[The Vulnerable Heel of Achilles: Intratendinous Abscess Following a Cat Bite]. / Die vulnerable Ferse des Achilles ­ intratendinöser Abszess nach Katzenbiss.

An 83-year-old patient suffered a cat bite dorsally to the Achilles tendon. In the further course, he developed an isolated intratendinous abscess of the Achilles tendon, which was surgically revised twice and subsequently healed with antibiotic treatment. In Germany, about 40,000 bite injuries of different origins occur annually. Most of these injuries are cat or dog bites, while human bites are rare. Although the course is often complicated, there are no standard recommendations for treatment. An intratendinous abscess after animal bite injury has not been described in the literature as yet.

Sacral osteomyelitis after laparoscopic sacral colpopexy performed after a recent dental extraction: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Sacral osteomyelitis and subsequent discitis is a rare complication after laparoscopic sacral colpopexy to repair apical vaginal prolapse. CASE: We present a patient who developed Bacteroides fragilis sacral osteomyelitis and discitis after laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with synthetic monofilament mesh and sacral titanium coil fixation. The patient had undergone dental extraction of 3 infected teeth approximately 2 weeks before sacrocolpopexy for stage IV apical vaginal prolapse. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed sacral osteomyelitis and discitis along with Bacteroides fragilis bacteremia approximately a week and a half after the original surgery. The patient was followed up with serial MRIs of the spine which revealed degeneration at the sacral promontory. The patient underwent successful removal of the entire mesh and sacral titanium coils with resolution of her symptoms. Follow-up MRI of the spine revealed resolution of her sacral osteomyelitis. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral osteomyelitis is a rare complication after sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse repair. There should be a high index of suspicion for patients presenting with disproportionate low back pain and vague symptoms after surgery. Recent oral surgery may increase the risk of bacteremia and subsequent infectious morbidity after sacrocolpopexy with the use of synthetic mesh for prolapse repair.

Infection with bacteroides thetaiotaomicron during posterior decompression and dynamic stabilization of the lumbar spine: a case report and review of the literature.

Patient and surgical risk factors have often been implicated for postoperative posterior spinal wound infection. A 56-year-old male with widely disseminated multiple myeloma presented with severe back pain and lower extremity weakness as a result of fracture and collapse of the L4 vertebral body. Posterior decompression involving bilateral pedicle resection and partial L4 corpectomy was performed. Stabilization was performed by Dynesys instrumentation of L3-5, screw supplementation with polymethylmethacrylate, and posterolateral fusion was performed. Postoperatively, the patient suffered from multiple infections, including Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which were eventually resolved with antibiotic as well as incision and debridement treatment regimens. In cases with numerous perioperative risk factors for infections, the best therapeutic approach may be a preventative one. An understanding of the relevant risk factors may enable the physician to facilitate a perioperative condition best suited for optimal treatment. A case report of infection with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron during lumbar decompression and dynamic stabilization as well as a review of the literature regarding infection risk factors are presented.

[Post-appendectomy surgical site infection: overall rate and type according to open/laparoscopic approach]. / Infección de sitio quirúrgico tras apendicectomía urgente: tasa global y tipo según la vía de abordaje (abierta/laparoscópica).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence and profile of surgical site infection (SSI) after laparoscopic (LA) or open (OA) appendicectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Observational and analytical study was conducted on patients older than 14years-old with suspected acute appendicitis operated on within a 4-year period (2007-2010) at a third level hospital (n=868). They were divided in two groups according to the type of appendicectomy (LA, study group, 135; OA, control group, 733). The primary endpoint was a surgical site infection (SSI), and to determine the overall rate and types (incisional/organ-space). The risk of SSI was stratified by: i)National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) index (low risk: 0E, 0 and 1; high risk: 2 and 3); ii)status on presentation (low risk: normal or phlegmonous; high risk: gangrenous or perforated). The statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS. The main result and stratified analysis was determined with χ(2), and the risk parameters using OR and Mantel-Haenszel OR with 95%CI, accepting statistical significance with P<.05. RESULTS: Age, gender, ASA index and incidence of advanced cases were similar in both groups. The overall SSI rate was 13.4% (more than a half of them detected during follow-up after discharge). Type of SSI: OA, 13% (superficial 9%, deep 2%, organ-space 2%); AL, 14% (superficial 5%, deep 1%, organ-space 8%) (overall: not significant; distribution: P<.000). Stratified analysis showed that there is an association between incisional SSI/OA and organ-space SSI/LA, and is particularly stronger in those patients with high risk of postoperative SSI (high risk NNIS or gangrenous-perforated presentation). CONCLUSION: OA and LA are associated with a higher rate of incisional and organ-space SSI respectively. This is particularly evident in patients with high risk of SSI.

Septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein with bacteraemia caused by Bacteroides fragilis and Streptococcus intermedius as a complication of diverculitis.

A 68-year-old Japanese man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis was admitted to our hospital because of fever and haematemesis. On day 3, his blood culture became positive for Gram-negative bacilli and Gram-positive cocci, and contrast-enhanced abdominal CT revealed acute septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein with caecal diverculitis. Antimicrobial therapy with ampicillin-sulbactam and anticoagulant therapy were started and the blood culture grew Bacteroides fragilis and Streptococcus intermedius. On hospital day 7, the patient's condition began to improve in response to the therapy, therefore, the ampicillin-sulbactam and anticoagulant therapy was continued for 42 days. The patient was discharged home on hospital day 45. B fragilis bacteraemia of unknown source should caution the physician to search for an intra-abdominal focus, such as thrombosis of the portal vein or mesenteric vein.

Bacteroides fragilis vertebral osteomyelitis complicated by percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report of anaerobic vertebral osteomyelitis after percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis. OBJECTIVE: To present a case of Bacteroides fragilis spondylodiscitis (BFS) secondary to percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis in a 38-year-old woman without predisposing factors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Most cases of BFS result from hematogenous spread from a perianal abscess or sigmoidoscopy or local spread from an adjacent infection. However, BFS due to direct inoculation after percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis has not been previously reported. METHODS: A 38-year-old woman presented with spondylodiscitis at the L4-L5 level 2 weeks after percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis. Despite empirical antibiotherapy, the spondylodiscitis and an epidural abscess became much aggravated. Open biopsy and curettage was performed, and metronidazole sensitive Bacteroides fragilis was identified by tissue culture. RESULTS: Metronidazole was administrated for 5 weeks and symptoms were completely resolved. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed that the spondylodiscitis was completely cured. CONCLUSION: This is the first report to be issued regarding BFS secondary to percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis. In our case, the pathogenesis may have been direct inoculation of Bacteroides fragilis into the epidural space and disc during percutaneous epidural adhesiolysis because the procedural approach used was adjacent to the anus.

Optimal sutures for use in the abdomen: an evaluation based on the formation of adhesions and abscesses.

PURPOSE: This study explored the optimal suture materials for use in the peritoneal cavity based on the formation of adhesions and abscesses under clean and contaminated conditions. METHODS: The parietal peritoneum and muscle layer of rats were incised. The incision was followed by interrupted suturing in the clean group. A suspension of E. coli (1.0 × 10(6)) plus Bacteroides fragilis (1.0 × 10(5)) was sprayed onto the incision in the contaminated group, followed by interrupted suturing. Four types of sutures were used: nonabsorbable multifilament silk, absorbable multifilament Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl(®)), absorbable monofilament Polydioxanone (PDS(®)), and Poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl(®)). The rats were killed at 2, 4 or 8 weeks after the surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of adhesions in the clean group was low with Polyglactin 910. The incidence of adhesions was 96 % or higher regardless of the suture type in the contaminated group. The incidence of severe adhesions was low with Polyglactin 910 and Poliglecaprone 25 and significantly higher with Polydioxanone in the contaminated group. The incidence of abscess formation around the silk was significantly higher than the other three types of sutures in the contaminated group. CONCLUSION: Polyglactin 910 was less likely to form adhesions than the other three types of sutures under both conditions, suggesting that Polyglactin 910 may be the optimal type of suture to use in the peritoneal cavity.

Cerebral abscess following adenotonsillectomy: a rare complication.

In the present paper, we report an extremely rare case of a 4-year-old girl who developed a frontal lobe intracerebral abscess following adenotonsillectomy. This was diagnosed by computerised tomography at scan 21 days post-tonsillectomy when she presented with bilateral sixth nerve palsies. We believe that intracranial complications should be considered in any patient who present with headache or vomiting following tonsil surgery, especially if the patient has a spiking pyrexia.

Anaerobic clavicular osteomyelitis following colonoscopy in a hemodialysis patient.

Patients on dialysis are immunocompromised and are therefore susceptible to both common and unusual infectious complications. These infections are often related to their dialysis access but even routine diagnostic tests unrelated to dialysis can also lead to rare adverse events. We present an unusual case of clavicular osteomyelitis from Bacteroides fragilis in a patient on maintenance hemodialysis following colonoscopy. The risk factors for this unusual site of infection, the incidence and guidelines for prophylactic antibiotic administration are discussed here.

Severe deep neck space infections and mediastinitis of odontogenic origin: clinical relevance and implications for diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and aggressive antimicrobial and surgical treatment are essential to successfully treat extensive cervico-mediastinal abscesses of odontogenic origin. Patient management should be performed by experienced clinicians well trained in managing possible complications. We recommend close clinical and radiological postoperative follow-up investigations with early surgical re-intervention if necessary. OBJECTIVES: While neck infections affecting the perimandibular space have a high prevalence and their clinical aspects have repeatedly been discussed, further spread of the inflammation and life-threatening situations have rarely been described. The objective was to determine clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of severe neck infections of odontogenic origin. Emphasis was placed on grave descending deep neck space infections, sometimes resulting in mediastinitis as a life-threatening complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 patients with severe odontogenic abscesses treated during an 8-year interval in a single center. RESULTS: The submandibular space was the most frequently encountered location of deep neck space infections. Mediastinitis was found in five patients. The most frequent causative bacteria were Streptococcus and Bacteroides species. All patients underwent intravenous antibiotic treatment and surgical therapy. Mediastinotomy was inevitable in five cases and thoracotomy in one case. All patients survived.

Cranial osteomyelitis: a late complication of a dental infection.

Dental infections are associated with a range of serious complications. The orofacial region provides potential spaces in the tissue that infections of dental origin can occupy. We describe the subtemporal extension of a dental infection, the late development of cranial osteomyelitis, and its surgical management.