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Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Background: Intracranial infections with Corynebacterium striatum (C. striatum) have been described sporadically in the literature over the last two decades. However, C. striatum meningitis combined with multiple abscesses has not been published before., Case Presentation: In this report, we describe the clinical and imaging findings in a 54-year-old woman with meningitis caused by C. striatum and combined with suspected brain and lung abscesses. This patient who underwent multiple fractures and a recent cut presented with headache and paraphasia. C. striatum was isolated in cerebrospinal fluid and supposedly transmitted from the skin purulent wound through blood. The patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin and had a transient improvement, but died finally. Multiple abscesses, especially in the brain, could be a reason to explain her conditions were deteriorating rapidly., Conclusions: Note that C. striatum can cause life-threatening infections. Early identification and diagnosis, early administration of antibiotics to which the bacterium is susceptible, and treatment of complications will be beneficial in patients with C. striatum-related infection.

Saksenaea vasiformis is an emerging human pathogen, belonging to the order Mucorales of the subphylum Mucormycotina, most often associated with rhino-cerebral, cutaneous and subcutaneous infections following trauma. A review of the published literature was attempted on the occasion of a cutaneous leg infection with favorable outcome in a young immunocompetent man after mild injury. The overall aim was the facilitation of the study and the integrated understanding of this kind of fungal infections., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial efficacy of silver-impregnated negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in lower-extremity acute traumatic wounds., Methods: Open contaminated wounds caused by high-velocity trauma in the lower extremities were randomly allocated into two groups. The wounds in the control and experimental groups were treated with conventional NPWT (n = 31) and silver-impregnated NPWT (n = 35), respectively., Main Outcome Measures: Serial bacterial cultures were obtained from the participants' wounds, polyurethane foam, and suction tubes weekly during the 4-week follow-up to identify bacteria and follow their conversions., Main Results: Bacterial colonization rates in the silver NPWT group were generally lower than those in the conventional NPWT group, and the difference increased with time. For methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization, wounds treated with silver-impregnated NPWT showed a significant reduction in bacterial load compared with those treated with conventional NPWT., Conclusions: Silver-impregnated NPWT effectively decreases bacterial load in open contaminated wounds of the lower extremities. It can be used as a temporizing measure to manage bacterial colonization while patients and wounds are being prepared for final wound reconstruction.

Introduction: The management of long bone lower limb fractures secondary to gunshot wounds (GSWs) in the civilian setting are complex and there is currently no consensus regarding the optimal approach to managing such fractures. This study aims to address the relationship of implant related sepsis in fractures secondary to GSWs., Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed on both Pubmed and Scopus databases that look at fractures caused by GSWs in the lower limb. A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria set in this study., Results: Current literature suggests that low and high velocity injuries managed with internal fixation, such as intramedullary nails, may carry a low risk of superficial and deep infection, with no obvious risk of osteomyelitis. However, infection was poorly defined across all studies and no study used a validated scoring system for infection making it difficult to draw any valid conclusion on the rate of infection following internal fixation of lower limb fractures following both high and low velocity GSWs., Conclusion: There is no clear evidence to confirm or refute that internal fixation is the ideal method of management in these complex injuries and guidance is needed due to the high and increasing proportion of patients presenting with these complex injuries worldwide., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Introduction: Debridement and control of wound drainage are critical for managing patients with extensive traumatic wounds because wound infection can result in sepsis and further complications., Case Report: The authors report the case of a 19-year-old woman with an extensive crush/degloving injury to her right lower limb that was treated with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) with a reticulated open-cell foam dressing. The patient received 2 treatments of sharp debridement and vacuum drainage using wall suction and polyvinyl alcohol dressings. Her respiratory failure, sepsis, and septic shock continued to worsen, and she could not tolerate anesthesia. On post admission day 9, after simple debridement where only superficial necrosis tissue was debrided without anesthesia, NPWT was applied for 5 days and removed about 8500 mL of exudate the first day and 6000 mL on the second. After 5 days, her wound began to improve, granulation tissue formed, no necrotic tissues were visible, and vital signs were stable. On day 14, she underwent anesthesia, surgical debridement, and application of NPWT for an additional 5 days. Following autologous skin grafting on day 19, she was removed from the ventilator (which was started on day 3). The extensive wound was effectively closed; she recovered satisfactorily. There was no patient follow-up., Conclusions: In this case, NPWT, in continuous mode at -125 mm Hg, effectively removed exudate after simple debridement in a patient who could not tolerate anesthesia.

An 81-year-old man from rural Australia presented with right pretibial cellulitis 7 days after minor trauma against furniture. He failed to improve despite antibiotics and surgical debridement. Subsequent cultures grew the rare fungus Saksenaea vasiformis, which was treated with further surgical debridement, amphotericin B and posaconazole. This was successful and the patient made a full recovery. We present the case and discuss lessons learnt., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

This study focused on a clinically relevant healthcare problem in the military: acute soft tissue wounds, or blisters. The trial was a prospective, controlled, randomized two-arm study evaluating the efficacy of a bioelectric dressing, Procellera®, applied topically two to three times per week for 2 weeks to blisters developed in Ranger trainees during training at Fort Benning, Georgia. A total of 80 US Army Ranger recruits with blister wounds below the knee were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 40/group). The primary goal was to assess the clinical efficacy (rate of healing) of administered Procellera in conjunction with the standard-of-care (SOC) treatment, moleskin and Tegaderm ®, on the healing rate of blisters compared with the SOC treatment alone. The secondary end points for efficacy were the quantities of wound fluid biomarkers and bacterial bioburden. The tertiary end point was assessment of pain in the treatment group compared with that of the control group during the 2-week study. The results showed no statistical difference between the SOC and SOC+Procellera groups in wound healing and pain. Wound fluid was reported for 24 participants (64.9%) in the SOC group and 21 participants (56.8%) in SOC+Procellera group at the baseline measurement (ρ = .475); however, the wounds were devoid of fluid on follow-up visits. The mild nature of the wounds in this study was apparent by the low pain scores at the beginning of the study, which disappeared by the follow-up visits. The average wound sizes were 2.2cm2 and 1.5cm2 for the SOC and SOC+Procellera groups, respectively. This trial protocol should be conducted on open softtissue wounds in severe heat. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study conducted within the US Army Rangers training doctrine., (2017.)

Clinical Case: A 33-year old woman presents with unilateral granulomatous conjunctivitis, ipsilateral regional lymphadenopathy and fever. A Bartonella henselae infection is demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, and a diagnosis of a Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome is established. Outcome after treatment with oral doxycycline is satisfactory., Discussion: Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome is the most frequent ocular manifestation of a Bartonella henselae infection., (Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

We present a case of endogenous endophthalmitis in a 13-year-old boy with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. The patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain after intermittent anisocoria was noted on examination, leading to a diagnosis of endophthalmitis with a chorodial abscess., (Copyright © 2015 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tetanus is a major worldwide health problem, and its global incidence has been estimated to be approximately 1 million cases per year. In particular, tetanus is more frequent in the elderly as compared with adults. We report a case of an octogenarian who presented with dysphagia and tremors as the only clinical symptoms. During hospitalization, the patient's clinical conditions worsened rapidly, and, although in absence of the classic clinical presentation (trisma, nuchal rigidity, and opisthotonus), a diagnosis of tetanus was suspected. Thus, the patient underwent a tetanus immunoglobulin immunization and antibiotic therapy with excellent clinical recovery.

Biomaterials-associated infection incidence represents an increasing clinical challenge as more people gain access to medical device technologies worldwide and microbial resistance to current approaches mounts. Few reported antimicrobial approaches to implanted biomaterials ever get commercialized for physician use and patient benefit. This is not for lack of ideas since many thousands of claims to new approaches to antimicrobial efficacy are reported. Lack of translation of reported ideas into medical products approved for use, results from conflicting goals and purposes between the various participants involved in conception, validation, development, commercialization, safety and regulatory oversight, insurance reimbursement, and legal aspects of medical device innovation. The scientific causes, problems and impressive costs of the limiting clinical options for combating biomaterials-associated infection are well recognized. Demands for improved antimicrobial technologies constantly appear. Yet, the actual human, ethical and social costs and consequences of their occurrence are less articulated. Here, we describe several clinical cases of biomaterials-associated infections to illustrate the often-missing human elements of these infections. We identify the current societal forces at play in translating antimicrobial research concepts into clinical implant use and their often-orthogonal constituencies, missions and policies. We assert that in the current complex environment between researchers, funding agencies, physicians, patients, providers, producers, payers, regulatory agencies and litigators, opportunities for translatable successes are minimized under the various risks assumed in the translation process. This argues for an alternative approach to more effectively introduce new biomaterials and device technologies that can address the clinical issues by providing patients and medical practitioners new options for desperate clinical conditions ineffectively addressed by biomedical innovation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mucormycoses are rare but emerging diseases with poor prognosis caused by ubiquitous fungi from the environment. In November 2008, our teaching hospital experienced three cutaneous mucormycosis due to Lichtheimia spp. (ex Absidia/Mycocladus) in the intensive care and orthopaedic units. Environmental and epidemiological investigations suggested a possible cross-transmission of L. ramosa between two patients in intensive care. This is the first report of possible person-to-person transmission of mucormycosis species. These cases show the ineffectiveness of hydro-alcoholic solutions against spores and underline the need to respect standard precautions to prevent fungi dissemination., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: Of the 13 US vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) cases, 8 were identified in southeastern Michigan, primarily in patients with chronic lower-extremity wounds. VRSA infections develop when the vanA gene from vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) transfers to S. aureus. Inc18-like plasmids in VRE and pSK41-like plasmids in S. aureus appear to be important precursors to this transfer., Objective: Identify the prevalence of VRSA precursor organisms., Design: Prospective cohort with embedded case-control study., Participants: Southeastern Michigan adults with chronic lower-extremity wounds., Methods: Adults presenting to 3 southeastern Michigan medical centers during the period February 15 through March 4, 2011, with chronic lower-extremity wounds had wound, nares, and perirectal swab specimens cultured for S. aureus and VRE, which were tested for pSK41-like and Inc18-like plasmids by polymerase chain reaction. We interviewed participants and reviewed clinical records. Risk factors for pSK41-positive S. aureus were assessed among all study participants (cohort analysis) and among only S. aureus-colonized participants (case-control analysis)., Results: Of 179 participants with wound cultures, 26% were colonized with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, 27% were colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and 4% were colonized with VRE, although only 17% consented to perirectal culture. Six participants (3%) had pSK41-positive S. aureus, and none had Inc18-positive VRE. Having chronic wounds for over 2 years was associated with pSK41-positive S. aureus colonization in both analyses., Conclusions: Colonization with VRSA precursor organisms was rare. Having long-standing chronic wounds was a risk factor for pSK41-positive S. aureus colonization. Additional investigation into the prevalence of VRSA precursors among a larger cohort of patients is warranted.

An elderly woman with a rapidly progressing lower leg ulcer presented with features of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The ulcer had occurred after hitting her leg against a piece of luggage. The causative pathogen in our case was by Corynebacterium ulcerans, demonstrated in bacterial cultures and by PCR. Disease progression was stopped only by Linezolid intravenous. after several other antibiotics failed to help. Diphtheria is known to most physicians as a respiratory disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria which is occurring in the developed world infrequently because of widespread use of immunisation programmes. However, cutaneous infection with diphtheria is increasingly being diagnosed.

Liquid injectable silicone has been used to increase volume in determined cutaneous districts, particularly in aesthetical reconstructive surgery. Although considered biologically inert for a long time this substance produced various complications as granulomatous foreign body reaction (siliconomas), secondary limphedema, tissue destruction and lethal embolism. A 35-year-old Caucasian woman came to our department with erithema and edema on the right leg, fever and chills. A thorough examination of the patient's history revealed injection of liquid silicone 7 years before for cosmetic volume increase of both legs. A closer observation revealed a small fistulous element from which came out white-yellow puruloid material. Antibiotic therapy and drainage of the abscess were undertaken. Within few days of treatment erithema and swelling essentially improved and the patient was discharged. After two months she came back to our department due to the same disease on her left leg that we treated with the therapy previously used. We highlight the long time, 7 years, elapsed between liquid silicone injection and onset of cutaneous symptoms.

Background: Fractures of the distal third of the leg are increasingly common and are often handled by open reduction and internal fixation. Exposure and infection of internal hardware could occur, especially after high energy traumas, requiring hardware removal and delayed soft tissue reconstruction. Nevertheless immediate soft tissue reconstruction without internal hardware removal is still possible in selected patients. In this study the effectiveness and the complications of immediate soft tissue reconstruction without internal hardware removal is analyzed., Methods: 13 patients, affected by internal hardware exposure in the distal leg, treated with immediate soft tissue reconstruction with pedicled flaps and hardware retention, are retrospectively analyzed, with special regard to flap survival and wound infection., Results: Wound infection was observed in 10 cases before surgery and in 5 cases surgical debridement was necessary before reconstruction which was performed in a separate operative session. After reconstruction, wound dehiscence and infection occurred in 5 cases, and in 3 cases removal of internal hardware was necessary in order to achieve the complete healing of dehiscence. In one case the previous flap failed but prompt reconstruction with a sural fasciocutaneous flap was performed without hardware removal and without complications. Pre-operative infection and late reconstructive surgery are predictive for higher rates of post-operative complications (respectively p 0.018 and p 0.028)., Conclusion: Our approach achieved full recovery in 53.8% of the treated cases after one-step surgery, therefore reducing hospitalization and allowing early mobilization. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this strategy, although the present case series shows encouraging results.

The results of examination and treatment of 179 patients, suffering the wound defects, localized on corpus and extremities, were presented. The patients were divided on groups, depending on the etiology of the defect, they were examined in accordance to algorithm proposed. Ultrasound duplex scanning was applied for diagnosis of regional hemodynamics disorders with the objective to choose a correcting intervention and investigation of a donor site vessels. The surgical tactics choice have depended on anatomic-functional and hemodynamical peculiarities of the affected locus present. In all the patient a microbiological monitoring of wounds was conducted and a rational antibioticotherapy prescribed.

During combat operations, extremities continue to be the most common sites of injury with associated high rates of infectious complications. Overall, ∼ 15% of patients with extremity injuries develop osteomyelitis, and ∼ 17% of those infections relapse or recur. The bacteria infecting these wounds have included multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The goals of extremity injury care are to prevent infection, promote fracture healing, and restore function. In this review, we use a systematic assessment of military and civilian extremity trauma data to provide evidence-based recommendations for the varying management strategies to care for combat-related extremity injuries to decrease infection rates. We emphasize postinjury antimicrobial therapy, debridement and irrigation, and surgical wound management including addressing ongoing areas of controversy and needed research. In addition, we address adjuvants that are increasingly being examined, including local antimicrobial therapy, flap closure, oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, and wound effluent characterization. This evidence-based medicine review was produced to support the Guidelines for the Prevention of Infections Associated With Combat-Related Injuries: 2011 Update contained in this supplement of Journal of Trauma.

This report summarizes the case of a 23 year-old otherwise healthy male that was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). He sustained bilateral open tibia and fibula fractures in the setting of being exposed to water contaminated with raw sewage. Despite long-term carbapenem therapy, the patient's wounds were repeatedly noted to have purulent drainage during surgical debridement and cultures from these wounds were persistently positive for Bacteroides fragilis. Apparent clinical failure persisted despite the addition of metronidazole to his regimen and an eventual trial of tigecycline. Susceptibility testing of the B. fragilis isolate was performed and resistance to penicillin, clindamycin,metronidazole, cefoxitin, meropenem, imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, and tigecycline was confirmed. The presence of a nimE gene on a potentially transferrable plasmid was also confirmed by plasmid sequencing. The only antibiotics that displayed in vitro susceptibility were moxifloxacin and linezolid. These antibiotics were initiated in combination with aggressive irrigation and serial surgical debridement. Conversion to left-sided internal fixation became feasible and his left lower extremity was salvaged without residual evidence of infection. The patient completed an eight week course of combination moxifloxacin and linezolid therapy without adverse event. This B. fragilis isolate displayed simultaneous high-level resistance to multiple antibiotics routinely utilized in anaerobic infections. This was evidenced by clinical failure, in vitro susceptibility testing, and demonstration of genes associated with resistance mechanisms. This case warrants review not only due to the rarity of this event but also the potential implications regarding anaerobic infections in traumatic wounds and the success of a novel treatment regimen utilizing combination therapy with moxifloxacin and linezolid., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Although most combat-related amputations occur early for unsalvageable injuries, >15% occur late after reconstructive attempts. Predicting which patients will abandon limb salvage in favor of definitive amputation has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to late amputation for type III open tibia fractures sustained in combat., Methods: Operative databases were reviewed to identify all combat-related type III open diaphyseal tibia fractures from March 2003 to September 2007. Patients were categorized based on their definitive treatment: group I, limb salvage; group II, early amputation (<12 weeks postinjury); group III, late amputation (≥ 12 weeks postinjury). Injury, treatment, and complication data were extracted from medical records and compared across groups., Results: We identified 213 consecutive fractures, including 166 (77.9%) treated definitively with limb salvage, 36 (16.9%) with early amputation, and 11 (5.2%) with late amputation. There was no difference in fracture severity among the three groups. Before amputation, group III was more likely to use autograft and bone morphogenic protein (27.3%), compared with group I (4.8%) and group II (0%), and was more likely to undergo rotational flap coverage (45.5%), compared with group II (0%). Group III patients had the highest average number of revision surgeries and rate of deep soft tissue infection and were more likely to have osteomyelitis (54.5%) before amputation compared with group I (13.9%) and group II (16.7%)., Conclusion: Patients definitively managed with late amputation were more likely to have soft tissue injury requiring flap coverage and have their limb salvage course complicated by infection.

It is important to preserve the length, appropriate durable skin, and sensation of the stump when performing below-knee amputation to achieve functional ambulation with a prosthesis. There are many reports of reconstruction procedures using microvascular surgery to preserve the optimum length of the amputation stump for prosthesis; however, free tissue reconstruction is necessary to accompany with the donor site morbidity. In this report, we describe our experience with a below-knee amputation and stump covering using the pedicled dorsalis pedis flap from the no longer usable foot in the case of a severe osteomyelitis of a lower extremity after highly contaminated Gustilo type IIIB fracture. We achieved a well-healed amputated stump with enough length for a prosthesis and for protective sensation. The pedicled dorsalis pedis flap is easily elevated without microvascular anastomosis and is one useful option for the reconstruction of the below-knee amputated stump in the specific case., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Ecthyma gangrenosum is a well recognized cutaneous manifestation of severe, invasive infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa usually in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. This type of infection is usually fatal. Aeromonas infection is infrequently reported as the cause of ecthyma gangrenosum. Here we show the first case described in Italy of Aeromonas hydrophila ecthyma gangrenosum in the lower extremities in an immunocompetent diabetic without bacteraemia. A 63-year-old obese diabetic male was admitted with an ulcer on his left leg, oedema, pain and fever. Throughout his hospitalization blood cultures remained sterile, but a culture of A. hydrophila was isolated following punctures from typical leg pseudomonal-ecthyma gangrenosum lesions developed after admission. The patient, questioned again, stated that a few days before he had worked in a well near his house without taking precautions. We conclude that early diagnosis and suitable antibiotic therapy are important for the management of ecthyma gangrenosum. The typical presentation of soft tissue infection of A. hydrophila should mimic a Gram-positive infection, which may result in a delay in administration of appropriate antibiotics. Moreover, A. hydrophila should be considered a possible agent for non-pseudomonal ecthyma gangrenosum in a diabetic man with negative blood cultures, in presence of anamnestical risk factors.

Corynebacterium auriscanis has only previously been isolated from dogs and to our knowledge no cases of zoonotic transmission to humans have been reported. A case of a leg wound infection following a dog bite in a previously healthy human patient is described and confirms this organism to be a potential human pathogen.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most frequently isolated bacteria in wound cultures. MRSA has been linked to lengthened wound healing times, an increase in adverse postoperative outcomes, and mortality. This study investigated the incidence of MRSA in lower extremity wounds and examined outcomes associated with MRSA-infected wounds versus non-MRSA-infected wounds. A retrospective study was conducted. Patients with MRSA-infected wounds were compared with those with uninfected wounds in a 1:2 ratio. Demographics, infection, and stay information were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0. 51 patients were included (17 with MRSA and 34 without MRSA). Patients with MRSA had increased lengths of stay and a higher incidence of adverse postoperative outcomes compared with non-MRSA patients. An MRSA infection adversely affects a patient's hospital course. Preoperative screening for MRSA and postoperative surveillance should be considered to prevent and eliminate the spread of this virulent bacterium.

We describe a case of primary cutaneous Absidia corymbifera infection in an AIDS patient with renal complications. The Sensititre YeastOne panel was adopted to determine antifungal susceptibility and liposomial amphotericin B was used which initially produced a significant clinical response.

Background: In a prospective study, we evaluated the blood perfusion and the blood flow of anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap by both near-infrared spectroscopy and color Doppler ultrasonography. Moreover, we assessed the ability of the perforator flap to reconstruct infected wounds of the lower extremity in 11 patients., Methods: Near-infrared spectroscopy showed excellent oxygen saturation, and Doppler ultrasonography documented excellent blood flow and decreased vascular resistance in the ALT flap postoperatively., Results: All flaps were successful and all wounds healed uneventfully within 2 weeks without any signs of recurrences or persistent infection. All patients achieved acceptable gait function after rehabilitation., Conclusions: Apart from the mandatory role of thorough debridement, our results indicate that the ALT flap offers rich blood supply to the recipient area, thus contributing to the sterilization and healing of an infected wound within a short time period.

Fusobacterium necrophorum, a rarely encountered but potentially lethal bacterial pathogen, is the cause of Lemierre syndrome, an oropharyngeal infection complicated by jugular vein thrombophlebitis and metastatic septic embolization. We describe an unusual variant of this disease in a man who developed F necrophorum sepsis (associated with extensive inferior vena cava and common femoral vein thrombosis) and multiple abscesses in the lungs after a trauma-associated abscess of the left lower extremity. We highlight the predilection of F necrophorum to cause a potentially fatal septic illness irrespective of its primary focus and emphasize the importance of this bacterium as a cause of considerable morbidity.

Vibrio vulnificus is an uncommon but potentially devastating pathogen. Early recognition with prompt antimicrobial therapy and surgical treatment are key factors for a favorable outcome. Patients with diseases of the liver represent the group at highest risk of infection. However, clinicians are often unaware of underlying liver disease in these patients at the time of presentation. We present a case of fulminant V. vulnificus infection in a patient with previously undiagnosed liver disease.

It is well-known that 'wound excision' is essential in the primary treatment of wounds in war, particularly thorough debridement of the devitalized tissues around the path of a penetrating projectile. Nowadays, the gunshot wounds in peacetime have become prevalent. Instead of the traditional method of 'wound excision' (excision), we used the method of 'incision and drainage' (incision) in the primary surgery of these gunshot wounds of extremities. To determine the treatment effectiveness of these different surgical methods (incision and excision), two groups of dogs were shot in the proximal part of one hind leg with an American M-16 rifle. One group was treated by the method of 'excision'; in the other group 'incision' were performed. No difference in infection rate was noted between the two groups. Similarly, no difference in bacterial count was found between the two groups during the observation period. Also, there was no difference in healing time; the wounds in both groups had healed by 19.2-21.4 days. Microscopic examination revealed a little normal muscle tissue in the necrotic zone of the incision group which might augment the repair process. These results suggest that there are no differences in the effectiveness in preventing infection between the two methods. 'Incision' might be superior to 'excision' for the management of the gunshot wounds of extremities in peacetime, as it involves a simple operation and there are advantages for tissue healing.

In a randomised double-blind trial conducted between 1990 and 1994, 616 patients from 43 centres, pefloxacin (group P, 316 patients) and a cefazolin-oxacillin combination (group C, 300 patients) were compared in the prophylaxis of bone infection after grade 1 and 2 open leg fractures. Samples were obtained at emergency, before and during surgery, and from drain aspirates. Antimicrobial susceptibility, slime production and adherence properties of the bacteria were tested. Cultures at emergency and before surgery showed similar distributions of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in both groups, while wound closure and infecting isolates showed prevailing gram-positive bacteria in group P and gram-negative bacteria in group C. Positive cultures at each stage were correlated with the occurrence of infection but were not predictive of the infecting species, which were nosocomial bacteria in most cases. Positive cultures at wound closure warn of a higher infection risk. Twenty-one of 316 (6.6%) patients in group P and 24 of 300 (8%) in group C were considered infected within 3 months. The difference is not significant (chi-square test = 0.42; P = 0.51). Infecting strains were isolated from 38 patients (group P, 18; group C, 20). Infecting species, although not predictable, appear to be those escaping the spectrum of the prescribed antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Escherichia vulneris was isolated from an infected soccer wound, a finding which has not apparently been described in Europe before, but by questioning Danish clinical microbiological laboratories a further 12 cases were discovered. Treatment with simple debridement and cefuroxime quickly eradicated the bacteria in our case.

Five cases of human infection with Scedosporium prolificans are described. There were two groups of patients. In group one, two were immunocompetent males with localized bone and joint infections, a man with post-traumatic septic arthritis, responded to surgical treatment alone and a boy with post-traumatic septic arthritis, appeared to respond to treatment with oral fluconazole, without surgery. The second group consisted of three immunocompromised patients. S. prolificans was isolated at autopsy from the lungs of one patient with acute leukaemia, and from the lungs, liver, and kidneys of another. Nosocomial S. prolificans infection of a synthetic vascular graft occurred in the third patient with end-stage renal failure on corticosteroid therapy for idiopathic hypereosinophilia. His infection failed to respond to combinations of surgery, fluconazole and itraconazole. All isolates of S. prolificans were resistant in vitro to antifungal drugs, including the first case, which responded clinically to fluconazole.

The dynamic study of the microflora of bullet wounds in 32 patients was carried out. In cases of mass hospitalization coccal microflora (staphylococci and streptococci) was mainly isolated from wounds, at the period of treatment hospital infections with enterobacteria, Pseudomonas and Enterococcus occurred. Before cleaning the wound a decrease in the contamination rate for all microbial species was observed. As the disease progressed an increase in the amount of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains was registered. The results of sanitary microbiological investigations made in the wards where the wounded patients were treated correspond to the structure of the causative agents of purulent processes in patients.

A 39-year-old man with confirmed HIV infection of six years' duration presented with painful swelling of his right lower leg. Two weeks earlier, he had scratched the leg on a shrub.

The value of perioperative cultures in 86 open pediatric lower-extremity fractures was assessed. Thirteen infections were identified, for an incidence of 15%. The predebridement culture was positive in 63% of wounds, and the postdebridement culture was positive in 40%. In the 13 wounds with infection, the infecting pathogen was found among the organisms grown on positive predebridement cultures 29% of the time, and on 60% of post-debridement cultures. Neither culture was of value in predicting the identity of a potential subsequent infecting pathogen. There was no significant difference in the rate of infection for negative cultures versus positive cultures; however, a negative predebridement culture was associated with a 94% chance of avoiding infection, and a negative postdebridement culture correlated with a 79% probability that infection would not occur. A positive culture result was less useful, however, because the infection rate remained low in these instances. Predebridement cultures were highly sensitive (88%) in identifying wounds that developed infection; however, the false positive rate was high, resulting in a specificity of only 43%. Postdebridement cultures, although somewhat more specific (63%), lacked sensitivity (50%). Clearly the routine use of perioperative cultures in open pediatric lower-extremity fractures must be questioned. Further prospective study is needed to confirm the validity and general applicability of the results of this retrospective review.

The data on the composition of wound microflora, as well as changes in the contamination index over the course of treatment of patients with the syndrome of prolonged compression, who were brought to the institute after the earthquake in Armenia, are presented. The authors characterize the structure of the causative agents of wound infection in the patients treated at the traumatological department of the institute over several years. The epidemiological situation in the hospital in the period when the earthquake victims were treated there is analyzed.