Necrotizing fasciitis following primary peritonitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes with covS mutation in a healthy woman: a case report

A case of severe bilateral empyema due to Streptococcus pyogenes

Bilateral empyema is a rare and severe condition and deciding on a treatment is quite difficult. Additionally, infections caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS [Streptococcus pyogenes]) are known to be invasive. We successfully treated without surgery a previously healthy 59-year-old woman with bilateral empyema due to GAS, with repeated drainages, antibiotics, and fibrinolytic therapy. To our knowledge, there have not been any published reports on cases of bilateral empyema due to GAS infection. In rare, severe cases of bilateral empyema caused by organisms such as GAS, physicians managing the condition should consider the overall condition of the patient.

Acute diffuse peritonitis secondary to a seminal vesicle abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND

Seminal vesicle abscess (SVA) is the manifestation of a relatively rare urinary system infection. In response to urinary system inflammation, an abscess forms in special locations. However, acute diffuse peritonitis (ADP) induced by SVA is unusual.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a case of a left SVA in a male patient complicated with pelvic abscess, ADP, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, infectious shock, bacteremia, and acute appendiceal extraserous suppurative inflammation as a result of a long-term indwelling urinary catheter. The patient received a course of morinidazole + cefminol antibiotics but showed no obvious relief, so the perineal SVA underwent puncture drainage and abdominal abscess drainage + appendectomy was performed. The operations were successful. After the operation, anti-infection, anti-shock, and nutritional support treatments were continued and various laboratory indicators were regularly reviewed. The patient was discharged from the hospital after recovery. This disease is a challenge for the clinician because of the unusual spreading path of the abscess. Moreover, appropriate intervention and adequate drainage of abdominal and pelvic lesions are necessary, especially when the primary focus cannot be determined.

CONCLUSION

The etiology of ADP varies, but acute peritonitis secondary to SVA is very rare. In this patient, the left SVA not only affected the adjacent prostate and bladder but also spread retrogradely through the vas deferens, forming a pelvic abscess in the loose tissues of the extraperitoneal fascia layer. Inflammation involving the peritoneal layer led to ascites and pus accumulation in the abdominal cavity, and appendix involvement led to extraserous suppurative inflammation. In clinical practice, surgeons need to consider the results of various laboratory tests and imaging examinations to make comprehensive judgments involving the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Peritonitis caused by group A streptococcus: A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Group A streptococcus (GAS) occasionally causes life-threatening infections. We encountered a case of GAS peritonitis associated with bilateral salpingitis.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old previously healthy woman suddenly experienced a fever of 40 °C and lower abdominal pain, and was taken to the emergency room. She exhibited a condition of severe sepsis with pan-peritonitis. Although an intra-peritoneal source of infection was not detected preoperatively, an exploratory laparotomy was performed at 3 h after her arrival. During the surgery, bilateral salpingitis was observed. Peritoneal drainage was performed. Meropenem was administered and she was extubated on the next day. GAS was detected in the vaginal fluid culture and ascitic fluid culture. Antibiotics therapy was completed on postoperative day 9 and the patient was discharged on day 10 without any complications.

METHODS

A literature review was performed using the following algorithm: "(group A streptococcus OR streptococcus pyogenes) AND (peritonitis)". All case reports and case series published in English after 1990 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Fifty-six reports including 65 cases were eligible. There was a strong sex difference, with 80% of cases being female. All patients had symptoms of peritonitis, 80% had high-grade fever, and 74% had shock. The average time from onset to start of treatment was 3.8 days. Abdominal surgeries were required in 80% of cases. Multiple organ failure developed in 23%, and the mortality rate was 4.6%.

DISCUSSION

GAS peritonitis is a rare but life-threatening disease. Emergency surgical exploration and drainage are required to prevent progression to multiple organ failure.

Flap coverage for necrotising soft tissue infections: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTI) are destructive and often life-threatening infections of the skin and soft tissue, necessitating prompt recognition and aggressive medical and surgical treatment. After debridement, the aim of surgical closure and reconstruction is to minimize disability and optimize appearance. Although skin grafting may fulfil this role, techniques higher on the reconstructive ladder, including local, regional and free flaps, are sometimes undertaken. This systematic review sought to determine the circumstances when this is true, which flaps were most commonly employed, and for which anatomical areas.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted utilising electronic databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library). Full text studies of flaps used for the management of NSTI's (including Necrotising Fasciitis and Fournier Gangrene) were included. The web-based program 'Covidence' facilitated storage of references and data management. Data obtained in the search included reference details (journal, date and title), the study design, the purpose of the study, the study findings, number of patients with NSTI included, the anatomical areas of NSTI involved, the types of flaps used, and the complication rate.

RESULTS

After screening 4555 references, 501 full text manuscripts were assessed for eligibility after duplicates and irrelevant studies were excluded. 230 full text manuscripts discussed the use of 888 flap closures in the context of NSTI in 733 patients; the majority of these were case series published in the last 20 years in a large variety of journals. Reconstruction of the perineum following Fournier's gangrene accounted for the majority of the reported flaps (58.6%). Free flaps were used infrequently (8%), whereas loco-regional muscle flaps (18%) and loco-regional fasciocutaneous flaps (71%) were employed more often. The reported rate of partial or complete flap loss was 3.3%.

CONCLUSION

Complex skin and soft tissue defects from NSTIs, not amenable to skin grafting, can be more effectively and durably covered using a spectrum of flaps. This systematic review highlights the important contribution that the plastic surgeon makes as an integral member of multidisciplinary teams managing these patients.

Covid-19 Pandemic: What Changes for Dentists and Oral Medicine Experts? A Narrative Review and Novel Approaches to Infection Containment

The authors performed a narrative review on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- CoronaVirus-2 ( SARS-CoV-2) and all infectious agents with the primary endpoints to illustrate the most accepted models of safety protocols in dentistry and oral medicine, and to propose an easy view of the problem and a comparison (pre- vs post-COVID19) for the most common dental procedures. The outcome is forecast to help dentists to individuate for a given procedure the differences in terms of safety protocols to avoid infectious contagion (by SARS-CoV-2 and others dangerous agents). An investigation was performed on the online databases Pubmed and Scopus using a combination of free words and Medical Subject Headings (MESH) terms: "dentist" OR "oral health" AND "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" OR "coronavirus-19". After a brief excursus on all infectious agents transmittable at the dental chair, the authors described all the personal protective equipment (PPE) actually on the market and their indications, and on the basis of the literature, they compared (before and after COVID-19 onset) the correct safety procedures for each dental practice studied, underlining the danger of underestimating, in general, dental cross-infections. The authors have highlighted the importance of knowing exactly the risk of infections in the dental practice, and to modulate correctly the use of PPE, in order to invest adequate financial resources and to avoid exposing both the dental team and patients to preventable risks.