Wound Botulism Among Persons Who Inject Black Tar Heroin in New Mexico, 2016

Outbreaks of wound botulism are rare, but clinicians and health departments should maintain suspicion for signs, symptoms, and risk factors of wound botulism among persons who inject drugs in order to initiate treatment quickly. This report describes an outbreak of three wound botulism cases among persons in two adjacent counties who injected drugs. Provisional information about these cases was previously published in the CDC National Botulism Surveillance Summary. All three cases in this outbreak were laboratory-confirmed, including one case with detection of botulinum toxin type A in a wound culture sample taken 43 days after last possible heroin exposure. Findings highlight the delay in diagnosis which led to prolonged hospitalization and the persistence of botulinum toxin in one patient.

Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Diabetic Foot Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lampung, Indonesia

Background: Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and identification of the causative bacteria is an essential step in selecting the appropriate antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial pattern and antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria causing DFI in Lampung Province in Indonesia. Methods: This study is a retrospective study reviewing the medical records of DFI patients admitted to the Dr Hi Abdul Moeloek Regional General Hospital in 2017–2019. DFI patients with complete medical record data were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, wound culture and antibiotic susceptibility data were collected from the medical records using a short structural chart. The data obtained then reviewed. Results: In this study, 131 DFI patients met the study criteria and were included. Based on the wound culture results, Gram-negative bacteria were obtained in 112 (85.5%) subjects with Enterobacter spp. as the predominant bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria were found in 19 (14.5%) subjects with Staphylococcus spp. as the predominant bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria found in this study showed high susceptibility to amikacin, meropenem and sulbactam/cefoperazone. Meanwhile, the Gram-positive bacteria showed high susceptibility to meropenem, sulbactam/ cefoperazone and amikacin. Conclusion: The findings of the study revealed Enterobacter spp. as the most predominant bacteria causing DFI in the studied population. The highest antibiotic susceptibility was seen for amikacin, meropenem and sulbactam/cefoperazone.

Varicella gangrenosa: A rare chickenpox complication

Varicella gangrenosa is a rare but life-threatening dermatological complication of infection with varicella-zoster virus. A healthy 37-year-old male who had been diagnosed with varicella 20 days back was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever and painful necrotic skin lesions. Physical examination revealed multiple round to oval ulcers covered with eschar predominantly over arms, lower limbs, back of trunk and flanks. Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus grew in wound culture. Biopsy revealed ulceration and necrosis of epidermis, and edema, hemorrhage and granulation tissue formation involving the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The patient was treated with acyclovir - parenteral followed by oral, antibiotics and supportive measures. The lesions healed and he was discharged after 20 days. We report this case to draw attention to the fact that varicella gangrenosum, even though a rare complication, may occur in the lesions of chicken pox and that the survival of patient depends on early diagnosis and aggressive treatment.

Intravenous fosfomycin as salvage therapy for osteomyelitis caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Purpose A case of osteomyelitis caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is reported. Summary An 84-year-old Caucasian male with an underlying history of type 2 diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary artery disease had chronic nonhealing wounds on his right foot. Wound care and a course of intravenous (IV) ertapenem with oral ciprofloxacin were ineffective. His initial wound culture grew Staphylococcus aureus, group G streptococcus and P. aeruginosa; the Pseudomonas was susceptible to multiple agents. The patient eventually required midtarsal amputation and angioplasties to his right leg. Twenty days after the operation, 2 openings were discovered at the surgical site, 1 of which was probed to the bone. He was readmitted 5 weeks after the operation. A repeat wound swab grew MDR P. aeruginosa and Finegoldia magna. The Pseudomonas was susceptible to gentamicin and colistin. The patient had revision of the infected amputation site with the goal of salvaging his right lower limb. The patient developed acute renal failure after 26 days of IV gentamicin, IV ceftriaxone, and oral metronidazole. Additional susceptibility testing was performed to identify alternatives. The bacteria were considered susceptible to IV fosfomycin, the last resort, by our microbiology laboratory. This was combined with ceftolozane/tazobactam followed by meropenem to treat the residual infection. After 2 weeks of IV fosfomycin, the patient’s wound improved and further amputation was avoided. Conclusion Our case demonstrates that IV fosfomycin may provide an effective salvage therapy when combined with β-lactams for the treatment of severe diabetic foot infection or osteomyelitis caused by MDR P. aeruginosa.

Association Between Diabetic Foot Infection Wound Culture Positivity and 1-Year Admission for Invasive Infection: A Multi-Center Cohort Study

Inpatients with culture-positive diabetic foot infections are at elevated risk for subsequent invasive infection with the same causative organism. In outpatients with index diabetic foot ulcers, we found that wound culture positivity was independently associated with increased odds of 1-year admission for systemic infection when compared to culture-negative wounds.

Death traps: Holes in urban India

This article is an ethnographic study of potholes in roads in urban India. The article describes different forms of attention to potholes, including cases of media advocacy, clinical reflections on injury and attempts by an accident survivor to document danger on the roads. Throughout, it argues for attention to the embodiment of infrastructure, and particularly, how people move through infrastructures. The article stems from a broader research project about traumatic injury from traffic accidents, many due to potholes. Taking these cases as sentinels of urban wound culture, the article asks: What if urban theory took wounding as a characteristic feature of everyday urbanism? What might this mean for studies of infrastructure’s affordances, risks and embodiment?

Eumycetoma: A Perspective for Military Primary Care

ABSTRACT This is a case report of a 42-year-old woman who presented to a clinic with a history of progressive left foot and ankle swelling. She had a suspected history of myectoma, but had never been officially diagnosed despite repeated cultures and debridements over the course of decades. The inciting event occurred approximately 30 years prior in her home country of Belize. Her wound culture revealed Scedosporium apiospermum as the causative agent. Treatment included surgical debridement and oral antifungal therapy. This case represents an interesting adjunct to the differential diagnosis for military physicians, as mycetomas are prevalent in many of the areas where our forces are deployed and may only present after the service member has left active service because of its naturally indolent course.