Can cats cause colossal contagious cutaneous carbuncles?

Sporothrix spp. cause the most common deep fungal skin infections in Brazil and this is related to infected cats. Transmission is traditionally from organic material/plants but can also be zoonotic. Culture of a skin biopsy is the golden standard for determination. Treatment with oral itraconazole approaches up to 95% efficacy in patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis.

Evidence for increasing severity of community-onset boils and abscesses in UK General Practice.

In England, hospital admissions for severe staphylococcal boils and abscesses trebled between 1989 and 2004. We investigated this trend using routine data from primary and secondary care. We used The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a large primary-care database and national data on hospital admissions from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Time trends in the incidence of primary-care consultations for boils and abscesses were estimated for 1995-2010. HES data were used to calculate age-standardized hospital admission rates for boils, abscesses and cellulitis. The incidence of boil or abscess was 450 [95% confidence interval (CI) 447-452] per 100 000 person-years and increased slightly over the study period (incidence rate ratio 1·005, 95% CI 1·004-1·007). The rate of repeat consultation for a boil or abscess increased from 66 (95% CI 59-73) per 100 000 person-years in 1995 to peak at 97 (95% CI 94-101) per 100 000 person-years in 2006, remaining stable thereafter. Hospital admissions for abscesses, carbuncles, furuncles and cellulitis almost doubled, from 123 admissions per 100 000 in 1998/1999 to 236 admissions per 100 000 in 2010/2011. Rising hospitalization and recurrence rates set against a background of stable community incidence suggests increased disease severity. Patients may be experiencing more severe and recurrent staphylococcal skin disease with limited treatment options.

CDC Report on the Potential Exposure to Anthrax

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted an internal review of an incident that involved an unintentional release of potentially viable anthrax within its Roybal Campus, in Atlanta, Georgia. On June 5, 2014, a laboratory scientist in the Bioterrorism Rapid Response and Advanced Technology (BRRAT) laboratory prepared extracts from a panel of eight bacterial select agents, including Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), under biosafety level (BSL) 3 containment conditions. These samples were being prepared for analysis using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, a technology that can be used for rapid bacterial species identification (AU)

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First imported case of skin infection caused by PVL-positive ST30 community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone in a returning Korean traveler from the Philippines.

Although pandemic community-associated (CA-) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST30 clone has successfully spread into many Asian countries, there has been no case in Korea. We report the first imported case of infection caused by this clone in a Korean traveler returning from the Philippines. A previously healthy 30-yr-old Korean woman developed a buttock carbuncle while traveling in the Philippines. After coming back to Korea, oral cephalosporin was given by a primary physician without any improvement. Abscess was drained and MRSA strain isolated from her carbuncle was molecularly characterized and it was confirmed as ST30-MRSA-IV. She was successfully treated with vancomycin and surgery. Frequent international travel and migration have increased the risk of international spread of CA-MRSA clones. The efforts to understand the changing epidemiology of CA-MRSA should be continued, and we should raise suspicion of CA-MRSA infection in travelers with skin infections returning from CA-MRSA-endemic countries.

First Imported Case of Skin Infection Caused by PVL-positive ST30 Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clone in a Returning Korean Traveler from the Philippines

Although pandemic community-associated (CA-) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST30 clone has successfully spread into many Asian countries, there has been no case in Korea. We report the first imported case of infection caused by this clone in a Korean traveler returning from the Philippines. A previously healthy 30-yr-old Korean woman developed a buttock carbuncle while traveling in the Philippines. After coming back to Korea, oral cephalosporin was given by a primary physician without any improvement. Abscess was drained and MRSA strain isolated from her carbuncle was molecularly characterized and it was confirmed as ST30-MRSA-IV. She was successfully treated with vancomycin and surgery. Frequent international travel and migration have increased the risk of international spread of CA-MRSA clones. The efforts to understand the changing epidemiology of CA-MRSA should be continued, and we should raise suspicion of CA-MRSA infection in travelers with skin infections returning from CA-MRSA-endemic countries.

Nosocomial outbreak of multidrug-resistant USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus causing severe furuncles and carbuncles in Japan.

USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been attracting worldwide attention as a cause of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections in the 21st century. Nosocomial outbreaks of CA-MRSA clones have been progressively more reported in Europe and the USA, but only one very recent report from Kyoto found in Japan. In February 2008, a severe MRSA infection occurred in one immunocompromised patient and three healthy medical staff members at the Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus. The epidemiological and clinical pattern of the infection prompted us to characterize the molecular features of the MRSA strain involved. The causative MRSA strain belonged to the multi-locus sequence type 8, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IVa, spa1 (alternatively t008), agr1 and coagulase type III, and carried the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene and the arginine catabolic mobile element. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the MRSA responsible for the outbreak was the USA300 clone. All of the isolated USA300 clones had multiple resistance against six non-ß-lactam antimicrobial drugs. We report here the first nosocomial outbreak of multidrug-resistant USA300 MRSA infections in Japan. This report shows that the USA300 clone can manifest severe skin infections such as furuncles and carbuncles even in healthy persons, which require drainage and i.v. treatment, and suggests that the clone can spread in hospital settings worldwide.

Surto de carbúnculo sintomático em bezerros / Outbreak of black leg in calves

Este relato descreve um surto de carbúnculo sintomático em Nova União, Minas Gerais, Brasil, com ênfase no uso de diferentes técnicas laboratoriais. Clostridium chauvoei foi isolado em cultura pura, bem como detectado por uma técnica de imunofluorescência direta (IFD) e por uma técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) a partir de cultura pura obtida do tecido muscular esquelético lesado de um animal necropsiado.

Lo que debemos saber del antrax / What we most know about anthrax

Bacillus anthracis es un bacilo Gram positivo formador de esporas que puede causar infección aguda en animales y humanos. La exposición masiva a esporas se puede utilizar en guerra biológica o en actividades terroristas. La descripción más antigua conocida se encuentra en los libros de Génesis como la quinta plaga. El ántrax, incidentalmente, afecta a humanos que han estado en contacto con animales infectados. El ántrax ha sido desarrollado y utilizado como arma biológica por Japón, el Reino Unido, Estados Unidos, Irak y la antigua Unión Soviética. Bacillus anthracis produce una toxina bacteriana compuesta por 3 proteínas: Antígeno Protector (PA) Factor de Edema (EF) y Factor Letal (LF) con efectos bioquímicamente definidos. Aproximadamente el 95 por ciento de los casos de ántrax en países en desarrollo son cutáneos y el 5 por ciento respiratorios, en tanto que los casos documentados de afección gastrointestinales se han reportado en países del tercer mundo. El ántrax cutáneo se caracteriza por una pápula pruriginosa que se parece a un piquete de insecto, que aumenta y en 1-2 días se desarrolla una úlcera rodeada por vesículas. El ántrax respiratorio muestra un patrón clínico bifásico, con inicio (1-3 días) de malestar, fiebre de bajo grado, tos seca y algunas veces un sentimiento subjetivo de presión subesternal y una segunda fase de inicio súbito que típicamente progresa hacia la muerte, con choque séptico después de 1-2 días y rara sobrevida. El ántrax gastrointestinal puede ser abdominal u orofaríngeo. El diagnóstico se puede efectuar por medición de anticuerpos, aislamiento microbiólogico y en algunos casos por pruebas cutáneas. Aproximadamente 20 por ciento de los casos no tratados de ántrax cutáneo pueden resultar en muerte, mientras que el ántrax respiratorio casi siempre es fatal. La droga de elección en ausencia de resistencia documentada es penicilina cristalina en dosis de 24 millones de unidades diarias por 7-10 días. Experimentos animales sugieren que la adicción de gentamicina o estreptomicina puede tener beneficio adicional. La vacuna humana contra el ántrax tiene licencia en Estados Unidos para uso en poblaciones seleccionadas, tiene efectividad de alrededor de 92 por ciento luego de 6 dosis y podría ser utilizada en personas que están expuestas a ambientes o materiales contaminados

Ántrax. Microbiología epidemiología, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico, prevención y tratamiento / Anthrax. Microbiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestions, diagnosis, prevention and treatment

Por siglos, el ántrax ha sido causa de enfermedad en animales y menos frecuente en humanos; la investigación del ántrax como arma biológica comenzó a realizarse hace más de 80 años. De los numerosos agentes biológicos que pueden ser utilizados como armas el ántrax es uno de los más importantes. En 1970 un Comité de Expertos de la Organización Mundial de la Salud estimó que el número de casos después de la liberación de 50 kg de esporas de ántrax por vía aérea sobre una ciudad de 500,000 habitantes sería de 125,000, de los cuales 95,000 morirían si no se les administrara tratamiento oportuno.Para responder de manera efectiva a un ataque terrorista con ántrax la comunidad médica requiere del conocimiento acerca de la genética, patogénesis, prevención y tratamiento de tal enfermedad, además del apoyo de un laboratorio clínico; si el laboratorio es alertado sobre la posibilidad de ántrax, las tinciones de gram, las pruebas bioquímicas y las características tintorales del organismo pueden proporcionar un diagnóstico preliminar 12 a 24 horas después.Un diagnóstico definitivo puede requerir de 1 o 2 días adicionales de pruebas en un laboratorio de referencia. En esta revisión se analizarán la microbiología, patogénesis, manifestaciones clínicas, epidemiología, diagnóstico prevención y tratamiento del ántrax.

Common bacterial skin infections.

Skin infections account for a significant portion of dermatologic disease, often resulting in or as a consequence of a disruption in the skin's integrity. This article covers the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the more common bacterial infections. The infections presented herein include impetigo, ecthyma, folliculitis, carbuncles/furuncles, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome, and ecthyma gangrenosum. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment is based on the culture and antibiotic sensitivities of the offending organisms.

A case of carbuncle caused by a catalase-negative strain of staphylococcus aureus.

A gram-positive coagulase-positive coccus was isolated from purulent drainage from the carbuncle of a pediatric patient. It shows characteristics typical of Staphylococcus aureus with the exception that catalase activity could not be found.

[Kidney carbuncle: diagnostic, bacteriological and therapeutic considerations. Apropos of 11 cases]. / L'anthrax du rein: considérations diagnostiques, bactériologiques et thérapeutiques. A propos de 11 cas.

Renal carbuncle is a cortical lesion following bacteremia, occurring in patient without any urologic known problems. The analysis of 11 consecutive renal carbuncles showed that one should consider the diagnosis of renal carbuncle in young patients with flank pain, fever, and absence of significant leucocyturia. Our study confirms that renal carbuncle is always caused by staphylococcus aureus and that treatment is based on appropriate antibiotherapy. Isolation of the bacteria was difficult unless ponction of carbuncle under ultrasound control was performed. The usefulness of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of renal carbuncle and for its distinction from other suppurative renal lesions is emphasized.