Sham feeding with gum, after open and laparoscopic colorectal resectional surgery is safe, but does not hasten the return of gastrointestinal function in patients who receive accelerated postoperative feeding. (ACTRN12607000538448).

Objectives: Perfusion and blood oxygen levels are frequently insufficient in patients with hard-to-heal wounds due to poor circulation, vascular disruption and vasoconstriction, reducing the wound's capacity to heal. This study aimed to investigate the effect of topical oxygen on healing rates in patients with hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) (i.e., non-responsive over four weeks). Method: This multicentre, open-label, community-based randomised clinical trial compared standard care (SOC) with or without continuous topical oxygen therapy (TOT) for 12 weeks in patients with DFUs or minor amputation wounds. SOC included debridement, offloading with total contact casting (TCC) and appropriate moisture balance. Primary endpoints were the number of patients to achieve complete wound closure and percentage change in ulcer size. Secondary endpoints were pain levels and adverse events. Results: For the study, 145 patients were randomised with index ulcers graded Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) 1 or 2, or Wagner 1 or 2. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 18/64 (28.1%) patients healed in the SOC group at 12 weeks compared with 36/81 (44.4%) in the SOC plus TOT group (p=0.044). There was a statistically significant reduction in wound area between the groups: SOC group mean reduction: 40% (standard deviation (SD) 72.1); SOC plus TOT group mean reduction: 70% (SD 45.5); per protocol p=0.005). There were no significant differences in changes to pain levels or adverse events. Conclusion: This study suggests that the addition of TOT to SOC facilitates wound closure in patients with hard-to-heal DFUs.

Objective Hospitalizations for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) are common. Optimizing antibiotic use for ABSSSIs requires an understanding of current management. The objective of this study was to evaluate antibiotic prescribing practices and factors affecting prescribing in a diverse group of hospitals. Design Multicenter, retrospective cohort study Setting Seven community and academic hospitals Methods Children and adults hospitalized between June 2010 and May 2012 for cellulitis, wound infection, or cutaneous abscess were eligible. The primary endpoint was a composite of two prescribing practices representing potentially avoidable antibiotic exposure: 1) use of antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity against gram-negative bacteria; or 2) treatment duration >10 days. Results 533 cases were included: 320 with non-purulent cellulitis, 44 with wound infection or purulent cellulitis, and 169 with abscess. Of 492 cases with complete prescribing data, the primary endpoint occurred in 394 (80%) cases and varied significantly across hospitals (64 – 97%, p<.001). By logistic regression, independent predictors of the primary endpoint included wound infection or purulent cellulitis (odds ratio [OR] 5.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 – 17.88), head or neck involvement (OR 2.83, 95%CI 1.17 – 6.82), adult cases (OR 2.20, 95%CI 1.18 – 4.11), and admission to a community hospital (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.05 – 3.44). Conclusions Among patients hospitalized for ABSSSI, use of antibiotics with broad gram-negative activity or treatment courses longer than 10 days were common. There may be substantial opportunity to reduce antibiotic exposure through shorter courses of therapy targeting gram-positive bacteria.

Aim: Determine the effectiveness of hypothermically stored amniotic membrane (HSAM) versus standard of care (SOC) in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 76 DFUs analyzed digitally. Results: Cox wound closure for HSAM (38 wounds) was significantly greater (p = 0.04) at weeks 12 (60 vs 38%), and 16 (63 vs 38%). The probability of wound closure increased by 75% (Hazard Ratio = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.16–2.70). HSAM showed >60% reductions in area (82 vs 58%; p = 0.02) and depth (65 vs 39%; p = 0.04) versus SOC. Conclusion: HSAM increased frequency and probability of wound closure in DFUs versus SOC.

Background Hospitalizations for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) in children are increasingly frequent, but little is known about antibiotic utilization. In adults, recent studies suggest substantial opportunity to reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic use and shorten therapy. We sought to determine whether similar opportunity exists in children. Methods This was a planned secondary analysis of a pediatric cohort taken from a multicenter, retrospective cohort of patients hospitalized for ABSSSI between June 1, 2010 and May 31, 2012. The pre-specified primary endpoint was a composite of two prescribing practices: 1) use of antibiotics with broad Gram-negative activity, or 2) treatment duration >10 days. Results 102 patients ≤18 years old were included: 43 had non-purulent cellulitis, 19 had wound infection or purulent cellulitis, and 40 had cutaneous abscess. The median age was 5 years (range 45 days to 18 years). Clindamycin was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic during hospitalization (67% of cases) and at discharge (66% of cases). The median duration of therapy was 11 days (interquartile range 10 – 12) and was similar for all three types of ABSSSI. The primary endpoint occurred in 67% of cases, including broad Gram-negative therapy in 25% and treatment duration >10 days in 61%. By multivariate logistic regression, admission via an emergency department and management by a medical (vs. surgical) service were independently associated with the primary endpoint. Conclusions Children hospitalized for ABSSSI are frequently exposed to antibiotics with broad Gram-negative activity or treated longer than 10 days suggesting opportunity to reduce antibiotic use.

SummaryA postal survey was sent to members of the Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists to ascertain current practice in the use of pharmacological agents as cerebral protectants during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The response rate was 60%. Eighty-three per cent of respondents used some form of pharmacological agent specifically for cerebral protection. Fifty-nine per cent of respondents used thiopental, 29% used propofol and 48% used a variety of other agents, the most common of these being a steroid. There were variations in the dose and timing of administration of drugs. Few respondents believed that there was a body of evidence to support this use of pharmacological agents. Only 35% of respondents believed there to be sufficient evidence to support the use of thiopental. Similarly, only 11% of respondents believe that there is evidence supporting the use of propofol, and 16% the use of steroids. The above findings demonstrate that it would not be possible to create a 'best practice' set of guidelines at present. A national database of all cases of adult thoracic surgery involving deep hypothermic cardiac arrest, with methodology and outcome, could probably establish such guidelines, evidence based.

This study investigated the effect of a 30-minute, 10 degrees C water bath on the intramuscular temperature of a lower leg and the contralateral lower leg. Intramuscular temperature was measured in 10 subjects using hypodermic thermistor probes inserted 25.3 mm into the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscles of both legs. One lower leg was submersed in a 10 degrees C cold bath with the water level maintained 5 cm above the patella and with the subject in a nonweight-bearing position. Intramuscular temperature significantly decreased in both lower legs during treatment, although the intramuscular temperature of the treatment lower leg was significantly lower than that of the contralateral lower leg. A temperature difference continued for four hours after treatment; however, the temperature of both lower legs was significantly lower after four hours than it was before the cold bath treatment.

Background Among diabetics, complicated skin infections may involve gram-negative pathogens; however, the microbiology of cellulitis and cutaneous abscess is not well-established. Objective To compare the microbiology and prescribing patterns between diabetics and non-diabetics hospitalized for cellulitis or abscess Design Secondary analysis of two published retrospective cohorts Setting/Patients Adults hospitalized for cellulitis or abscess, excluding infected ulcers or deep tissue infections, at 7 academic and community facilities Methods Microbiological findings and antibiotic use were compared among diabetics and non-diabetics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with exposure to broad gram-negative therapy, defined as receipt of at least two calendar days of β-lactamase inhibitors, 2nd – 5th generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, tigecycline, aminoglycosides, or colistin. Results Of 770 total patients with cellulitis or abscess, 167 (22%) had diabetes mellitus. Among the 38% of cases with a positive culture, an aerobic gram-positive organism was isolated in 90% of diabetics and 92% of non-diabetics (p = .59); aerobic gram-negative organisms were isolated in 7% and 12%, respectively (p = .28). Overall, diabetics were more likely than non-diabetics to be exposed to broad gram-negative therapy (54% vs 44% of cases, p = .02). By logistic regression, diabetes mellitus was independently associated with exposure to broad gram-negative therapy (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.15 – 2.40). Conclusion In cases of cellulitis or abscess associated with a positive culture, gram-negative pathogens were not more common among diabetics compared with non-diabetics. However, diabetics were overall more likely to be exposed to broad gram-negative therapy suggesting this prescribing practice may not be not warranted.