Primary anterior abdominal wall actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis of the anterior abdominal wall is rare. We report a 50-year-old diabetic man who presented with a left hypochondrial mass of three weeks duration associated with fever. Abdominal computed tomography showed a 2 x 4 cm mass projecting from the internal abdominal wall associated with surrounding inflammation. The mass did not decrease after a week of intravenous antibiotics. Excision of the mass and primary closure of the abdominal wall were performed. The mass involved the deep muscles of anterior abdominal wall. The omentum was adherent to the parietal peritoneum underneath the mass. Microscopical examination of the mass was consistent with actinomycosis. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient recovered completely. The patient received penicillin for six months.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection involves activation of its iron acquisition system in response to fascial contact.

BACKGROUND: Wound infections are traditionally thought to occur when microbial burden exceeds the innate clearance capacity of host immune system. Here, we introduce the idea that the wound environment itself plays a significant contributory role to wound infection. METHODS: We developed a clinically relevant murine model of soft tissue infection to explore the role of activation of microbial virulence in response to tissue factors as a mechanism by which pathogenic bacteria cause wound infections. Mice underwent abdominal skin incision and light muscle injury with a crushing forceps versus skin incision alone followed by topical inoculation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mice were sacrificed on postoperative Day 6, and abdominal tissues were analyzed for clinical signs of wound infection. To determine if specific wound tissue components induce bacterial virulence, P. aeruginosa was exposed to the skin, fascia, and muscle. RESULTS: Gross wound infection caused by P. aeruginosa was observed to be significantly increased in injured tissues versus noninjured (80% vs.10%) tissues (n = 20 per group, p < 0.0001). Exposure of P. aeruginosa to individual tissue components demonstrated that fascia significantly induced bacterial virulence as judged by the production of pyocyanin, a redox-active phenazine compound known to kill immune cells. Whole-genome transcriptional profiling of P. aeruginosa exposed to the fascia demonstrated activation of multiple genes responsible for the synthesis of the iron scavenging molecule pyochelin. CONCLUSION: We conclude that wound elements, in particular fascia, may play a significant role in enhancing the virulence of P. aeruginosa and may contribute to the pathogenesis of clinical wound infection.

Group B streptococcal cellulitis in a child with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome.

Although infectious complications of nephrotic syndrome are common, group B Streptococcus is a rare pathogen in these patients. We present a 4-year-old child with nephrotic syndrome who developed group B streptococcal cellulitis and bacteremia, an association not previously discussed in the literature, and review the factors that predispose patients with nephrotic syndrome to infection.

Decreased systemic polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) rolling without increased PMN adhesion in peritonitis at remote sites.

BACKGROUND: Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that the host response to intra-abdominal infection produces increased generalized polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) adherence to vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which may lead to subsequent endothelial damage, leaky capillaries, and organ dysfunction. There are scant data to demonstrate this enhanced systemic PMN adherence in vivo or the influence of PMN rolling on PMN endothelial adherence. HYPOTHESIS: Systemic PMN adherence in the animal with sepsis is increased. DESIGN: In vivo murine model of a 2-front infection using intravital microscopy of the cremasteric muscle to quantify PMN-EC adherence in a septic response. SETTING: Basic science laboratory and animal surgical facility. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: One hundred CD1 male mice. INTERVENTIONS: Animals underwent cecal ligation and puncture peritonitis, cremasteric muscle Escherichia coli infection, both infections, or neither (controls). Eighteen hours later, the mice underwent exteriorization of the cremasteric muscle under an intravital microscope for measurement of PMN-EC interactions. Blood was then drawn for calculation of circulating PMN counts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adherence of PMNs, PMN rolling flux, PMN rolling velocity, and circulating PMN counts. RESULTS: Circulatory mechanics did not differ between the groups. Unlike static in vitro systems, we could not detect an increase in PMN adherence after peritonitis with this dynamic in vivo model. A local (cremasteric) infection was associated with marked PMN adherence. Peritonitis was associated with reduced PMN adherence at a local infection site as well as reduced rolling adhesion and PMN rolling velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that intra-abdominal infection does not increase remote PMN adherence, and may actually result in reduction of systemic adherence via modulation of PMN rolling.

Paecilomyces lilacinus infection in a child with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inherited disorder in which neutrophils do not appropriately generate cytotoxic superoxide anion, the respiratory burst, in response to invading bacteria or fungi as a part of normal host defence. We report the case of a child with CGD who had two abdominal wall abscesses caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus, an organism not previously known to cause infections in patients with CGD. The abdominal wall is a location that is rarely associated with Paecilomyces infections. Parenteral amphotericin B eradicated the infection in an immunocompromised child whereas this regimen has heretofore largely been unsuccessful in the treatment of this infection. Paecilomyces species and other fungi from immunocompromised hosts and thought to be laboratory contaminants, need to be carefully investigated for they may become pathogens in this clinical setting.

Clostridial gas gangrene of the abdominal wall after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a considerable rate of infectious complications of up to 2.8%. Such infections are usually of minor clinical importance. However, we observed a case of life-threatening Clostridial gas gangrene centering around the right lateral port site and developing across all of the right-sided abdominal wall, causing septic shock and severe multi-organ failure. Considering the overall infection rate and the possibility of even severe morbidity, we advocate perioperative antibiotics in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Evaluation of iodophor skin preparation techniques and factors influencing drainage from ventral midline incisions in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To document natural bacterial flora on the ventral aspect of the equine abdomen, to compare 2 preparation techniques, and to identify potential risk factors that may contribute to incisional drainage. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 53 horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy. PROCEDURE: Group-1 horses (n = 26) were prepared with povidone-iodine and alcohol. Group-2 horses (27) were prepared with a film-forming iodophor complex. Numbers of bacterial colony-forming units (CFU) were measured before and after surgical scrub, following skin closure, and after recovery from general anesthesia. Swab specimens to identify normal skin bacterial flora and potential pathogens were obtained by swabbing a 4 x 4-cm area. Variables that might affect incisional drainage were also investigated. RESULTS: For both techniques, there was a significant reduction in bacterial numbers after skin preparation. Incisional drainage was observed in 14 (26%) horses (8 group-1 and 6 group-2 horses). Preexisting dermatitis, poor intraoperative drape adherence, high number of bacterial CFU obtained after recovery from anesthesia, and high number of CFU obtained from the surgery room environment were the main risk factors associated with subsequent incisional drainage. Bacillus spp, nonhemolytic Staphylococcus spp, Micrococcus spp, Corynebacterium spp, Streptomyces spp, other nonenteric genera, and nonhemolytic Streptococcus spp were the most common isolates obtained before surgical scrub. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both skin preparation techniques were equally effective in reducing numbers of bacterial CFU by 99%, and a significant difference was not found in incisional drainage rate between groups. Protection of the wound during recovery from anesthesia and the immediate postoperative period may reduce incisional drainage after abdominal surgery in horses.

Risk factors in wound infection following urologic operations: a prospective study.

A total of 134 urologic operations were studied prospectively for postoperative wound infection, the methodology involving direct intraoperative swab taking. Patients' variables were (mean +/- SD): age 32.4 +/- 20.7 years, Quetelet index 27.4 +/- 8, duration of operation 98 +/- 34 minutes, and male:female ratio 9.3:1. Of the 131 intraoperative swabs 28 (21%) were positive, 97% of the organisms being aerobic; 16% of the patients were nasal carriers of S. aureus. The overall wound infection rate was 9%, and it prolonged hospital stay by six days average. Significant risk factors (and their magnitude) were: age over 60 years (x 2.2), prolonged preoperative hospital stay (x 15), and wound contamination (x 4.3 and x 14.3 for classes 3 and 4 wounds respectively). Neither diabetes mellitus, obesity, nor surgeon's rank was contributory. We conclude that, although the 9% rate of postoperative wound infection was acceptable, appropriate prophylactic antibiotics may reduce it further, and, from our data, we would recommend an aminoglycoside (e.g. Amikacin) and Ampicillin combined.

[Can we define "histological tolerance" of the abdominal wall after the implantation of various prosthetic materials?]. / Peut-on définir une "tolérance histologique" de la paroi abdominale après implantation de différents matériaux prothtiques?

This experimental work is a comparative trial in the rat of 6 inert prostheses (3 permeable and 3 non-permeable) that are regularly used in man for the repair of large abdominal wall defects. This is performed in both aseptic and septic conditions. Serial macroscopic and bacteriological observations were done. Quantitative histological criteria were defined to characterize the resistance and biological tolerance to the material. This shows that: 1. the width of the cellular reaction, the number of giant, inflammatory, fibroblastic cells confirms the superiority of meshes whatever the implantation conditions; 2. the proportion of fibroblasts to inflammatory cells is a histological expression of the solidity of the repair and of the biological tolerance to the material (Acta chir. belg., 1977, 76, 575-582).

[Development of an experimental rat model of intraabdominal abscess by Escherichia coli alone. II. Interactions between an intraabdominal abscess and a host].

It has been demonstrated that an intraabdominal abscess by Escherichia coli alone can be developed without fail although anaerobes or barium sulfate are not used. We investigated the properties and the influence of this abscess on the host. We took the method of bacterial implantation by insertion of a double gelatin capsules containing Escherichia coli suspension of which concentration was adjusted to five grades into the peritoneal cavity of Wister rats. Abscesses were developed in the survived rats on which live bacteria had been inoculated. Only Escherichia coli were found in these abscesses by culture whereas no death was occurred and no abscess was developed in the rats on which no bacterium or heat-killed ones had been inoculated. As for non-survivors at the 7th postoperative day, all of them died of panperitonitis and no abscess was developed. An abscess was developed without fail when live bacteria of which number within the order of 10(7) colony forming units were inoculated. Blood endotoxin concentration 24 hours after inoculation increased exponentially according to the inoculum size. However, that at the 7th postoperative day returned to the levels at zero time. Microscopic examination revealed a thick abscess wall, poor infiltration of inflammatory cells, and poor neovascularsis into the wall. These findings suggest that endotoxin is prevented from release into the blood stream since abscess contents are isolated by thick wall.

[Perioperative teicoplanin prophylaxis in patients undergoing breast reconstruction with the abdominal wall. A case-control study]. / Profilassi perioperatoria con teicoplanina in pazienti sottoposte a ricostruzione mammaria con retto addominale. Studio caso-controllo.

The authors report the results of a randomized clinical trial of antibiotic prophylaxis of postoperative infection following breast reconstruction by transposition of rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (TRAMF). The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a short-term parenteral prophylaxis with Teicoplanin and the end-point of the study was the evaluation of wound contamination assessed by means of microbiologic culture of drainage fluid. From October 1990 to March 1992 38 patients were recruited: 20 patients in the antibiotic prophylaxis arm and 18 patients in the control group. Analysis of drainage fluids showed a higher contamination rate (15/18 = 83%) in the control group as compared to the prophylaxis arm (2/20 = 10%) (p < 0.0001). Moreover, 11 patients in the control arm suffered from fever > 37.5 degrees C for at least 3 days as compared to 1 patient in the antibiotic prophylaxis group; the postoperative stay was 13.3 +/- 4.3 and 9.0 +/- 1.6 in the control and antibiotic arm respectively. No antibiotic related side effects were evidenced through the study. These results seem to confirm the value of parenteral short-term antibiotic prophylaxis of postoperative infection in such kind of "clean" operative procedure.

Sporotrichosis of abdominal wall.

A rare case of sporotrichosis of abdominal wall has been described from high mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh. Its clinical importance has been discussed in the light of available literature.

[Quantitative evaluation of humoral and cellular factors of antibacterial protection in patients with postoperative hernia complicated by suppurative process]. / Kolichestvennaia otsenka gumoral'nykh i kletochnykh faktorov antibakterial'noi zashchity u bol'nykh s posleoperatsionnymi gryzhami oslozhnennymi gnoinym protsessom.

The article presents material on the study of the dynamics of humoral factors of the organism's antibacterial protection in correlation with factors of cellular immunity in 78 patients with postoperative ventral hernias complicated by a pyoinflammatory process. Factors of cellular immunity were studied in 33 patients, humoral factors of the organisms' antibacterial protection, in 45 patients. A distinct relation of the character of disorders of these factors to the type of the operation was revealed and their prognostic significance for clinical medicine was determined.