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ABSTRACT: The non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have emerged as important opportunistic pathogens in the recent years. The NTM are rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM), which include Mycobacterium fortuitum and M. chelonae and are grouped as M. fortuitum-chelonae complex. Non-healing postoperative wound infections that do not respond to antibiotics used for pyogenic infections and having sterile routine aerobic cultures should raise a suspicion of NTM.
All patients with post operative wound infection over a five year period were included in the study. All wound infections were evaluated with wound culture and sensitivity and treated with appropriate antibiotics. All infections with underlying mesh were initially managed with dressings/debridement, long term antibiotics. Explantation of the mesh was to be used as a last resort.
We analyzed the records of patients with post operative wound infections who had wound cultures taken and found that 16 of our patients had initial sterile cultures. In all these cases, wound infection manifested itself as discharging sinuses between 2-3 weeks after surgery. Of these seven patients grew NTM on their repeat cultures. The commonest organism isolated was M. fortuitum (57%). The commonest antibiotic used for treatment was Tab Clarithromycin and the mean duration of treatment was 6 to 9 months. No patients required debridement or removal of mesh.
NTM infections in post operative wound though rare should be suspected in all post operative wound infections which occurs late, lack local and systemic signs of pyogenic infections and have sterile cultures. High index of suspicion for NTM infection will allow identification and treatment of these patients with long-term antimicrobial therapy alone without the need for surgical explantation of the mesh.
Indian Journal of Surgery 06/2010; 72(3):206-10. · 0.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI) are relatively common infections with high morbidity and mortality rate, as they often present late in their course. Quick and aggressive surgical treatment improves survival and decreases hospital stay.
All patients with NSTI managed at our centre from June 2007 to January 2009 were included in this prospective study. We evaluated various parameters like age, co-morbidities, biochemical parameters, time interval between admission and first operative intervention, against duration of hospital stay and out come of the case.
Fifty-four patients with NSTI were admitted and treated during the study period. Male to female ratio was 6:1. Mean time interval between admission and operative intervention was 6 hours. Mean period of hospitalisation was 53 days and we had limb salvage rate of 100% and one mortality (1.85%). Diabetes mellitus was the most common co-morbid condition and Staphylococcus aureus the most common isolate. Presence of leucocytosis, hyponatraemia, hypoalbuminaemia, anaemia and deranged renal functions were found to be poor prognostic factors.
Late and varied presentation is the rule rather than exception with NSTI. Early recognition of the condition, with emergency operative intervention and repeated debridement by a dedicated surgical team, is the key to patient survival and limb salvage.
Indian Journal of Surgery 10/2009; 71(5):254-7. · 0.08 Impact Factor
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Tropical gastroenterology: official journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation 31(2):119-20.
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Tropical gastroenterology: official journal of the Digestive Diseases Foundation 30(4):226-7.
