[Management of a 4MRGN Acinetobacter baumanii outbreak in a burn unit]. / Management eines Ausbruches mit 4 MRGN Acinetobacter baumannii in einem Brandverletzten-zentrum.

Patients with 4MRGN Acinetobacter baumanii infections in a burn unit represent great challenge. The structured management with 7 involved patients in such a situation is presented. After discovering the infectious trigger a management team is established. An immediate stop for further admissions was announced and all infected room areas and medical equipment were analysed for infection foci. The infected patients were transferred to regional hospitals or a rehabiltation hospital after finishing all surgical procedures. In one case, for whom further operations were needed, a transfer to a separated area of the intermediate care unit (IMC) within the hospital was arranged. The performed analysis of infection foci indicated a bronchoscopy tower to be the infection source. The outbreak was terminated after transferring all patients, final disinfection and subsequent nebulisation with 5-6% hydrogen peroxide within 18 days.

[Infection of the hand: evaluation of a two-stage therapy]. / Handinfektionen: Evaluation eines zweizeitigen Therapieregimes.

INTRODUCTION: Infections of the hand are common diseases in hand surgery departments. The correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment is difficult and is often underestimated. In literature different and often conflicting treatments are recommended. The present study retrospectively analysed our two-stage surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 60 patients (mean age: 51 years, 38 male, 22 female) were studied retrospectively on the basis of the diagnosis hand infection (ICD L03.-). In all patients, a rapid and radical surgical debridement without wound closure was performed. An antibiotic therapy was initiated. We investigated how often wound closure during a second-look operation, following a period of open wound treatment with antiseptic dressing was successful possible. Furthermore, the patients were followed up in our outpatient clinic. RESULTS: A successful secondary wound closure was possible after on average 38.7 h and in 92% of the patients. 8% of patients required further surgical treatment. These patients presented with either an existing disease or a delayed presentation with initial antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic therapy was performed on an average for 8.7 days. Altogether for 85% of the 58 patients examined in our outpatient clinic the therapy could be terminated after 3 weeks with a full recovery of function of the injured hand and with full force measurements. The inability to work was on average 16 days. DISCUSSION: The two-stage surgical treatment, with radical debridement and open wound dressing in our collective is an adequate treatment for infections of the hand. It is a safe procedure, that allows for combination with an antibiotic therapy by which a rapid restoration of function of the injured hand is possible.

Noncontact electrosurgical grounding--a useful and safe tool in the initial surgical management of thermal injuries.

BACKGROUND: Electrosurgical instruments - one of the useful and most-used instruments within the surgeon's armamentarium - are potentially dangerous by causing unanticipated direct burns; fire occurring as a result of electrosurgical instruments and electromagnetic interference with a pacemaker, defibrillator, or cardiac monitoring device. METHODS: The Mega 2000 Patient Return Electrode System produced by Megadyne Medical Products is a noncontact electrode designed to provide adequate electrical return to facilitate function of electrocautery devices. We used this noncontact device in 67 patients (28 women, 39 men) with large burns during their stay in our burn unit and in 11 of these patients (4 women, 7 men) for escharotomies during admission in our burn care. RESULTS: The device functioned well in all cases, no additional cutaneous burns on the patients' body were noticed. CONCLUSION: This paper is a review of our experience with this noncontact electrosurgical grounding in burn surgery highlighting its advantages comparing with the conventional electrosurgical instruments.

[Histological and immunohistochemical study of capsular contracture in an animal model--a comparison of two implants according to a modification of Wilflingseder's classification]. / Histologische und immunhistochemische Untersuchung zur Kapselfibrose im Tiermodell--Vergleich zweier Implantate mittels einer histologischen Klassifikation in Modifikation nach Wilflingseder.

BACKGROUND: The influence of silicone implants on the formation of a periprosthetic capsule can be well examined in animal studies. New implant materials have been developed to reduce capsular contracture. In order to evaluate the capsule formation, Wilflingseder et al. developed a histological score system. Because of new knowledge in the development of capsular contracture, the Wilflingseder classification is no longer appropriate. Current references are not considered so that a modification is required. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In a randomised, experimental animal study 31 mini-implants were implanted into the dorsum of female Wistar rats [17 smooth, 10 mL saline-filled silicone implants (Group A) and 14 titanium coated silicone implants (Group B)]. After 12 (group A/B12) or 36 (group A/B36) weeks, surgical removal of the implants with subsequent histomorphological and immunohistochemical examination of periprosthetic capsule formation was performed by 2 independent investigators in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: An analysis of the studies showed that the inner synovia metaplasia and the infiltration by inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells and granulocytes are of crucial importance in the development of a fibrotic capsule. The occurrence of these factors correlated significantly with each other and influenced also significantly the capsule architecture depending on implant surface. An adjustment of the existing Wilflingseder classification system was evaluated. The current rating system contains the following parameters: capsule thickness and cell layers of the capsule, the thickness of the inner synovial metaplasia, collagen structure, presence of histiocytes and the incidence of inflammatory cells. According to this classification, titanium-coated implants show an advantage in terms of the formation of capsular contracture. CONCLUSION: In 1974 Wilflingseder et al. developed a classification system for capsular contracture which is no longer appropriate, since current histological and immunohistochemical findings are not mentioned. Our study presents a new system which includes the latest insights into the development of capsular contracture and provides an objective classification of histological changes. Furthermore, we were able to show that titanium-coated implants are a promising approach in the reduction of capsular contracture.