[Prospective analysis of infections of the upper extremity]

In a prospective investigation infections of the upper extremity are examined with respect to incidence, bacterial pathogens, operative or conservative treatment, and duration of disability for work. A total of 255 patients (pts) (170 men, 85 women; mean age 37 years, range 16-85) were entered into the study. In a 12-month period 163 (64%) were treated as outpatients, the condition of 92 pts (36%) required hospitalisation. Conservative and operative treatment was performed in 82 (32%) and 173 (68%) pts, respectively. Conservative treatment included fixation by cast as well as antibiotics (penicillinase resistant penicillin), usually given by the oral route for a mean of 4 days. Surgical procedures consisted of excision and debridement. Intraoperatively intravenous antibiotics were instituted for a mean of 3 days, followed by oral application for another 4 days. In 135 of 173 pts who underwent surgery, sufficient material for bacterial culture was obtained. There was a polymicrobial infection in 50% of pts. Most common isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytical streptococci group A, and indigenous skin flora in 34%, 21%, and 11%, respectively. Among the 255 pts there were 26 HIV-positive iv drug abusers, who suffered from abscesses at injection sites. The infections in these immunocompromised HIV-positive pts did not reveal differences with respect to number and species of isolated pathogens as compared to immunocompetent pts. Resistant bacteria were not found. Response to treatment was satisfactory usually within a few days in all but 12 pts (4.7%) in which the failure could be attributed to inadequate primary debridement.