Usand and twenty-one female surgeons completed an anonymous, voluntary, 199-item online survey distributed via individual female surgeon interest groups and word of mouth in nine specialties: general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, podiatry, and urology. Two hundred and twenty-three survey responses from orthopaedic surgeons were compared with those of the other surgical specialists as well as American Pregnancy Association national data to assess differences, if any, in pregnancy characteristics, demographics, and satisfaction. Results: The overall reported complication rate for all pregnancies among orthopaedic surgeons was significantly higher than the rate in the general American population (31.2% [eighty-two of 263] compared with 14.5%). There was an increased risk of preterm delivery among orthopaedic surgeons compared with a cohort of the general U.S. population matched according to age, race, health, and socioeconomic status (risk ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 4.6). There was an increased risk of preterm labor and preterm delivery among women who reported working more than sixty hours per week (odds ratio, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.4 to 36.6). Female orthopaedic surgeons took shorter maternity leave during training than during clinical practice (median, four compared with seven weeks). The mean duration of breastfeeding was significantly shorter during training than during clinical practice (4.7 compared with 8.3 months, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Female orthopaedic surgeons had an increased risk of pregnancy complications, particularly preterm delivery, compared with the general U.S. population. We found an increased risk of increased risk of preterm labor and delivery in surgeons working more than sixty hours per week during pregnancy....

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common causes of infections worldwide and can be caused by numerous uropathogens. Enterococci are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic commensal organisms of the gastrointestinal tract that are known uropathogens. Enterococcus spp. has become a leading cause of healthcare associated infections, ranging from endocarditis to UTIs. In recent years, there has been an increase in multidrug resistance due to antibiotic misuse, especially in enterococci. Additionally, infections due to enterococci pose a unique challenge due to their ability to survive in extreme environments, intrinsic antimicrobial resistance, and genomic malleability. Overall, this review aims to highlight the pathogenicity, epidemiology, and treatment recommendations (according to the most recent guidelines) of enterococci.

Background and Purpose: Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is an excellent surgical treatment for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but surgical complications are not well described. We set out to determine the predictors of stress incontinence (SUI) after HoLEP during the learning curve. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of our institution's HoLEP database was performed. Patients were divided into two groups: No pads at 3 months (group 1); SUI and/or mixed incontinence necessitating ≥one pad at 3 months (group 2). Results: Seventy-seven patients underwent HoLEP at our institution. Nine (12%) were excluded for pure urge symptoms and two (3%) were lost to follow-up, leaving 66 total patients. No differences were noted as regards age (P = 0.54), operating room time (P = 0.18), prostate size (P = 0.85), prostate-specific antigen level (P = 0.96), or International Prostate Symptom Score (P = 0.11). The number of days between cases, however, was higher in group 2 (44.5 vs 18.1, P = 0.02) and was associated with SUI in simple logistic regression models (odds ratio [OR] 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.51; P = 0.019). As the interval time between cases increased from 1, 3, and 5 weeks, the strength of the association increased (1 week: OR 2.75; 95% CI: 0.78–9.66; P = 0.12; 3 weeks: OR 2.86; 95% CI: 0.92–8.91; P = 0.07; 5 weeks: OR 4.69; 95% CI: 1.21–18.26; P = 0.026). SUI resolved in all but two patients by 1 year. Conclusions: The major associated risk for SUI, a complication presumably related to surgical technique, was prolonged duration between cases. During the learning curve, surgeons should schedule patients frequently to enhance learning and decrease time to mastery of the technique, thereby reducing SUI.

Women physicians must consider many conflicting issues when timing childbirth. We characterized maternity leave, breast-feeding practices and satisfaction associated with pregnancy timing in women urologists. A 114-item anonymous survey including questions on maternity leave duration for firstborn children, workplace policies, attitudes and satisfaction was mailed to all 365 American board certified women urologists in May and July 2007. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with greater satisfaction. A total of 243 women urologists (69%) responded, of whom 158 had at least 1 biological child. Average maternal age at first birth was 32.6 years. Of the children 10%, 32% and 52% were born before, during and after residency, respectively. Only 42% of women reported the existence of a formal maternity leave policy. Of the women 70% took 8 weeks or less of leave. Those with 9 weeks or greater were 3.8 times more likely to report satisfaction (p = 0.001). Although women in practice were 2.0 times more likely to take 9 weeks or greater compared to those in training or earlier (p = 0.046), only 30% in practice took this much time. Dissatisfaction with leave was not related to birth timing (residency vs practice) or maternal age at delivery but to work/residency related issues in 69% of respondents, financial concerns in 13% and personal/other in 18%. For breast-feeding 67% of respondents were satisfied with the duration and 22% were not. Dissatisfaction was secondary to work factors. Satisfaction with leave was related to the amount of maternity leave with women with 9 weeks or greater more likely to report satisfaction. Women in practice were more likely to take 9 weeks or greater but most did not due to strong stressors related to work, partners/peers or finances. Work factors were cited for dissatisfaction with breast-feeding.