Are We Hitting the Target?: The Effectiveness of Distinct Antibiotic Regimens in Pediatric Appendectomies.

BACKGROUND: Currently, a range of different antibiotics are administered perioperatively during appendectomy surgery in the pediatric population. One reason for the lack of a uniform treatment regimen is the paucity of large studies on microbiologic data and susceptibility patterns. METHODS: A retrospective, monocentric study on antibiotic susceptibility, including 1258 pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy from 2012 to 2020 was performed. Predictors for prolonged length of stay (LOS) and complications were determined using regression analysis, and objective criteria for broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens were identified. Simulations of the effectiveness of different antibiotic regimens against identified bacterial susceptibility results were conducted. RESULTS: The most important predictors for prolonged LOS and an increased incidence of infectious complications are elevated preoperative C-reactive protein levels, high intraoperative severity gradings and insufficient primary antibiotic treatment. Based on our results, a simple antibiotic treatment, consisting of cefuroxime-metronidazole (C-M) or ampicillin-sulbactam (AS), is sufficient in around 85% of all patients; both options being equally efficient. In severe appendicitis, the likelihood of resistance is 31% and 32% for C-M and AS, respectively. For piperacillin-tazobactam and C-M-tobramycin, the incidence of bacterial resistance decreases to 12%. Resistance is reduced to 8% for AS-tobramycin treatment. The patient populations benefiting most from an extended antibiotic regimen are those with a high intraoperative severity grading. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that an insufficient antibiotic regimen is associated with a prolonged LOS and a higher rate of infectious complications, justifying the expansion of a simple antibiotic regimen in cases of severe intraabdominal findings. In all other cases, a simple antibiotic treatment with AS is recommended.

[Fever in pediatric returning travellers]. / Fieber bei pädiatrischen Reiserückkehrern.

Management and treatment of the febrile pediatric patient returning from a tropical country is often challenging. Detailed medical and travel history with an emphasis on possible exposure (e.g. fresh water exposure, animal contact etc.) as well as a complete physical examination are essential. Considering the possible incubation period and travel destination, the number of potential differential diagnoses can often be greatly reduced. While most infections are self-limiting and run an uncomplicated course, it is crucial to recognize potentially life-threatening infections and to treat them appropriately.This article provides guidance for a rational approach and diagnostics with respect to fever in the context of differential diagnoses in tropical medicine in the pediatric patient collective.

Lethal systemic and brain infection caused by Prototheca zopfii algae in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.

Systemic protothecosis is an exceptionally rare cause of sepsis with few available therapeutic options. Here, we report on a female patient with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia who died after start of chemotherapy due to a severe septic shock caused by a disseminated systemic infection with Prototheca zopfii including encephalitis.

Correction: The Mitochondrial Genomes of the Zoonotic Canine Filarial Parasites Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens and Candidatus Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) Honkongensis Provide Evidence for Presence of Cryptic Species.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005028.].

[Results of multimodal treatment of hepatic echinococcosis]. / Ergebnisse der multimodalen Therapie der hepatischen Echinokokkose.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a rare parasitosis in Germany for which the World Health Organization recommends stage-specific treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the treatment results of patients with hepatic echinococcosis at a German center of excellence for liver surgery. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for hepatic echinococcosis between 2009 and 2018 at the University Hospital of Mainz (UMM) were included in this follow-up examination. The investigation included a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen, documentation of the quality of life (QoL), serological and laboratory parameters. In addition, an online survey was performed among surgeons from Middle Rhein and gastroenterologists from Rhineland-Palatinate. RESULTS: At the UMM 25 surgical interventions were performed for hepatic echinococcosis: 9 for cystic (CE) and 16 for alveolar echinococcosis (AE). The majority of the interventions were major liver resections with additional vascular and biliary procedures. The 90-day mortality was 0%, and 4 grade 3a and 1 grade 4b complications occurred. In contrast to AE 75% of the postoperative serological results of patients with CE remained positive for more than 1 year postoperatively. Most participants in the survey knew the imaging characteristics and treatment options of AE and CE; however, many participants were unaware of the cost of the treatment. CONCLUSION: From the perspective of surgeons, hepatic echinococcosis is a challenge, which however can be curatively treated with a low morbidity despite advanced disease in many patients. Due to the low incidence of the disease, the state of knowledge about AE and CE is limited among physicians.

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy has a Linear Relationship to the Proportion of Gram-Negative Isolates from Pediatric Burn Wounds.

Wound infection in burns is a relevant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. We aimed to determine the relationship between antibacterial chemotherapy and Gram-negative burn wound colonization and infection. All children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for burn trauma from June 1, 2005 to January 31, 2013 were included. We obtained 141 wound samples, of which 88 (65.7%) showed growth of Gram-positive bacteria. Treatment with antimicrobial chemotherapy was necessary in 23 (31.1%) patients. The proportion of Gram-negative isolates seems to increase linear from 12.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.4%-28.7%) without antibacterial chemotherapy to 36.8% (95% CI: 25.5%-49.6%) with one to 48.9% (95% CI: 35.3%-62.8%) with 2 antimicrobial agents. The Odds ratio for a Gram-negative isolate, in comparison to patients without antibacterial chemotherapy, increased from 4.083 (95% CI: 1.140-15.961) for one administered substance to 6.708 (95% CI: 1.832-26.786) if 2 or more were used. CONCLUSION: We found that antibacterial chemotherapy seems to facilitate burn wound colonization and results in an increased number of gram-negative isolates from children with burn wounds.

The Mitochondrial Genomes of the Zoonotic Canine Filarial Parasites Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens and Candidatus Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) hongkongensis Provide Evidence for Presence of Cryptic Species.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous dirofilariosis is a canine mosquito-borne zoonosis that can cause larva migrans disease in humans. Dirofilaria repens is considered an emerging pathogen occurring with high prevalence in Mediterranean areas and many parts of tropical Asia. In Hong Kong, a second species, Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis, has been reported. The present study aimed to compare mitochondrial genomes from these parasites and to obtain population genetic information. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Complete mitochondrial genomes were obtained by PCR and Sanger sequencing or ILLUMINA sequencing for four worms. Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 sequences identified three as D. repens (all from Europe) and one as C. D. hongkongensis (from India). Mitochondrial genomes have the same organization as in other spirurid nematodes but a higher preference for thymine in the coding strand. Phylogenetic analysis was in contradiction to current taxonomy of the Onchocercidae but in agreement with a recent multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using both mitochondrial and nuclear markers. D. repens and C. D. hongkongensis sequences clustered together and were the common sister group to Dirofilaria immitis. Analysis of a 2.5 kb mitochondrial genome fragment from macrofilaria or canine blood samples from Europe (42), Thailand (2), India (1) and Vietnam (1) revealed only small genetic differences in the D. repens samples including all European and the Vietnam sample. The Indian C. D. hongkongensis and the two Thai samples formed separate clusters and differences were comparatively large. CONCLUSION: Genetic differences between Dirofilaria spp. causing cutaneous disease can be considerable whereas D. repens itself was genetically quite homogenous. C. D. hongkongensis was identified for the first time from the Indian subcontinent. The full mitochondrial genome sequence strengthens the hypothesis that it represents an independent species and the Thai samples might represent another cryptic species, Candidatus Dirofilaria sp. 'Thailand II', or a quite divergent population of C. D. hongkongensis.