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Object Frontoethmoidal mengingoencephaloceles (fMECs) are frequently observed in Cambodia, especially in poor families. The authors describe issues related to the surgical treatment of fMECs in Cambodia at the end of a humanitarian program that provided surgery free of charge to patients and their families. Methods The authors reviewed 257 cases of fMEC involving patients who presented to their institution, the Children's Surgical Center in Phnom Penh, between 2004 and 2009. They treated 200 of these patients surgically (108 males, 92 females; 89% younger than 18 years) using a “low-cost” management plan with no routine pre- or postoperative investigations. Initially, surgery was performed by visiting foreign surgeons who taught the procedures to resident surgeons. Patients were not charged for consultations or treatment and received at least 1 follow-up examination 6 months postoperatively. Results The nasoethmoidal type was the most frequent fMEC encountered (69%). Many patients had associated ophthalmological issues (46% of cases). Only 1 familial case was detected. Combined neurosurgical and facial procedures were successfully standardized and learned by surgeons initially unfamiliar with fMEC management. A neurosurgical approach avoided the need for a facial incision in 42 cases, improving cosmetic results. The most common postoperative issues were a temporary CSF leak (24 cases [12%]) and/or infection (28 cases [14%]). There were 3 deaths directly related to the operations. Cosmetic results were good in 145 cases, average in 27, poor in 7, and worse than preoperative appearance in 6 patients. Fifteen patients were lost to follow-up. The parents of 87% of the children were rice farmers. Questionnaire results confirmed that fMEC has important social and educational consequences for the affected children and that these consequences can be partially improved by fMEC correction. Conclusions This experience in fMEC management demonstrates that local surgeons can treat these malformations with limited surgical materials and in a nonspecialized infrastructure after principles of treatment have been learned and if they are carefully respected. Surgery for fMEC can thus be more accessible to a larger number of patients in developing countries. Moreover, local treatment facilitates better postoperative and follow-up care.

Most patients opted for surgical treatment without adjuvant chemotherapy, which is not within the means of many Cambodian patients. Acceptance of amputation, earlier diagnosis, patient education, and access to standardized chemotherapy needs to be enhanced if Cambodian patients are to have a fighting chance.

BackgroundEmerging antibiotic resistance amongst clinically significant bacteria is a public health issue of increasing significance worldwide, but it is relatively uncharacterized in Cambodia. In this study we performed standard bacterial cultures on samples from wounds at a Non-Governmental-Organization (NGO) Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Testing was performed to elucidate pathogenic bacteria causing wound infections and the antibiotic resistance profiles of bacterial isolates. All testing was performed at the Naval Medical Research Unit, No.2 (NAMRU-2) main laboratory in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.MethodsBetween 2011–2013, a total of 251 specimens were collected from patients at the NGO hospital and analyzed for bacterial infection by standard bacterial cultures techniques. Specimens were all from wounds and anonymous. No specific clinical information accompanied the submitted specimens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, and phenotypic testing for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) were performed and reported based on CLSI guidelines. Further genetic testing for CTX-M, TEM and SHV ESBLs was accomplished using PCR.ResultsOne-hundred and seventy-six specimens were positive following bacterial culture (70 %). Staphlycoccus aureus was the most frequently isolated bacteria. Antibiotic drug resistance testing revealed that 52.5 % of Staphlycoccus aureus isolates were oxacillin resistant. For Escherichia coli isolates, 63.9 % were ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistant and 96 % were ESBL producers. Resistance to meropenem and imipenem was observed in one of three Acinetobacter spp isolates.ConclusionsThis study is the first of its kind detailing the antibiotic resistance profiles of pathogenic bacteria causing wound infections at a single surgical hospital in Cambodia. The reported findings of this study demonstrate significant antibiotic resistance in bacteria from injured patients and should serve to guide treatment modalities in Cambodia.

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