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Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening skin and soft tissue infection associated with high morbidity and mortality in adult patients. This infection can present as either type 1 infection caused by a mixed microflora ( Streptococci , Enterobacteriacae , Bacteroides sp., and Peptostreptococcus sp.), most commonly developing in patients after surgery or in diabetic patients, or as type 2. The latter type is monomicrobial and, usually, caused by group A Streptococci . Rarely, this type can be also caused by other pathogens, such as Vibrio vulnificus . V vulnificus is a small mobile Gram-negative rod capable of causing 3 types of infections in humans-gastroenteritis, primary infection of the vascular bed, and wound infections. If infecting a wound, V vulnificus can cause a life-threatening condition-necrotizing fasciitis. We present a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis developing after an insect bite followed by exposure to the seawater. Rapid propagation of the infectious complication in the region of the right lower limb led to a serious consideration of the necessity of amputation. Due to the clearly demarcated necroses and secondary skin and soft tissue infection caused by a multiresistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii , we, however, resorted to the use of selective chemical necrectomy using 40% benzoic acid-a unique application in this kind of condition. The chemical necrectomy was successful, relatively gentle and thanks to its selectivity, vital parts of the limb remained preserved and could have been subsequently salvaged at minimum blood loss. Moreover, the antimicrobial effect of benzoic acid led to rapid decolonization of the necrosis and wound bed preparation, which allowed us to perform defect closure using split-thickness skin grafts. The patient subsequently healed without further complications and returned to normal life.

Background: Periampullary tumours (PAT) may cause obstruction of distal choledochus. The bile stasis is a risk factor for microbial colonisation of bile (bacteriobilia), cholangitis, hepatic insufficiency and coagulopathy. PAT obstruction can be managed surgically or non-operatively - by inserting a biliary drain or stent (BDS). Although BDS allows for adequate bile drainage, liver function restitution and coagulopathy, increased bacteriobilia has been reported and this is associated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications., Methods: A monocentric, prospective, comparative study including 100 patients operated with PAT. The effects of bacteriobilia and the presence of a drain in the biliary tract on the development of postoperative complications were evaluated., Results: Positive microbial findings in bile were found in 67% of patients. It was 98% in the biliary drain group vs. 36% in non-drained patients (p = 0.0001). In 68% 2 or more different bacterial strains were simultaneously present (p = 0.0001). Patients with a positive microbial finding in bile had more frequent incidence of infectious complications 40.2% (27) vs. 9.1% (3); p = 0.0011. The most frequent infectious complication was wound infection 29.8% (20) vs. 3.03% (1); p = 0.0014. Similarly, a higher incidence of postoperative infectious complications occurred in patients with BDS - 36% (18) vs. 24% (12); p = 0.2752., Conclusion: The presence of a drain or stent in the biliary tract significantly increases the microbial colonisation of bile. It is associated with a significant increase in infectious complications, especially infections in the wound., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Robotic Surgery Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Inflammatory diseases of the skin and soft tissues are an important group of human infections. The most common causes are the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Given the growing resistance of these pathogens to antimicrobials, the current research focuses on the search for novel therapeutic options that would be effective against infections refractory to conventional antimicrobials. A promising alternative is the use of enzyme-based antimicrobials (enzybiotics) that degrade the bacterial cell wall. They target the specific pathogen but do not affect the skin microbiome, thus helping the healing process. As enzymes can be poorly soluble, unstable, or subject to rapid elimination from the body, efforts are made to create biobetters, i.e., enzymes with improved characteristics. Emphasis is also put on the development of novel enzybiotic carriers or wound healing dressings with integrated enzymes.

Nowadays, free flap reconstruction in devastating lower limb trauma is a standard procedure in reconstructive surgery. The greatest factor directly affecting limb salvage is still the risk of infectious complications, whether local or systemic. Fungal wound infections are not among the most common infection complications in surgery, but their low incidence is compensated for by their fulminant and serious course, as well as severe local tissue destruction and strong angio-invasive potential together with the possibility of dissemination. In this case study, we present an example of a devastating lower leg injury, solved using latissimus free flap reconstruction, with subsequent difficult and prolonged healing, due to an invasive filamentous fungi infection. In the final part of the article, we focus briefly on the occurrence of similar cases in the literature.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is an autoimmune disease expressed predominantly on the skin and mucous membranes. It is a serious bullous disease manifesting itself by induction of apoptosis in the dermo-epidermal junction. In most cases,it is attributable to the use of some drug. The basic approach to stopping progression of the disease is immunosuppression. Unfortunately, patients with such extensive loss of epidermis and defective mucosa are confronted by a variety of opportunistic, potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Unsurprisingly, infectious complications are today a predominant cause of death in patients thusly affected. Despite thorough review of the literature, we found no comprehensive case report concerning the development of multifocal Aspergillus infection in patients with this disease.

Goal: Determination of basic epidemiological parameters of burn patients with micromycetes infection. Identification of the most important micromycetes in burn patients., Material and Methods: Monocentre retrospective study enrolling all adult burn patients who were hospitalized between 2007 and 2015 and in whom micromycetes were isolated during hospitalization. ABSI index (Abbreviated Burn Severity Index) was used to evaluate severity of thermal trauma. Results were statistically analysed., Results: There were 61 patients with thermal trauma identified in total during the period of observation, and there were yeast or fibrous fungi isolated. There were 37 males and 24 females (M:F ratio - 1.5:1) in this group. The average age of patients was 57.3 years (29 patients were aged up to 60 years, 32 patients were over the age of 60 years, inclusive). 6 patients died (lethality was 9.8%). The average extent of the burn area was 21.6% TBSA (median 14.0%). There were 90 strains of micromycetes cultured in total in these patients (79 yeasts, 11 fibrous fungi). Micromycetes were isolated from burn area in 30 patients, from the lower airways in 19 patients, from the urogenital area in 15 patients and from blood culture in 7 patients. Non-albicans Candida species were predominant among yeasts (60 strains); Candida albicans was isolated 16 times in total. Aspergillus fumigatus (4 isolations) and Fusarium species (2 isolations) were predominant species among fibrous fungi., Conclusion: We successfully identified the basic epidemiological parameters in burn patients with micromycetes infection, similarly to the most important yeasts and fibrous fungi causing infection in these patients.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is an autoimmune disease which is usually caused by a reaction to drugs. It affects mainly the skin and mucous membranes. It is a rare condition with a high mortality rate. Fatal outcomes in patients with TEN are mostly due to infectious complications. As antimicrobial drugs may induce this syndrome, the management of this condition is very complicated. Tigecycline is still a relatively new antibiotic approved in Europe for use in complicated intra-abdominal infections and complicated skin and soft tissue infections. Among major advantages of tigecycline in patients with TEN are its good penetrability into tissues, wide spectrum of activity that makes it suitable for use as monotherapy, and last but not least, in comparison with other antimicrobials, a very low potential for exacerbation of the severity of the underlying disease by further stimulation of the immune system. A case report is presented of a successful management of an 81-year-old woman with TEN and multiple infectious complications in different anatomic locations, the most serious of which was ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Her general condition was further aggravated by Clostridium colitis. Tigecycline was used as the therapeutic option for ventilator-associated pneumonia, although prescribed off-label.Key words: toxic epidermal necrolysis - tigecycline - off-label indications - Clostridium colitis.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infectious complications in burn patients requiring intensive care in a one-day multicenter study encompassing burn centers in various European countries., Material and Methods: The European Burns Association database identified 87 centers in Western and Eastern Europe, 27 of which agreed to cooperate. American Burn Association recommendations were used for diagnosis of various infectious complications in patients with thermal trauma., Results: From those centers, we randomly assigned 134 patients (44 women) to the analysis. Mean age of the group was 40.39 ± 22.17(SD) years. Mean abbreviated burn severity index was 7.5±2.54, mean size of burned area was 30.49 ± 20.14% of total body surface area. Mean length of hospitalization to date was 24.32 ± 30.64 days. Infectious complications were observed in 92 patients (68.7%), 76 (56.7%) of whom met the criteria for infection of the burned area, 26 patients (19.4%) for bloodstream infection, 21 (15.7%) for pneumonia, and 13 (9.7%) for urinary system infection. Multifocal infections were found in 29 patients (21.6%). Gram-positive bacterial strains as potentially pathogenic microorganisms were identified in 67 patients (50.0%), Gram-negative bacterial strains in 73 (54.5%), and yeasts in 18 (13.4%) patients. Filamentous fungi were not isolated from any patient in the group., Conclusion: Cornerstone future standards in individual burn centers should be to monitor the occurrence of infectious complications in burn patients, prevent the spread of these complications, and report resistant pathogens. This work constitutes an important project in this area.

Study Aim: To determine antibiotic resistance and incidence of multidrug resistance among Nontyphoidal salmonellae serovars isolated from humans., Material and Methods: Consecutive Salmonella isolates from patients, recovered in 48 microbiology laboratories in May 2012, were analyzed in the respective reference laboratories at the National Institute of Public Health. Strains were re-identified and differentiated into serovars. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to 11 antibiotics were determined by the microdilution method., Results: Of 25 serovars identified among 637 strains of Salmonella enterica, the most frequent were Enteritidis (87.0 %), Typhimurium (4.9 %), and monophasic Typhimurium 4,[5],12:i:- (2.0 %) and Mbandaka (0.6 %); other serovars were rare. Altogether 558 strains (87.6 %) were susceptible to all antibiotics tested and the remaining 79 strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics. The prevalence rates of resistance to individual antibiotics among 637 study strains were as follows: ampicillin 8.5%, tetracycline 5.7%, sulfamethoxazole 5.2%, cipro-floxacin 3.8%, and chloramphenicol 2.5%. Resistance to gentamicin, trimethoprim, and third and fourth generation cephalosporins was rare ( 0.5%) and none of the study strains showed resistance to meropenem. Three producers of extended spectrum beta-lactamase were multidrug resistant and two of them recovered from twins exhibited a different pattern of resistance. Resistant strains were most often assigned to the following serovars: Enteritidis (49.4%), Typhimurium (26.6%), and monophasic Typhimurium (15.2%). While only 7% (39 of 554 strains) of Enteritidis strains were resistant, the serovars Typhimurium and its monophasic variant 4,[5],12:i:- showed high rates of resistance, i.e. 66.7 and 92.3%, respectively. Furthermore, resistance was revealed in all strains of the serovars Virchow (n = 3), Kentucky (n = 1), and Newport (n = 1), in two of three strains of the serovar Infantis, and in one of two strains of the serovar Stanley. All five blood isolates were assigned to the serovar Enteritidis and one of them showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. Of 79 resistant strains, 26.6% showed resistance to ampicillin only and 24.1% to ciprofloxacin only, with multidrug resistance, i.e. resistance to three or more antibiotics, confirmed in 43.0% of strains., Conclusion: Despite a relatively low prevalence of resistance to the antibiotics tested among 637 study strains, the following alarming findings were made: Detection of Salmonella enterica strains resistant to ciprofloxacin as the drug of choice or to higher generation cephalosporins and multidrug resistance revealed in two thirds of the strains of the serovar Typhimurium and in all but one strains of its monophasic variant 4,[5],12:i:-.

We present a case report of a small boy with cystic fibrosis complicated by pertussis and pneumothorax. The child had not been vaccinated against Bordetella pertussis due to the failure to thrive and was infected with the bacterium at the age of 4 months. The course of the disease was severe, with respiratory distress and spontaneous pneumothorax. The diagnosis of pertussis was serologically confirmed. A suspicion for cystic fibrosis increased after an unusually prolonged course of the disease and a history of the failure to thrive. A comprehensive diagnostic procedure revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infection, anemia, pancreatic insufficiency, a positive sweat test and the presence of two CFTR gene mutations. The patient, treated with comprehensive cystic fibrosis therapy, recovered from acute respiratory illness and started to thrive soon.

Study Objective: To determine the time axis for increase in Gram negative bacterial strains in burn wounds during hospitalization., Study Type: Retrospective., Material and Methods: Eighty-five patients hospitalized at the Clinic of burns and reconstructive surgery between 2006 and 2008 were enrolled in the study. The major criteria for enrolment were more than 15% of total body surface area (TBSA) burned, hospital stay of 1 month or more and age over 18 years. Specimens for microbiological examination were collected on days 2, 6, 10, 14 and 20 after admission., Results: A total of 777 bacterial strains were isolated from the study patients, with 64.6% of these strains being Gram positive and 35.4% Gram negative. The most frequently isolated Gram positive pathogens were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (260 strains) and Bacillus sp. (113 strains), while the most common Gram negative pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (81 strains), Escherichia coli (63 strains) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex (57 strains)., Conclusion: The study provided data that supports the assumption of increase in Gram negative bacterial strains in burn wounds during hospitalization. Nevertheless, even on day 20 after admission, such strains did not predominate.

Background: Infection complications caused by gram-negative bacteria nowadays constitute the dominant mortality cause in severely burned patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most feared nosocomial pathogen among burn centers worldwide, with the highest mortality., Material and Methods: The study involved adult patients hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit at the Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Brno, between the years 2000 and 2009. These patients were hospitalized for thermal injuries. Retrospectively we have evaluated the extent of the burned areas, ages, depth of injury at admission and at discharge or in dissection (histology) and length of hospitalization on the Intensive Care Unit. By completing regular swabs we monitored and evaluated the microbiological situation not only at the burned areas but also in the lower respiratory system, in the urinary tract and in the blood stream., Results: The study involved a total of 640 adults hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit at the Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Brno, for burn trauma between the years 2000 and 2009. The average extent of the burned area in patients was 36.2% TBSA (2-97% TBSA), average age was 36.7% years (18-92 years), average length of hospitalization at the Intensive Care Unit was 27.1 days (1-151 days). We isolated a total of 2,958 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (including repeated isolation of pseudomonas strains in the same patients) in these patients. The most frequently found of these was Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the burned area (1,301 strains), from the lower respiratory system (651) and from the urinary tract (592 strains). During the monitored period the number of strains isolated in our patients increased (146 strains in 2000, 521 strains in 2009). Furthermore, we noticed increased resistance to all available antibiotics except Polymyxins. All of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in the monitored years maintained 100% sensitivity to Colistin. Of the routinely used antibiotics Meropenem showed the greatest increase of resistance (in 2000 this comprised a total of 18% of the resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and in 2009 58% of the strains). Ceftazidime shows similar results (in 2000 12%, in 2009 39% of resistant strains). Amikacin displayed a relatively good effect against pseudomonas infections; in 2009 we registered total of 34% of the resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to this aminoglycoside. In 2000 there were 13 multiresistant strains (i.e. 8.9%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in 2009 the figure was 171 strains (i.e. 32.82%)., Conclusion: In our study we point to the increasing trend not only in the prevalence but also in the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. This limits our choices for suitable antibiotic therapy. This is why infection complications play such a significant role in morbidity and mortality in severely burned patients.

Tigecycline is a new semi-synthetic antibiotic from the glycylcycline class of antibiotics. In the Czech Republic this preparation is registered only primarily for complicated skin infections and infection of soft tissues, along with complicated intra-abdominal infections. In future its indications will perhaps widen to include respiratory tract infections, as is the case in the USA. So far we don't have sufficient data about the use of tigecycline in the treatment of critically ill patients, and in these patients it should not be the treatment of first choice. However, it remains to be seen whether increasing resistance and insufficient new types of antibiotics will force us to use tigecycline in these indications as well. Bacterial infections still present a huge threat to severely burned patients. Lately, in patients with burn trauma, as the source of infection complications have begun to dominate significantly multiresistant strains of bacteria. These bacteria originate from gram positive as well as gram negative spectrum. In severely burned patients the early and correct indication of antibiotic treatment, as well as the appropriate choice of antibiotics, forms one of the foundations of successful treatment. At the Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery we first used tigecycline on August 9th 2008 in the treatment of non-healing defects after autotransplant with dermo-epidermal grafts in the face, where the source of infection was identified as mixed bacterial microflora. The treatment was successful. Since then tigecycline has become a standard antibiotic at our workplace. In the observed period of 12 months we have used the antibiotic in 11 patients. Thanks to a wide antibacterial spectrum, monotherapy with tigecycline constitutes an interesting alternative to the frequently difficult combination of antibiotics used in other treatments. In this work we present our clinical experience, results, indications as well as difficulties in tigecycline treatment.

Patients with burn trauma are always in danger of contracting an infection. Although invasive mycotic infections are not as frequent as bacterial infections, high mortality and in many cases difficult diagnostics pose a serious threat not only for neutropenic patients. In more extensive burns the status is further complicated by specifically compromised immunity. The most frequent species of micromycetes isolated in burn patients are Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. Zygomycetes represents a relatively uncommon isolation worldwide (up to 2% of all fungi. We present a case study of a young patient with 82% TBSA (total body surface area) burns, where we isolated simultaneously 3 different types of micromycetes (Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium sp., Absidia sp.). Mycotic infection is understood primarily as a complication in neutropenic patients and, after prophylactic antibiotic and antimycotic administration, in extensive burn trauma patients. The case ended with the death of the patient due to severe sepsis caused by the multiresistant strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infectious disorder affecting the fascia and the dermis, however sparing the muscle layer. Initial, difficult to detect, fast-progressing subcutaneous spread with rapid progression to shock, conduces to the high mortality rates of the disorder. In risk patient groups, such as in diabetes patients, immunocompromized patients or the elderly, the mortality rate even exceeds 80%. The majority of infections is caused by common skin, rectal or urethral bacteria. The commonest paths of entry into the body include minor skin lesions, including surgical wounds. Fever, pain, skin redness and edema, crepitus and, later even skin necrosis mimicking grade III burns, are the symptoms suggestive of necrotizing fasciitis. Among depicting methods, CT examination is irreplacable. Only early and sufficiently radical surgical management with adjunctive antibiotic therapy may result in successful outcomes. The authors present a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis, which developed as a complication of laparoscopic appendectomy in a young healthy subject. Considering the rarity of the complication, a summary of available medical literature data related to the problematics is included in this presentation.

Background: Hospital antibiotic stewardship (ABS) programs are essential for ensuring long-lasting quality of antibiotic usage and for controlling antimicrobial resistance in the hospital setting., Methods: A questionnaire for self-assessment of a hospital's ABS maturity was sent to 80 Czech hospitals in May 2007. The survey was focused on diagnostic issues, control of antibiotic consumption, antibiotic-related organization and tools, antibiotic-related personnel development and antibiotic-related relationships to relevant environments., Results: Of 80 addressed hospitals, 45 sent back processed questionnaires (response rate 56.3%). These 80 hospitals cover about 85% of the Czech population. All Czech university hospitals were included in the replying group. The listed diagnostic tools were declared available by all hospitals; 44 of 45 hospitals have surveillance systems for antibiotic resistance rates. Control of antibiotic consumption was available only partially in 42 of 45 hospitals. Some antibiotic tools need to be improved and must be used more frequently. Official recognition, job descriptions and better funding of antibiotic personnel are needed, as well as support for further development of ABS structures and functions., Discussion: The basic structure of ABS is well developed in the Czech hospitals. A network of antibiotic centers focusing their services on optimization of antibiotic usage has been in place in the Czech Republic since the 1970s. Nevertheless, the survey revealed a clear need and many opportunities for further improvement. Control of antibiotic consumption is not implemented in all Czech hospitals and some of the essential antibiotic tools should be used more widely.

Aim of the Study: To confirm whether respecting the pharmacokinetics of beta-lactam antibiotics in the treatment of thoracic empyema substantially influences the lengths of antibiotic therapy, thoracic drainage and hospital stay., Material and Methods: During a 30-month period, we compared two groups of patients treated for empyema, one with the standard administration of antibiotics, i.e. a 30-minute bolus, the other with the administration infusion time prolonged to 2 to 3 hours. We observed how rapidly inflammatory markers decreased (C-reactive protein, leukocytes), the lengths of thoracic drainage, antibiotic administration and hospital stay. The results were statistically compared., Results: The study involved 58 patients with the average age of 57 years, the majority of whom were men (50). The empyema aetiology was mostly parapneumonic. The results of primary cultivation were dominated by Gram-positive cocci and anaerobes. Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi, were mainly cultured as secondary hospital microflora. Both groups were comparable as to the size, age distribution, male to female ratio and microbiological spectrum of the cultured pathogens. Already the fourth postoperative day, statistically significant difference occurred in the C-reactive protein level and white cell count. The lengths of chest drainage, administration of antibiotics and hospital stay were 1 to 2 days shorter in the latter group. However, the decrease was not statistically significant., Conclusion: The prolongation of antibiotic administration infusion time contributed to faster inflammation regression, shorter antibiotic therapy and thus shorter hospital stay without increased costs. Although the aforementioned parameters were not statistically significant, we consider any shortening of antibiotic administration time and hospital stay to be beneficial for patients. The approach should be recommended for clinical practice, especially in the treatment of severe infections.

The authors present the case-history of a patient operated on account of a pulmonary aspergilloma, incl. analysis of postoperative infectious complications. The course is confronted with data in the literature. Based on the professional literature on the subject the authors discuss the contemporary approach to surgical treatment of this disease.