TO STUDY THE ROLE OF PROBIOTICS IN PREVENTING NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN PRETERM AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT NEONATES

Introduction: Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in NICU, it is a life-threatening disease that occurs primarily in premature infants.1 Probiotics are the live microbial dietary supplements that when administered in adequate amount promotes health.2 In premature infants they are thought to improve the positive balance of colonizing bacteria that facilitate development of mucosal immunity and prevent the excessive in?ammation associated with NEC.3 The present study is a Prospective Observational study Methods and Materials: conducted in the NICU at Prathima Institute Of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar,Telangana. During the period of 2 years between December 2020 and November 2022. Neonates of <37 weeks of gestation and with birth weight <1500 gms admitted into NICU are included in the study. The selected neonates would be administered probiotic 2 million spores of Bacillus clausii ampules per day along with expressed mother's own milk daily till they reach full feeds (150ml/kg/day). These neonates were observed clinically, investigated and studied during their period of admission in NICU for the development of Necrotising Enterocolitis and also the morbidity and mortality of such neonates was studied. : In the present study, out of 50 Results neonates, 11 (22%) preterms developed NEC while 39 (78%) of them did not. This was found to be statistically signi?cant (p=0.01). Out of the 11 preterms, 1 (2%) belonged to ELBW while 10 (90%) belonged to VLBW. Out of the 11 preterms who developed developed NEC, 4 (8%) developed stage I NEC, 5 (10%) developed stage II NEC and 2 (4%) developed stage III NEC. This was statistically signi?cant (p= 0.001) In our present study, 4 (8%) of the preterms developed with sepsis while 46 (92%) did not develop sepsis. This was statistically signi?cant (p=0.001) Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a worldwide problem in Conclusion: Preterms Low Birth Weight neonates. The present study has found that Probiotic supplementation has reduced both the 4incidence and severity of NEC in such neonates. Probiotic supplementation has also reduced the incidence of culture proven 5sepsis in preterm and Low Birth Weight neonates

Experiencia y manejo de dos casos de gangrena de Fournier en pacientes pediátricos en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño - San Borja / Experience and management of two cases of fournier's gangrene in pediatric patients at the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño - San Borja, Lima, Peru

RESUMEN La gangrena de Fournier es una patología que se encuentra predominantemente en varones adultos y extremadamente rara en niños. Se han descrito múltiples factores predisponentes en los niños, incluyendo la circuncisión, la dermatitis del pañal, la presencia de abscesos, traumatismos anorrectales y deficiencias inmunológicas. Los signos y síntomas característicos incluyen edema e hiperemia de rápida evolución en la región perineal acompañados de dolor intenso y fiebre. Una vez que se diagnostica la gangrena de Fournier, se debe instaurar tratamiento de forma inmediata, antibióticos endovenosos de amplio espectro y debridamiento quirúrgico temprano del tejido desvitalizado. A continuación presentamos un reporte de casos que incluye las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de dos pacientes pediátricos con gangrena de Fournier que recibieron tratamiento médico y quirúrgico en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño de San Borja.

ABSTRACT Fournier's gangrene is a condition mainly found in adults and it very rarely occurs in children. Multiple predisposing factors have been identified for children, including circumcision, diaper dermatitis, the occurrence of abscesses, anorectal trauma, and immune deficiency. Characteristic signs and symptoms include rapidly progressing edema and hyperemia in the perineal region, accompanied by intense pain and fever. Once Fournier's gangrene is diagnosed, therapy must be immediately instituted, using wide spectrum intravenous antibiotics and early surgical debridement of devitalized tissues. We present a case report including clinical and epidemiological characteristics of two pediatric patients with Fournier's gangrene who received medical and surgical therapy at the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño in San Borja, Lima, Peru.

A rare and interesting case report of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease masquerading as tuberculosis

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare benign, self-limited condition, probably genetic, that mainly affects young women which often presents with localised lymphadenopathy and fever. Reporting the case of a 17-year-old girl, with a strong family history of tuberculosis, who presented to the surgery OPD with cervical lymphadenopathy and a history of anti-tubercular treatment for the same complaints two years back. An excision biopsy revealed necrotizing histiocytic lymphadenitis suggestive of KFD. Post-operative period was uneventful and patient had spontaneous resolution of her complaints upon follow up. It is quite difficult to make a pre-operative diagnosis of this disease, until the clinician has got a very high index of suspicion especially because of the more common differential diagnoses including extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

Role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein as a predictor of severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis

Background: Skin infections are major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting more than one person/1000 person/year. Sepsis has a worldwide incidence of more than 20 million cases a year, with mortality due to septic shock reaching up to 50% even in industrialized countries. Acute phase reactants like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been used traditionally as markers for inflammation and are readily available in most centres. Aim was to study the correlation between the values of ESR and CRP with severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis (in term of hospital stay and disease outcome).Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at Department of Surgery, GMC and Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal from a period of March 2016 to August 2018.Results: Skin and soft tissue infections are most commonly affects male, diabetes mellitus most common co-morbid condition. Mean value of ESR and CRP in patients who could not survived was 64.44 and 145.92 respectively and value more than 54.95 and 93.41 requires longer hospital stay.Conclusions: ESR and CRP are non-specific test but they are good predictors of severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis not only in planning of management of these cases but also predicting outcome of the disease.

Compromiso vesical en paciente pediátrico con poliarteritis nodosa: primera descripción / Bladder involvement in a paediatric patient with polyarteritis nodosa: First description

RESUMEN La poliarteritis nudosa (PAN) es una vasculitis necrosante, rara en la infancia, caracterizada por el compromiso de vasos pequeños/medianos y de múltiples órganos. Presentamos a una paciente que inició a los 4 arios con síndrome febril prolongado, dolor abdominal crónico, mialgias incapacitantes y compromiso en la piel, quien luego de 2 años de cuadro clínico completa criterios clínicos para PAN. Recibió tratamiento con corticoide sistêmico por vía oral e intravenosa, 6 meses de ciclofosfamida por vía intravenosa y manejo de mantenimiento con inmunosupresores convencionales sin respuesta adecuada, logrando control de la enfermedad únicamente con ciclofosfamida por vía oral y corticoide a largo plazo. Luego de 5 años y de recibir una dosis alta acumulada de ciclofosfamida, inicia con cuadros de hematuria macroscópica. Se evaluaron, entre otras causas, la toxicidad por ciclofosfamida y la actividad de la enfermedad. El estudio incluyó biopsia vesical, con hallazgo de vas-culitis necrosante de paredes vesicales. La vasculitis vesical es raramente reportada en la literatura (3-5 casos en adultos) y en lo consultado no hay reportes en niños. Se describe, en nuestro conocimiento, el primer caso de compromiso vesical asociado a vasculitis sistêmica reportado en la edad pediátrica.

A B S T R A C T Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a necrotising vasculitis, rare in childhood, and characterized by the inflammation of small and medium vessels and multiple organ involvement. The case is presented of a 4 year old girl with prolonged febrile syndrome, chronic abdominal pain, disabling myalgia, and skin involvement. After 2years of symptoms, she met clinical criteria for PAN. She received treatment with oral and intravenous systemic corticosteroids, 6 months of intravenous cyclophosphamide and maintenance with conventional immuno-suppressants without an adequate response. However, she showed clinical improvement with oral cyclophosphamide and long-term corticosteroids. She had several relapses during follow-up visits due to irregular treatment requiring a high cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide. Five years later she presented with macroscopic haematuria, and was assessed for, among other causes, cyclophosphamide toxicity and disease activity. The workup included cystoscopy and bladder biopsy with findingof necrotising vasculitis of bladder wall. Bladder vasculitis is rarely reported in the literature (3-5 cases in adults) and in that consulted there are no reports in children. To our knowledge, this is the first case of bladder involvement associated with systemic vasculitis reported in the paediatric age.

Extensive fournier gangrene with retroperitoneal involvement in a diabetic patient

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare, rapidly progressive, fulminant form of necrotizing fasciitis of the genital, perianal and perineal regions extending to the abdominal wall between the fascial planes. It is secondary to polymicrobial infection by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria with a synergistic action. A 42 year old male who is an alcoholic and diabetic on irregular treatment presented with scrotal swelling and pain for 5 days following a trauma. On examination, patient was febrile, tachypneic and had tachycardia. His scrotum was edematous and erythematous on right side with crepitus. Abdomen was warm on right side till umbilicus and had crepitus. He was in sepsis and had diabetic ketoacidosis, prerenal azotemia and mild impairment of liver function. A diagnosis of extensive Fournier gangrene with retroperitoneal involvement was made. Patient underwent scrotal exploration and aggressive debridement serially. Testis was spared. As patient improved with good wound care and glycemic control, wound was closed. Though our patient had retroperitoneal involvement without peritonitis, he was deferred laparotomy which significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality. It is one of the few reported case in the literature with retroperitoneal involvement.

Case report on necrotizing fasciitis following episiotomy

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is an extremely rare but near fatal bacterial soft tissue infection, complicating the operative wounds. Here is a case report of Necrotising fasciitis in episiotomy wound in low socioeconomic, poorly nourished and anaemic women. A 39 years old, second gravida, delivered normally with medio-lateral episiotomy under local anaesthesia. On postnatal day four, patient developed high grade fever and on examination episiotomy was found to be unhealthy and gaped. She was started on broad spectrum antibiotics empirically but the cellulitis rapidly progressed to vulva, then to the bilateral thighs and extended till knees. Bilateral lower limb Doppler ultrasonography was done to rule out deep vein thrombosis which showed no abnormality. USG abdomen revealed huge pus collection in the lower abdomen. Under anaesthesia, surgical exploration was done, pus was drained followed by wound debridement and pus sent for culture and sensitivity. Pus and blood culture showed growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae, so started on appropriate antibiotics. Patient started recovering, when the wound was healthy, secondary suturing of episiotomy wound done. She was discharged on post-natal day 27 after full recovery. Early diagnosis and aggressive timely management are the corner stone to avoid morbidity and mortality of NF.

Risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates:a prospective study

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is mostly limited to preterm babies due to immaturity of gut. NEC is one of important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in the neonatal intensive care units all over the world.Aim of study is to find the antenatal and post-natal risk factors associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates admitted to NICU.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 45 neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis fulfilling the predetermined inclusion criteria. A detailed antenatal history including all maternal risk factors, birth history including the need for resuscitation and type of resuscitation was recorded. The gestational assessment was done by the New Ballard Score.Results: Pregnancy induced hypertension accounts as a risk factor to most of the cases of NEC 18 (40%), followed by setting for sepsis 12 (26.6%), least being gestational diabetes mellitus 1 (2.2%).Conclusions: Prematurity is found to be the most common risk factor followed by patent ductus arteriosus and sepsis. Most common antenatal risk factor was PIH (Pregnancy induced hypertension).

Early clinical manifestations of vibrio necrotising fasciitis

We present five patients with vibrio necrotising fasciitis, a lethal and disabling disease. Two of these patients had a history of exposure to either warm seawater or raw/live seafood, three had underlying chronic liver disease, and four presented with hypotension and fever. There were three deaths and four patients required intensive care unit stays. Among the two survivors, one had high morbidity. Only one patient met the criteria of Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis score > 6. A clinician should suspect possible vibrio necrotising fasciitis if the following are present: contact with fresh seafood/warm seawater, a known history of chronic liver disease and pain that is out of proportion to cutaneous signs. All patients must be managed via intensive care in high dependency units. We recommend a two-step surgical protocol for patient management involving an initial local debridement, followed by a second-stage radical debridement and skin grafting.

Abdominal wall necrotising fasciitis: A rare but devastating complication of the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tubes were often offered to patients requiring long term enteral feeding. Even though the procedure is relatively safe, it is associated with various complications such as peritonitis or even death. 1 We presented a case of a 54-year-old gentleman with underlying ischemic stroke and pus discharges from a recently inserted PEG tube. Computed Topography (CT) scan confirmed abdominal wall necrotising fasciitis complicated with hyperosmolar hyperglycaemia state (HHS) and later succumbed after 48 hours of admission. Our case illustrated the rare complication related to the insertion of PEG tube; abdominal wall necrotising fasciitis that was associated with mortality.

Clinical research of changes of oxygen saturation in intestinal tissues of preterm infants during erythrocyte infusion / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the variability of oxygen saturation in intestinal tissue of preterm infants during erythrocyte infusion .Method Preterm infants aged over 5 days, hospitalized in our NICU from March 2016 to August 2016 were selected by computer random number generator . Near-infrared spectroscopy was applied to monitor splanchnic tissue oxygen saturation ( SrSO2 ) and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation(CrSO2)during erythrocyte transfusion.The duration of transfusion was 4 hours.The mean value and range of SrSO2 and CrSO2 during transfusion were analyzed.To analysis the average and variable range of SrSO2 and CrSO2 and to illuminate the correlation with post-conceptional age. Result A total of 34 premature infants were collected.The average of SrSO2 was (0.56 ±0.06) and the average of CrSO2 was (0.62 ±0.02) throughout transfusion, There was a significantly greater change in SrSO2 than in CrSO2 during the transfusion period (0.35 ±0.14 vs.0.18 ±0.09) (P<0.05).The changing range of CrSO2 was smaller as the post-conceptional age increased , and was significant different statistically ( P=0.006). While there was little change in the range of SrSO 2 (P=0.191).Conclusion The of SrSO2 change was more significant than CrSO 2 in preterm infants during erythrocyte transfusion , which may cause ischemia-reperfusion injury to the intestinal tissue .It should be more cautious to avoid transfusion-related necrotizing enterocolitis.

Determining if Positive Predictive Value using Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis is Applicable in Malaysian Patients with Necrotising Fasciitis

Introduction: Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive infection of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia which spreads rapidly. The scoring system of Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis (LRINEC) developed by Wong et al has been proposed as a tool for distinguishing NF and other soft tissue infections (STI) in Singapore. We set out to establish whether the LRINEC score is applicable in our Malaysian setting. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of all patients admitted to our hospital diagnosed with NF or To Rule Out NF (TRO NF) between January 1st 2016 to 30th June 2016. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were then calculated for LRINEC score of ≥ 6 and ≥ 8. Results: Fourty-four patients were identified with the diagnosis of NF or TRO NF in the study. Twenty-seven patients (61.4%) were deemed post-operatively as having NF and 17 patients (38.6%) not having NF. A sensitivity of 59.3% and specificity of 47.1% when a LRINEC score of ≥ 6 was taken with positive predictive value (PPV) of 64.0% and the negative predictive value (NPV) of 42.1%. When score ≥ 8 was taken, the sensitivity was 48.1% and specificity of 58.8% with PPV of 65% and NPV of 41.7%. Conclusion: The low sensitivity and low PPV achieved in this study as well as other studies makes the LRINEC score unsuitable to be used solely to distinguish NF with other soft tissue infections.

Una relación potencialmente peligrosa: lupus eritematoso sistémico y enfermedad de Kikuchi - Fujimoto / A dangerous relation: Systemic lupus erythematosus disease and Kikuchi Fujimoto disease

Resumen La enfermedad de Kikuchi-Fujimoto (EKF) es conocida como una linfadenitis necrotizante histiocítica, tiene una presentación benigna y autolimitada, afecta principalmente a mujeres jóvenes y generalmente resuelve sin tratamiento en los primeros seis meses de los síntomas. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 48 años quien consultó por un cuadro de dolor abdominal, mialgias y adenopatía cervical al examen físico. Se le encontró en los exámenes paraclínicos anticuerpos antinucleares 1:640, anti DNA de doble cadena asociado a consumo de complemento y anticuerpos anticardiolipina positivos. Se realizó biopsia de ganglio cervical que mostró necrosis cortical y población de histiocitos y linfocitos. Al iniciar el manejo con esteroides y cloroquina se comprobó mejoría franca y posteriormente la paciente fue dada de alta, continuando controles de manera ambulatoria por los servicios de reumatología y medicina interna.

Abstract Kikuchi disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, isa benign and self-limited condition that mainly affects young women andresolve without treatment within six months of symptoms. It was first describedin Japan in 1972 and is more common in Asian population. We report the case of a woman of 48 years who consults for abdominal pain, myalgia, and cervical lymphadenopathy on physical examination. He found himself in the presence of antinuclear antibodies paraclinical 1: 640 positive DNA double chain associated with complement consumption and positive cardiolipin antibodies We perform cervical node biopsy that showed the presence of cortical necrosis and histiocytes and lymphocytes population. When you start handling steroid and chloroquine, a high frank and subsequent improvement was observed, continuing control rheumatology and internal medicine.

Fournier’s Gangrene- Presentation and Outcome.

Background: Fournier’s gangrene (FG) is an acute, rapidly progressive, and potentially fatal, infective necrotizing fasciitis affecting the external genitalia, perineal or perianal regions, which commonly affects men, but can also occur in women and children factors associated with the mortality rate among patients admitted with clinical diagnosis of FG have been described in this study. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Surgery, JSS Medical College and Hospital from September 2014 to September 2016 on 30 patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of FG over a period of 2-year. Data on demographics, clinical history and physical examination, vital signs, and laboratory values on admission were recorded on a designed data collection sheet. The patients were stratified according to factors associated with mortality using Chi-squared and independent t-test. Results: The disease-related hospital mortality rate was 13.3% (4/30). The median hospital stay was 15 days. The median age of the 30 patients was 45 years. The patients that did not survive were significantly older than those that survived (48.5 ± 15.15 vs. 45.3 ± 13.17 years) (P = 0.7). Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the most common risk factor accounting for 93.3% of the cases. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) at presentation was significantly associated with mortality with a rate of 50% among patients. The urogenital tract source of infection was associated with increased mortality (P = 0.4). Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogens isolated. The number of debridement did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors. Abdominal involvement was also significantly associated with higher mortality. There was no factor that was independently associated with mortality after multiple logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: FG remains a potentially fatal condition in our environment with a mortality rate of 13.3%. On univariate analysis, an older age, presence of IHD on admission, a urogenital source of infection, severe sepsis, and abdominal involvement are associated with mortality in our environment. The presence of DM, delay in presentation, and number of surgical debridement does not seem to affect mortality in our environment.

A rare glimpse into the morbid world of necrotising fasciitis: Flesh‑eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.

Necrotising fasciitis is one of the fatal skin and soft tissue infections. Vibrio vulnificus is a rare cause of necrotising fasciitis; however, the disease is one of the major manifestations of the bacteria. Here, we report one such case in a middle‑aged male patient. He presented with the signs of bilateral lower limb cellulitis and altered sensorium. V. vulnificus was isolated from blood culture and also from debrided tissue. Though the organism is well characterised, it is a rare causative agent of necrotising fasciitis. This case is a re‑emphasis on active look out for this bacterium in patients presenting with necrotizsing fasciitis.

Contaminated milk is a common cause of necrotising enterocolitis: A hypothesis

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is the most commonly acquired gastrointestinal disease of neonates, particularly the very preterm (gestation 90%) of the NEC cases occurred in neonates on enteral feeding. Studies have shown that milk (whether EBM or formula) fed to neonates was not sterile and were further contaminated during collection, transport, storage and/or feeding. Other investigators have reported a reduction in the incidence of NEC when they improved infection control measures and hygienic procedures in handling milk. It is, therefore, hypothesised that the most common cause of NEC is due to the feeding of neonates, particularly the vulnerable very preterm small neonates, with milk heavily contaminated during collection at source, transport, storage and/or feeding. Because of the immaturity of the immune system of the neonates, excessive inflammatory response to the pathogen load in the gut leads to the pathogenesis of NEC.

Benign Subcutaneous Emphysema of the Upper Limb: A Case Report

Subcutaneous emphysema is the presence of gas or air in the subcutaneous tissue plane. The term is generally used to describe any soft tissue emphysema of the body wall or limbs, it can result from benign causes, most commonly secondary to trauma or from a life-threatening infection by gas gangrene or necrotising fasciitis. A case of subcutaneous emphysema involving the upper limb resulting from a trivial laceration to the elbow is reported and the importance of distinguishing between the two causes of subcutaneous emphysema is highlighted.

Is endoscopic necrosectomy the way to go?

Pancreatic necrosis with the formation of walled-off collections is a known complication of severe acute pancreatitis. Infected necrotic pancreatic collections are associated with a high mortality rate. Open necrosectomy and debridement with closed drainage has traditionally been the gold standard for treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis, but carries a high risk of perioperative complications. Direct endoscopic necrosectomy has emerged as a safe and effective modality of treatment for this condition. Careful patient selection and gentle meticulous debridement is important to optimize clinical success. Bleeding is the commonest associated complication with the procedure but most cases can be managed conservatively. Air embolism, although rare, is potentially fatal. The use of fully covered large diameter lumen apposing self-expandable metal stents has further simplified the procedure. These stents optimize drainage, and facilitate endoscopic necrosectomy because repeat insertion of the endoscope into the necrotic cavity can be easily achieved.

Benefits of early enteral nutrition in extremely low birth weight infants

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (i.e. preterm infants weighing < 1,000 g) often present with morphofunctional multiple organ immaturity. This study aimed to determine whether early enteral feeding improves digestive tolerance, and whether there is a difference in growth between ELBW infants who were fed with formula and those who were fed with breast milk.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was conducted from 2012-2013 and involved 34 ELBW infants from the Preterm Neonatology Clinic of the 'Louis Turcanu' Clinical Children's Hospital Timisoara, Romania. Early enteral nutrition was introduced for all the infants - Group I was fed with formula, while Group II was fed with breast milk. Infants in each group were given their designated type of milk (formula/breast milk), using the same feeding method and the same volume rate advancement. They were monitored for any evidence of digestive intolerance (i.e. clinical signs of infection and necrotising enterocolitis [NEC]). Their growth curves and signs of infection were also monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average weight gained per week was greater among the infants in Group II than in Group I (120.83 g vs 97.27 g). The incidence of infection was 100% in Group I and 66.6% in Group II. Two of the infants in Group I developed NEC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early enteral feeding helped to improve the weight of ELBW infants. Breast milk was more effective than formula at improving the weight of these infants. Feeding with formula increased the incidence of NEC, invasive infection and morbidity among ELBW infants.</p>

Fatal Necrotising Soft Tissue Infection Following Human Bite; a Case Report and Review of Literature.

Human bite injuries are one of the commonest bite injuries seen in the emergency room in a developing country. This bite injury can occasionally lead to devastating complications but yet, one of the most neglected injuries by both the victims and inexperienced attending Clinician. We present a case of fatal and extensive necrotising fasciitis by Eschcerecia coli following human bite by a schizophrenic patient.