Rapid progression of orbital abscess requiring lateral canthotomy in a pediatric patient.

Subperiosteal abscess (SPA) is a rare complication of acute sinusitis in children that may develop rapidly. In this case report, we describe an 11 year-old boy who presented with a large SPA 2 days after being diagnosed with conjunctivitis. The patient required emergent lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC), IV antibiotics, and emergent surgery. It is crucial that emergency physicians be able to identify and treat this vision-threatening complication.

Oral sequential therapy in the treatment of post-surgical epidural abscess and subdural empyema.

PURPOSE: The management of post-surgical subdural empyema and subdural abscess is not standardised. The objective was to analyse the efficacy and safety of oral sequential therapy (OST). METHODS: Retrospective observational study in a tertiary hospital in Vigo (Spain). We included adult patients with subdural abscess or epidural empyema with microbiological isolation. Clinical and demographic variables, isolated microorganisms and treatment regimens were included, as well as mortality and adverse effects during the follow-up period. RESULTS: Thirty patients were reviewed, two died due to causes other than infection. Six-month recurrence rate was 2/28 and all other patients (26/28) had clinical cure at the end of the treatment. The commonest isolated microorganisms were Gram-positive, especially Staphylococcus aureus. The most widely used oral antibiotic was trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (80%). No side effects related to oral treatment were observed. CONCLUSION: After adequate source control, OST can be a safe practice in the management of post-surgical epidural abscess and subdural empyema.

Mycotic Aneurysm of Internal Carotid Artery Secondary to Livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Clonal Complex CC398.

The aim of this article is to present a case of mycotic aneurysm of internal carotid artery secondary to livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) treated with resection and common-to-internal carotid artery bypass with autologous vein graft in a male pig farmer. A 69-year-old man, pig farmer, with recent dental extraction was admitted with a right cervical pulsatile mass, dysphonia, pain, leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a 3.9 × 4.5 cm mycotic aneurysm of right internal carotid artery with hypermetabolic uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Resection of the mycotic aneurysm and a common-to-internal carotid artery bypass with major saphenous vein graft were performed. LA-MRSA clonal complex (CC) 398 was detected in intraoperative samples and antibiotic therapy was changed according to antibiogram. Patient was discharged at the seventh postoperative day and received antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks. US 12 months later showed patency of the bypass without collections. Mycotic aneurysms of internal carotid artery are very infrequent. MRSA isolation is rare, and to the best of our knowledge this is the first case caused by multi-drug resistant LA-MRSA CC398. The treatment includes mycotic aneurysm resection and reconstruction with venous graft bypass plus intensive antibiotic therapy.

Giant vegetation of the tricuspid valve in a healthy patient without risk factors for right-sided endocarditis.

We present the case of a middle-aged man who developed infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and associated with very large vegetation (∼5 cm). Besides the quite unusual size of the vegetation, this report highlights that severe right-sided endocarditis can occur in the absence of classical risk factors (intravenous drug abuse, presence of a cardiac implantable electronic device or other intravascular devices, and underlying right-sided cardiac anomaly) and that some cases of severe tricuspid endocarditis can be successfully treated by partial excision and patch repair.

[Initial and Long-term Results of Omental Flap Coverage for the Complications after Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair].

OBJECTIVE: Here, we will review the initial remote results of omental flap coverage (OFC) after thoracic aortic aneurysm repair and report on its efficacy and problems. METHODS: We performed 567 thoracic aortic aneurysm surgeries from January 2007 to December 2021, including OFC in 16 patients( 2.8%, 10 males, mean age 65 years:range 30-82 years) who underwent OFC. RESULTS: OFC was performed in 14 cases of mediastinitis and 2 cases of perigraft seroma. 13 cases were performed at the same admission as the initial surgery, and 3 cases were performed after the discharge. The causative organisms of mediastinitis were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 4 cases, methicillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus( MRCNS) in 2 cases, Staphylococcus, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis( MRSE) in 1 case each, and unknown in 4 cases. All cases underwent successful reoperation with OFC alone, except in 1 case in which redo root replacement was performed for an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. The overall hospital mortality was 31% (4 cases for MOF, 1 case for anastomotic hemorrhage). Of the 11 patients who were discharged alive, two died remotely (heart failure, senility), and no cases of reinfection were encountered. CONCLUSION: OFC is an effective treatment not only for mediastinitis but also for perigraft seroma while significantly reducing the risk of reinfection.

[A Case of Intractable Pyogenic Spondylitis Due to Suture Failure and MRSA Infection Secondary to Surgery for Ascending Colon Cancer].

A 79-year-old man diagnosed with ascending colon cancer underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy(Stage Ⅱ). Postoperatively, suture failure occurred on Day 5 and was alleviated with conservative therapy. However, on Day 23, he was diagnosed with MRSA-induced sepsis with a body temperature of 39 °C. After administration of vancomycin, his general conditions stabilized, although intermittent low-grade fever and a high C-reactive protein(CRP)level persisted. Although the source of the infection could not be easily identified, he was diagnosed with suppurative spondylitis after lumbar MRI examination on Day 43. The CRP level was normalized with long-term administration of antibiotics and the symptoms were gradually improved with rehabilitation. The patient was discharged after approximately 4 months and could walk without assistance 8 months postoperatively. In this case, purulent spondylitis may have occurred via hematogenous infection due to the suture failure after surgery for ascending colon cancer. Purulent spondylitis is a relatively rare disease. However, it may lead to the patient requiring long-term treatment and cause serious sequelae. Therefore, it is important to keep this disease in mind when treating patients with postoperative fever of unknown origin or aggravating lower back pain.

Forgoing transesophageal echocardiogram in selected patients with complicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Infective endocarditis (IE) has been increasingly recognized as an important complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), leading to a low threshold for echocardiography and extended treatment with anti-staphylococcal agents. However, outside of IE, many indications for prolonged anti-staphylococcal therapy courses are present. We sought to determine the frequency in which findings from a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) changed clinical SAB management in a large Canadian health region. Residents (> 18 years) with SAB from 2012 to 2014 who underwent transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and TEE were assessed. Patients potentially benefiting from an extended course of anti-staphylococcal agents were defined a priori. Patient demographics, treatment (including surgical), and clinical outcomes were extracted and evaluated. Of the 705 episodes of SAB that underwent a screening echocardiogram, 203 episodes underwent both a TTE and TEE, of which 92.1% (187/203) contained an a priori indication for extended anti-staphylococcal therapy. Regardless of TEE results, actual duration of therapy did not differ in SAB episodes that had ≥ 1 extended anti-staphylococcal therapy criteria (36.7 days, IQR 23.4-48.6 vs. 43.8 days, IQR 33.3-49.5, p = 0.17). Additionally, there were no cases in which TEE was utilized as the sole reason to shorten duration of therapy or proceed to surgery for those with SAB. Routine performance of TEE may be unnecessary in all SAB as many patients have pre-existing indications for extended anti-staphylococcal therapy independent of TEE findings. An algorithm to selectively identify cases of SAB that would benefit from TEE can reduce resource and equipment expenditure and patient risks associated with TEE.

A spacer infection by Candida albicans secondary to a Staphylococcus capitis prosthetic joint infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most feared complications following total arthroplasty surgeries. Gram-positive bacteria are the most common microorganisms implicated in PJIs, while infections mediated by fungi only account for 1% of cases. When dealing with PJIs, a two-stage revision arthroplasty is widely used. Briefly, a spacer is introduced until re-implantation of the definitive prosthesis to provide skeleton stabilization while delivering antibiotics in the site of the infection. Sometimes, antimicrobial therapy may fail, but the isolation of a second microorganism from the spacer is uncommon and even less frequent that of a yeast. CASE PRESENTATION: Here is described a case of a 75-year-old woman who underwent two-stage revision surgery of the left hip prosthesis secondary to a Staphylococcus capitis infection, whose spacer was found to be infected by Candida albicans at a later time. Briefly, the patient underwent revision surgery of the hip prosthesis for a suspected PJI. After the debridement of the infected tissue, an antibiotic-loaded spacer was implanted. The microbiological analysis of the periprosthetic tissues and the implant depicted a S. capitis infection that was treated according to the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the clinical isolate. Three months later, the patient was admitted to the emergency room due to local inflammatory signs. Synovial fluid was sent to the laboratory for culture. No evidence of S. capitis was detected, however, a yeast was identified as Candida albicans. Fifteen days later, the patient was hospitalized for the removal of the infected spacer. Microbiological cultures confirmed the results of the synovial fluid analysis. According to the susceptibility profile, the patient was treated with fluconazole (400 mg/day) for 6 months. Seven months later, the patient underwent second-stage surgery. The microbiological tests on the spacer were all negative. After 12 months of follow-up, the patient has fully recovered and no radiological signs of infection have been detected. CONCLUSIONS: Given the exceptionality of this complication, it is important to report these events to better understand the clinical outcomes after the selected therapeutic options to prevent and forestall the development of either bacterial or fungal spacer infections.

Management of Mycotic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm With Staged Hybrid Approach.

We report a case of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm managed by staged hybrid repair. A 30-year-old male patient with polysubstance abuse presented with chest pain and elevated white blood cell count. CTA performed showed a rapidly developing mycotic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm. He underwent emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair followed 24 hours later by surgical debridement of the posterior mediastinum. Cultures grew Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and patient was placed on long term antibiotics. The patient was asymptomatic on follow up one year after his final operation with complete exclusion of pseudoaneurysm with no endoleak.

Late hematogenous seeding and infection of a femoropopliteal Omniflow II bypass.

INTRODUCTION: Omniflow II is promoted as an infection-resistant vascular graft. It is used to treat vascular graft infection; nevertheless, early graft infection has been reported.Report: A 71-year-old patient was treated with an Omniflow II bypass for a non-healing diabetic foot ulcer. Seven months postoperatively, late infection occurred secondary to hematogenous spread from a persistent foot infection. CONCLUSION: We report on the first case of late infection of an Omniflow II vascular graft caused by hematogenous spread. Despite promising results of the Omniflow II graft in the treatment of vascular graft infection, late infection may not be avoided.

Bilateral orbital cellulitis in an infant: An unusual case.

Bilateral orbital cellulitis is an uncommon presentation in infants, and its association with rhinosinusitis has been scantily reported in the literature. An infant underwent bilateral uncinectomy and right ethmoidal decompression for bilateral orbital cellulitis with right ethmoidal sinusitis, after a period of non-recovery with conservative treatment. Mixed infection with Escherichia coli and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was observed. The right eyelid swelling began to resolve; however, the left lower eyelid showed an increase in the fluctuant swelling. Transconjunctival incision and drainage of pus was done in the left eye subsequently. The patient showed marked clinical recovery and is doing well. A multidisciplinary management approach can avert potentially life-threatening sequelae of this condition.

Amniotic membrane grafting for traumatic complete spectaculectomy and keratomalacia in a Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical repair of traumatic complete spectaculectomy and keratomalacia in a snake. ANIMALS: A 10.5-year-old, female, Boelen's python (Simalia boeleni) was presented with iatrogenic, near-complete spectaculectomy associated with bacterial keratitis, keratomalacia, and hypopyon. PROCEDURES: Corneal samples for cytological evaluation and bacterial culture were collected. Following medical stabilization of the bacterial keratitis, a double-layered dry amniotic membrane graft was placed. The first amniotic membrane layer was placed over the cornea with the edges tucked under the peripheral remnants of the spectacle and secured in place with fibrin glue. The second amniotic membrane layer was placed over the entirety of the spectacle remnant and secured in place with a combination of fibrin glue and sutures. Topical and systemic antimicrobials, topical ophthalmic lubricants, and systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy were administered postoperatively. RESULTS: Heterophilic keratitis was identified by cytology and Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus sciuri were cultured from the corneal samples. The amniotic membrane grafts remained in place for several weeks. At 4 months postoperatively, the spectacle was completely regenerated, the subspectacular space restored, and the cornea was transparent. Spectacular vascularization and fibrosis then slowly cleared over the following 6 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amniotic membrane grafting with fibrin glue is a relatively simple and effective surgical method to reconstruct extensive defects in the reptilian spectacle and to assist in the management of bacterial keratitis associated with spectacle avulsion.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus portends a poor prognosis after endovascular repair of mycotic aortic aneurysms and aortic graft infections.

OBJECTIVE: Mycotic aortic aneurysms and aortic graft infections (aortic infections [AIs]) are rare but highly morbid conditions. Open surgical repair is the "gold standard" treatment, but endovascular repair (EVR) is increasingly being used in the management of AI because of the lower operative morbidity. Multiple organisms are associated with AI, and bacteriology may be an important indication of mortality. We describe the bacteriology and associated outcomes of a group of patients treated with an EVR-first approach for AI. METHODS: All patients who underwent EVR for native aortic or aortic graft infections between 2005 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary end points were 30-day mortality and overall mortality. The primary exposure variable was bacteria species. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine association with mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate survival. RESULTS: A total of 2038 EVRs were performed in 1989 unique and consecutive patients. Of those, 27 patients had undergone EVR for AI. Thirteen presented ruptured (48%). Eighteen (67%) were hemodynamically unstable. Ten had a gastrointestinal bleed (37%), whereas others presented with abdominal pain (33%), fever (22%), chest or back pain (18.5%), and hemothorax (3.7%). Twenty patients had a positive blood culture (74%), with the most common organism being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated in 37% (10). Other organisms were Escherichia coli (3), Staphylococcus epidermidis (2), Streptococcus (2), Enterococcus faecalis (1), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (1), and Klebsiella (1). Thirteen patients had 4 to 6 weeks of postoperative antibiotic therapy, six of whom died after therapy. Fourteen were prescribed lifelong therapy; 10 died while receiving antibiotics. On univariate analysis for mortality, smoking history (P = .061) and aerodigestive bleeding on presentation (P = .109) approached significance, whereas MRSA infection (P = .001) was strongly associated with increased mortality. On multivariate analysis, MRSA remained a strong, independent predictor of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 93.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-4643; P = .023). Overall 30-day mortality was 11%, all MRSA positive. At mean follow-up of 17.4 ± 28 months, overall mortality was 59%. Overall survival at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years was 49%, 31%, and 23%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that MRSA-positive patients had a significantly lower survival compared with other pathogens (1-year, 20% vs 71%; 5-year, 0% vs 44%; P = .0009). CONCLUSIONS: In our series of AI, the most commonly isolated organism was MRSA. MRSA is highly virulent and is associated with increased mortality compared with all other organisms, regardless of treatment. Given our results, EVR for MRSA-positive AI was not a durable treatment option.

Native valve Staphylococcus capitis infective endocarditis: a mini review.

PURPOSE: Even though prosthetic valve endocarditis due to coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) is widely documented and attracts global attention, native valve endocarditis due to CoNS has been also described lately and may warrant closer attention due to the relative increased incidence. METHODS: We describe a 35-year-old male patient who is a former resident of a long-term health-care facility with multiple co-morbidities, diagnosed with native aortic valve S. capitis endocarditis and underwent conservative antimicrobial treatment with full recovery and no recurrence after 6 months' follow-up. In addition, we reviewed the English literature on all reported cases of S. capitis endocarditis. RESULTS: Infective endocarditis due to S. capitis has thus far been described in 13 patients. All but three had involved native valves with two infected prosthetic valves and a single case of infection in an implanted transvenous pacemaker. Although the number of cases of endocarditis due to S. capitis is small, early removal of either a prosthetic valve or infected pacemaker would appear prudent, while native valve endocarditis could successfully be treated with appropriate antimicrobials alone. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus capitis is classified as coagulase-negative staphylococci with the inherent ability to cause debilitating native valve endocarditis and is usually managed conservatively.

In Situ Composite Homograft Utilizing the Femoral Vein and the Occluded Superficial Femoral Artery after Eversion Endarterectomy for the Management of an Iliofemoral Synthetic Graft Infection.

Aortic or iliac graft infection is a serious complication in vascular surgery, which carries significant risks for the patient's limb and life and requires complex treatment. We report a patient who presented sepsis due to a previous ilio(common iliac)-femoral(profunda femoris) graft infection. Taking into account that the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries were occluded (no suitable target vessel, except for the distal profunda femoral) and the fact that he presented methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-positive blood cultures, the patient was scheduled for excision of the contaminated graft and in situ reconstruction. Along with the femoral vein, a segment of the adjacent occluded superficial femoral artery was used after eversion endarterectomy to ensure adequate homograft length to perform the bypass. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this technique which can be particularly useful in similar settings.

A Mycotic Common Iliac Artery Pseudoaneurysm of Indeterminate Etiology.

We present the unusual case of a mycotic right common iliac artery pseudoaneurysm caused by the methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) of indeterminate etiology in a healthy 57-year-old man with no risk factors for infection, trauma, or malignancy. The patient initially presented with worsening subacute right lower quadrant pain and was found to have a pseudoaneurysm of the right common iliac artery. Given concern for rupture on a computed tomography angiogram (CTA), he underwent exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm with a covered stent. At the time of presentation, he had no signs or symptoms of infection. However, the patient developed fever, chills, and worsening right lower quadrant pain 13 days after the index operation and was found to have a leukocytosis, blood cultures positive for MSSA, and progressive soft-tissue changes involving the right common iliac artery on CTA consistent with infection. He was definitively treated with stent explantation, aggressive debridement and replacement with an in situ cryopreserved bypass, and short-term suppressive antibiotic therapy.

Staged surgical treatment for infection of total disc arthroplasty: three cases and a narrative review of the literature.

Although total disc arthroplasty (TDA) is a common procedure for selected cases of degenerative disc disease, until today there are only two cases of TDA infections reported in the literature. We report three cases of postoperative TDA infections, two developed cutaneous fistulas. To eradicate the infectious site, a staged removal of the device, resolute debridement, and stabilization plus fusion is proposed. Surgeons are challenged by (1) major retroperitoneal vessels adherent to the device, (2) surrounding scar tissue, (3) accompanying retroperitoneal abscess, and (4) technical issues when removing and replacing the implant. A staged multidisciplinary team approach involving vascular and plastic surgery as well as spine specialists is mandatory to achieve good results.

Lower Success Rate of Débridement and Implant Retention in Late Acute versus Early Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infection Caused by Staphylococcus spp. Results from a Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical débridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) is currently recommended by international guidelines for both early acute (postsurgical) and late acute (hematogenous) periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). However, due to a different pathogenesis of infection, a different treatment strategy may be needed. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Compared with early acute PJIs, are late acute PJIs associated with a higher risk of DAIR failure? (2) When stratified by microorganism, is the higher risk of failure in late acute PJI associated with Staphylocococcus aureus infection? (3) When analyzing patients with S. aureus infection, what factors are independently associated with DAIR failure? METHODS: In this multicenter observational study, early acute and late acute PJIs treated with DAIR were retrospectively evaluated and matched according to treating center, year of diagnosis, and infection-causing microorganism. If multiple matches were available, the early acute PJI diagnosed closest to the late acute PJI was selected. A total of 132 pairs were included. Treatment success was defined as a retained implant during follow-up without the need for antibiotic suppressive therapy. RESULTS: Late acute PJIs had a lower treatment success (46% [60 of 132]) compared with early acute PJIs (76% [100 of 132]), OR 3.9 [95% CI 2.3 to 6.6]; p < 0.001), but the lower treatment success of late acute PJIs was only observed when caused by Staphylococcus spp (S. aureus: 34% versus 75%; p < 0.001; coagulase-negative staphylococci: 46% versus 88%; p = 0.013, respectively). On multivariable analysis, late acute PJI was the only independent factor associated with an unsuccessful DAIR when caused by S. aureus (OR 4.52 [95% CI 1.79 to 11.41]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although DAIR seems to be a successful therapeutic strategy in the management of early acute PJI, its use in late acute PJI should be reconsidered when caused by Staphylococcus spp. Our results advocate the importance of isolating the causative microorganism before surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Measurement of Serum Anti-staphylococcal Antibodies Increases Positive Predictive Value of Preoperative Aspiration for Hip Prosthetic Joint Infection.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative synovial fluid culture is pivotal in the early diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) but may yield false-positive and false-negative results. We evaluated the predictive value of synovial fluid culture results combined with the measurement of serum anti-staphylococcal antibodies (SASA). QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) For hip and knee PJI, does combining positive SASA results with preoperative synovial culture results improve the positive predictive value (PPV) of preoperative synovial fluid culture alone? (2) Does combining preoperative synovial fluid culture results with a positive cell count and differential result increase the PPV of preoperative synovial fluid culture alone? (3) What proportion of isolated organisms exhibit concordance in antibiotic susceptibility: preoperative aspiration versus intraoperative isolates? METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at two French reference centers that manage bone and joint infections and included 481 adult patients who had a revision or resection arthroplasty between June 25, 2012 and June 23, 2014. Exclusion criteria including no serum sample available for immunoassay, the lack of microbiological documentation, and the absence of preoperative aspiration reduced the patient number to 353. Seven patients with an undetermined SASA result were excluded from the analysis. We also excluded patients with PJI involving more than one Staphylococcus species (polystaphylococcal infection) and those in whom more than one Staphylococcus species was recovered from the preoperative synovial fluid culture (polystaphylococcal synovial fluid culture). In total, 340 patients were included in the analysis (no infection, 67% [226 of 340]; staphylococcal infection, 21% [71 of 340]; other infection, 13% [43 of 340]). The preoperative synovial fluid analysis included a cell count and differential and bacterial culture. SASAs were measured using a multiplex immunoassay. The diagnosis of PJI was determined using the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) criteria [] and intraoperative tissue culture at the time of revision surgery was used as the gold standard (at least one positive intraoperative sample for a "virulent" organism (such as S. aureus) or two positive samples for a "non-virulent" (for example S. epidermidis). RESULTS: SASA increased the PPV compared with synovial fluid culture alone (92% [95% CI 82 to 97] versus 79% [95% CI 68 to 87]; p = 0.04); when stratified by site, an increase in PPV was seen in hip infections (100% [95% CI 89 to 100] versus 77% [95% CI 63 to 88]; p = 0.01) but not in knee infections (84% [95% CI 66 to 95] versus 80% [95% CI 64 to 91]; p = 0.75). A positive cell count and differential result increased the PPV of staphylococcal synovial fluid cultures compared with synovial fluid culture alone (86% [95% CI 70 to 95] versus 79% [95% CI 68 to 87]; p = 0.36); when stratified by site, no difference in hip and knee infections was observed (86% [95% CI 67 to 96] versus 77% [95% CI 63 to 88]; p = 0.42) and 86% [95% CI 70 to 95] versus 80% [95% CI 64 to 91]; p = 0.74). CONCLUSION: SASA measurement improves the predictive value of synovial fluid cultures of the hip for all staphylococcal organisms, including coagulase-negative staphylococci, but the PPV of SASA plus synovial fluid culture it is not superior to the PPV of synovial fluid cell count/differential plus synovial culture for the knee. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Acute Septic Arthritis of the Hip Joint in Pediatric Patients Aged 10 Years or Younger.

PURPOSE: To present the results of arthroscopic treatment of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint in children aged 10 years or younger. METHODS: Patients with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years who underwent arthroscopic treatment (anterolateral and medial subadductor 2-portal approach) of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint between January 2014 and January 2017 were included in this retrospective case-series study. The exclusion criteria included fungal infection, late presentation (≥5 days after the onset of the symptoms), presence of concomitant osteomyelitis, osseous pathologic conditions on radiography suggesting osteomyelitis, immunocompromised condition, history of surgery or infection surgery from the affected extremity, immobility owing to neuromuscular pathologic conditions, and identification of inflammatory or reactive arthritis during follow-up. The diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed according to the Waldvogel criteria. Clinical outcomes were assessed according to the Bennett score and Harris Hip Score. RESULTS: We evaluated 15 hips in 15 patients (6 female and 9 male patients) with a mean age of 5.2 years (range, 2-10 years) in this study. The mean hospital stay was 4.2 days (range, 3-7 days), and the mean antibiotic-use period was 34 days (range, 26-45 days). The most causative pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (40%) (including methicillin-sensitive S aureus) and was isolated and cultured in all patients. All patients had full range of motion of the hip joint. All of the Bennett scores were excellent; the mean Harris Hip Score was 96.3 (range, 92.5-100) after a minimum follow-up period of 24 months (mean, 26.1 ± 3.2 months; range, 24-35 months). No patient needed additional surgical intervention. No degenerative changes or avascular necrosis developed. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, arthroscopic treatment is an effective choice for the treatment of acute septic arthritis of the hip joint in children aged 10 years or younger. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.