Complicated skin and skin structure infection

Infections are severe complications associated with chronic wounds and tardy healing that should be timely treated to achieve rapid and proper tissue repair. To hinder such difficulties, a nanofibrous mat composed of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan (PVA/CS) was developed by electrospinning method, containing thyme ( Thymus vulgaris ) and ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) extracts. The mat containing 10 wt% of the extracts (at the ratio of 50:50) exposed the nanofibers (NFs) with the nanoscale diameter (average 382 ± 60 nm), smooth surface, and defect-free morphology...

Gram-negative bacterial infections pose a significant challenge due to two major resistance elements, including the impermeability of the outer membrane and the overexpression of efflux pumps, which contribute to antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the coexistence of multispecies superbugs in mixed species biofilms further complicates treatment, as these infections are refractory to most antibiotics. To address this issue, combining obsolete antibiotics with non-antibiotic adjuvants that target bacterial membranes has shown promise in combating antibacterial resistance...

The sinus tract, a tubular structure with no outlet connecting deep tissues to the skin, is a rare entity, especially in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries. The pathophysiology involves factors such as liquefaction of adipose tissue, infection, and retention of foreign bodies. Inadequate surgical drainage can lead to chronicity, culminating in the formation of an infectious sinus in the abdominal wall, clinically known as a sinus. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial to avoid recurrences and complications...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review comments on the current guidelines for the treatment of wound infections under definition of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). However, wound infections around a catheter, such as driveline infections of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) are not specifically listed under this definition in any of the existing guidelines. RECENT FINDINGS: Definitions and classification of LVAD infections may vary across countries, and the existing guidelines and recommendations may not be equally interpreted among physicians, making it unclear if these infections can be considered as ABSSSI...

Dermatillomania, a condition characterized by compulsive skin picking, can lead to tissue damage and severe infections of adjacent structures. This case report presents the first documented instance of dermatillomania-induced cervical osteomyelitis and epidural abscess. Herein, we describe the case of a 45-year-old male patient with a history of a non-healing posterior neck wound, which progressively worsened and extended to the posterior cervical spine. The patient subsequently experienced weakness and paresthesia in the left arm...

IMPORTANCE: Surgical infections are a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-resource settings. Clean Cut, a 6-month quality improvement program developed by the global nonprofit organization Lifebox, has demonstrated improvements in postoperative infectious complications. However, the pilot program required intense external programmatic and resource support. OBJECTIVE: To examine the improvement in adherence to infection prevention and control standards and rates of postoperative infections in hospitals in the Clean Cut program after implementation strategies were updated and program execution was refined...

Tattoos are a form of decorative body art in which pigment dyes of different colors are inoculated into the skin. It is estimated that 15-25% of general population has one or more tattoos (1), and the reasons for the popularity of this procedure may include greater social acceptance, aesthetic appeal, or perhaps the option of using laser removal techniques to eliminate unwanted tattoos. Even though modern professional tattoos are usually performed in sterile conditions, complications still occur, and with increasing numbers of people getting tattoos, the incidence of tattoo-associated side-effects presenting to dermatologists, which may be as high as 2%, is likely to increase (2)...

Onychomycosis, or fungal nail infection, causes not only pain and discomfort but can also have psychological and social consequences for the patient. Treatment of onychomycosis is complicated by the location of the infection under the nail plate, meaning that antifungal molecules must either penetrate the nail or be applied systemically. Currently, available treatments are limited by their poor nail penetration for topical products or their potential toxicity for systemic products. Plant defensins with potent antifungal activity have the potential to be safe and effective treatments for fungal infections in humans...

We find a lack of high-quality published evidence on risk factors for burn contracture formation. The vast majority of research is from High Income Countries (HICs), where many potential risk factors are controlled for by standardised and high-quality healthcare systems. To augment the published literature, burn care professionals with Low Middle Income Countries (LMICs) experience were interviewed for their opinion on risk factors for burn contracture formation. Participants were also asked for their views on identification and measurement of contracture...

INTRODUCTION: Combat-related wound infections complicate the recovery of wounded military personnel, contributing to overall morbidity and mortality. Wound infections in combat settings present unique challenges because of the size and depth of the wounds, the need to administer emergency care in the field, and the need for subsequent treatment in military facilities. Given the increase in multidrug-resistant pathogens, a novel, broad-spectrum antibiotic is desired across this continuum of care when the standard of care fails...

Facial aesthetic procedures have become increasingly popular and complex, making knowledge of facial anatomy crucial for achieving desired outcomes without complications. Some of the most common procedures include blepharoplasty, bichectomy, face-lifts, facial implants, thread lifting, and fillers. Blepharoplasty and bichectomy are surgical procedures that respectively aim to restore youthful contours to the periorbita and create a slimmer lower face by removing Bichat fat from the maxillofacial region. Facial implants are used for aesthetic augmentation of the skeletal structure and restoration of facial contour by using biomaterials or autogenous bone grafts...

AIMS: Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium ulcerans, when producing toxin, are the cause of diphtheria, a potentially life-threatening illness in humans. Horses (Equus ferus caballus) are known to be susceptible to infection that may manifest clinically on rare occasions. In late 2021 and early 2022, specimens from five horses suffering from pastern dermatitis were cultured at the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland...

INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are often treated with wide excision in combination with adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy. This is currently the gold standard procedure for the treatment of STS that arise in the extremities. Wound healing complications frequently occur and negatively affect the prognosis. One of the options is to use a buried de-epithelialized flap as it can increase the lymphatic flow, fill the dead space, and cover neurovascular structures and implants...

INTRODUCTION: According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, cosmetic surgery procedures for "ethnic patients" are annually increasing. Ethnic rhinoplasty traditionally represents a difficult challenge for plastic surgeons. Herein, we describe our personal technique to ethnic rhinoplasty to achieve a harmonious nose maintaining the characteristics of individual ethnicity and identity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed ethnic patients treated with rhinoplasty at our institution between January 2019 and October 2022...

Inflatable Penile Prostheses (IPP) implantation is a surgical treatment for patients desiring definitive treatment for erectile dysfunction. While this procedure has proven to be effective, it also carries its own set of unique risks that need to be carefully considered. The article reviews the current understanding of complications associated with penile prosthetic surgery and provides strategies to mitigate these adverse events. This article covers various aspects of IPP implantation, including the risks of infection, bleeding, injury to nearby structures, glans ischemia, and device malfunction...

Acute pancreatitis is a frequent cause of hospitalization, with the most common triggers being alcohol consumption and gallstones. Although the incidence of drug-induced pancreatitis remains low, it is steadily increasing due to the advent of newly discovered broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting multi-drug resistant organisms. Tigecycline, a broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic derived from the tetracycline class, was approved by the FDA in 2005 for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and community-acquired pneumonia...

Diabetic ulcers are the second largest complication caused by diabetes mellitus. A great number of factors, including hyperchromic inflammation, susceptible microbial infection, inferior vascularization, the large accumulation of free radicals, and other poor healing-promoting microenvironments hold back the healing process of chronic diabetic ulcer in clinics. With the increasing clinical cases of diabetic ulcers worldwide, the design and development of advanced wound dressings are urgently required to accelerate the treatment of skin wounds caused by diabetic complications...

BACKGROUND: Various factors influence tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) decisions thus it is important to understand the health beliefs and concerns of patients before starting TPT to ensure treatment compliance. This study aims to explore facilitators and barriers for TPT among patients diagnosed with Latent Tuberculosis infection (LTBI) attending six primary healthcare clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. METHOD: In-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone among patients with a clinical diagnosis of LTBI using a semi-structured topic guide developed based on the common-sense model of self-regulation and literature review...

Background: Catheter-related infection (CRI) is a major complication in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The lack of high-throughput research on catheter-related microbiota makes it difficult to predict the occurrence of CRI. Thus, this study aimed to delineate the microbial structure and diversity landscape of hemodialysis catheter tips among patients during the perioperative period of kidney transplantation (KTx) and provide insights into predicting the occurrence of CRI. Methods: Forty patients at the Department of Transplantation undergoing hemodialysis catheter removal were prospectively included...

Skin grafting is the mainstay treatment in burn patients. However, in the scenario of soft tissue deficit along with exposure of critical structures, free flap is the only reconstructive option to provide adequate coverage. The aim of the study is to review indications and surgical outcomes of burn patients requiring free tissue transfer. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to review all patients who underwent free tissue transfer for burn-related injuries between March 2012 and June 2023. A total of 13 patients required a free flap for their reconstruction...