Circulatory collapse after topical application of vancomycin powder during spine surgery

Vancomycin powder mixed with autogenous bone graft and bone substitute may decrease the deep surgical site infections in elective lumbar instrumented fusion surgery for degenerative disorders: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Deep surgical site infections (DSSI) following lumbar instrumented fusion surgery are associated with considerable morbidity. Intraoperative application of vancomycin powder (VP) has been widely used to prevent DSSI; however, the effects of VP mixed with local autogenous bone graft (ABG) and bone substitute on DSSI prevention and bone fusion remains unclear.

PURPOSE

To examine the effects of VP mixed with ABG and bone substitute on DSSI and fusion rate.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

A prospective randomized case-controlled study at a single medical center. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03883022) PATIENTS' SAMPLE: Adult patients who underwent decompression along with instrumented fusion surgery for a degenerative lumbar condition were recruited from October 2017 to May 2023. Patients were randomly allocated to vancomycin (n=357) or control (without vancomycin) (n=348) groups. In the vancomycin group, 1 g of antibiotic powder was used for 2- and 3-level fusions (no 1 level fusions?) while 2 g was used for >3-level.

OUTCOMES MEASURES

The primary outcome was DSSI within 90 days after index surgery. Secondary outcomes included surgical and vancomycin-related complications, functional outcomes and bone fusion.

METHODS

All patients were followed up with plain spine radiographs at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The definition of DSSI was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for SSI. Posterolateral fusion was assessed using the Lenke criteria and interbody fusion was assessed using the Brantigan-Steffee-Fraser (BSF) definition. Solid fusion was defined as an angular change of <5° of the fused segments in supine dynamic flexion and extension lateral radiographs, Lenke grade A and B or BSF-3 definition. Antibiotic concentrations in the vancomycin group were measured in the serum and at the surgical site in the drain on days 1 and 3 after the index surgery. Functional outcomes were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and visual analog scale (VAS) for leg pain.

RESULTS

In total, 357 and 348 patients were enrolled in the vancomycin and control groups, respectively. Mean patient age was 67.7±11.0 years and 63.0% were female. There were no DSSIs in the vancomycin group and five in the control group (0 vs. 1.4%, p=.029). All five patients with DSSI had diabetes (100%). None of the patients with diabetes in the vancomycin group developed DSSI (0/119 vs. 5/105 in control group, p=.021). Postoperative serum vancomycin levels were undetectable and no vancomycin-related complications were observed. The mean vancomycin concentrations at surgical site in the drain were 524.5±209.9 μg/mL and 217.4±97.2 μg/mL on postoperative days 1 and 3, respectively (measured in a drain?). At the final follow-up, functional outcomes and bone fusion rates were similar between the two groups. Solid posterolateral fusion (Lenke grade A or B) was observed in 79.3% (257/324) of the vancomycin group and 73.5% (233/317) of the control group (p=0.348). Interbody fusion, based on the BSF-3 definition, was observed in 99.4% (326/328) of cages in the vancomycin group and 99.6% (258/259) in the control group (p=1.000). Based on the criteria of angular change of < 5° on dynamic lateral radiographs, the solid fusion rate was 100% in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Vancomycin mixed with local ABG and bone substitute maintains high vancomycin level at surgical site and appears safe and effective for preventing DSSI in lumbar degenerative instrumented fusion surgery without affecting bony fusion, especially in diabetic patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03883022.

Intra-wound vancomycin powder is cost-saving in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

This study seeks to explore whether intra-wound vancomycin powder (IVP) is a cost-effective adjunct to standard of care (SOC) in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) from a US payor perspective.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model in the form of a decision tree was developed to compare the cost and outcomes of IVP with those of SOC in preventing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) in TJA patients. The base case analysis assumes a hypothetical practice with an equal volume (50/50) of THA and TKA procedures in both the IVP + SOC and the SOC arm. Cost and clinical effectiveness data were obtained from published literature. Sensitivity and threshold analyses were used to estimate how changing inputs would impact the cost-effectiveness of IVP.

RESULTS

Deterministic results found that in the base case model, IVP as an adjunct to SOC generates a cost saving of $260.38/patient. In scenario analysis, where THA and TKA procedures were separated, the estimated cost saving was $241.50/patient and $279.27/patient, respectively. Break-even analysis showed that the cost of IVP per patient would need to be $244.82-$282.59, or the PJI relative risk (RR) be approximately 0.99. Probabilistic analysis found IVP + SOC was cost-saving in 99.26% of the 10,000 iterations in the base case model.

CONCLUSION

Applying local vancomycin as an adjunct to SOC in primary TJA is not just cost effective, but cost-saving in reducing PJIs, saving an average of $260.38/patient. Depending on individual institution/practice infection rates and revision surgery costs, local vancomycin administration for primary TJA should be considered.

Antibiotic Use in Adult Spine Deformity Surgery: Results From the AO Spine Surveillance of the Management of Patients With Adult Spine Deformity

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional international survey with literature review.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the evidence for these strategies and to understand the current trends in prophylactic antibiotic use during ASD surgery through an international survey.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted among international AO Spine members regarding the peri-operative management of patients with ASD. The details of perioperative systemic and topical antibiotic use were solicited. Descriptive data were summarized for the responding surgeons who perform at least 10 long-segment fusions of >5 levels extending to the pelvis annually.

RESULTS

The literature supports the use of prophylactic antibiotic effective against gram positive organisms. The use of topical vancomycin remains debated, and there is limited evidence for topical tobramycin use. A total of 116 responses were received. 74 (64%) surgeons use topical vancomycin, most usually deep to the fascia only 45 (61%). The most usual dose used is 1-2 g. 4 (3%) surgeons use topical tobramycin deep to fascia. Following surgery, 90 (78%) surgeons use prophylactic cephalosporin with 3 (3%) using cloxacillin, 5 (4%) using ciprofloxacin and 9 (8%) using vancomycin and 6 (5%) using clindamycin either in addition or alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The present survey identifies a trend towards systemic and topical antibiotic prophylaxis primarily targeted at gram positive pathogens. The use of topical tobramycin, proposedly effective against gram negative infections, remains uncommon. There is a lack of consensus in the selection of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, thus a prospective study of the rates of infection with each strategy would be useful to inform guidelines.

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.

Efficacy of prophylactic use of intraoperative vancomycin powder in preventing surgical site infection in neurological surgeries in Irrua, Nigeria: A randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

The objective was to determine the efficacy of intraoperative vancomycin powder in preventing SSIs in neurological surgeries.

METHODS

A prospective randomized controlled study of patients who had clean cranial and non-implant spine surgeries at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria from February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group A patients had prophylactic intraoperative vancomycin powder applied to the surgical bed before wound closure while group B patients did not. Patients in both groups were followed up for 30 days post-operatively for evidence of SSI. The occurrence of SSIs was determined using clinical and laboratory parameters. Baseline characteristics, operative details, rates of wound infection, and microbiological data for each case were recorded. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Scientific Solution (SPSS) version 23 software.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were randomized into 2 groups of 21 patients each. The age range of the patients was 20 to 80 years. The majority of the patients were males (32 out of 42). The mean age of patients in group A was 48.05 ± 17.03 years, while group B had a mean age of 45.95 ± 19.14 years. The mean Body Mass Index of patients in groups A and B were 23.92 ± 5.21 and 23.21 ± 3.99 respectively. Seven out of 21 patients (33.3 %) in the control group ( group B) had superficial SSIs while no patient in the experimental group had SSI, p-value < 0.05. The organisms cultured were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative vancomycin powder was effective in reducing the rate of SSIs following neurological surgeries and without adverse drug reactions.

Preoperative Optimization: Risk Factors for Perioperative Complications and Preoperative Modification

Adult spinal deformity (ASD) is common and the complication rate in ASD surgery is high due to its invasiveness. There are several factors that increase the risk of complications with ASD surgery. These include age, past medical history, frailty, osteoporosis, or operative invasiveness. Risk factors for perioperative complications can be categorized as modifiable and non-modifiable. The purpose of this article is to present the current available evidence on risk factors for perioperative complications, with a focus on frailty, osteoporosis, surgical site infection prevention, and hip-spine syndrome. In addition, we present the latest evidence for patient-specific surgical risk assessment and surgical planning.

Vancomycin Flushing Syndrome After the Use of Vancomycin-Impregnated Bone Graft During Spine Surgery: A Case Report

CASE

Intrawound vancomycin in spine surgery is a common clinical practice. We report a case of a 14-year-old adolescent girl undergoing surgery for scoliosis correction who developed features of vancomycin flushing syndrome after the use of vancomycin-impregnated bone graft. After resuscitation, she was extubated and had an uneventful postoperative recovery. At 1-year follow-up, she is back to her routine without any sequelae of the intraoperative event.

CONCLUSION

The use of intrawound vancomycin can result in life-threatening reactions. With the increase in its use, the anesthetist and the surgeon must be aware of such complications.

Efficacy and safety of intrawound antibiotics in patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a nationwide database study

PURPOSE

To assess the efficacy and safety of intrawound antibiotics in posterior fusions for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODS

The NSQIP-Pediatric databases 2016-2018 were utilized. Patients 10 years of age or older with AIS who underwent posterior fusion were selected and divided into two cohorts based on the receipt of intrawound antibiotics. Patient characteristics and complications were compared. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the efficacy and safety of intrawound antibiotics.

RESULTS

A total of 4203 patients received intrawound antibiotics while 879 patients did not. The intrawound antibiotic group had longer constructs, higher blood loss, and longer operative times, factors historically associated with higher infection rates. Those that received intrawound antibiotics had SSI rate of 0.69%, while its counterpart had 0.57% (p = 0.689). The reoperation rates were 1.12% and 1.25% (p = 0.735), for those with and without intrawound antibiotics, respectively. In multivariate analyses, intrawound antibiotics use was not found to be a significant predictor for SSI, any complications, reoperation and readmission.

CONCLUSION

The current study represents the largest AIS surgery cohort studied to evaluate the efficacy of intrawound antibiotics. Our analysis failed to demonstrate association between the use of intrawound antibiotics and reduction in SSI. While other studies have reported seroma, wound dehiscence and renal failure with the practice, we did not observe an increased rate of such complications. This study highlights the difficulty of understanding the role for individual infection prevention measures in current surgical settings, where the SSI rate for the control group was substantially lower than 1%.

Is Vancomycin More Effective than Taurolidine? Comparative Analysis of Their Preventive Effect against Spinal Infection in 1000 Patients with Spinal Fusion

This study aimed to examine the effect of taurolidine irrigation on preventing surgical site infection by comparing the spinal infection rate after spinal fusion surgery using vancomycin powder application and taurolidine irrigation. Of 1081 participants, 369 underwent taurolidine irrigation, 221 underwent vancomycin powder application, and 491 were controls. Of the 20 surgical site infections (1.85%), 14 occurred in the control group (2.85%), 5 in the vancomycin group (2.26%), and 1 (0.27%) in the taurolidine group. Among the various variables, age at the time of surgery, smoking, surgical site, and hemovac removal time were significant in the univariate logistic regression. The final result was derived after variable selection using the stepwise method. In the univariate model, the odds ratios were 0.09 and 0.79 in each of the vancomycin and taurolidine groups compared to that of the control group. In the multivariate model, the odds ratios were 0.09 and 0.83 in each of the vancomycin and taurolidine groups compared to that of the control group. The preventive effect of vancomycin powder application was not statistically significant. However, the vancomycin group showed a less effective tendency than the taurolidine group. Taurolidine irrigation may be a good substitute for the vancomycin powder application.

Prophylactic Intrawound Vancomycin Powder in Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization May Cause an Acute Inflammatory Response

Introduction

Surgical site infections (SSIs) with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are serious complications of spinal instrumentation surgery. Many spine surgeons are concerned that using prophylactic vancomycin powder will lead to certain risks: the development of multidrug-resistant pathogens, anaphylactic reactions, and organ toxicity. Minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) is associated with shorter operation times and less blood loss and may therefore require the use of less vancomycin powder, which may reduce these risks. This retrospective comparative study of patients who underwent MISt at a single institution aimed to evaluate the complications (such as allergy, SSIs, and organ toxicity) and the local and serum levels associated with using prophylactic intrawound vancomycin powder compared with IV cefazolin alone.

Methods

Thirty-four patients received intrawound vancomycin powder (1 g) applied during wound closure in minimally invasive posterior lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-PLIF). This group was compared with 133 control patients who did not receive vancomycin. White blood cell counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured for both groups on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 7 and were statistically analyzed. In the vancomycin group, serum vancomycin levels were measured on PODs 1, 3, 7, and 14; drain vancomycin levels and postoperative blood loss were determined on PODs 1 and 2.

Results

The CRP levels on PODs 1 and 3 were significantly higher in the vancomycin group than in the control group (P<0.001, P=0.024). In the vancomycin group, mean drain levels trended downward from 313 μg/mL (POD 1) to 155 μg/mL (POD 2). These levels correlated negatively with drain drainage volume on both days (POD 1: r=-0.48, P=0.015; POD 2: r=-0.47, P=0.019). Mean serum vancomycin levels also trended downward from 2.3 μg/mL (POD 1) to 1.7 μg/mL (POD 14).

Conclusions

Our results unexpectedly demonstrated that the local application of vancomycin powder causes an acute inflammatory response and the long-term detection of low serum vancomycin levels. Less than 1 g of intrawound vancomycin powder may be useful only at high risk of SSI.

Is Use of Topical Vancomycin in Pediatric Spine Surgeries a Safe Option in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections? A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of the Literature

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the available articles on topical vancomycin powder (TVP) use in pediatric spine surgeries exploring the usefulness and safety of such practice.

METHODS

We conducted an independent and duplicate electronic database search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library till March 2020 to identify all relevant literature on the use of TVP for pediatric spine surgeries. Surgical site infection (SSI) rate, specific reported complications, reoperation rate, microbial flora pattern in reported SSIs, and safety profile were the outcomes analyzed. Analysis was performed with the R platform using OpenMeta[Analyst] software.

RESULTS

No prospective studies were available to evaluate the use of TVP in pediatric spine surgeries for the prevention of SSIs. Neither standardized protocol, nor drug dosage, nor safety profile was established for pediatric use. Three retrospective cohort studies including 824 patients (TVP/control: 400/424) were included in the meta-analysis. There was low-quality evidence suggesting no significant difference between the 2 groups in SSI rate (RR = 0.474; 95% CI = [0.106,2.112]; P = .327) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 70.14; P = .035). The TVP group showed a significant benefit on cost analysis in one of the included studies. However, TVP did not prevent gram-negative coinfection on SSI in the TVP group.

CONCLUSION

From the literature available at present, TVP does not qualify to be recommended as a safe and useful option to prevent SSI following pediatric spine surgeries. High-quality prospective interventional studies are needed to arrive at a consensus on its use along with appropriate dosage and method of application.

A meta-analysis of the local application of vancomycin powder to prevent surgical site infection after spinal surgeries

Objective

This study aimed to systematically analyze the effectiveness and safety of the local application of vancomycin powder to prevent surgical site infection (SSI) after spinal surgeries and provide guidance for clinical practice.

Methods

Two researchers independently searched PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure using the MeSH terms “spinal surgery,” “vancomycin,” “local,” “topical,” “prophylactic,” “surgical site infection,” and “SSI” to identify studies published between January 2010 and January 2020 on the local application of vancomycin powder for preventing SSI after spinal surgeries. The outcome assessment indicators were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results

Three randomized controlled trials, two prospective studies, and 26 retrospective studies were included in the current research. The results of the meta-analysis revealed significant differences between the vancomycin and control groups (non-vancomycin group) concerning the incidence of SSI (risk ratio = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.28–0.55, Z = 5.46), indicating that local application of vancomycin powder can significantly reduce the incidence of SSI.

Conclusion

Local application of vancomycin powder is an effective and safe method to prevent SSI after spinal surgeries.

Local antibiotics in posterior lumbar fusion procedures for neuromuscular scoliosis: a case for their use

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are medically devastating and financially costly complications after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS). Many strategies exist to reduce their occurrence. The efficacy of intraoperative antibiotics in the wound or bone graft is gaining in popularity, but this practice has not been well-studied in the PSF NMS population.

PURPOSE

To assess the potential utility of intraoperative local antibiotics in patients with NMS undergoing PSF.

STUDY DESIGN/SETTING

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Pediatric patients who underwent PSF for NMS were identified from the 2016-2018 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) pediatric spinal fusion datasets.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Perioperative adverse outcome variables assed included the occurrence of SSI, renal complications, and adverse hospital metrics.

METHODS

Patient demographic factors, comorbidities, and the use of intraoperative antibiotics in the wound were recorded (a specifically assessed variable in the dataset). The association between the use of intraoperative antibiotics and the occurrence of adverse outcomes/infection was assessed for the entire study population and higher risk sub-populations.

RESULTS

In total, 1,990 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 87% received local antibiotics. Higher risk patients were more likely to receive local antibiotics in the wound as part of their procedure. When controlling for potentially confounding factors, the use of local antibiotics was not statistically significantly associated with any of the studied adverse outcomes for the overall study population. Subgroup analysis of higher risk patient populations (≥13 levels fused, osteotomy performed, prior deformity surgery, nonasthma lung condition) revealed a significantly decreased risk of SSI in patients undergoing ≥13 level fusions (relative risk: 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.25-0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

With no increased overall risks and reduced SSIs in higher risk NMS patients undergoing PSF, the use of intrawound antibiotics appears to be supported by this dataset.

Vancomycin presoaking of hamstring autografts to prevent infection in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a narrative review

Hamstring autograft use has been linked to an increased risk of infection after anterior cruciate (ACL) reconstruction compared to other grafts. The absolute reason for this remains unclear, with contamination after harvesting and preparation of the graft being the most accepted hypothesis.

Using the rationale that a contaminated graft could be the main factor in postoperative septic arthritis and in an effort to maximize the antibiotic efficacy of the graft, the Vancomycin presoaking technique was developed. It has shown success in decreasing the infection rate in ACL reconstruction. In recent years, an important number of research articles using this protocol have appeared, but the technique is still not widely implemented.

Recent literature shows that Vancomycin presoaking of the graft has shown a successful decrease in the infection rate after hamstring autograft ACL reconstruction. It has also shown efficacy decreasing the infection rate in other types of grafts (patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, allograft) and also in patients with concomitant ligament procedures or open surgeries.

Despite the positive effects of Vancomycin presoaking reducing the infection rate after ACL reconstruction, the lack of prospective randomized control trials and the heterogeneity of the different studies mean it is not feasible to recommend Vancomycin presoaking of the graft universally for every ACL reconstruction patient.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:211-216. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200059

Circulatory collapse during wound closure in spine surgery with an unknown cause: a possible adverse effect of topical application of vancomycin?

BACKGROUND

Vancomycin (VCM) is effective in fighting Gram-positive bacteria related severe infections, and topical application of VCM powder is widely used in orthopedic surgery to prevent wound infection. However, VCM could lead to infusion rate-dependent antibody-and complement-independent anaphylaxis reaction by inducing direct release of histamine.

CASE PRESENTATION

We retrospectively analyzed seven cases of severe hypotension and shock during wound closure or immediately after orthopedic surgery with unidentifiable reasons. We found that these cases were all associated with local application of VCM powder during wound closure process. Two patients experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Most of the cases (6/7) with circulatory collapse were discharged without severe sequelae. While one case with application of 3 g VCM developed cardiac arrest and remained in a coma due to hypoxic-hypoxic encephalopathy. The clinical presentations and the time of the shock onset were considered to be related with a VCM induced anaphylaxis reaction. However, as this was a retrospective study, and there was no laboratory examination performed, the conclusion was made upon differential diagnosis based on clinical manifestations and the timing of the shock.

CONCLUSIONS

Local application of VCM may not be as safe as was once believed and may lead to a related anaphylaxis. As VCM induced infusion-rate dependent, non-IgE mediated anaphylaxis is characterized by delayed occurrence, severe hypotension and even circulatory collapse, surgeons and anesthesiologists should be extra vigilant during and after VCM application.

Spine Infections Reduced at Dedicated Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital

BACKGROUND

Previous studies stratified postoperative infection risk by patient comorbidities. However, it is unclear whether the incidence varies by surgical approach in a specialized orthopaedic setting. This study aims to compare infection rates and microbiologic characteristics of postoperative spine infections requiring return to the operating room for debridement by hospital setting: a dedicated orthopaedic and spine hospital versus a general hospital serving multiple surgical specialties.

METHODS

The study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Procedures performed between March 2006 and August 2008 at the multispecialty university hospital were compared with cases at an orthopaedic specialty hospital from September 2008 through August 2016. The surgeons, residents, and patients were similar, but the operative venue changed in 2008.

RESULTS

The overall general university hospital infection rate was 2.03%, higher than the overall infection rate at the dedicated orthopaedic and spine hospital of 1.31% (P < .0104). The general university infection rate was 2.27% in the final years of practice, compared with 0.91% at the dedicated orthopaedic and spine hospital (P < .0001) during a recent 2-year time frame. Demographic variables did not significantly differ between the 2 settings. The overall proportion of Gram-negative infection rates was not statistically different (21.7% vs 18.6%), despite an increased proportion of Gram-negative infections at the general university hospital following surgery from an anterior approach. Most of the organisms isolated in both facilities were Staphylococcus species. There was no difference in the seasonality of postoperative spine infections in either setting.

CONCLUSIONS

In transitioning from a multispecialty university hospital to a dedicated orthopaedic hospital, the incidence of postoperative spine infections was significantly reduced to 0.91%. Despite the change in venue, the proportion of Gram-negative infections (∼20%) following spine surgery did not significantly change. These results suggest improved infection rates during the course of the last 10 years with consistent proportions of Gram-negative infections.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Double-blind randomized clinical trial of vancomycin in spinal arthrodesis: no effects on surgical site infection

OBJECTIVE

Surgical site infection (SSI) results in high morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing spinal fusion. Using intravenous antibiotics in anesthesia induction reduces the rate of postoperative infection, but it is not common practice to use them topically, despite recent reports that this procedure helps reduce infection. The objective of this study was to determine whether the topical use of vancomycin reduces the rate of postoperative SSI in patients undergoing thoracolumbar fusion.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind clinical trial in a single hospital was performed comparing vancomycin and placebo in thoracolumbar fusion patients.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients were randomized to placebo or vancomycin treatment. The mean patient age was 43 ± 14.88 years, 74% were male, and the most common etiology was fall from height (46.9%). The overall rate of postoperative SSI was 8.3%, and no difference was found between the groups: postoperative infection rates in the vancomycin and placebo groups were 8.2% and 8.5% (relative risk [RR] of SSI not using vancomycin 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-3.93, p = 0.951), respectively. Patients with diabetes mellitus had higher SSI rates (RR 8.98, 95% CI 1.81-44.61, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first double-blind randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of topical vancomycin on postoperative infection rates in thoracolumbar fusion patients, and the results did not differ significantly from placebo.Clinical trial registration no.: RBR-57wppt (ReBEC; http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/).

Study of antibiotic efficacy of topical vancomycin powder in treatment of infected mandibular fractures and soft tissue surgical site infections

Aims and Objective

To study the antibiotic efficacy of topical vancomycin in infected mandibular fracture treatment and its effect in preventing surgical site infections.

Materials and Methods

The study comprised of 100 subjects of infected mandibular fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation, randomly categorized into two equal groups of 50 each, that is, vancomycin group (N = 50) treated for infected mandibular fractures with topical vancomycin powder used as adjunct and non-vancomycin group (N = 50). Clinical parameters like hospital stay, postoperative infections, postoperative fever, abnormal swelling, purulent discharge, and fistula formation at surgical site and radiographic healing was evaluated and compared between the groups.

Results

Mean age of vancomycin group and non-vancomycin group was 32.5 and 33.2 years, respectively. Demographic factors of the patients like age, sex, and hospital stay (3 ± 0.5 days) did not show significant difference between two groups. Vancomycin group shows 1 hyperthermia, 2 abnormal swelling and discharge, whereas non-vancomycin group shows 6 hyperthermia, 5 postoperative abnormal swelling and discharge with statistically significant (P < 0.05). Culture sensitivity of discharged fluid shows staphylococcal + MRSA infection in two patients in vancomycin group and eight patients in non-vancomycin group. Bony healing in vancomycin group shows one patient had non-union and one had graft rejection, whereas five patients had non-union and graft rejection in non- vancomycin group. The comparative results were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

From the result of our study we can conclude that routine use of vancomycin powder in surgical site as a surgical adjunct reduces the incidence of infections at surgical site when it is applied in addition to standard antibiotic prophylaxis. Topical application into a surgical wound also reduces the risk associated with parenteral administration of vancomycin.

Vancomycin powder for the prevention of surgical site infection in posterior elective spinal surgery

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of vancomycin powder as surgical site infection (SSI) prophylaxis in posterior bilateral elective spinal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Single-center quasi-experimental pre and postintervention comparative cohort study. The post-intervention group received standard intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis plus 1g of vancomycin powder into the surgical field before wound closure, and the pre-intervention group only the intravenous prophylaxis.

RESULTS

150 patients were included in each group. Twelve SSI (7 superficial and 5 deep) occurred in the post-intervention group and 16 SSI (7 superficial and 9 deep) in the pre-intervention group. The risk of deep SSI decreased from 6.0% to 3.3% (OR 0,54, 95%CI 0.17-1.65, p=0.411) with vancomycin powder. The percentage of deep SSI due to gram negative-positive germs were 80%-20% and 33%-67% for the post- and pre-intervention groups, respectively (p=0.265). No local or systemic adverse effects occurred attributable to vancomycin powder.

CONCLUSION

In posterior elective spinal surgery, prophylaxis with vancomycin powder did not result in a significantly reduced incidence of superficial and deep SSI. There was a trend towards a higher incidence of deep SSI caused by gram negative microorganisms among those treated with vancomycin.

Infectious Prophylaxis with Intrawound Vancomycin Powder in Orthopedic Surgeries: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Despite many existing strategies used to reduce the rates of surgical site infection (SSI), these are still fairly frequent complications that pose a challenge for orthopedic surgeons. Therefore, the search for more effective methods of perioperative infection prophylaxis became a main subject of research, with the goal of decreasing postoperative morbidity, mortality, and costs. Thus, the present study sought to assess the effectiveness of intra-wound vancomycin powder in orthopedic surgery SSI prophylaxis. A systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols 2015 (PRISMA-P 2015). A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify controlled studies on the rates of SSI with or without the local use of vancomycin powder. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied. A meta-analysis with random effects was performed. Out of 412 titles that met the criteria, 7 studies regarding spine surgery were included: 4 prospective and 3 retrospective studies. A total of 6,944 cases were identified, and they were divided into 2 groups: the control group (3,814 patients), to whom intrawound vancomycin was not administered, and the intervention group (3,130 patients), to who vancomycin was administered locally. We observed that 64 (2.04%) patients in the intervention group developed SSI, in contrast to 144 (3.75%) patients in the control group. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the local use of vancomycin powder had an statistically significant protective effect against SSI in cases of spine surgery, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.59 and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 0.35-0.98. The use of prophylactic intrawound vancomycin powder has a protective effect against SSI in spine surgeries; however, further prospective trials are needed to endorse its use in orthopedic surgeries.

Vancomycin pre-soaking of the graft reduces postoperative infection rate without increasing risk of graft failure and arthrofibrosis in ACL reconstruction

PURPOSE

To investigate whether pre-soaking the graft in vancomycin during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) reduces the postoperative infection rate and if this technique is associated with an increased rate of complications, including graft failure or arthrofibrosis.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospective database was performed in 1779 patients who underwent ACLR over a period of 5 years, analysing the rate of postoperative deep knee infection. Group 1 and 2 both received perioperative IV antibiotics, while only group 2 underwent ACLR with grafts pre-soaked in a 5 mg/ml vancomycin solution. To analyse possible side effects associated with vancomycin use, 500 patients out of the overall study population (100 patients per year) were randomly selected and retrospectively interviewed for further postoperative complications including graft failure and arthrofibrosis as well as subjective evaluation of their knee by completing the IKDC form with a minimum mean follow-up of 37 months.

RESULTS

In group 1, 22 out of 926 (2%) patients suffered a postoperative deep knee infection. In contrast, there were no postoperative infections in the second group of 853 patients (0%). 16 of 22 infections (73%) were caused by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Statistical analysis revealed a significantly reduced postoperative infection rate when bathing the autograft in vancomycin (p < 0.01). Analysis of the random sample revealed a significant decrease of graft failure with 8 reruptures in 257 patients (3%) in the vancomycin group compared to 16 cases of graft failure in 167 patients (10%) in the control group (p < 0.05). No differences were found in the rate of postoperative arthrofibrosis, Tegner or subjective outcome scores.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic vancomycin pre-soaking of autografts during ACLR appears to be a viable, cost-effective and safe option to reduce the rate of deep infection compared to systemic antibiotics alone.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

What Are the Benefits and Risks Associated With the Use of Vancomycin Powder in the Wound During Total Ankle Arthroplasty (TAA) or Other Foot and Ankle Procedures?

RECOMMENDATION

Though one study supporting topically applied vancomycin has shown it to reduce the rate of deep infection in diabetic patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery, there is insufficient evidence to show benefits or to show any risks associated with the use of vancomycin powder during total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) or other foot and ankle procedures in a general population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Consensus.

DELEGATE VOTE

Agree: 100%, Disagree: 0%, Abstain: 0% (Unanimous, Strongest Consensus).

Intrawound Treatment for Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Instrumented Spinal Surgery: A Systematic Comparative Effectiveness Review and Meta-Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of intrawound treatments in reducing deep surgical site infections (SSIs) in instrumented spinal surgery.

METHODS

The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane were systematically searched for intrawound treatments for the prevention of SSIs in clean instrumented spine surgery. Both randomized controlled trials and comparative cohort studies were included. The results of included studies were pooled for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

After full text- and reference screening, 20 articles were included. There were 2 randomized controlled trials and 18 observational studies. Sixteen studies investigated the use of intrawound antibiotics, and 4 studies investigated the use of intrawound antiseptics. The relative risk of deep SSI for any treatment was 0.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-0.44, P < .0001), a significant reduction compared with controls receiving no treatment. For patients treated with local antibiotics the relative risk was 0.29 (95% CI 0.17-0.51, P < .0001), and patients treated with local antiseptics had a relative risk of 0.14 (95% CI 0.05-0.44, P = .0006).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the use of antibiotic and antiseptic intrawound prophylactics was associated with a significant 3 to 7 times reduction of deep SSIs in instrumented spine surgery. No adverse events were reported in the included studies.

Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of Surgical Site Infection in the Lumbar Spine

Surgical site infection (SSI) following spine surgery can be devastating for both the patient and the surgeon. It leads to significant morbidity and associated health care costs, from readmissions, reoperations, and subsequent poor clinical outcomes. Complications associated with SSI following spine surgery include pseudarthrosis, neurological deterioration, sepsis, and death. Its management can be very challenging. The diagnosis of SSI involves the interpretation of combined clinical, laboratory, and occasionally radiologic findings. Most infections can be treated with an appropriate course of antibiotics and bracing if required. Surgical intervention is usually reserved for infections resistant to medical management, the need for open biopsy/culture, evolving spinal instability or deformity, and neurologic deficit or deterioration. A thorough knowledge of associated risk factors is required and patients should be stratified for risk preoperatively. The multifaceted approach of risk stratification, early diagnosis and effective treatment, is essential for successful prevention and effective treatment and crucial for a satisfactory outcome.

Use of Intrawound Antibiotics in Orthopaedic Surgery

Intrawound antibiotics have been used in orthopaedic surgery procedures to prevent the development of surgical site infections. Local delivery of antibiotic powder has demonstrated a notable reduction in surgical site infection in rabbit and rodent in vivo models, as well as in other surgical fields, including vascular, colorectal, cardiothoracic, and dermatologic surgery. Intrawound antibiotic powder has been used in many orthopaedic applications, including spine surgery, total joint arthroplasty, trauma, foot and ankle reconstruction, and elbow surgery. Although the theory behind the use of intrawound antibiotic powder is promising, it has potential adverse effects, including antibiotic resistance, circulatory collapse, and decreased bone healing. In addition, most studies in the orthopaedic literature on the use of intrawound antibiotic powder are retrospective in nature.

Postoperative Infection in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbosacral Spinal Surgery: A Pictorial Guide for Diagnosis and Early Treatment

Surgical site infections after posterior spinal surgery may lead to spondylodiscitis, pseudarthrosis, correction loss, adverse neurological sequelae, sepsis, and poor outcomes if not treated immediately. Infection rates vary depending on the type and extent of operative procedures, use of instrumentation, and patients' risk factors. Image evaluation is crucial for early diagnosis and should be complementary to clinical routes, laboratory survey, and treatment timing. Magnetic resonance imaging detects early inflammatory infiltration into the vertebrae and soft tissues, including hyperemic changes of edematous marrow, vertebral endplate, and abscess or phlegmon accumulation around the intervertebral disk, epidural, and paravertebral spaces. Aggressive surgical treatment can eradicate infection sources, obtain a stable wound closure, decrease morbidity, and restore spinal integrity. Organ/space infection is defined as any body parts opened to manipulate other than superficial/deep incision. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging evaluating abnormal fluid accumulation, heterogenous contrast enhancement of the endplate erosion due to cage/screw infection is categorized to inform a presumptive diagnosis for early implant salvage. However, patients' defense response, infection severity, bacteriology, treatment timing, spinal stability, and available medical and surgical options must be fully considered. Revision surgery is indicated for pseudarthrosis, implant loosening with correction loss, recalcitrant spondylodiscitis, and adjacent segment diseases for infection control.

Do Dose-Dependent Microbial Changes Occur during Spine Surgery as a Result of Applying Intrawound Vancomycin Powder?: A Systematic Literature Review

We analyzed dose-dependent effects of vancomycin on wound infection bacteria and investigated the relationship between dose and microbial imbalances in patients treated with intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery. Numerous trials have confirmed that using intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery may decrease postoperative wound infection rates. However, potential risks include changes in wound infection bacteria, inhibition of bone fusion, and systemic toxicity. We searched PubMed for articles published since October 2016 with the following terms: “local vancomycin” or “intrawound vancomycin” or “intraoperative vancomycin” or “intrawound vancomycin” or “topical vancomycin” and “spinal surgery” or “spine surgery.” We also screened the reference lists of included articles for additional studies and extracted data related to dose, infecting bacteria, sample size, infection rate and types, location of spine surgery, and perioperative antibiotics used. Our review includes one prospective and nine retrospective studies. Overall, 1 or 2 g local vancomycin powder was used in 2,394 patients. Gram-negative bacteria were dominant in patients in whom 1 g vancomycin powder was used, whereas gram-positive bacteria were dominant in those in whom 2 g powder was used. The exact mechanism underlying this dose-dependent trend remains unclear, although it may be attributed to the pharmacological characteristics of vancomycin. The included studies showed that trends in infection bacteria may change after the use of topical vancomycin powder. In addition, the observed increase in gram-negative bacteria when intrawound vancomycin powder is used has generated considerable attention. The present results differ from previous results but do not provide additional information regarding vancomycin dose and microbial changes in infected wounds. Additional large randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the relationship between vancomycin dose and the types of wound infection bacteria in patients treated with intrawound vancomycin powder during spine surgery.

Topical vancomycin and its effect on survival and migration of osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and myoblasts: An in vitro study

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of topical vancomycin on cell migration and survival of tissue healing cells. Human osteoblasts, myoblasts and fibroblasts were exposed to vancomycin at concentrations of 1, 3, 6, or 12 mg/cm² for either a 1-h or 48-h (continuous) duration. Continuous exposure to all vancomycin concentrations significantly reduced cell survival (<22% cells survived) and migration in osteoblasts and myoblasts (P < 0.001). 1-h vancomycin exposure reduced osteoblast and myoblast survival and migration only at 12 mg/cm² (P < 0.001). Further in vivo studies are warranted to optimize the dosage of intrawound vancomycin.

Intrawound Vancomycin Decreases the Risk of Surgical Site Infection After Posterior Spine Surgery: A Multicenter Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

Secondary analysis of data from a prospective multicenter observational study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with and without intrawound vancomycin application controlling for confounding factors associated with higher SSI after elective spine surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

SSI is a morbid and expensive complication associated with spine surgery. The application of intrawound vancomycin is rapidly emerging as a solution to reduce SSI following spine surgery. The impact of intrawound vancomycin has not been systematically studied in a well-designed multicenter study.

METHODS

Patients undergoing elective spine surgery over a period of 4 years at seven spine surgery centers across the United States were included in the study. Patients were dichotomized on the basis of whether intrawound vancomycin was applied. Outcomes were occurrence of SSI within postoperative 30 days and SSI that required return to the operating room (OR). Multivariable random-effect log-binomial regression analyses were conducted to determine the relative risk of having an SSI and an SSI with return to OR.

RESULTS

.: A total of 2056 patients were included in the analysis. Intrawound vancomycin was utilized in 47% (n = 966) of patients. The prevalence of SSI was higher in patients with no vancomycin use (5.1%) than those with use of intrawound vancomycin (2.2%). The risk of SSI was higher in patients in whom intrawound vancomycin was not used (relative risk (RR) -2.5, P < 0.001), increased number of levels exposed (RR -1.1, P = 0.01), and those admitted postoperatively to intensive care unit (ICU) (RR -2.1, P = 0.005). Patients in whom intrawound vancomycin was not used (RR -5.9, P < 0.001), increased number of levels were exposed (RR-1.1, P = 0.001), and postoperative ICU admission (RR -3.3, P < 0.001) were significant risk factors for SSI requiring a return to the OR.

CONCLUSION

The intrawound application of vancomycin after posterior approach spine surgery was associated with a reduced risk of SSI and return to OR associated with SSI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2.

Clinically apparent adverse reactions to intra-wound vancomycin powder in early onset scoliosis are rare

PURPOSE

Spine surgeons have increasingly used intraoperative application of topical vancomycin powder (TVP) to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs). The goals of this study were to define the rate of pharmacological adverse reaction to TVP in young patients undergoing posterior spinal surgery and to summarise institutional variation in TVP dosing.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included ten spine centres in the United States and one in Europe. Patients with early onset scoliosis who underwent posterior spine surgery were eligible for inclusion. Age, weight, TVP dose and surgery type were recorded. Surgeries where patient age was > 12 years were excluded. Pharmacological adverse reactions were defined as clinical instances of Red Man Syndrome, rash, nephrotoxicity, proteinuria, hepatotoxicity or ototoxicity. The rate of pharmacological adverse reaction to TVP was calculated. Dosing practices were summarised.

RESULTS

Patient age was in the range of seven months to 12 years (median ten years). Of 1398 observations, there was one possible pharmacological adverse reaction. This was in a ten-year-old, 20.4-kg female patient with neuromuscular sco-liosis undergoing growing rod implantation. She was dosed with 1500 mg of TVP and immediately developed a transient rash without systemic symptoms. This abated over minutes without any medical intervention. There were no other adverse reactions in the sample. The population rate of pharmacological adverse reaction was 0.072% (95% confidence interval 0 to 0.4). Significant variability in dosing practices existed between centres.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacological adverse reactions to TVP are rare. Future work may establish evidence-based guidelines for TVP dosing based on patient weight and other variables.

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

The global push to combat the problem of antimicrobial resistance has led to the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs), which were recently mandated by The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, the use of topical antibiotics in the open surgical wound is often not monitored by these programs nor is it subject to any evidence-based standardization of care. Survey results indicate that the practice of using topical antibiotics intraoperatively, in both irrigation fluids and powders, is widespread. Given the risks inherent in their use and the lack of evidence supporting it, the practice should be monitored as a core part of ASPs, and alternative agents, such as antiseptics, should be considered.

The Effects of Topical Vancomycin on Mesenchymal Stem Cells: More May Not Be Better

BACKGROUND

The use of topical vancomycin is increasingly popular in spine surgery. Large retrospective reviews suggest that topical vancomycin provides a cost-effective decrease in post-operative infection. Currently, there is little that is known about the maximum dose that can be applied locally. When 1 gram of vancomycin is mixed into the bone graft and another 1 gram applied freely in a spine wound, the local concentration of antibiotic ranges from 260-2900 μg/mL in the immediate post-op period and 50-730 μg/mL by the second post-operative day. We hypothesized that exuberant doses of vancomycin would be toxic to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODS

Bone marrow was obtained from the femoral canal of patients undergoing routine elective total hip arthroplasty. Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated using plastic adhesion. Cells were exposed to a wide range of doses of vancomycin for 24 hours and then assessed for viability. Osteogenic potential was assessed with alizarin red staining.

RESULTS

There was dose-dependent cell death with vancomycin use. MSC death was 9.43% at 400 μg/mL (p=0.047), 13.79% at 1600 μg/mL (p=0.0047), 19.35% at 3200 μg/mL (p<0.0001), 24.82% at 6400 μg/mL (p<0.0001) and 51.83% at 12800 μg/mL of vancomycin (p<0.0001) in comparison to the control group containing no vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our in vitro study suggests that vancomycin has toxic effects on hMSCs, a cell population particularly important for bone formation. In the absence of any clinical evidence suggesting that "more vancomycin is better," and our data suggesting that more vancomycin is harmful in vitro, surgeons electing to use topical vancomycin in spine surgery should restrict their use to the doses currently reported in the available published studies unless specific reasons exist otherwise. This study does not establish a contraindication to the use of topical vancomycin, nor does it suggest that pseudarthroses are attributable to vancomycin use.

Local Intra-wound Administration of Powdered Antibiotics in Orthopaedic Surgery

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications after orthopaedic surgery, leading to significant morbidity and its associated costs. Surgical guidelines strongly recommend the use of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce the risk for developing SSI. Locally administered powdered antibiotics have the potential to provide remarkably high intra-wound concentrations without risk for systemic toxicity. However, a paucity of high quality evidence in the orthopaedic literature has prevented widespread adoption of this technique. The majority of clinical studies on local intra-wound antibiotics have evaluated the use of topical powdered vancomycin in spinal surgery, though only a single prospective study currently exists. This review will discuss all the available evidence describing the effectiveness, pharmacokinetics, and potential adverse effects with the use of topical powdered antibiotics in orthopedic surgery.

Safety of topical vancomycin powder in neurosurgery

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain an important cause of morbidity following neurosurgical procedures despite the best medical practices. In addition, hospital infection rates are proposed as a metric for ranking hospitals safety profiles to guide medical consumerism. Recently, the use of topical vancomycin, defined as the application of vancomycin powder directly into the surgical wound, has been described in both cranial and spinal surgeries as a method to reduce SSIs. Early results are promising. Here, we provide a concise primer on the pharmacology, bacterial spectrum, history, and clinical indications of topical vancomycin for the practicing surgeon.

INTRASITE VANCOMYCIN POWDER AS A PROPHYLACTIC ADJUVANT IN LUMBAR FUSION

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify whether the use of prophylactic intrasite vancomycin as an adjuvant is a protective factor against deep tissue infection of the surgical site. Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, case-control study evaluating 210 patients, of whom 70 received intrasite vancomycin (case group) and 140 were controls. It was made a follow up for at least one year, reviewing the physical and electronic records. Data were tabulated in spreadsheets (Excel) including all variables and the statistical analysis was made with Epi InfoTM 7 to calculate the odds ratio. Results: Seven cases of deep infection occurred in the control group and none was found in the case group (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.1262 [0.007-2.24], P = 0.1585). Among the predisposing factors, diabetes and surgical time were the most relevant. Conclusions: Intrasite use of vancomycin has a protective effect against deep infection in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery without presenting considerable side effects.

Classification of hospital acquired complications using temporal clinical information from a large electronic health record

Hospital acquired complications (HACs) are serious problems affecting modern day healthcare institutions. It is estimated that HACs result in an approximately 10% increase in total inpatient hospital costs across US hospitals. With US hospital spending totaling nearly $900 billion per annum, the damages caused by HACs are no small matter. Early detection and prevention of HACs could greatly reduce strains on the US healthcare system and improve patient morbidity & mortality rates. Here, we describe a machine-learning model for predicting the occurrence of HACs within five distinct categories using temporal clinical data. Using our approach, we find that at least $10 billion of excessive hospital costs could be saved in the US alone, with the institution of effective preventive measures. In addition, we also identify several keystone features that demonstrate high predictive power for HACs over different time periods following patient admission. The classifiers and features analyzed in this study show high promise of being able to be used for accurate prediction of HACs in clinical settings, and furthermore provide novel insights into the contribution of various clinical factors to the risk of developing HACs as a function of healthcare system exposure.

Topically Applied Vancomycin Powder Reduces the Rate of Surgical Site Infection in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Foot and Ankle Surgery

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topically applied vancomycin powder in reducing the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing foot and ankle surgery.

METHODS

Eighty-one patients with DM who underwent reconstructive surgery of a foot and/or ankle deformity and/or trauma and who received topically applied vancomycin were matched to 81 patients with DM who did not receive topically applied vancomycin. The mean age was 60.6 years in the vancomycin group and 59.4 years in the control group (P < .05). The 2 groups were similar with regard to gender, body mass index, duration of DM, short-term and longer term glycemic control, and length of surgery.

RESULTS

The overall likelihood of SSI was decreased by 73% in patients who received topically applied vancomycin (odds ratio [OR], 0.267; 95% CI, 0.089-0.803; P = .0188). The rate of superficial infection was not significantly different between the 2 groups (OR, 0.400; 95% CI, 0.078-2.062; P = .2734); however, deep infections were 80% less likely in patients who received vancomycin powder (OR, 0.200; 95% CI, 0.044-0.913; P = .0377).

CONCLUSION

High-risk diabetic patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery were notably less likely to develop an SSI with the use of topically applied vancomycin powder in the surgical wound, particularly with regard to deep infections. Topically applied vancomycin was associated with a very low rate of complications and was inexpensive ($5 per 1000 mg). Based on this study, foot and ankle surgeons may consider applying 500 to 1000 mg of vancomycin powder prior to skin closure in diabetic patients who are not allergic to vancomycin.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective case control series.

Application of Intrawound Vancomycin Powder during Spine Surgery in a Patient with Dialysis-Dependent Renal Failure

Surgical site infections (SSIs) after spinal surgery are a serious complication that can be minimized with prophylaxis. Vancomycin is a common agent used in the prevention of SSI. Given that vancomycin is renally cleared, its use requires careful observation in dialysis-dependent patients due to toxicity at supratherapeutic levels. Since minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for vancomycin have increased due to the emergence of resistant pathogens, the use of vancomycin in such patients is further complicated. Local instillation of vancomycin powder is thought to provide additional protection against SSI and have lower systemic absorption. We present a patient with end-stage renal disease that developed progressively debilitating cervical spondylotic myelopathy necessitating multilevel laminectomy and instrumented fusion. Prior to closure, 1 gram of vancomycin powder was sprinkled into the surgical incision. Postoperative serum vancomycin levels were well below those associated with nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Based on this experience, we reviewed the relevant guidelines that were designed to prevent postoperative infections in such dialysis-dependent patients. Intrawound application of vancomycin may be a legitimate and safe option for SSI prophylaxis in patients with renal failure on dialysis.

Intrasite vancomycin powder for the prevention of surgical site infection in spine surgery: a systematic literature review

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Deep surgical site infections (SSIs) following spinal surgery are a significant burden to the patient, patient's family, and the health-care system. Because of increasing pressures to reduce SSIs and control costs, some spine surgeons have begun placing lyophilized vancomycin powder directly into the surgical wound at the conclusion of the procedure. However, the literature supporting this practice remains limited.

PURPOSE

To review the current literature examining the use of prophylactic intrasite vancomycin powder to control SSIs in spinal surgery and determine if any standard recommendations can be made.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review.

METHODS

Ovid Medline and PubMed were searched to identify English language articles.

RESULTS

No current guidelines are available for the use of intrasite vancomycin powder in preventing SSIs, and no standard dosage for the drug exists. Based on the limited literature and evidence currently available, there appears to be a protective effect of intrasite vancomycin powder on the incidence of SSI, without evidence of side effects. However, case reports do exist describing the systemic side effects after intrasite vancomycin powder during spine surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The interpretation of the available evidence supporting the use of intrasite vancomycin powder in surgical wounds is limited, and its extrapolation should be performed with caution. Despite the lack of significant high-quality evidence available in the literature, many surgeons have adopted this practice; anecdotally, it continues to provide protection from infection without apparent significant risk of side effects.

Experience with intrawound vancomycin powder for posterior cervical fusion surgery

OBJECT

Recent studies have reported that the local delivery of vancomycin powder is associated with a decrease in spinal surgical site infection. This retrospective cohort study compares posterior cervical fusion cases before and after the routine application of spinal vancomycin powder to evaluate the ability of local vancomycin powder to prevent deep wound infection after posterior cervical spinal fusion.

METHODS

Posterior cervical fusion spinal surgeries performed at a single institution were reviewed from January 2011 to July 2013. Each cohort's baseline characteristics, operative data, and rates of wound infection were compared. Associations between infection and vancomycin powder, with and without propensity score adjustment for risk factors, were determined using logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 289 patients (174 untreated and 115 treated with vancomycin powder) were included in the study. The cohorts were similar in terms of baseline and operative variables. No significant change in deep wound infection rate was seen between the control group (6.9%) and intervention group (5.2%, p = 0.563). Logistic regression, with and without propensity score adjustment, demonstrated that the use of vancomycin powder did not impact the development of surgical site infection (OR 0.743 [95% CI 0.270–2.04], p = 0.564) and (OR 0.583 [95% CI 0.198–1.718], p = 0.328), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the context of an ongoing debate on the effectiveness of locally administered vancomycin powder, the authors found no significant difference in the incidence of deep wound infection rates after posterior cervical fusion surgery with routine use of locally applied vancomycin powder. Future prospective randomized series are needed to corroborate these results.

The use of vancomycin powder in modern spine surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical evidence

BACKGROUND

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can lead to greater postoperative morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Despite current prophylactic measures, rates of SSIs have been reported in up to 15% of patients undergoing spine surgery. The adjunctive local application of vancomycin powder in spine surgery is a low-cost strategy to help reduce SSIs. Vancomycin is active against skin pathogens that can potentially contaminate the wound during spinal surgery. The local application of vancomycin in its powder form ensures adequate surgical-site concentrations while minimizing adverse effects caused by undetectable systemic distribution. However, clinical studies have produced conflicting results, and the clinical evidence behind the use of vancomycin powder in modern spinal surgery practices is not clear.

PURPOSE

To examine the current clinical evidence on the use of vancomycin powder in spine surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis of literature.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of the English literature was conducted with PubMed (MEDLINE). The inclusion criteria consisted of intrawound vancomycin powder use in spine surgery as a prophylactic agent for SSIs. Studies that investigated nonspine surgeries, selected patients on the basis of clinical suspicion, or included patients with infections were excluded. Studies that compared intrawound vancomycin in spine surgery against their standard practice were pooled in the meta-analysis using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 671 abstracts were reviewed, and 18 papers met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in this review. These included 1 randomized controlled trial, 13 comparative studies, and 4 case series. The level of evidence in hierarchical order was as follows: 1 level II, 13 level III, and 4 level IV. Fourteen of the studies, 1 randomized controlled trial and 13 comparative studies, were eligible for the meta-analysis. The odds of developing a deep infection with intrawound vancomycin powder were 0.23 times the odds of experiencing an infection without intrawound vancomycin (95% confidence interval 0.11-0.50, P = 0.0002, I(2) = 47%). For combined superficial and deep infections the odds ratio was 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.22-0.82, P = 0.01, I(2) = 36%).

CONCLUSIONS

Numerous clinical studies have confirmed the safety of using vancomycin powder in the surgical site. The pooled clinical data supports the use of vancomycin to prevent SSIs in adult spine surgeries. The majority of the supporting literature is class III evidence. Existing studies use different definitions for surgical site infections and different pre-, peri-, and postoperative antibiotic regimens. Further high-quality investigations should use standardized protocols to confirm these findings.

A meta-analysis of spinal surgical site infection and vancomycin powder

Object

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a serious and costly complication of spinal surgery. There have been several conflicting reports on the use of intrawound vancomycin powder in decreasing SSI in spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to answer the question: “Does intrawound vancomycin powder reduce the rate of SSIs in spine surgery?”

Methods

A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases and bibliographies was conducted to identify clinical studies that evaluated the rates of SSI with and without the use of intrawound vancomycin powder in spine surgery. Independent reviewers extracted data and graded the quality of each paper that met inclusion criteria. A random effects meta-analysis was then performed.

Results

The search identified 9 retrospective cohort studies (Level III evidence) and 1 randomized controlled trial (Level II evidence). There were 2574 cases and 106 infections in the control group (4.1%) and 2518 cases and 33 infections (1.3%) in the treatment group, yielding a pooled absolute risk reduction and relative risk reduction of 2.8% and 68%, respectively. The meta-analysis revealed the use of vancomycin powder to be protective in preventing SSI (relative risk = 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.17–0.66, p = 0.021). The number needed to treat to prevent 1 SSI was 36. A subgroup analysis found that patients who had implants had a reduced risk of SSI with vancomycin powder (p = 0.023), compared with those who had noninstrumented spinal operations (p = 0.226).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggests that the use of vancomycin powder may be protective against SSI in open spinal surgery; however, the exact population in which it should be used is not clear. This benefit may be most appreciated in higher-risk populations or in facilities with a high baseline rate of infection.

Safety of topical vancomycin for pediatric spinal deformity: nontoxic serum levels with supratherapeutic drain levels

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To establish if drain levels exceed the minimum inhibitory concentrations for common pathogens (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and Propionibacterium acnes-2 μg/mL; Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis-4 μg/mL). Evaluate the safety of topical vancomycin in pediatric patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery and determine if postoperative serum levels approach toxicity (25 μg/mL).

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The application of topical vancomycin powder has decreased postoperative wound infections in retrospective analyses in the adult population with minimal local and systemic risks. The safety and efficacy of vancomycin powder has not been completely evaluated in the pediatric population after deformity surgery.

METHODS

Topical vancomycin powder (1 g) was applied during wound closure after instrumented posterior spinal fusion. All patients received intravenous perioperative antibiotics and a subfascial drain was used. Serum and drain vancomycin levels were collected immediately postoperatively and during the first 2 postoperative days (PODs). Complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 25 patients with a mean age of 13.5 years (9.5-17.1 yr) and mean ± standard deviation body weight of 44.5 ± 18 kg. Underlying diagnoses included: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (12), neuromuscular scoliosis (10), and kyphosis (3). Mean serum vancomycin levels trended downward from 2.5 μg/mL (POD 0) to 1.9 μg/mL (POD 1) to 1.1 μg/mL (POD 2). Mean drain levels also trended downward from 403 μg/mL (POD 0) to 251 μg/mL (POD 1) to 115 μg/mL (POD 2). No vancomycin toxicity or deep wound infections were observed. One patient with neuromuscular scoliosis developed a superficial wound dehiscence that was managed with dressing changes.

CONCLUSION

Topical application of vancomycin powder in pediatric spinal deformity surgery produced local levels well above the minimum inhibitory concentration for common pathogens and serum levels below the toxicity threshold (25 μg/mL). There were no deep wound or antibiotic related complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.