Pathogenic bacterial contamination is a major threat to human health and safety. In this review, we summarize recent strategies for the integration of recognition elements with nanomaterials for the detection and sensing of pathogenic bacteria. Nanoprobes can provide sensitive and specific detection of bacterial cells, which can be applied across multiple applications and industries.

Background

Optimal antibiotic prophylaxis duration in head and neck clean-contaminated free-flap cases is unknown.

Methods

A systematic review/meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web-of-Science, and Scopus databases.

Results

Of the 3755 searched articles, 5 articles were included for a total of 861 patients. The recipient surgical site infection risk was significantly higher in patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics for ≤24 hours compared to >24 hours (relative risk [RR] 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.14). In the post hoc multivariate analysis based on available individual-level data on 697 patients from 3 studies, the risk of surgical site infection for ≤24 hours versus >24 hours was not significant after adjusting for antibiotic type (RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.78-1.55). When compared to ampicillin-sulbactam, patients who received clindamycin prophylaxis had an increased likelihood of recipient surgical site infection (RR 2.85; 95% CI 1.95-4.17).

Conclusion

Less than or equal to 24 hours of antibiotic prophylaxis in head and neck clean-contaminated free-flap is likely sufficient but a strong conclusion remains elusive. Clindamycin prophylaxis increases the risk of recipient surgical site infection. Further prospective trials are necessary to clarify.

OBJECTIVE: To explore if antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy increases the risk of transfusion requirement or postoperative hematoma formation in patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction for head and neck defects. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Colorado, and the University of California Irvine. METHODS: A multi-institutional, retrospective review on microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck between August 2013 to July 2021. Perioperative antithrombotic data were collected to examine predictors of postoperative transfusion and hematoma. RESULTS: A total of 843 free flaps were performed. Preoperative hemoglobin, hematocrit, operative time, and flap type were positive predictors of postoperative transfusion in both bivariate (P < .0001) and multivariate analyses (P < .0001). However, neither anticoagulation nor antiplatelet therapy were predictive of postoperative transfusion rates and hematoma formation. CONCLUSION: Antithrombotic regimens do not increase the risk of postoperative transfusion or hematoma in head and neck microvascular reconstruction. Based on this limited data, perioperative antithrombotic regimens can be considered in patients who may otherwise be at risk for these postoperative complications.

Diagnosis and treatment of vocal fold lesions has been a long-evolving science for the otolaryngologist. Contemporary practice requires biopsy of a glottal lesion in the operating room under general anesthesia for diagnosis. Current in-office technology is limited to visualizing the surface of the vocal folds with fiber-optic or rigid endoscopy and using stroboscopic or high-speed video to infer information about submucosal processes. Previous efforts using optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been limited by small working distances and imaging ranges. Here we report the first full field, high-speed, and long-range OCT images of awake patients' vocal folds as well as cross-sectional video and Doppler analysis of their vocal fold motions during phonation. These vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser source (VCSEL) OCT images offer depth resolved, high-resolution, high-speed, and panoramic images of both the true and false vocal folds. This technology has the potential to revolutionize in-office imaging of the larynx.