Community-Acquired Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: Epidemiology and Management in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Skin and soft tissue infections are one of the most common diseases presenting to the emergency department (ED). There is no study available on the management of Community-Acquired Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (CA-SSTIs) in our population recently. This study aims to describe the frequency and distribution of CA-SSTIs as well as their medical and surgical management among patients presenting to our ED. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study on patients presenting with CA-SSTIs to the ED of a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan. The primary objective was to estimate the frequency of common CA-SSTIs presenting to the ED and to assess the management of these infections in terms of diagnostic workup and treatment modalities used. The secondary objectives were to study the association of different baseline variables, diagnostic modalities, treatment modalities, and improvement with the surgical procedure performance for these infections. Descriptive statistics were obtained for quantitative variables like age. Frequencies and percentages were derived for categorical variables. The chi-square test was used to compare different CA-SSTIs in terms of categorical variables like diagnostic and treatment modalities. We divided the data into two groups based on the surgical procedure. A chi-square analysis was conducted to compare these two groups in terms of categorical variables. RESULTS: Out of the 241 patients, 51.9% were males and the mean age was 34.2 years. The most common CA-SSTIs were abscesses, infected ulcers, and cellulitis. Antibiotics were prescribed to 84.2% of patients. Amoxicillin + Clavulanate was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic. Out of the total, 128 (53.11%) patients received some type of surgical intervention. Surgical procedures were significantly associated with diabetes mellitus, heart disease, limitation of mobility, or recent antibiotic use. There was a significantly higher rate of prescription of any antibiotic and anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA) agents in the surgical procedure group. This group also saw a higher rate of oral antibiotics prescription, hospitalization, wound culture, and complete blood count. CONCLUSION: This study shows a higher frequency of purulent infections in our ED. Antibiotics were prescribed more frequently for all infections. Surgical procedures like incision and drainage were much lower even in purulent infections. Furthermore, beta-lactam antibiotics like Amoxicillin-Clavulanate were commonly prescribed. Linezolid was the only systemic anti-MRSA agent prescribed. We suggest physicians should prescribe antibiotics appropriate to the local antibiograms and the latest guidelines.

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma As An Abdominal Cystic Mass.

Papillary renal cell carcinoma comprises around 15% of all renal cell carcinomas. Patients are usually asymptomatic, and 25 percent of individuals have advanced locoregional disease at presentation. Papillary renal cell carcinoma presenting as a huge abdominal cystic mass is uncommon and is reported rarely in literature. We present a case of renal cell carcinoma presenting with abdominal pain, distention, and constipation. A retroperitoneal cystic lesion measuring 23.4×23.8 cm cyst was reported on ultrasonography as potential cause of the symptoms. We now talk about the case of a 57- year-old male who presented to us with abdominal pain, distension, and constipation. He also had a history of on and off low-grade fever for the last seven months. A computed topography (CT scan) of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous and oral contrast revealed a large retroperitoneal cystic mass extending from the left hypochondrium to the left kidney and into the pelvis crossing the midline. Internal calcific foci, enhancing septa, irregularly thickened walls and hyperdense nodules were also demonstrated. A radical left nephrectomy via a midline laparotomy was performed electively. The cystic mass was excised and the specimen was sent for histopathological evaluation which revealed papillary renal cell carcinoma with PAX-8 and CK-7 positivity. Patient made an uneventful recovery post-operatively and was discharged. Cystic tumors of renal origin can rarely present as a huge abdominal cystic mass confusing them for masses of intestinal or hepatic origin. Timely diagnosis can be made with a detailed history, examination, imaging studies and histopathology, and instigate timely intervention.

Successful Repair of a Complete Tracheobronchial Tear Two Months After the Injury.

Tracheobronchial injury (TBI) is a rare but potentially life-threatening tear of the lower airway that can result from iatrogenic or accidental trauma. We present a case of a young male who suffered from acute TBI following blunt trauma to the chest. The patient was managed conservatively with intubation and oxygen support initially. The condition improved and the patient was discharged. However, he developed chest pain two months later and was diagnosed with a complete TBI on the right side. He subsequently underwent open surgical repair of the tear with end-to-end anastomosis, which led to a full recovery.

Intramedullary Spinal Tuberculoma: An Uncommon Presentation of a Common Disorder.

Intramedullary tuberculoma (IMT) is rare and usually indistinguishable from spinal cord tumors. Thus, the diagnosis of an IMT is challenging. Our case deals with an unusual presentation of a 55-year-old Asian man who had presented with lower limb weakness which was found to be caused by the dissemination of tuberculosis (TB) resulting in an IMT, a rare complication of tuberculosis. The patient also had a concurrent incidental hepatitis B infection. The treatment of IMT is anti-tuberculous medication. This case highlights the significance of the prompt diagnosis of an IMT, urgent intervention particularly in developing areas of the world where tuberculosis is still endemic, an increased probability of patients having an IMT, and their diagnoses being missed.

A Rare Facultative Anaerobe Causing Emphysematous Osteomyelitis of the Pubic Bone.

Emphysematous osteomyelitis is an uncommon and fatal disease that can only be confirmed with a contrast-enhanced CT scan showing characteristic features of air locules within the bone. It usually occurs in the setting of existing comorbidities and suppressed immune system resulting in widespread bacteremia which may be mono or poly-microbial. Presented here is a case of this disease caused by an unusual anaerobe affecting the pubic bone. This case emphasizes the importance of early imaging as it is crucial for the diagnosis and can facilitate early aggressive management. Moreover, it highlights the importance of early intravenous antibiotics and surgical intervention, which can be life-saving and result in a better outcome in the future.

Comparison of Early Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Suture Fixation Versus Tack Fixation of Mesh in Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair of Inguinal Hernia.

INTRODUCTION: The advent of laparoscopic techniques in repairing inguinal hernia has significantly improved outcomes of inguinal hernia surgery. However, acute and chronic postoperative pain after fixation of mesh with tacks and the cost of tacking devices are major hindrances to the widespread use of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair in resource-poor settings. This study sought to introduce a method of mesh fixation that will reduce the cost of laparoscopic TAPP repair and might help reduce postoperative pain. OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes in the early postoperative period like pain, seroma, hematoma, urinary retention, and neuralgia after fixation with suture versus the tack fixation of mesh in laparoscopic TAPP repair of inguinal hernia.  Subjects and methods: This study was conducted from 1st June 2019 to 31st May 2020. A total of 144 patients between ages 18 and 60 years with an inguinal hernia on any side and having an American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score of I/II were included in this study. Patients with a recurrent hernia, large scrotal hernia, strangulated and obstructed hernias, ASA III and ASA IV, prostatism, and chronic cough were excluded. Seventy-two patients were in Group A (tack fixation group) while 72 were in Group B (suture fixation group). Separate investigators were assigned to collect pre-operative and post-operative data from both groups, recorded on specially designed proforma. RESULTS:  The age range was 18 to 60 years with a mean age of 46.53 years ±10.01 S.D in Group A and 46.19 ±9.58 S.D in Group B. In Group A 98.6% of patients were male, and 1.4% were females while in Group B 100% of patients were male. It was found that mean pain in Group A was 4.88 ±0.887 and 5.29± 0.777 at 6 hours and 24 hours respectively. Mean pain in group B was 3.43 ±0.962 and 4.11±0.703 at 6 hours and 24 hours respectively. Moreover, mean pain in Group B was significantly less than mean pain in Group A both at 6 hours and 24 hours intervals with a p-value < 0.001. The early postoperative complications were not significantly different in both groups.  Conclusion: In TAPP repair, suture fixation of mesh is less painful than tack fixation. However, there is no significant difference in the rate of other early postoperative outcomes like seroma, hematoma, urinary retention, and neuralgia. Further multicentric studies with a longer duration of follow-up are needed to validate our results.

Hydatid Cyst In A Rare Site; The Left Ventricle.

Echinococcosis is a disease that has been affecting human beings since decades and is primarily a zoonotic disease. The larvae of genus Echinococcus causes this disease. The most common sites for these cysts are the lungs and liver. Cardiac hydatidosis is a rare phenomenon and the incidence of such cases is about 1.3%. The case presented is of a 15- year-old boy who would have shortness of breath on exertion and acute right leg pain. To diagnose cardiac variant of the cystic disease, computed topography (CT) and echocardiography were done. Doppler studies confirmed acute limb ischemia. The treatment modality was an open-heart surgery and bilateral embolectomy of the popliteal artery. The patient was discharged to home with albendazole chemotherapy. The study gives an insight into an unusual presentation and successful treatment of cardiac hydatid cyst as well as the associated complications that can be encountered.