Do Antibacterial Skin Sutures Reduce Surgical Site Infections After Elective Open Abdominal Surgery?-A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Single-Center Trial.

: The general use of triclosan-coated suture material (TCSM) for wound closure to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) remains controversial. There is no conclusive evidence in the literature to support this and recommendations by professional organizations are contradictory. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to evaluate the 30-day rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) after elective open abdominal surgery using triclosan-coated versus uncoated running sutures (NCSM) for skin closure.

Internal hernia through the foramen of Winslow: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction with imminent ischaemia of the caecum.

An internal hernia through the foramen of Winslow represents a rare surgical pathology. This report describes a case with incipient caecal ischaemia and discusses current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A patient in his early 60s presented at the emergency department with abdominal pain and last bowel movement three days prior.

Longterm outcome of anal fistula - A retrospective study.

This retrospective observational study analyses the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for anal fistula at a single centre in order to assess recurrence and re-operation rates after different surgical techniques. During January 2005 and May 2013, all patients with anal fistula were included. Baseline characteristics, details of presentation, fistula anatomy, type of surgery, post-surgical outcomes and follow-up data were collected.

Timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis: a phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

Background: Based on observational studies, administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) is recommended within 60 min before incision. However, the precise optimum timing is unknown. This trial compared early versus late administration of SAP before surgery.

Myenteric plexitis at the proximal resection margin is a predictive marker for surgical recurrence of ileocaecal Crohn's disease.

Aim: Identifying predictors for the recurrence of Crohn's disease (CD) after surgery to improve disease surveillance or targeted therapy is rational. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between myenteric plexitis (MP) and clinical or surgical recurrence.

Method: Between 2000 and 2010, patients who underwent primary ileocaecal resection for CD at a single tertiary referral centre were identified.

Evaluating the optimal timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Surgical site infections are the most common hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients. The administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis reduces the risk of surgical site infections . The optimal timing of this procedure is still a matter of debate.

Prevention and control of surgical site infections: review of the Basel Cohort Study.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients, with significant impact on patient morbidity and health care costs. The Basel SSI Cohort Study was performed to evaluate risk factors and validate current preventive measures for SSI. The objective of the present article was to review the main results of this study and its implications for clinical practice and future research.

[Simple and complicated surgical wounds].

Aiming at primary wound healing, the majority of surgical interventions end with a wound closure. The wound edges are brought together and secured using sutures, staples or glue, respectively. A common surgical wound therefore tends to undergo an orderly and timely repair process with the result of sustained restored anatomic and functional integrity.

FACS-purified myoblasts producing controlled VEGF levels induce safe and stable angiogenesis in chronic hind limb ischemia.

We recently developed a method to control the in vivo distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by high throughput Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) purification of transduced progenitors such that they homogeneously express specific VEGF levels. Here we investigated the long-term safety of this method in chronic hind limb ischemia in nude rats. Primary myoblasts were transduced to co-express rat VEGF-A(164) (rVEGF) and truncated ratCD8a, the latter serving as a FACS-quantifiable surface marker.

Spectrum of pathogens in surgical site infections at a Swiss university hospital.

Background: The type of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is determined by the spectrum and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens causing surgical site infections (SSI). The aim of this study was to define the microbiological features of SSI in general surgery patients at Basel University Hospital in order to validate our current strategy of single-shot SAP with 1.5 g cefuroxime (plus 500 mg metronidazole in colorectal surgery).

Surveillance of surgical site infections by surgeons: biased underreporting or useful epidemiological data?

Surgical site infections (SSIs) significantly increase post-operative morbidity and mortality. SSI surveillance is an established monitoring tool and reduces SSI rates. The purpose of this study was to compare prospective in-hospital SSI surveillance (I) by the surgical staff and (II) additionally by an infection control team (ICT).

High-throughput flow cytometry purification of transduced progenitors expressing defined levels of vascular endothelial growth factor induces controlled angiogenesis in vivo.

Delivery of therapeutic genes by genetically modified progenitors is a powerful tool for regenerative medicine. However, many proteins remain localized within or around the expressing cell, and heterogeneous expression levels can lead to reduced efficacy or increased toxicity. For example, the matrix-binding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can induce normal, stable, and functional angiogenesis or aberrant angioma growth depending on its level of expression in the microenvironment around each producing cell, and not on its total dose.

Surgical glove perforation and the risk of surgical site infection.

Hypothesis: Clinically apparent surgical glove perforation increases the risk of surgical site infection (SSI).

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: University Hospital Basel, with an average of 28,000 surgical interventions per year.

The association of preoperative anemia and perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion with the risk of surgical site infection.

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and preoperative anemia as risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI).

Study Design And Methods: A prospective, observational cohort of 5873 consecutive general surgical procedures at Basel University Hospital was analyzed to determine the relationship between perioperative ABT and preoperative anemia and the incidence of SSI. ABT was defined as transfusion of leukoreduced red blood cells during surgery and anemia as hemoglobin concentration of less than 120 g/L before surgery.

Impact of surgical training on incidence of surgical site infection.

Background: Despite availability of other training forms, tutorial assistance cannot be entirely replaced in surgical education. Concerns exist that tutorial assistance may lead to an increased rate of surgical site infection (SSI). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the risk of SSI is higher after surgery with tutorial assistance than after surgery performed autonomously by a fully trained surgeon.

Economic burden of surgical site infections at a European university hospital.

Objective: To quantify the economic burden of in-hospital surgical site infections (SSIs) at a European university hospital.

Design: Matched case-control study nested in a prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Basel University Hospital in Switzerland, where an average of 28,000 surgical procedures are performed per year.

The timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Objective: To obtain precise information on the optimal time window for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Summary Background Data: Although perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis is a well-established strategy for reducing the risk of surgical site infections (SSI), the optimal timing for this procedure has yet to be precisely determined. Under today's recommendations, antibiotics may be administered within the final 2 hours before skin incision, ideally as close to incision time as possible.

Differential effects of the tryptophan metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid on the proliferation of human CD8+ T cells induced by TCR triggering or homeostatic cytokines.

Production of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) by tumor cells, leading to tryptophan depletion and production of immunosuppressive metabolites, may facilitate immune tolerance of cancer. IDO gene is also expressed in dendritic cells (DC) upon maturation induced by lipopolysaccarides or IFN. We investigated IDO gene expression in melanoma cell lines and clinical specimens as compared to mature DC (mDC).

Inhibition of NO biosynthesis, but not elevated blood pressure, reduces angiogenesis in rat models of secondary hypertension.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, vasoconstriction, and reduced microvascular density. In this study we asked whether AH also reduces the number of microvessels by impairing angiogenesis. AH was induced in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DSS) with a salt diet and in Wistar-Kyoto rats by inhibiting NO formation with Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (NNA).