Department of Orthpaedic Surgery Postdoctoral Student Kyle Chichos, B.S., published “Isothermal Microcalorimetry Improves the Time to Diagnosis of Fracture-related Infection Compared with Conventional Tissue Cultures” in the Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research journal.

Patients who have had fracture repair surgery are at risk for fracture-related infections. In a 13-month time span, the orthopaedic team treated 310 patients with concern for infection after fracture repair surgery.

In order to detect infection, physicians use one of two tests: either a conventional culture or isothermal microcalorimetry. The faster an infection is detected, the faster the patient can begin antibiotic management while awaiting more specific testing to modify the antibiotic regimen.

Cichos and colleagues set out to determine whether a isothermal microcalorimetry is faster and more accurate than a conventional culture. When examining the two methods, researchers found that isothermal microcalorimetry is indeed faster than a conventional culture and just as accurate.

Researchers conclude by suggesting that clinicians could eventually use isothermal microcalorimetry—pending developmental improvements and regulatory approval—to rapidly detect infection and begin antibiotic management, while awaiting more specific test results.

All study authors include:

• Kyle Cichos, B.S.
• Clay Spitler, M.D.
• Jonathan Quade, M.D.
• Joseph Johnson, M.D.
• Michael Johnson, M.D.
• Elie Ghanem, M.D.

To read more about the study and its methods, click here.