Rates of Surgical Site Infection in Cholecystectomy: Comparison between a University Teaching Hospital, Madrid Region, Spain, and USA Rates.

BACKGROUND: There are many factors that can influence surgical site infections (SSI) in cholecystectomies. Incidence of cholecystectomy SSI was studied and compared with the incidence in Madrid Region, Spain, and the United States. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted which included all patients who underwent gallbladder surgery for 5 consecutive years, at the Alcorcón Foundation University Teaching Hospital. SSI incidence rate was calculated. An association between risk factors and SSI incidence was assessed with the relative risk (RR). Infection rates were compared to those in the Madrid Region and to the overall Spanish and United States rates using the standardized infection ratio (SIR). RESULTS: The study included 1532 patients. Cumulative overall SSI was 1.96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-2.7). The SIR was 0.89 with respect to the Madrid Region, 0.77 with respect to Spain's rate, and 1.77 with respect to the United States' rate. A laparoscopic route protected against infection (RR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.2-0.9). Razor shaving in surgical preparation, duration of surgery, and neoplasm increased SSI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: SSI incidence rates among cholecystectomized patients at our hospital are higher than rates in the United States. A laparoscopic route protected against SSI.

Is South Africa being spared the global opioid crisis? A review of trends in drug treatment demand for heroin, nyaope and codeine-related medicines in South Africa (2012-2017).

INTRODUCTION: South Africa has seen a sharp increase in treatment admission trends for opioids despite beliefs that rates of opioid use remain low and do not represent a major problem. To advocate for the extension of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment and harm minimisation services in South Africa, better estimates of the extent of opioid use is needed. This paper responds to this need by describing (i) trends in treatment utilization for opioid-related problems in South Africa and (ii) differences in the profile of patients accessing treatment for different classes of opioids - heroin, 'nyaope' and codeine use. METHODS: Data were collected from 83 specialist treatment centres participating in the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use between 2012 and 2017. Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the sociodemographic profile of patients and multiple logistic regression was used to explore socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with admission to treatment for opioid use disorders (OUD) . RESULTS: From January 2012 to December 2017, data from 11 2032 treatment episodes were collated. Of these, 20 319 (18.1%) were from patients admitted for an OUD. Over time, the proportion of overall opioid-related admissions increased significantly from 16.1% of all admissions in 2012 to 20.0% in 2017 (p <0.001). Data also suggests a significant increase in the overall proportion of patients reporting injection drug use, from 1.6% in 2013 to 3.5% in 2017 (p <0.001). Clear differences in employment status, referral sources between classes of opioids were also noted. CONCLUSION: Over the last 5 years, South Africa has seen an increase in the proportion of opioid related disorders (OUD) treatment admissions. Public health interventions, evidence-based harm reduction approaches and improving access to treatment are among the interventions urgently needed to reduce the harms associated with the increased use of opioids in South Africa.

Surgical site infection incidence and risk factors in knee arthroplasty: A 9-year prospective cohort study at a university teaching hospital in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the complications posed by knee replacement surgery. Hospital-based infection surveillance systems may provide indicators of improvement and allow the characterization of risk factors critical to reduce infection. The aims of this study were to compare the incidence of SSI in our center with rates in the Madrid Region, Spain, and the United States, and to evaluate any possible SSI-related risk factor in knee replacement surgery. METHODS: All patients who underwent knee replacement surgery at a tertiary hospital in 2008-2016 were included. SSI was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Infection rate was calculated. The association between risk factors and SSI incidence was assessed by reference to odds ratio (OR) with multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The study population (n = 1969) had a global SSI risk of 1.0%. We found a declining trend in the follow-up period, from an SSI risk of 1.8% in 2009 to 0.4% in 2016. Independent risk factors included hair removal (OR: 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27-7.50) and National Healthcare Safety Network risk index ≥ 2 (OR: 9.37, 95% CI: 2.90-30.26). CONCLUSION: This study identified risk factors that showed the necessity to strictly comply with wound decontamination and patient preparation protocols, reduce surgery duration, and identify patients who require comprehensive monitoring.