative parotitis can spread into the operative cavity leading to infection of the surgical site.VSD can help to effectively heal the infected wound.A two-stage surgical approach offers a safer option for removing the lateral skull base paraganglioma that involves the meninges.

Postoperative surgical site infection in cholesteatoma surgery with and without mastoid obliteration, what can we learn?

Introduction:This study aims to describe the occurrence of postoperative complications related to cholesteatoma surgery and to determine factors influencing the most common complication,i.e.postoperative surgical site infection(SSI)in cases with and without mastoid obliteration.Materials and methods:Retrospective analyses were performed on surgically treated cholesteatomas in our hospital between 2013 and 2019.Patient characteristics,peri-and postoperative management and complications were reviewed.The cases were divided into two groups based on whether mastoid obliteration was performed or not.Results:A total of 336 cholesteatoma operations were performed,of which 248 cases received mastoid obliteration.In total 21 complications were observed,of which SSI was the most common(15/21).No difference in occurrence of any postoperative complication was seen between the obliteration and noobliteration group(p=0.798),especially not in the number of SSI(p=0.520).Perioperative and/or postoperative prophylactic antibiotics were not associated to the development of an SSI in both groups.In the no-obliteration group a younger age(p=0.015),as well as primary surgery(p=0.022)increased the risk for SSI.In the obliteration group the use of bioactive glass(BAG)S53P4 was identified as independent predictor of SSI(p=0.008,OR 5.940).Discussion:SSI is the most common postoperative complication in cholesteatoma surgery.The causes of SSI are multifactorial,therefore further prospective research is needed to answer which factors can prevent the development of an SSI in cholesteatoma surgery.

Lung imaging characteristics in a patient infected with Elizabethkingia miricola following cerebral hemorrhage surgery: A case report

BACKGROUND Elizabethkingia miricola is a non-fermenting gram-negative bacterium,which was first isolated from the condensate of the Russian peace space station in 2003.Most studies on this bacterium have been carried out in the laboratory,and clinical case studies are rare.To date,a total of 6 clinical cases have been reported worldwide.CASE SUMMARY We present the first case of postoperative pulmonary infection in a patient with intracerebral hemorrhage due to Elizabethkingia miricola.The imaging character-istics of pulmonary infection were identified and the formulation and selection of the clinical treatment plan for this patient are discussed.CONCLUSION Elizabethkingia miricola infection is rare.When pulmonary infection occurs,computed tomography imaging may show diffuse distribution of a ground glass density shadow in both lungs,the air containing bronchial sign in local areas,thickening of bronchial vascular bundle,and pleural effusion.

Vancomycin lavage for the incidence of acute surgical site infection following primary total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection is a rare but serious complication associated with total joint arthroplasty(TJA).There are limited data on the effectiveness of intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)before wound closure for preventing acute surgical site infection following primary total hip arthroplasty(THA)and total knee arthroplasty(TKA).AIM To investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic intraoperative application of vancomycin(1000 mg/L;2 L)solution vs.plain irrigation in reducing the incidence of acute surgical site infection following primary THA and TKA.METHODS A retrospective review of 2725 consecutive patients undergoing THA or TKA from January 2012–December 2019 was performed.These patients received either intrawound irrigation with normal saline before wound closure between January 2012 and December 2015(group 1,1018 patients;453 undergoing THA and 565 undergoing TKA)or intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L)before wound closure between January 2016 and December 2019(group 2,1175 patients;512 undergoing THA and 663 undergoing TKA).The outcomes were the incidences of postoperative surgical site infection and wound healing complications within 3 mo of primary TJA.RESULTS There were no significant demographic differences between the 2 groups.There was a significantly higher incidence of acute infection at the surgical site in patients who received intrawound irrigation with normal saline before wound closure than in those who received intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)before wound closure(overall incidence of infection:group 1,2.46%vs group 2,0.09%,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in the incidence of wound healing complications between the two groups.CONCLUSION Prophylactic irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)significantly decreases the incidence of acute surgical site infection after primary TJA.This strategy is a safe,efficacious,and inexpensive method for reducing the incidence of acute surgical site infection after TJA.

The Place of Nursing Theory in the Management of Post-Operative Infections in a Hospital Environment: Case of Cibitoke District Hospital

Introduction: Post-operative infections, such as surgical site infections (SSIs), are a significant concern in healthcare settings. Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention and management of these infections. The use of nursing theory could contribute to the prevention of SSIs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nursing theory in the management of surgical site infections (SSIs) in a hospital environment. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using descriptive and analytical methods to assess the role of nursing theory in the management of Post-operative infections (POI) in a hospital setting in October 2023. The study population consisted of nurses working in the Surgery, Emergency, and Maternity units at Cibitoke District Hospital. A sample size of 71 nurses working full or part time in the Surgery were invited to participate in this study. A questionnaire was used to collect the data, and SPSS version 21.0 software was used for analysis. Results: The study found that nursing theory did not have any statistically significant place in the management of POI (p-value = 0.523). However, the results showed that experience was the only significant factor influencing the management of POI (p-value = 0.004). This is explained by the analysis of the net effects of the explanatory variable where we noticed that those who had more experience were more likely to manage post-operative infections. The participants’ knowledge regarding nursing theory in the management was poor as they scored less than 30% in all the variables used to measure their knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that nurses’ knowledge of nursing theories and their applications in the management of SSIs was poor. Continuing professional development, curriculum review, and in-service training were highly recommended.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis: challenges and interventions-a narrative review

Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a complicated disease with rising incidence over the years.20%of AP will develop into acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP).Interventions for ANP have evolved from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive step-up approaches.Infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN)is the most serious event of ANP and associated with extremely poor prognosis.The CT-based classification of IPN describes various types of IPN and will help to carry out surgical interventions for each subtype.Nevertheless,many challenges are still remaining during the treatment of ANP.Including the balance between endoscopic and surgical approaches,and the selection of optimal timing of surgical intervention for infected necrosis.In nowadays treatment scenario of ANP,the necessity for open surgery remains to be debated.Despite of the development of advanced interventional techniques,postoperative residual infection(PRI)remains thorny,and effective prevention and treatment of PRI is of significance.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis:challenges and interventions—a narrative review

Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a complicated disease with rising incidence over the years.Twenty percent of AP will develop into acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP).Interventions for ANP have evolved from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive step-up approaches.Infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN)is the most serious event of ANP and associated with extremely poor prognosis.The contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT)-based classification of IPN describes various types of IPN and will help to carry out surgical interventions for each subtype.Nevertheless,many challenges are still remaining during the treatment of ANP.Including the balance between endoscopic and surgical approaches,and the selection of optimal timing of surgical intervention for infected necrosis.In nowadays treatment scenario of ANP,the necessity for open surgery remains to be debated.Despite of the development of advanced interventional techniques,postoperative residual infection(PRI)remains thorny,and effective prevention and treatment of PRI is of significance.