Reconstruction of the lower back wound with delayed infection after spinal surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Orthopedic surgeries after device implantation are susceptible to infections and may require device removal in the worst cases.For this reason,many efforts are being made to control infections after spinal surgery;however,the number of infec-tion cases is increasing owing to the increasing number of elderly citizens.CASE SUMMARY A 75-year-old male with a chronic spinal defect due to previous spine surgery underwent reconstruction using a perforator-based island flap.After bursectomy and confirmation that there was no connection with the deep tissue,reconstruction was performed.However,wound disruption occurred with abscess formation on postoperative day 29,which led to an imaging workup revealing delayed deep tissue infection.CONCLUSION Infection is one of the most common causes of surgical wound dehiscence and is associated with devastating results if not controlled promptly and definitively.Surgeons should always suspect delayed infections when reconstructing chronic soft tissue defects.

Platelet-rich plasma treatment for chronic wounds:A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Wound healing is a complicated process that can be heavily influenced by patient comorbidities,in some cases leading to a chronic non-healing wound.Evidence presented in the medical literature supporting the clinical use of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP)in treatment of such wounds is becoming increasingly compelling.Mechanisms involved include complex interactions between the patient’s thrombocytes,cytokines,and growth factors.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of a 72-year-old male patient with a long-standing chronic wound and multiple comorbidities.Over the course of more than 7 months,the patient was unsuccessfully treated with all routinely used measures,including different dressing approaches.Multiple antibiotic regimens were administered for wound infection,with repeated evaluation of microbiological swab results.Finally,after three PRP applications,the wound showed clinical improvement with complete restitution of the epithelial layer of the skin.CONCLUSION PRP treatment may be beneficial to reduce healing time in chronic wounds.

The risk of wound infection after simple hand laceration

BACKGROUND: This prospective observational study aimed to determine the infection rate of simple hand laceration(SHL), and to compare infection rates between patients who were prescribed antibiotics and those who were not.METHODS: The study was performed at two urban hospitals enrolling 125 emergency department(ED) patients with SHL. Exclusion criteria included patients with lacerations for more than 12 hours, immunocompromized patients, patients given antibiotics, and patients with gross contamination, bites or crush injuries. Wound infection was defined as clinical infection at a follow-up visit(10–14 days) or wound was treated with antibiotics. Patient satisfaction was also measured using a visual analogue scale 1–10, asking the patients about wound appearance. Demographic data and wound characteristics were compared between the infected and non-infected wounds. The infection rates were also compared between patients who received prophylactic antibiotics and those who did not. The results were presented with medians and quartiles or percentages with 95% confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS: In the 125 patients with SHL [median age: 28(18, 43); range: 1–102 years old; 36% female], 44(35%, 95% CI: 27%–44%) were given antibiotics in the ED. Wound infection was reported in 6 patients(4.8%, 95% CI: 2%–10%). Age, gender, history of diabetes and wound closure were not associated with wound infection(P>0.05). The infection rate was not significantly different between patients with or without antibiotic prophylaxis [7%(3/44), 95% CI: 2%–10% vs. 4%(3/81), 95% CI: 1%–11%, P=0.66]. Patient's satisfaction with appearance ofinfected and non-infected wounds were significantly different [7.5(6, 8) vs. 9(8, 10), P=0.01].CONCLUSION: Approximately 5% of simple hand lacerations become infected. Age, gender, diabetes, prophylactic antibiotics and closure technique do not affect the risk ofinfection.

WOUND INFECTION AFTER SCOLIOSIS SURGERY:AN ANALYSIS OF 15 CASES

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the causes and treatments of wound infections after scoliosis surgery. METHODS: Nine hundred and twenty-four caes of scoliosis were reviewed, and the clinical data of 15 cases of postoperative infection were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: All 15 cases underwent spinal posterior fusion with autologous bone graft using instrumentations. Seven were diagnosed as early infection, and 8 were delayed infection. Radical debridement was performed in all 15 cases. The duration of antibiotics administration was 10 to 34 days with continuous closed irrigation for 2 to approximately 4 weeks and primary closure for the wounds. All patients were followed up for an average of 3.5 years (2 to 7.5 years) with good outcomes and no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Wound infection following surgical correction of scoliosis primarily results from intraoperative seeding, although host-related and operation-related factors may contribute to its development. Once the infections are diagnosed, good results can be achieved by prompt surgical debridement, irrigation and reasonably administered antibiotics. Removal of hardware may be necessary in deep infections.

Deep Sternal Wound Infections after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Analysis of 29 Cases from Iraq

Background: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI), or mediastinitis, is a devastating complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This prospective study aimed to assess our management of DSWI in view of the published literature. Methods: Over 2-years (ending in January 2016), 29 patients (20 males) developed DSWI amongst 520 patients who underwent standard CABG surgeries (5.6%). Pre-, intra- and postoperative variables were documented. Whenever possible, the infections were culture-verified. Besides antibiotics, patients received one or more of the following therapies: drainage, debridement, closed irrigation, sternal re-wiring, vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), and bone resection. Results: the male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Mean age was 58.1 ± 7.3 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.9 ± 3.4 kg/m2. There were 18, 16 and 11 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respectively. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was utilized in 26 (89.7%) patients with a mean time of 117.5 ± 23.3 minutes. Most surgeries (n = 21, 72.4%) lasted 5 - 6 hrs. According to Pairolero classification, there were 3 (10.3%) Type I, 22 (75.9%) Type II and 4 (13.8%) Type III infections. Four (13.8%) cases were culture-verified. Twenty-three (79.3%) DSWIs were surgically managed. Sternal re-wiring was performed in 14 (48.3%) cases while VAC was added to other therapies in 2 (6.9%) patients. DSWIs completely resolved in 18 (62.0%) patients within 3 - 24 weeks while two (6.9%) patients died within 30 days. Conclusion: We have identified six independent risk factors for DSWI (male gender, obesity, DM, hypertension, COPD and CPB), five of them are modifiable.

Wound Infection Caused by Chromobacterium violaceum: A Case Report from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram negative, facultative anaerobe, generally present in water, soil in tropical and subtropical regions. This bacterium is an emerging environmental pathogen that causes life threatening infection in humans and animals. It can cause wound infection, visceral abscess, septicaemia, meningitis, diarrhoea, UTI. It is associated with significant mortality due to severe systemic infection. As the bacteria have high spreading tendency leading to sepsis, early identification and prompt treatment is necessary. Here we report a case of Chromobacterium violaceum wound infection in a 9 years old male from Dhaka, who was successfully treated with combination of cefixime and flucloxacillin antibiotics as per culture sensitivity report.

Intraoperative vs 24-Hour Administration of Cefamandole to Prevent Deep Sternal Wound Infection and Endocarditis after Adult Cardiac Surgery

Background and Objectives: Duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for cardiac surgery is still debated and controversial. International guidelines are vague: French guidelines recommend an intraoperative administration, while the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ guidelines suggest that optimal postoperative prophylactic antibiotics be given for 48 hours or less. Very few studies have compared the same antibiotic with 2 different administration durations. The study was designed to compare the efficacy of 24-hour administration of cefamandole vs intraoperative cefamandole to prevent deep sternal wound infection and endocarditis after cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective and observational study compared the rates of severe surgical site infections (deep sternal wound infection, endocarditis) after cardiac surgery between period 1, 01/01/2008-31/08/2008, with 24-hour administration of cefamandole, and period 2, 01/09/2008-30/04/2009 with intraoperative cefamandole. Results: Among 933 patients, 14 patients (1.5%) developed surgical site infection during the 16-month study: 1.3% during the first period and 1.7% during the second (ns). The populations (470 patients in period 1 and 463 in period 2) were homogeneous and comparable for pre-, intra- and postoperative characteristics. Surgical site infection characteristics (pathogens involved, time to diagnosis) and consequences (longer hospital stay, outcomes) were comparable in the 2 groups. Conclusions: Intraoperative cefamandole was as safe as its 24-hour administration to prevent deep sternal wound infection and endocarditis after adult cardiac surgery.

The effect of extensive excision of burn wound with invasive infection on hypermetabolism in burn patients with sepsis

To evaluate the effect of extensive excision of invasive burn wound infection on hypermeta-bolic response in burn patients with sepsis. Methods:Eight patients with major burn, complicated by invasive burn wound infection and sepsis were consecutively admitted to our hospital from September 1997 to October 1998. REEs were monitored by means of Cardiorespiratory Diagnostic System (Medical Graphics Corporation, USA) at patients bedside. Plasma concentration of IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α and LPS were assayed before an...

Light-activated nanoclusters with tunable ROS for wound infection treatment

Infected wounds pose a significant clinical challenge due to bacterial resistance, recurrent infections, and impaired healing. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based strategies have shown promise in eradicating bacterial infections. However, the excess ROS in the infection site after treatments may cause irreversible damage to healthy tissues. To address this issue, we developed bovine serum albumin-iridium oxide nanoclusters (BSA-IrOx NCs) which enable photo-regulated ROS generation and scavenging using near infrared (NIR) laser. Upon NIR laser irradiation, BSA-IrOx NCs exhibit enhanced photodynamic therapy, destroying biofilms and killing bacteria. When the NIR laser is off, the nanoclusters' antioxidant enzyme-like activities prevent inflammation and repair damaged tissue through ROS clearance. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that BSA-IrOx NCs inhibit bacterial nitric oxide synthase, blocking bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, the nanoclusters repair impaired skin by strengthening cell junctions and reducing mitochondrial damage in a fibroblast model. In vivo studies using rat infected wound models confirmed the efficacy of BSA-IrOx NCs. This study presents a promising strategy for treating biofilm-induced infected wounds by regulating the ROS microenvironment, addressing the challenges associated with current ROS-based antibacterial approaches.

Effect of rapid rehabilitation nursing on improving clinical outcomes in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Surgical resection is the cornerstone treatment for colorectal cancer.Rapid rehabilitation care predicated on evidence-based medical theory aims to improve postoperative nursing care,subsequently reducing the physical and mental traumatic stress response and helping patients who undergo surgery recover rapidly.AIM To assess the effect of rapid rehabilitation care on clinical outcomes,including overall postoperative complications,anastomotic leaks,wound infections,and intestinal obstruction in patients with colorectal cancer.METHODS We searched the PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,Elsevier Science Direct,and Springer Link databases from January 1,2010,to January 1,2024,to screen eligible studies on rapid rehabilitation care among patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery.Patients were screened based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.RevMan 5.4 software was used for statistical analysis of the data.RESULTS Twelve studies were enrolled,which included 2420 patients.The results showed that rapid rehabilitation care decreased the incidence of overall postoperative complications(OR:0.44,95%CI:0.26–0.74,P=0.002),anastomotic leaks(OR:0.68,95%CI:0.41–1.12,P=0.13),wound infections(OR:0.45,95%CI:0.29–0.72,P=0.0007),and intestinal obstruction(OR:0.54,95%CI:0.34–0.86,P=0.01)compared to conventional care.Further trials and studies are needed to confirm these results.CONCLUSION Rapid rehabilitation care decreased the occurrence of postoperative complications,anastomotic leaks,wound infections,and intestinal obstruction compared to conventional care in patients who underwent colorectal surgery.Therefore,promoting the application of rapid rehabilitation care in clinical practice cannot be overemphasized.

Clinical analysis of patients with deep sternal wound infection-induced sepsis:a retrospective cohort study

Background:This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with deep sternal wound infection-induced sepsis after median sternotomy and improve the treatment outcomes of infection-related sepsis.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 21 patients with deep sternal wound infection-induced sepsis after median sternotomy who were admitted to the Department of Critical Care.The clinical manifestations,laboratory test results,infection control,and organ and nutritional support of the patients were summarized,and the follow-up data were obtained.Results:The primary symptoms of deep sternal wound infection-induced sepsis included dyspnea,high fever,chills,and altered state of consciousness.Laboratory test results revealed increased inflammatory markers and decreased oxygenation index.Renal and liver function injury were observed in 8 and 4 patients,respectively;18 and 12 patients demonstrated elevated D-dimer and N-terminal Pro B type natriuretic peptide levels,respectively.Of the 8 patients whose wound secretions tested positive for bacteria,Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus infections were present in 6 and 2 patients,respectively.One of the 6 patients whose blood cultures tested positive for bacteria demonstrated Candida albicans infection.Fifteen patients received ventilator-assisted ventilation and 2 patients received renal replacement therapy.Of all the 21 patients,17 were cured,2 died,and 2 were discharged.Conclusion:Postmedian sternotomy sepsis attributed to a deep sternal wound infection usually results from a preexisting condition.The most prominent clinical manifestation is dyspnea,which is sometimes accompanied by the impairment of organ function.Infection prevention,proper nutrition support,and maintenance of healthy organ function are the cornerstones for successful treatment outcomes.

Probiotics to counteract biofilm-associated infections: promising and conflicting data

Altered bowel flora is currently thought to play a role in a variety of disease conditions, and the use of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. as probiotics has been demonstrated to be health-promoting, even if the success of their administration depends on the applied bacterial strain（s） and the targeted disease. In the last few decades, specific probiotics have been shown to be effective in the treatment or the prevention of acute viral gastroenteritis, pediatric post-antibiotic-associated diarrhea, some pediatric allergic disorders, necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, inflammatory bowel diseases and postsurgical pouchitis. The potential application of probiotics is continuously widening, with new evidence accumulating to support their effect on the prevention and treatment of other disease conditions, including several oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal diseases and oral malodor, as well as genitourinary and wound infections. Considering the increasingly widespread ability of pathogens to generate persistent biofilm-related infections, an even more attractive proposal is to administer probiotics to prevent or counteract biofilm development.The response of biofilm-based oral, intestinal, vaginal and wound infections to probiotics treatment will be reviewed here in light of the most recent results obtained in this field.

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.

Comparison of modified gunsight suture technique and traditional interrupted suture in enterostomy closure

BACKGROUND Prophylactic enterostomy surgery is a common surgical approach used to reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage in patients who have undergone partial intestinal resection due to trauma or tumors.However,the traditional interrupted suturing technique used in enterostomy closure surgery has several issues,including longer surgical incisions and higher incision tension,which can increase the risk of postoperative complications.To address these issues,scholars have proposed the use of a“gunsight suture”technique.This technique involves using a gunsight incision instead of a traditional linear incision,leaving a gap in the center for the drainage of blood and fluid to reduce the risk of infection.Building on this technique,we propose an improved gunsight suture technique.A drainage tube is placed at the lowest point of the incision and close the gap in the center of the gunsight suture,which theoretically facilitates early postoperative mobility and reduces the burden of dressing changes,thereby reducing the risk of postoperative complications.AIM To compare the effectiveness of improved gunsight suture technique with traditional interrupted suture in closing intestinal stomas.METHODS In this study,a retrospective,single-center case analysis was conducted on 270 patients who underwent prophylactic ileostomy closure surgery at the Department of Colorectal Surgery of Qilu Hospital from April 2017 to December 2021.The patients were divided into two groups:135 patients received sutures using the improved gunsight method,while the remaining 135 patients were sutured with the traditional interrupted suture method.We collected data on a variety of parameters,such as operation time,postoperative pain score,body temperature,length of hospital stays,laboratory indicators,incidence of incisional complications,number of wound dressing changes,and hospitalization costs.Non-parametric tests and chi-square tests were utilized for data analysis.RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in general patient information between the two groups,including the interval between the first surgery and the stoma closure[132(105,184)d vs 134(109,181)d,P=0.63],gender ratio(0.64 vs 0.69,P=0.44),age[62(52,68)years vs 60(52,68)years,P=0.33],preoperative body mass index(BMI)[23.83(21.60,25.95)kg/m²vs 23.12(20.94,25.06)kg/m²,P=0.17].The incidence of incision infection in the improved gunsight suture group tended to be lower than that in the traditional interrupted suture group[(n=2/135,1.4%)vs(n=10/135,7.4%),P<0.05],and the postoperative hospital stay in the improved gunsight suture group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional interrupted suture group[5(4,7)d vs 7(6,8)d,P<0.05].Additionally,the surgical cost in the modified gunsight suture group was slightly lower than that in the traditional suture group[4840(4330,5138)yuan vs 4980(4726,5221)yuan,P>0.05],but there was no significant difference in the total hospitalization cost between the two groups.CONCLUSION In stoma closure surgery,the improved gunsight technique can reduce the incision infection rate,shorten the postoperative hospital stay,reduce wound tension,and provide better wound cosmetic effects compared to traditional interrupted suture.

Accelerated infected wound healing by probiotic-based living microneedles with long-acting antibacterial effect

Delays in infected wound healing are usually a result of bacterial infection and local inflammation,which imposes a significant and often underappreciated burden on patients and society.Current therapies for chronic wound infection generally suffer from limited drug permeability and frequent drug administration,owing to the existence of a wound biofilm that acts as a barrier restricting the entry of various antibacterial drugs.Here,we report the design of a biocompatible probiotic-based microneedle(MN)patch that can rapidly deliver beneficial bacteria to wound tissues with improved delivery efficiency.The probiotic is capable of continuously producing antimicrobial substances by metabolizing introduced glycerol,thereby facilitating infected wound healing through long-acting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.Additionally,the beneficial bacteria can remain highly viable(>80%)inside MNs for as long as 60 days at 4℃.In a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus-infected wounds,a single administration of the MN patch exhibited superior antimicrobial efficiency and wound healing performance in comparison with the control groups,indicating great potential for accelerating infected wound closure.Further development of live probiotic-based MN patches may enable patients to better manage chronically infected wounds.

Environmentally friendly polylysine gauze dressing for an innovative antimicrobial approach to infected wound management

Infections frequently occur after skin injuries,posing a significant challenge in current clinical care.Frequently changing dressings to minimize wound infections and adhesions results in large amounts of medical waste.Therefore,developing environmentally friendly multifunctional dressings has considerable application and translational significance.This study aimed to prepare a wound dressing with favorable antimicrobial properties and biosafety by grafting a natural antimicrobial peptide,polylysine,onto a traditional cotton textile dressing.The cotton textile dressing offers excellent moisture absorption and softness,while polylysine provides excellent biocompatibility,a broad antimicrobial spectrum,and high stability.Furthermore,both materials are natural and biodegradable,making them ideal for environmentally friendly wound dressings.

Injectable immunoregulatory hydrogels sequentially drive phenotypic polarization of macrophages for infected wound healing

Regulating macrophage phenotypes to reconcile the conflict between bacterial suppression and tissue regeneration is ideal for treating infectious skin wounds. Here, an injectable immunoregulatory hydrogel (SrmE20) that sequentially drives macrophage phenotypic polarization (M0 to M1, then to M2) was constructed by integrating anti-inflammatory components and proinflammatory solvents. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the proinflammatory solvent ethanol stabilized the hydrogel structure, maintained the phenolic hydroxyl group activity, and achieved macrophages' proinflammatory transition (M0 to M1) to enhance antibacterial effects. With ethanol depletion, the hydrogel's cations and phenolic hydroxyl groups synergistically regulated macrophages' anti-inflammatory transition (M1 to M2) to initiate regeneration. In the anti-contraction full-thickness wound model with infection, this hydrogel effectively eliminated bacteria and even achieved anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage accumulation at three days post-surgery, accelerated angiogenesis and collagen deposition. By sequentially driving macrophage phenotypic polarization, this injectable immunoregulatory hydrogel will bring new guidance for the care and treatment of infected wounds.

Safety of fast-track rehabilitation after gastrointestinal surgery:Systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the safety of fast-track rehabilitation protocols (FT) and conventional care strategies (CC), or FT and laparoscopic surgery (LFT) and FT and open surgery (OFT) after gastrointestinal surgery.

Challenges and innovations in treating chronic and acute wound infections:from basic science to clinical practice

Acute and chronic wound infection has become a major worldwide healthcare burden leading to significantly high morbidity and mortality.The underlying mechanism of infections has been widely investigated by scientist,while standard wound management is routinely been used in general practice.However,strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of wound infections remain a great challenge due to the occurrence of biofilm colonization,delayed healing and drug resistance.In the present review,we summarize the common microorganisms found in acute and chronic wound infections and discuss the challenges from the aspects of clinical diagnosis,non-surgical methods and surgical methods.Moreover,we highlight emerging innovations in the development of antimicrobial peptides,phages,controlled drug delivery,wound dressing materials and herbal medicine,and find that sensitive diagnostics,combined treatment and skin microbiome regulation could be future directions in the treatment of wound infection.

Therapeutic strategies for chronic wound infection

Chronic wounds have always been a tough fight in clinical practice,which can not only make patients suffer from pain physically and mentally but also impose a heavy burden on the society.More than one factor is relevant to each step of the development of chronic wounds.Along with the in-depth research,we have realized that figuring out the pathophysiological mechanism of chronic wounds is the foundation of treatment,while wound infection is the key point concerned.The cause of infection should be identified and prevented promptly once diagnosed.This paper mainly describes the mechanism,diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of chronic wound infection,and will put an emphasis on the principle of debridement.