Predictive Value of Swab Cultures for Cryopreserved Flaps During Delayed Cranioplasties.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of swab cultures of cryopreserved skull flaps during cranioplasties for surgical site infections (SSIs). METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive patients who underwent delayed cranioplasties with cryopreserved autografts between 2009 and 2017. The results of cultures obtained from swabs and infected surgical sites were assessed. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of swab cultures for SSIs were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 422 patients categorized into two groups, swab and nonswab, depending on whether swab cultures were implemented during cranioplasties. The overall infection rate was 7.58%. No difference was seen in infection rates between groups. There were 18 false-positive and no true-positive swab culture results. All bacteria between swab cultures and SSI cultures were discordant. Meanwhile, there were 19 false-negative swab cultures. The results showed high specificity but low sensitivity for swab cultures to predict SSI occurrence and the pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to low accuracy and sensitivity, swab cultures of cryopreserved autografts should not be routinely performed during delayed cranioplasties.

Current updates on dental perspectives of leprosy - Revisited.

The present review summarizes the current updates on dental perspectives on leprosy and the affording factors that are responsible for the prevalence of caries and periodontal diseases in leprosy. It also highlights immunopathological phenomena and reactional episodes of leprosy that occur due to daedal interactions between the perio-odontopathic bacteria and M. leprae. In addition, a brief introduction, historiography, classification and clinicopathological aspects are also been covered.

Seasonal trends in milk quality in Ireland between 2007 and 2011.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate annual and seasonal trends in bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count (TBC), and laboratory pasteurization count (LPC) in Ireland between 2007 and 2011 (inclusive), and to compare trends based on herd type and herd size. The unadjusted median SCC and TBC of all records were 266,000 and 17,000 cfu/mL, respectively. Data were transformed to log values and analyzed using a mixed model. Fixed effects included milk processor, year, month, and total monthly milk volume; milk producer was fitted as a random variable. After analysis, means were back transformed for interpretation. Annual SCC increased slightly from 259,000 cells/mL in 2007 to a peak of 272,647 cells/mL in 2009 and then declined slightly thereafter. Although statistically significant changes in annual TBC are probably not biologically relevant, values ranged between 23,922 and 26,290 cfu/mL. Annual LPC peaked in 2008 (265 cfu/mL), declined in 2009, and increased thereafter. Monthly mean SCC of all records increased from April onward, with the greatest increases seen from October to December, when the majority of cows entered late lactation. Monthly mean TBC exhibited a seasonal trend, whereby TBC was greatest at the beginning and end of the year, coinciding with winter housing. Seasonal milk production herds (n=8,002 herds) calve all cows in spring (February to April), whereas split-calving herds (n=1,829 herds) calve cows in the spring and autumn. From February to September, monthly SCC was lower for seasonal herds than for split-calving herds, whereas SCC was lower for split-calving herds for the remaining months. During winter (October to March), split-calving herds had lower monthly TBC than seasonal herds, most likely because of stricter regulations imposed upon them. Herd size was approximated using total annual milk production figures. Across all months, larger herds had lower SCC and TBC compared with smaller herds. No obvious improvements in milk quality were seen between 2007 and 2011. Farmers have the opportunity to improve milk quality by reducing bulk tank SCC in late lactation and by imposing stricter hygiene practices at the beginning and end of the year to overcome the seasonal variation of bulk tank TBC.