[The comparative costs of vancomycin treatment versus teicoplanin in osteoarticular infection caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci]. / Le coût comparatif du traitement par vancomycine versus teicoplanine dans l'infection ostéoarticulaire à staphylocoques résistants à la méticilline.

This clinical and economical study compared two glycopeptides regimen i.e., vancomycin and teicoplanin in the treatment of osteoarticular infection involving methicillin-resistant staphylococcus. After randomization, 15 patients (group 1) received vancomycin (23 F per gram) in continuous infusion through a central venous catheter and 15 others (group 2) intramuscular teicoplanin (311-357 F a 400 mg vial). The clinical study focused on treatment tolerance in an in-patient setting as well as in a non in-patient one. The cost analysis focused on total expenses including those of antibiotics, those of medical devices for antibiotic administration and those of the complications caused by the antibiotics use. Total expenses per patient averaged 8744 F with vancomycin and 8555 F with teicoplanin (NS). The apparent money saving by using a cheap antibiotic (i.e. vancomycin) was illusionary as one took in account the expenses for medical devices e.g., central venous catheters required to administer vancomycin and the complications due to the use of these devices.

[Early infection after surgical fracture treatment: therapy with reference to socioeconomic aspects]. / Frühinfekt nach operativer Frakturenbehandlung: Therapie unter sozio-ökonomischem Aspekt.

Early postoperative infection following open reduction and internal fracture fixation is the most serious complication in orthopedic surgery. The transformation of an acute osteitis into a chronic form marks the central problem. Every single case of chronic osteitis represents an economic disaster.