Microbes Causing Spinal Epidural Infection in Patients Who Use Drugs.

Background: The incidence of spine infections has increased due to the surge in injection drug use driven by the opioid epidemic. Few recent studies have evaluated the microbiology of spinal epidural infections among people who inject drugs compared to the microbiology of such infections among the general population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review to identify patients with a spinal epidural abscess or phlegmon unrelated to recent spine surgery between 2015 and 2023.

Infections Associated with Medtronic Duet External Ventricular Drains - Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, January 2023-January 2024.

External ventricular drains (EVDs) are medical devices that are inserted into the ventricles of the brain to drain excess fluid, manage intracranial hypertension, monitor intracranial pressure, and administer medications. Unintentional disconnections and breaks or fractures (breaks) of EVDs or associated drainage system components can result in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and increased risk for EVD-associated infections. After replacement of Integra Life Sciences EVD systems with Medtronic Duet EVD systems at Rhode Island Hospital in mid-September 2023, a threefold increase was observed in the prevalence of positive CSF cultures, from 2.

Differences in microorganisms causing infection after cranial and spinal surgeries.

Objective: The primary aim of this retrospective study was to assess differences in the pathogens causing surgical site infections (SSIs) following craniectomies/craniotomies and open spinal surgery. The secondary aim was to assess differences in rates of SSI among these operative procedures.

Methods: ANOVA tests with Bonferroni correction and incidence risk ratios (RRs) were used to identify differences in pathogens by surgical site and procedure using retrospective, de-identified records of 19,993 postneurosurgical patients treated between 2007 and 2020.

Seasonality of healthcare-associated .

From April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2022, growth of from clinical specimens at our academic medical center was significantly more likely during July-September than during other calendar quarters.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Presurgical Staphylococcus aureus PCR Assay Compared with Culture and Post-PCR Implementation Surgical Site Infection Rates.

Nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus is a well-referenced risk factor for postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs). Our health care system that performs >40,000 surgeries per year assessed both the diagnostic accuracy of the BD MAX StaphSR assay (MAX StaphSR), a PCR-based test that detects and differentiates S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S.

Prevention of hospital-acquired respiratory viral infections: Assessment of a multimodal intervention program.

A multimodal program focused on preventing nosocomial respiratory viral infections. Definite cases per 1,000 discharges increased 1.3-fold in hospital units screening visitors for respiratory viral symptoms during the 2017-2018 respiratory virus season but not during the 2016-2017 season.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in southern New England children.

Objective: This study was performed to understand the epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections in southern New England children.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of children 0 to 18 years old with MRSA isolated by the Rhode Island Hospital microbiology laboratory (Providence, RI) between 1997 and 2001. A case was classified as either health care-associated MRSA (HCA-MRSA) or CA-MRSA based on time of culture and other strict criteria.