First evaluation of the automated-multiplex-PCR Unyvero ITI G2 cartridge for rapid diagnosis of osteo-articular infections.

OBJECTIVE: Conventional microbiological methods (CMM), including long-term culture, for the diagnosis of osteo-articular infections (OAI) fail in at least 5% of all cases. Only one IOA dedicated molecular method has been commercialized, and only the first version of this kit has been studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the concordance between test results obtained with the second version of the Unyvero ITI G2 cartridge (Curetis) and CMM. The cartridge, combining one-step automated lysis/DNA extraction with multiplex PCR and amplicon detection by array hybridization, allows for the detection of 102 prevalent pathogens and their antibiotic resistance markers directly in clinical specimens (liquid [n=8] or solid [n=32]). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Frozen samples from 40 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery at Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital were tested retrospectively with the cartridge: 5 were culture-negative, 25 revealed monomicrobial and 10 polymicrobial OAI. The 2 main surgical sites were hip (22.5%) and knee (17.5%). RESULTS: Extraction, amplification and hybridization reactions were completed in 28 of the 40 cases, failed in all cartridge chambers in 6 cases, and in 1 or 2 chambers in an additional 6 cases. Overall sensitivity and specificity for microorganism identification were estimated at 67.6% and 98.2%, when complete and partial failures were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the performances of the second version of the Unyvero ITI G2 cartridge should be further enhanced before considering avoiding conventional microbiological methods.

[Enteroviral infections in adults treated with rituximab: A new case of chronic meningitis and myofasciitis and literature review]. / Infections à entérovirus de l'adulte traité par rituximab : un nouveau cas de méningite et myofasciite chronique et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic enterovirus infections can occur in primary immunodeficiency with hypogammaglobulinemia. They usually associate meningitis and myofasciitis. Such infections have also been described in adults with rituximab-induced hypogammaglobulinemia. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 33-year-old woman who was given rituximab for immune thrombocytopenia and developed rituximab-induced hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG 4.4g/L). One year after the last rituximab infusion, she developed lower limbs myofasciitis, followed two months later by a chronic lymphocytic meningitis. PCR in the serum and the cerebrospinal fluid at the time of the meningitis and the myofasciitis were positive to the same enterovirus (echovirus 11) while it was negative in the fascia biopsy. Under treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins, all symptoms and laboratory abnormalities improved and enterovirus PCR became negative. CONCLUSION: We report a case of chronic enterovirus infection associating meningitis and myofasciitis in an adult with rituximab-induced hypogammaglobulinemia. Outcome was favorable under treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins.

Five-year mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcer during 2009-2010 was lower than expected.

AIM: Mortality rates are decreasing in patients with diabetes. However, as this observation also concerns patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), additional data are needed. For this reason, our study evaluated the 5-year mortality rate in patients with DFU during 2009-2010 and identified risk factors associated with mortality. METHODS: Consecutive patients who attended a clinic for new DFU during 2009-2010 were followed until healing and at 1 year. Data on mortality were collected at year 5. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify mortality risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 347 patients were included: mean age was 65±12 years, diabetes duration was 16 [10; 27] years; 13% were on dialysis; and 7% had an organ transplant. At 5 years, 49 patients (14%) were considered lost to follow-up. Total mortality rate at 5 years was 35%, and 16% in patients with neuropathy. On multivariate analyses, mortality was positively associated with: age [hazard ratio (HR): 1.05 (1.03-1.07), P<0.0001]; duration of diabetes [HR: 1.02 (1.001-1.03], P=0.03]; PEDIS perfusion grade 2 vs. 1 [HR: 2.35 (1.28-4.29), P=0.006)]; PEDIS perfusion grade 3 vs. 1 [HR: 3.14 (1.58-6.24), P=0.001); and ulcer duration at year 1 [HR 2.09 (1.35-3.22), P=0.0009]. CONCLUSION: Mortality rates were not as high as expected despite the large number of comorbidities, suggesting that progress has been made in the health management of these patients. In particular, patients with neuropathic foot ulcer had a survival rate of 84% at 5 years.

Prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy for prosthetic joint infection in the elderly: a national multicentre cohort study.

During prosthetic joint infection (PJI), optimal surgical management with exchange of the device is sometimes impossible, especially in the elderly population. Thus, prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy (PSAT) is the only option to prevent acute sepsis, but little is known about this strategy. We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcome and tolerance of PSAT in elderly patients with PJI. We performed a national cross-sectional cohort study of patients >75 years old and treated with PSAT for PJI. We evaluated the occurrence of events, which were defined as: (i) local or systemic progression of the infection (failure), (ii) death and (iii) discontinuation or switch of PSAT. A total of 136 patients were included, with a median age of 83 years [interquartile range (IQR) 81-88]. The predominant pathogen involved was Staphylococcus (62.1%) (Staphylococcus aureus in 41.7%). A single antimicrobial drug was prescribed in 96 cases (70.6%). There were 46 (33.8%) patients with an event: 25 (18%) with an adverse drug reaction leading to definitive discontinuation or switch of PSAT, 8 (5.9%) with progression of sepsis and 13 died (9.6%). Among patients under follow-up, the survival rate without an event at 2 years was 61% [95% confidence interval (CI): 51;74]. In the multivariate Cox analysis, patients with higher World Health Organization (WHO) score had an increased risk of an event [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.5, p = 0.014], whereas patients treated with beta-lactams are associated with less risk of events occurring (HR = 0.5, p = 0.048). In our cohort, PSAT could be an effective and safe option for PJI in the elderly.

Role of a NSAID in the apparent cure of a fungal mycetoma.

UNLABELLED: We report the case of a fungal mycetoma due to Madurella mycetomatis that failed to respond to surgery and antifungal treatment but responded strongly to the addition of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This African patient was born in Mauritania in 1972. He was a herdsman, living close to the Senegal River. The first nodules appeared on the left foot at the age of 13years (1985). The patient suffered frequent flare-ups with the appearance of black grains and underwent surgery in 1988 and 1992 in Senegal. After remission for several months after surgery, new fistulae occurred. The patient emigrated to France in 1995 and underwent a third surgical intervention in 1996. M. mycetomatis was cultured from the black grains. The patient was otherwise in good health, with no diabetes, and HIV tests were negative. We saw the patient for the first time in 2005, at which time he had flare-ups every two to three months. Imaging disclosed an absence of bone involvement. The patient underwent a fourth operation in October, 2005, and voriconazole treatment was initiated. A new flare-up occurred in February, 2006. CT, MRI, and PET scans revealed calcaneus and tarsal involvement, and posaconazole then replaced voriconazole. Flucytosine was added four months later, due to an absence of improvement. New flares-ups occurred and a fifth surgical intervention was performed in September, 2006. The pain, which had been present for three years, worsened; the patient had to stop working and was no longer able to walk without crutches. Amputation of the foot was considered. Empiric treatment with a NSAID, diclofenac (Voltaren(®); 100mg/day), was added to the antifungal treatment in November 2006, to treat the patient's pain and inflammation. A major improvement was observed within one week. The patient was able to walk without crutches one month later. After two months, clinical examination was normal: no pain, inflammation, nodules or fistulae. Flucytosine was stopped after six months of treatment, in January 2007, diclofenac after 10months, in October 2007, and posaconazole after 18.5months, also in October 2007. No relapse has occurred during the eight years of follow-up since treatment ended. The patient seems to have been cured and has normal CT, MRI, and PET scans. IN SUMMARY: This eumycetoma, which had progressed over 20years despite surgery and antifungal treatments, seems to have been cured by the addition of a NSAID. This observation suggests that inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of fungal mycetoma. Clinical studies of treatments including an NSAID should be conducted to confirm this finding.

Salvage technique for postoperative infection and necrosis of the Achilles tendon.

Surgery of the Achilles tendon is associated with postoperative morbidity related to wound healing. Necrotic infection of the tendon is a rare but serious complication that may be associated with increasingly invasive surgical treatments using various free flap transfers proposed in the literature. Dealing with this complication, we prefer the technique of managed wound healing suggested by Dautry. The surgical procedure includes radical debridement of the infected tissue and necrotic Achilles tendon followed by managed wound healing with daily irrigation. Fifteen cases were treated between 1994 and 2003. Healing was achieved after 30 to 100 days. MRI results show scar tissue continuity suggesting a neotendon formation. Function was very satisfactory in 9/15 ankles. The salvage technique presented here for cases of infection and necrosis of the Achilles tendon is simple with low morbidity and results in effective wound and tendon healing with satisfactory functional and anatomical results.

Early surgical site infections in adult spinal trauma: a prospective, multicentre study of infection rates and risk factors.

INTRODUCTION: Spine surgery is known to have a high risk of surgical site infection (SSI). Multiple studies have looked into the risk factors and incidence of SSI during elective surgery, but only two retrospective studies have specifically evaluated SSI during surgery following spine trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This work was based on a prospective cohort study that included all the patients operated on for spinal trauma at 13 French hospitals over a three-month period. The main endpoint was the occurrence of a SSI during the three-month period. Patients with multiple trauma or open fractures were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Of the 169 patients re-examined after a minimum of three months, six had had an acute SSI (3.55%). The following factors were significantly related to a SSI: age, ASA score, diabetes, procedure duration, delay elapsed between accident and procedure, number of levels fused, bleeding and prolonged presence of urinary catheter. DISCUSSION: Our results were consistent with the published infection rates of 2 to 10%. The risk factors identified have all been described in previous studies on elective spine surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prospective cohort study.

Infections in the operated spine: update on risk management and therapeutic strategies.

UNLABELLED: Among the possible risks of spine surgery, surgical site infection (SSI) is far from negligible. Incidence is higher than in other locomotor system procedures, with more severe local and general impact. Certain broad guidelines can be formulated. The risk of SSI should be taken into account in the choice of treatment options discussed with the patient. Antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical prevention of iatrogenic infection and an SSI surveillance protocol should be implemented. SSI should be suspected in case of any abnormality in postoperative course, and biological and imaging (MRI or CT) measures should be taken. Local sampling for bacteriological identification is mandatory. Treatment strategy should ideally be discussed in a multidisciplinary coordination meeting, and adapted in the light of local bacterial ecology and resistance data. The information provided to the patient should be transparent and adapted to the patient's individual context. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.