ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A 51-year-old man presented with a chronic ulcer of 28 years' duration on the amputation stump of his right foot. The prosthesis was aggravating the ulcer, despite multiple therapies. OBJECTIVE: To heal the ulcer and avoid a below-the-knee amputation. Graftskin, a bilayered living skin construct, was applied. METHODS: Graftskin was sutured in place following gentle debridement. Pentoxifylline was given to improve circulation. The dressing was changed 5 days after Graftskin application, then weekly for 7 weeks. RESULTS: Crusting was evident at 3 weeks, with an underlying white coating at 4 weeks. By 7 weeks, full reepithelialization was present under the crust and no ulceration remained. Over succeeding weeks the ulcer bed became flush with the surrounding skin. The patient's pain ceased, and some sensation and warmth returned to the stump. CONCLUSION: Graftskin treatment successfully healed a chronic ulcer, possibly preventing a more extensive amputation.
Subject(s)
Amputation Stumps/surgery , Skin Ulcer/surgery , Skin, Artificial , Wound Healing , Amputation Stumps/physiopathology , Chronic Disease , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Skin Ulcer/diagnosis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The composition and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacteria recovered from the hands of nurses and physicians in two service units of a major teaching hospital were compared with those found in a control population. Significant differences in the composition of bacteria were found in dermatology and oncology unit personnel. Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from 31% of dermatology nurses and 37% of dermatology physicians compared with 20% of oncology nurses, 15% of oncology physicians, and 17% of controls. Oncology personnel had a significantly higher carriage of gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and multiple antibiotic-resistant, aerobic coryneforms (group JK bacteria). Both dermatology and oncology nursing personnel were colonized by organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics. Methicillin resistance was found in 26% and 66% of the staphylococci recovered from dermatology and oncology nurses respectively. Flora from physicians on the two units had sensitivity patterns similar to controls.
