Clinical-epidemiological profile of confirmed cases of osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Introduction: tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The incidence of TB has increased since the 1980s. Given the increasing prevalence of TB worldwide, osteoarticular TB (OATB) is a significant health problem. Methods: retrospective study of a case series of hospitalized patients with confirmed OATB by culture or histopathological examination who were seen at a reference orthopedic hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from 2014 to 2019. Results: thirty patients with confirmed bone and joint TB were seen from 2014 to 2019. The main sites of OATB were the spine (83.3 %) and the appendicular skeleton (26.7 %). Indication of surgical treatment was significantly related to the need for hospitalization ( p = 0.009 ) and the increased length of hospital stay ( p = 0.005 ). Presence of sequelae at the end of treatment was correlated with the presence of motor deficit at the time of OATB diagnosis ( p = 0.035 ) as well as with initial presence of functional limitation ( p = 0.025 ) and with high value of C-reactive protein at the end of treatment ( p = 0.037 ). Conclusions: the delay in the onset of clinical and laboratory signs of cases of osteoarticular infections hinders the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, resulting in major complications sometimes requiring surgical treatment and consequently leading to a prolonged hospital stay, evidence of high inflammatory activities, and the presence of neurological deficits.

COVID-19 and isolation: Risks and implications in the scenario of new variants.

With the emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, questions about transmissibility, vaccine efficacy, and impact on mortality are important to support decision-making in public health measures. Modifications related to transmissibility combined with the fact that much of the population has already been partially exposed to infection and/or vaccination, have stimulated recommendations to reduce the isolation period for COVID-19. However, these new guidelines have raised questions about their effectiveness in reducing contamination and minimizing impact in work environments. Therefore, a collaborative task force was developed to review the subject in a non-systematic manner, answering questions about SARS-CoV-2 variants, COVID-19 vaccines, isolation/quarantine periods, testing to end the isolation period, and the use of masks as mitigation procedures. Overall, COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness and death but are less effective in preventing infection in the case of the Omicron variant. Any strategy that is adopted to reduce the isolation period should take into consideration the epidemiological situation of the geographical region, individual clinical characteristics, and mask for source control. The use of tests for isolation withdrawal should be evaluated with caution, due to results depending on various conditions and may not be reliable.

Orthopedic infections due to Trichosporon species: Case series and literature review.

Reports of orthopedic fungal infections caused by Trichosporon species are extremely scarce, thus we aimed to describe a case series and review the cases published in the literature. Patients were retrospectively included if a previous culture of bone, joint, or soft tissues had resulted positive for Trichosporon species along with a clinical diagnosis of an orthopedic infection. Eight patients were included with diverse orthopedic conditions, most of them cases of osteomyelitis. The main isolated species was Trichosporon asahii. All patients were treated with antifungals, mainly voriconazole, and surgical management, resulting in high rates of clinical improvement and low associated mortality.

Reports of orthopedic infections caused by Trichosporon species are scarce. We described a case series of orthopedic infections caused by Trichosporon species and reviewed the previous published cases in the literature. We observed a high rate of clinical improvement and a low associated mortality.

COVID-19 and isolation: Risks and implications in the scenario of new variants

Abstract With the emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, questions about transmissibility, vaccine efficacy, and impact on mortality are important to support decision-making in public health measures. Modifications related to transmissibility combined with the fact that much of the population has already been partially exposed to infection and/or vaccination, have stimulated recommendations to reduce the isolation period for COVID-19. However, these new guidelines have raised questions about their effectiveness in reducing contamination and minimizing impact in work environments. Therefore, a collaborative task force was developed to review the subject in a non-systematic manner, answering questions about SARS-CoV-2 variants, COVID-19 vaccines, isolation/quarantine periods, testing to end the isolation period, and the use of masks as mitigation procedures. Overall, COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing severe illness and death but are less effective in preventing infection in the case of the Omicron variant. Any strategy that is adopted to reduce the isolation period should take into consideration the epidemiological situation of the geographical region, individual clinical characteristics, and mask for source control. The use of tests for isolation withdrawal should be evaluated with caution, due to results depending on various conditions and may not be reliable.

Bioactive glass S53P4 to fill-up large cavitary bone defect after acute and chronic osteomyelitis treated with antibiotic-loaded cement beads: A prospective case series with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Bioactive glass S53P4 (BAG-S53P4) has been used in the treatment of osteomyelitis with excellent results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of patients treated with use of antibiotic-loaded cement beads, followed by bone defects filling using bioglass. METHODS: We treated a prospective series of patients presenting with acute or chronic osteomyelitis of a long bone of the upper or lower limb. The first-stage procedure involved debridement and filling of cavitary defects with antibiotic-loaded polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads. When signs of infection subsided, the defects were filled with BAG-S53P4. The main outcomes assessed were the reinfection rate, need for reoperation, radiographic and functional evaluations (DASH and Lysholm scores). RESULTS: Ten patients were included, aged between 4 and 66 years (mean 25.4 years). The source of infection was hematogenic in five cases and post-traumatic in the other five. Hematogenic infections required two debridements before filling with bioglass, whereas post-traumatic cases required only one. The time between the first debridement and the application of bioglass varied from 1 to 63 weeks (average of 17 weeks). All patients showed a favorable evolution after bioglass procedure, with no need for reoperation or relevant wound problems. The radiographic evaluation showed partial incorporation of the material and adequate bone formation, and functional scores were satisfactory in all cases. CONCLUSION: The treatment of osteomyelitis with surgical debridement and PMMA beads, followed by filling of bone defect with BAG-S53P4, was effective in all patients evaluated, with adequate infectious control and bone regeneration. No cases required reoperation after bioglass implantation. Patients with hematogenous osteomyelitis required a greater number of debridements before filling with bioglass.

Prosthetic joint infection due to Candida species: Case series and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: The increase in the number of patients with prosthetic joints will entail a rise in the absolute number of infections associated with these procedures. Although less frequent, infections by Candida species are also expected to increase, and the clinical and surgical management of these cases is based on case reports and opinion of specialists. The objective of the present study was to review the available literature and describe the cases of prosthetic joint infection caused by Candida species in patients of the Institute of Orthopedics and Trauma of the University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine Clinics Hospital (IOT-HCFMUSP) between 2007 and 2014. PATIENT CONCERNS: Eleven patients were diagnosed with prosthetic joint infection due to Candida with mean age of 65 years. The most frequent comorbidities were heart disease and diabetes mellitus, and the main personal antecedent was previous bacterial infection in the prosthetic joint. At least one risk factor for fungal infection was present in 73% of the patients. There was no difference between the prevalence of infections caused by Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species, and there was bacterial co-infection in 55% of the cases. DIAGNOSIS: For building up the case series, patients with cultures of bone and joint specimens that were positive for Candida species and had a clinical diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection were included in the case series. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical debridement with removal of the prosthesis was the most frequently used surgical approach (45%). All patients were treated with monotherapy, and the most frequently used antifungal agent was fluconazole. The total duration of antifungal therapy was 6 months in 73% of the cases. OUTCOMES: After the initial management, 73% of the patients achieved clinical remission. CONCLUSION: The most indicated initial management was debridement with removal of the prosthesis, and the most used treatment regimen was fluconazole monotherapy. The most prevalent treatment duration was 6 months. The initial management led to a favorable outcome in 73% of the cases. DESCRIPTORS: Prosthetic joint infection, Candida, treatment, and diagnosis.

UPDATE ON INFECTIONS IN ARTICULAR PROSTHESIS.

The implantation of joint prostheses, especially for the hip and knee, is becoming increasingly common. This provides a significant reduction in discomfort and an immeasurable improvement in patient mobility. Reviews of the worldwide literature indicate that 1 to 5% of these prostheses become infected, although it is important to remember that as the number of operations performed to implant these prosthesis increases, so will the number of cases of this type of infection. Gram-positive bacteria predominate in contaminations of joint prostheses, in particular Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Infections caused by gram-negative bacilli and fungi such as Candida sp have been reported with increased frequency throughout the world. Infections of joint prostheses present characteristic signs that can be divided into acute manifestations (severe pain, high fever, toxemia, heat, redness and wound secretions) and chronic manifestations (progressive pain, cutaneous fistula formation and pus drainage, without fever). The definitive diagnosis of the infection should be made through cultures to isolate the microorganism, using material collected from joint fluid puncture, surgical wound secretions, and surgical debridement. It is essential to cover for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, given the epidemiological importance of this agent in these infections. The total duration of antibiotic therapy ranges from six weeks to six months, and this treatment should be adjusted as needed, based on the results from culturing.