Background Surgical site infections (SSI) represent a burden on the health care system especially in developing countries with significant morbidity and mortality. In Egypt, especially in our institution, there is no registry for the SSI rate or the contributing factors with no clear guidelines regarding the regimen of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Our study was conducted to assess the local practice and to calculate the rate and risk factors of SSI. Patients and methods A prospective registry was established at the Neurosurgery Department, Demerdash teaching hospital Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. All patients who underwent elective neurosurgical procedures were included in this study. Trauma patients were excluded. Patients were followed-up for incident SSI for 1 month postoperatively. SSIs were identified based on CDC criteria and a standardized data collection form predictor variables including patient characteristics, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors along with the pattern of antimicrobial prophylaxis. Results The study included 248 patients with 1-month postoperative follow-up. An SSI rate of 19% was recorded being mainly in patients below 10 years of age. Postoperative CSF leak was noticed to be the most significant risk factor of SSI in our study (p value < 0.01). Sixty five percent of culture results showed infection with gram-negative bacilli with the predominance of Acinetobacter. Conclusion Prolonged use of perioperative antibiotics does not seem to have an added benefit in SSI prevention. Tailoring of the used antibiotic regimen is highly recommended according to the latest antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines and the local culture and sensitivity results.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in children using right heart indices and serum galectin-3 (Gal-3), as potential biomarkers of right heart remodeling. Methods: This case-control prospective study included 40 children with ASD and 25 control subjects. An echocardiographic evaluation was performed before the procedure, as well as 24 h, 1 month, and 6 months after intervention. Serum Gal-3 was measured before, and 1 month after the procedure. Results: Serum Gal-3 concentration, right atrial (RA) dimensions, right ventricular (RV) dimensions, indexed RA area, and right index of myocardial performance (RIMP) were significantly increased in children with ASD compared with control subjects while tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly decreased. Six months after closure, RA, and RV dimensions significantly decreased and RV function improved (RIMP decreased and TAPSE increased). Gal-3 oncentration significantly decreased 1 month after ASD closure, but it did not reach normal range compared with control subjects. A positive correlation between Gal-3 and age at closure, RA area, RV dimensions, and RIMP was observed. A positive correlation was observed between the decrease in Gal-3 concentration and the decrease in RA area and RV dimensions 1 month after ASD closure. A significant negative correlation was observed between TAPSE and Gal-3 concentration before and after intervention. Conclusions: Percutaneous ASD closure can improve right-sided indices and decrease serum Gal-3 concentration. Gal-3 can be used as a sensitive biomarker of right heart remodeling, with a decrease in Gal-3 concentration suggesting reversal of maladaptive remodeling.