Purpose COVID-19 pandemic has created havoc all over the globe and spared no one regardless of status, gender, location and ethnicity. There were questions raised if trauma and orthopaedic (T&O) procedures actually generated aerosols? The need for a review of literature highlighting the nature and impact of aerosol generation within T&O surgery was noted. Methods A comprehensive online search was performed for all published articles in the English language, evaluating AGPs in T&O surgery and the relevant personal protection equipment used. Results The search strategy populated 43 studies. Six studies were identified as duplicates. The shortlisted 37 studies were screened and nine studies were included in the review. An additional four studies were included from the bibliography review. Conclusion Most orthopaedic procedures are high-risk aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). Conventional surgical masks do not offer protection against high-risk AGPs. In the current era of COVID-19 pandemic, there is a significant risk to the transmission of infection to the theatre staff. For protection against airborne transmission, appropriate masks should be used. These need proper fitting and sizing to ensure full protection when used.

Aims Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in primary shoulder arthroplasty has been studied; results supported the positive impact of the PSI on the glenoid positioning. Nevertheless, no clinical outcomes have been reported. We compare the clinical outcomes of primary reverse total shoulder arthroplasty using PSI versus the standard methods. Methods Fifty-three patients with full records and a minimum of 24-months follow-up were reviewed, 35 patients received primary standard RSTA, and 18 patients received primary PSI RSTA. All patients were operated on in a single center. The median follow-up was 46 months (53 months in the standard group vs 39 months in the PSI group). Results There was an overall significant post-operative improvement in the whole cohort (P< 0.05). The standard group had more deformed glenoids (B2, B3, C&D) and significantly low preoperative constant score and forward flexion (P=0.02 & 0.034). Compared to the PSI group (all were A1, A2, B1 &one type D), there were no statistically significant differences in any clinical outcome postoperatively. PSI neither prolonged the waiting time to surgery (P=0.693) nor the intraoperative time (P=0.962). Radiologically, PSI secured a higher percentage of optimum baseplate position and screw anchorage; however, no statistical correlation was found. Conclusion In this series, both groups achieved comparable good outcomes. PSI did not achieve significantly better clinical outcomes than Standard after primary RSTA. Yet comparison has some limitations. PSI did not negatively impact the waiting time or the surgical time.

Background: Antibiotics are frequently used to treat acne patients either as bactericidal or anti-inflammatory agents. However, with the increased use of antibiotics, resistant strains of Propionibacterium acnes began to emerge and have been associated with a poor treatment outcome. Objectives: Detection of staphylococcal and Propionibacterium acnes strains in cases of acne vulgaris in Assiut university hospitals, Egypt and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Propionibacterium acnes isolates. Methodology: Microbiological samples were obtained from one hundred patients with inflammatory acne lesions. Samples were cultured on blood agar and mannitol salt agar media under aerobic conditions at 37°C for isolation of staphylococcal strains, and on blood agar under anaerobic conditions at 37°C for 3 to 7 days for isolation of Propionibacterium acnes. Bacteria were identified by colonial morphology, standard biochemical tests, and API 20A test for identification of Propionibacterium acnes isolates. Antibiotic sensitivity testing of Propionibacterium acnes strains was done against clindamycin, erythromycin, doxycyclin, trimethoprime/sulfamethxazole, tetracycline and levofloxacin. Results: Staphylocoocal strains were detected in 55% of acne cases, while Propionibacterium acnes were detected in 35% of cases. Most Propionibacterium acnes isolates were sensitive to levofloxacin (80%), followed by doxycycline (51.4%), tetracycline, trimethoprime/ sulfamethaxazole (20.0% for each) while showed highest resistance rates to clindamycin (85.7%) and erythromycin (82.9%). Conclusion: Levofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic for Propionibacterium acnes followed by doxycycline, while Erythromycin and clindamycin were the least effective antibiotics for Propionibacterium acnes.

Background: As COVID-19 has neither a standard treatment protocol nor guidelines, there are many treatment protocols for anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and anti-coagulations for severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients. This study aimed to assess the most suitable modality in this high-risk group. Methods: A prospective, experimental study design was adopted that included 123 severe COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted at Assiut University Hospital. Patients were divided into three groups according to a combined corticosteroid and anticoagulants therapy protocol. Group A included 32 patients, group B included 45 patients, and group C included 46 patients. Assessment of cases was conducted according to the treatment type and duration, weaning duration from oxygen therapy, length of hospital and ICU stay, and complications during treatment. Three months follow-up after discharge was performed. Results: the three patient groups showed significant differences regarding the 3-month outcome, whereas Group C showed the highest cure rate, lowest lung fibrosis, and lowest mortality rate over the other two groups. The in-hospital outcome, the development of pulmonary embolism, bleeding, hematoma, acute kidney disease, and myocardial infarction showed a significant difference between groups (p values < 0.05). Mortality predictors among severe COVID-19 patients by multivariable Cox hazard regression included treatment modality, history of comorbid diseases, increased C reactive protein, high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and shorter ICU and hospital stay. Conclusion: the use of combined methylprednisolone and therapeutic Enoxaparin, according to a flexible protocol for COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia, had two benefits; the prevention of disease complications and improved clinical outcome.