Antibiotic prophylaxis at urinary catheter removal prevents urinary tract infections: a prospective randomized trial.

Ann Surg. 2009 Apr;249(4):573-5

Authors: Pfefferkorn U, Lea S, Moldenhauer J, Peterli R, von Flüe M, Ackermann C

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether antibiotic prophylaxis at urinary catheter removal reduces the rate of urinary tract infections. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Urinary tract infections are among the most common nosocomial infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis at urinary catheter removal is used as a measure to prevent them, albeit without supporting evidence. METHODS: A prospective randomized study enrolled 239 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery, who were randomized either for receiving 3 doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole at urinary catheter removal, or not. Urinary tract infections were diagnosed according to Center of Disease Control definitions. Urinary cultures were obtained before and 3 days after catheter removal. Subjective symptoms were assessed by an independent study-blind urologist. RESULTS: Patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis showed significantly fewer urinary tract infections (5/103, 4.9%) than those without prophylaxis (22/102, 21.6%), P < 0.001. The absolute risk reduction for the occurrence of a urinary tract infection was 16.7%; the relative risk reduction was 77.5%, and the number needed to treat was 6. Patients with antibiotic prophylaxis also had less significant bacteriuria 3 days after catheter removal (17/103, 16.5%) than those without (42/102, 41.2%), P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole on urinary catheter removal significantly reduces the rate of symptomatic urinary tract infections and bacteriuria in patients undergoing abdominal surgery with perioperative transurethral urinary catheters.

PMID: 19300235 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Diverticulitis in the United States: 1998-2005: changing patterns of disease and treatment.

Ann Surg. 2009 Feb;249(2):210-7

Authors: Etzioni DA, Mack TM, Beart RW, Kaiser AM

OBJECTIVES: Diverticular disease imposes an impressive clinical burden to the United States population, with over 300,000 admissions and 1.5 million days of inpatient care annually. Consensus regarding the treatment of diverticulitis has evolved over time, with increasing advocacy of primary anastomosis for acute diverticulitis, and nonoperative treatment of recurrent mild/moderate diverticulitis. We analyzed whether these changes are reflected in patterns of practice in a nationally-representative patient cohort. METHODS: We used the 1998 to 2005 nationwide inpatient sample to analyze the care received by 267,000 patients admitted with acute diverticulitis, and 33,500 patients operated electively for diverticulitis. Census data were used to calculate population-based incidence rates of disease and surgical treatment. Weighted logistic regression with cluster adjustment at the hospital level was used for hypothesis testing. RESULTS: Overall annual age-adjusted admissions for acute diverticulitis increased from 120,500 in 1998 to 151,900 in 2005 (26% increase). Rates of admission increased more rapidly within patients aged 18 to 44 years (82%) and 45 to 74 years (36%). Elective operations for diverticulitis rose from 16,100 to 22,500 per year during the same time period (29%), also with a more rapid increase (73%) in rates of surgery for individuals aged 18 to 44 years. Multivariate analysis found no evidence that primary anastomosis is becoming more commonly used. CONCLUSIONS: We are the first to report dramatic changes in rates of treatment for diverticulitis in the United States. The causes of this emerging disease pattern are unknown, but certainly deserve further investigation. For patients undergoing surgery for acute diverticulitis, there was little change over time in the likelihood of a primary anastomosis.

PMID: 19212172 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Relationship of perioperative hyperglycemia and postoperative infections in patients who undergo general and vascular surgery.

Ann Surg. 2008 Oct;248(4):585-91

Authors: Ramos M, Khalpey Z, Lipsitz S, Steinberg J, Panizales MT, Zinner M, Rogers SO

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association of perioperative hyperglycemia and postoperative infections (POI) in patients who had undergone general surgery. BACKGROUND: Intensive glucose control leads to less postoperative infections (POI) in critically ill surgical patients, but the relationship of hyperglycemia and POI in a general surgical population remains unknown. METHODS: A retrospective study of 995 patients who had undergone general and vascular surgery investigated the association of perioperative acute hyperglycemia and risk of 30-day POI over an 18-month period. The primary predictor of interest was postoperative glucose (POG). Bivariate analyses determined the association of each independent variable with POI. Factors significant at P < 0.05 were used in multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: In bivariate analyses, preoperative blood glucose (P = 0.012), POG (P = 0.009), age (P = 0.002), diabetes (P = 0.04), American Society of Anesthesia Classification (ASAC) (P < 0.0001), operation length (P = 0.02), and blood transfusions (P = 0.02) were significant predictors of POI. In multivariate analyses, only POG (OR = 1.3, (1.03-1.64)), ASAC (OR = 1.9, (1.31-2.83)), and emergency status (OR = 2.2, (1.21-3.80)) remained significant predictors of POI. Postoperative hyperglycemia increased the risk of POI by 30% with every 40-point increase from normoglycemia (<110 mg/dL). Longer hospitalization was also observed for patients with POG from 110 to 200 mg/dL (OR = 1.4, (1.1-1.7)) and >200 mg/dL (OR = 1.8, (1.4-2.5)). CONCLUSION: The increased risk of POI and length of hospitalization posed by postoperative hyperglycemia is independent of diabetic status and needs further evaluation to assess for possible benefits of postoperative glycemic control in patients who have undergone general surgery.

PMID: 18936571 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Challenges in surgical management of abdominal pain in the neutropenic cancer patient.

Ann Surg. 2008 Jul;248(1):104-9

Authors: Badgwell BD, Cormier JN, Wray CJ, Borthakur G, Qiao W, Rolston KV, Pollock RE

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain in neutropenic cancer patients presents a unique clinical challenge for surgeons. The purposes of this retrospective study were to characterize the clinicopathologic factors associated with the presentation of neutropenia and abdominal pain, examine the treatment strategies used, and define associated outcomes for these patients. METHODS: We identified patients with concomitant neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <1000 cells/microL) and abdominal pain who had been evaluated by surgical oncologists over a period of more than 6 years. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association between clinicopathologic factors and overall survival time. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in this analysis. After our clinical and radiographic evaluations, we determined that the most frequent causes of the abdominal pain were neutropenic enterocolitis (28%) and small bowel obstruction (12%); the cause remained uncertain in 35%. Surgical interventions had been performed in 9 patients. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates for all patients were 30% and 52%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that severe sepsis, a relatively long duration of neutropenia, and the lack of surgical intervention were significant adverse prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal pain as a symptom in neutropenic patients continues to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and is associated with a high mortality rate. Based on our results, we conclude that efforts should focus on improving neutrophil counts and on treating the frequent and serious comorbidities found in these patients. Surgery should be delayed, when possible, to allow for neutrophil recovery.

PMID: 18580213 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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