Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 930 Haemophilus influenzae clinical strains isolated from the island of Crete, Greece.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus influenzae is an important human pathogen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The purpose of the present retrospective study is to describe the antibiotic susceptibility to several common antibiotics of 930 consecutive clinical isolates of H. influenzae over the period of 1996-2005 in a tertiary general hospital on the island of Crete, Greece. RESULTS: Overall, 9.5% of the isolates were beta-lactamase producing. Resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate was observed in 11 and 0.6% of the strains, respectively, remaining stable throughout the study period. Resistance to tetracycline increased from 1.6% in 1996 to 38% in 2005, while resistance to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin was <1%. A significant decrease in resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed during the study period. No significant changes in resistance to other antimicrobials were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Amoxicillin-clavulanate and older quinolones remain potent agents against H. influenzae. Constant surveillance ofantibiotic susceptibility of H. influenzae clinical isolates is important in order to guide appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy.

Ossifying fibroma of the temporal bone.

A rare case of ossifying fibroma of the temporal bone is presented. Fibro-osseous lesions are benign neoplasms but may show an aggressive behaviour when invading important anatomical structures. The lack of experience in the treatment of those tumours is reflected in the small relative literature. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the few cases already reported.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: incidence, cause, and treatment.

Postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula is a major complication of total laryngectomy that prolongs the short hospitalization of 2 to 3 weeks to many weeks or even months. It is a common complication that increases the morbidity and mortality of the procedure. In the Department of Otolaryngology of the Red Cross Hospital of Athens, 310 patients underwent total laryngectomy from January 1980 through December 1989. Twenty-eight patients developed a fistula (incidence 9%). The incidence, predisposing factors, and methods of treatment of this complication are analyzed and discussed.

Use of a new mucoperiosteal flap from the upper lateral nasal wall in frontal sinus surgery.

Various mucoperiosteal flaps from the nose (nasal walls) are in use today in frontal sinus surgery in cases where a wide opening between the frontal sinus and the nasal cavity is created. These flaps are transferred to cover denuded bone in the area of opening and thus prevent the opening from narrowing or closing, which would result in the reappearance of frontal sinus problems. In this paper, a new mucoperiosteal flap taken from the upper extension of middle turbinate is described.

Ectopic thyroid gland in the submandibular region.

A rare case of an ectopic thyroid gland appearing as a submandibular mass in a 30-year-old female patient is presented. Special emphasis is placed on the origin, unusual location, functioning status, pathology and diagnostic problems created by this interesting case.