Considering a new domain for antimicrobial stewardship: Topical antibiotics in the open surgical wound

Does the Omission of Cefazolin in Irrigation Solution Affect Outcomes in Prepectoral Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction?

PURPOSE

The widely used triple-antibiotics irrigation solution, comprising cefazolin, gentamycin, and povidone-iodine solution, has been employed for preventing infection and capsular contracture in implant-based breast reconstruction. However, potential overlapping in the coverage of such antimicrobial effects and the recent emergence of cefazolin-resistant gram-positive bacteria has prompted concerns regarding the efficacy of routine use of cefazolin in irrigation solutions. This study aims to evaluate clinical safety of omitting cefazolin from the traditional triple-antibiotic irrigation solution.

METHODS

Patients who underwent immediate prepectoral direct-to-implant breast reconstruction between September 2020 and April 2022 were reviewed. They were divided into two groups: cases using the traditional triple-antibiotics for the former third and those using dual-antibiotics (omitting cefazolin) for the latter. Development of postoperative complications were compared by the type of irrigation solution and its independent associations with the adverse outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 445 cases (126 using triple- and 319 using dual-regimen solution) were analyzed with a mean follow-up period of 12 months. The two groups had generally similar baseline characteristics. Overall complications developed in 126 cases (28.3%), including 12 (2.7%) of infection and 32 (7.2%) of capsular contracture. The complication profiles did not differ between the groups. Multivariable analyses exhibited that the type of irrigation solution was not associated with the development of overall and any kind of complication including infection and capsular contracture.

CONCLUSION

Omission of cefazolin from the irrigation solution may not elevate the risks of infection and capsular contracture in prepectoral direct-to-implant reconstruction. Further long-term studies would be warranted.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Local vancomycin administration in Orthopaedic Surgery - A systematic review of comparative studies

Background

There is still controversy surrounding the routine use of vancomycin locally in primary orthopaedic surgery procedures. Therefore, the aim of this review is to assess how local vancomycin impacts the rates and microbiology of surgical site infections.

Methods

A systematic electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science was carried out for all comparative studies comparing locally applied vancomycin to control for primary orthopaedic surgery procedures published before August 14, 2022.

Results

A total of 61 studies with 65,671 patients were included for analysis. Forty-six studies used vancomycin powder, 12 studies with grafts soaked in vancomycin, two studies used vancomycin irrigation, and one study administered vancomycin interosseously. There were 15 studies (of 26) in spine surgery, five (of 14) in arthroplasty, ten (of 11) in sports medicine, and two (of five) in trauma surgery that found statistically significant decreases in overall infection rates when applying local vancomycin. Only one study (in spine surgery) found significant increases in infection rates with local vancomycin application. For spine surgery, local vancomycin application had the greatest proportion of gram-negative bacteria (40.7%) isolated compared to S. aureus (42.4%) in controls. In arthroplasty and trauma surgery, there were increases in the proportions of gram-negative bacteria when vancomycin was added. There were no reported systemic adverse reactions associated with local vancomycin use in any of the studies.

Conclusion

Applying local vancomycin during primary orthopaedic surgery procedures may reduce the rates of infections in multiple different orthopaedic specialties, particularly in spine surgery and sports medicine. However, careful consideration should be applied when administering local vancomycin during specific orthopaedic procedures given the heterogeneity of included studies and breadth of surgeries included in this review.

Level of evidence

Level III. A systematic review of level I - III studies.

Association of Intraoperative Antibiotic Irrigation With Systemic Contact Dermatitis

This case series describes the development of morbilliform drug eruption after breast surgery.

Bacitracin for Injection Recall: Impact on Immediate Breast Implant Surgical Outcomes

Background

Triple-antibiotic irrigation of breast implant pockets is a mainstay of infection prophylaxis in breast reconstruction and augmentation. The recall of bacitracin for injection due to risk of anaphylaxis and nephrotoxicity in January 2020, a staple component of the irrigation solution, has raised concern for worsened postoperative sequelae. This study aimed to investigate pre- and post-recall implant-based breast surgery to analyze the impact of bacitracin in irrigation solutions on infection rates.

Methods

All implant-based breast reconstruction or augmentation surgeries from January 2019 to February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. In a regression discontinuity study design, patients were divided into pre- and post-recall groups. Patient demographics, surgical details, and outcomes including infection rates were collected. Differences in complication rates were compared between groups and with surgical and patient factors.

Results

254 implants in 143 patients met inclusion criteria for this study, with 172 implants placed before recall and 82 placed after recall. Patients in each cohort did not differ in age, BMI, smoking status, or history of breast radiation or capsular contracture (p > 0.05). All breast pockets were irrigated with antibiotic solution, most commonly bacitracin, cefazolin, gentamycin, and povidone-iodine before recall (116,67.4%) and cefazolin, gentamycin, and povidone-iodine after recall (59,72.0%). There was no difference in incidence of infection (6.4% vs. 8.5%, p=0.551) or cellulitis (3.5% vs. 3.7%, p=0.959) before and after recall. Implant infection was associated with smoking history (p < 0.001) and increased surgical time (p=0.003).

Conclusions

Despite the recent recall of bacitracin from inclusion in breast pocket irrigation solutions, our study demonstrated no detrimental impact on immediate complication rates. This shift in irrigation protocols calls for additional investigations into optimizing antibiotic combinations in solution, as bacitracin is no longer a viable option, to improve surgical outcomes and long-term benefits.

Thumb talc granuloma mimicking squamous cell carcinoma: A case report

Application of topical powdery substances to the wound is an age old practice. Talc containing powdery substances are however commonplace and predominant in our environment. This insoluble mineral has been linked to chronic granulomatous reaction particularly in the lungs. We present a case report of a fifty-year-old man with prolonged application of talc containing powdery substances to the left thumb wound and excitation of exuberant granuloma mimicking squamous cell carcinoma. He had complete excision of the mass and satisfactory first dorsal metacarpal artery flap coverage of the soft tissue defect.

Clinical Issues-August 2021

Using antiseptic solutions in surgical wound irrigation Key words: antiseptic solution, povidone-iodine, wound irrigation, toxicity. Use of powered air-purifying respirators in the OR Key words: respiratory protection, powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), surgical N95 respirator, unfiltered exhaled air, sterile field contamination. Surgical wound classification of cesarean delivery procedures Key words: surgical wound classification, cesarean delivery, devitalized or infected tissue, contamination. Management and documentation of foam dressings used in open wounds Key words: retained surgical items, therapeutic packing, foam dressings, negative-pressure wound-therapy device. Gastric lavage during a malignant hyperthermia crisis Key words: malignant hyperthermia, gastric lavage, patient cooling methods, thermal management, perfusion.

Intrawound Antibiotic Powder in Acetabular Fracture Open Reduction Internal Fixation Does Not Reduce Surgical Site Infections

OBJECTIVES

To compare the risks of surgical site infection (SSI) and postoperative complications after acetabular fracture open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) in patients receiving topical intrawound antibiotic powder compared with those not receiving antibiotic powder (control group).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

We reviewed 789 acetabular fracture ORIF cases from 2010 to 2019 at our institution, with mean follow-up of 18 months (3-112 months). Overall, 326 patients comprised the control group and 463 received topical antibiotic powder (294 vancomycin and 169 vancomycin/tobramycin).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

The study groups were compared for risk of SSI, seroma formation, wound dehiscence, acute kidney injury (AKI), and other postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There were 63 total SSI (8.0%), 50 (6.3%) deep SSI and 13 suprafascial SSI (1.6%) cases. There was no difference in the risk of total SSI (8.3% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.80) or deep SSI (6.1% vs. 6.5%, P = 0.64). This was confirmed by multivariate analysis adjusting for covariates (odds ratio = 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.67; P = 0.80). Similar results were demonstrated when comparing the control group with the vancomycin and vancomycin/tobramycin subgroups. The control group and antibiotic powder groups had similar risks of all outcomes of interest, including seroma formation (1.8% vs. 1.7%, P = 1.00), wound dehiscence (1.2% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.42), total AKI (5.2% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.12), and RIFLE classification AKI (injury; 0.9% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.50).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of topical intrawound antibiotic powder, whether vancomycin alone or vancomycin/tobramycin before closure, does not reduce the risk of SSI after acetabular fracture ORIF compared with standard normal saline irrigation alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Clinical Issues-February 2021

Moving the surgical lights over a sterile field Key words: surgical lights, light handles, sterile field contamination, surgical site infection (SSI). Transport stretchers in the OR Key words: transport stretcher, bed linens, cross-contamination, sterile field, infectious disease. Using positive-pressure ORs for patients who require airborne precautions Key words: airborne precautions, positive-pressure airflow, positive-pressure OR, anteroom. Discontinuing the use of intraoperative bacitracin irrigation Key words: bacitracin for injection, antibiotic irrigation, antimicrobial irrigation, surgical site infection (SSI).

Standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate in caesarean delivery to reduce surgical site infections: A single institution experience

Background

Surgical site infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following caesarean delivery.

Objective

To determine whether standardising intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery could decrease infection rates.

Methods

This was a process improvement project involving 742 women, 343 of whom received low-pressured 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation during caesarean delivery over a one-year period. Infection rates were compared with a standard-of-care control group (399 women) undergoing caesarean delivery the preceding year.

Results

The treatment group infection rate met the study goal by achieving a lower infection rate than the control group, though this was not statistically significant. A significant interaction effect between irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and antibiotic administration time existed, such that infection occurrence in the treatment group was not dependent on antibiotic timing, as opposed to the control group infection occurrence, which was dependent on antibiotic timing.

Conclusion

Intraoperative irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate during caesarean delivery did not statistically significantly reduce the rate of infections. It did render the impact of antibiotic administration timing irrelevant in prevention of surgical site infection. This suggests a role for 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate irrigation in mitigating infection risk whether antibiotic prophylaxis timing is suboptimal or ideal.

Antiseptic Irrigation as an Effective Interventional Strategy for Reducing the Risk of Surgical Site Infections

A surgical site infection (SSI) can occur at several anatomic sites related to a surgical procedure: Superficial or deep incisional or organ/space. The SSIs are the leading cause of health-care-associated infection (HAI) in industrialized Western nations. Patients in whom an SSI develops require longer hospitalization, incur significantly greater treatment costs and reduction in quality of life, and after selective surgical procedures experience higher mortality rates. Effective infection prevention and control requires the concept of the SSI care bundle, which is composed of a defined number of evidence-based interventional strategies, because of the many risk factors that can contribute to the development of an SSI. Intra-operative irrigation has been a mainstay of surgical practice for well over 100 years, but lacks standardization and compelling evidence-based data to validate its efficacy. In an era of antibiotic stewardship, with a widespread prevalence of bacterial resistance to multiple antibiotic agents, there has emerged an interest in using intra-operative antiseptic irrigation to reduce microbial contamination in the surgical site before closure and possibly reduce the need for antibiotic agents. This approach has gained added appeal in an era of biomedical device implantation, especially with the recognition that most, if not all, device-related infections are associated with biofilm formation. This review focuses on the limited, evidence-based rationale for the use of antiseptic agents as an effective risk reduction strategy for prevention of SSIs.

Local Versus Systemic Antibiotics for Surgical Infection Prophylaxis in a Rat Model

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the local application of a variety of antimicrobial agents with intravenous (IV) antibiotics for infection prophylaxis in a rat model.

METHODS

A total of 120 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular graft in a submuscular position and challenged with 2 × 10 colony-forming units of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Twenty rats received pretreatment with IV cefazolin and 20 rats were pretreated with IV vancomycin. The remaining 80 rats had application of local antimicrobials in the wound at the conclusion of the procedure: 20 rats received vancomycin powder; 20 rats, cefazolin powder; and 20 rats, tobramycin powder; 20 rats underwent dilute 0.35% Betadine (povidone-iodine) lavage for 3 minutes. One week after surgery, the grafts were retrieved and cultured.

RESULTS

Twenty (100%) of 20 rats in each of the IV cefazolin, IV vancomycin, and dilute Betadine lavage groups had grossly positive cultures for MSSA (95% confidence interval [CI], 84% to 100%). Eighteen (90%) of 20 rats in the cefazolin local powder group demonstrated positive cultures for MSSA (95% CI, 77% to 100%). Four (20%) of 20 rats in the tobramycin local powder and vancomycin local powder groups demonstrated positive cultures for MSSA (95% CI, 3% to 38%). The infection rates for the local application of vancomycin and tobramycin powder were significantly lower compared with Betadine lavage, IV vancomycin, IV cefazolin, and local cefazolin powder (p < 0.000001).

CONCLUSIONS

Local antimicrobial prophylaxis with vancomycin and tobramycin powder for infections in the rat model was statistically superior to systemic prophylaxis with IV antibiotics, local cefazolin powder, and Betadine lavage.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study supports the findings of prior clinical reports that intrawound vancomycin powder reduces the risk of surgical site infection. Local application of tobramycin powder was equivalent to vancomycin powder in this model. Additionally, the superiority of local antibiotic surgical prophylaxis suggests that clinical studies should be considered to determine the relative efficacy of local versus systemic antibiotics for surgical infection prophylaxis in humans.

Efficacy and adverse effects of topical chloramphenicol ointment use for surgical wounds: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Chloramphenicol ointment is often used in plastic and dermatologic surgery as a topical antibiotic for surgical wounds, but evidence regarding its efficacy and side effects is lacking. In addition, anecdotal fear of aplastic anaemia exists from the oral use of this drug. We performed a systematic review of the literature to assess the efficacy and side effect profile of topical chloramphenicol ointment on non-ocular surgical wounds.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from inception until 4 September 2017 was undertaken. Clinical studies of topical chloramphenicol ointment use on surgical wounds were included. Studies looking only at ocular use or those not available in full text or English were excluded. The review was conducted adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

After full-text review, five articles were included. Two were randomized controlled trials, one was retrospective case control and two were case studies. There was evidence that chloramphenicol ointment use on surgical wounds produced a non-statistically significant reduction in infection rates. Delayed hypersensitivity and acute oesophagitis were noted as potential side effects of non-ocular topical use. Aplastic anaemia was not reported.

CONCLUSION

There is a paucity of clinical data regarding the use of topical chloramphenicol ointment on surgical wounds. Further randomized controlled trials may be beneficial in order to support or refute its use in this setting.