Is It Cost Effective to Obtain Fungal and Acid-Fast Bacillus Cultures during Spine Debridement?
- Author:
Mark J. LAMBRECHTS
1
;
Devin D. St. CLAIR
;
Jinpu LI
;
James L. COOK
;
Bradley S. SPENCE
;
Emily V. LEARY
;
Theodore J. CHOMA
;
Donald K. MOORE
;
Christina L. GOLDSTEIN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Clinical Study
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2022;16(4):519-525
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Methods:A retrospective review of medical record data from patients undergoing spine irrigation and debridement (I&D) at the University of Missouri over a 10-year period was performed.
Results:For patients undergoing spine I&D, there was a 4% incidence of fungal infection and 0.49% rate of AFB infection. Steroid use was associated with a higher likelihood (odds ratio, 5.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.33–23.75) of positive fungal or AFB cultures. Although not significant, patients undergoing multiple I&D procedures had higher rates of positive fungal cultures during each subsequent I&D. Over a 10-year period, if fungal cultures are obtained for each patient, it would cost our healthcare system $12,151.58. This is compared to an average cost of $177,297.64 per missed fungal infection requiring subsequent treatment.
Conclusions:Spine fungal infections occur infrequently at a rate of 4%. Physicians should strongly consider obtaining samples for fungal cultures in patients undergoing spine I&D, especially those using steroids and those undergoing multiple I&Ds. Our AFB culture rates mirror the false positive rates seen in previous orthopedic literature. It is unlikely to be cost effective to send for AFB cultures in areas with low endemic rates of AFB.
