Background: In spite of the decreasing incidence of orthopaedic device related infections to 1%, nowadays, device-related infections still remain a diagnostic, therapeutic and cost -related problem. Aims and Objective:To record the common causative organisms and the contributing risk factors for orthopaedic device-related infections in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods:In a prospective study, fifty patients who underwent orthopaedic device implantation from Jan 2009 -June 2010 were enrolled; among them, 42 patients were complicated with infections. The demography, microbiological data, treatment and the outcome of each patient were recorded. Statistical Analysis:The data was analyzed in terms of frequency and percentage.Results: Of the 50 samples, 42(84%) were culture positive, while 8(16%) were cultures negative. The femur was the most commonly affected bone in both males (median age-37.1yrs) and females (median age-41.3 yrs). Staphylococcus aureus was the organism which was most commonly isolated and which caused biofilms, followed by non-fermenting, gram negative bacilli and Klebsiella spp. We reported the first case till date in the literature of Candida krusei PJI, to the best of our knowledge. No anaerobes were isolated. Tissue trauma, open fractures, post-operative surgical site infections and Diabetes mellitus were found to be the important risk factors. The biofilm forming organisms were commonly associated with polymicrobial infections and even an aggressive antibiotic therapy was often inadequate to eliminate the infections. A conservative surgical treatment was associated with treatment failures. Implant removal or replacement was required in most of the cases to eradicate the infection. Conclusion:The most common bacteria which were isolated included Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella. A majority of them are resistant to the commonly used antibiotics, leading to treatment failures which necessitated an implant removal. InTROduCTIOnA prosthetic replacement and an implant surgery is commonplace in orthopaedic operations for successfully alleviating the pain and improving the mobility in damaged joints.

Cystic neutrophilic granulomatous mastitis (CNGM) is a histologically characterized variant of granulomatous lobular mastitis that is associated with lipophilic Corynebacterium species. It remains a largely underrecognized entity in India. Our aim was to study CNGM in the Asian Indian population and explore if 16s rRNA sequencing could be used on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue to identify the causative organism. We studied 24 cases with histological features of CNGM with hematoxylin and eosin, Gram, Ziehl-Neelsen, and Periodic acid–Schiff stains. Tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction and 16s rRNA gene sequencing on DNA extracted from FFPE was attempted (N = 23). Gram-positive bacilli were seen in 20/24 cases. Routine culture with prolonged incubation yielded Corynebacterium species in 8 cases; 7 of these cases were evaluated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for species identification. C matruchotti was identified in one case by BD Phoenix. MALDI-TOF MS identified the remaining 7 cases as C kroppenstedtii (N = 4) and C tuberculostearicum (N = 2), with no identification in one. Corynebacteria were identified by 16s rRNA sequencing on DNA extracted from FFPE in 12/23 cases using a primer targeting the V5-V6 region that was found to be more conserved in Corynebacterium species. All cases were negative for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. CNGM can be identified by routine stains. Culture using routine media with prolonged incubation is often adequate to isolate the organism. 16s rRNA sequencing on DNA extracted from FFPE tissue can help make an etiological diagnosis in some cases where only paraffin blocks are available.

Elizabethkingia meningosepticum is a saprophyte which exists in hospital water systems and it can be a potential source for nosocomial infections. Though the infection with these bacteria is rare, one should be aware that it is resistant to most of the antibiotics and that it has the ability to cause nosocomial infections. We are reporting here, a series of cases which were caused by E. meningosepticum.

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Toxoplasmosis is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, but it can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a 62-year-old man with clinical features of acute appendicitis. Histology showed a transmural infiltrate of eosinophils. In addition, there were reactive lymphoid follicles with histiocytes in the submucosa and tachyzoites in the muscularis propria. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of toxoplasma appendicitis. Serological evaluation yielded negative results. Retrospective review of the history revealed that the patient was on long-term immunosuppressive therapy with methotrexate. The patient was treated with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and is asymptomatic at 7-month follow-up. Toxoplasma appendicitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis in immunosuppressed patients.