RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Infections are very frequent in patients who are admitted to Intensive Care Units, sometimes being a reason for admission and in others the infection is acquired during ICU stay. EPIDEMIOLOGY: The most frequent causes of acquired infection in the community that require admission to the ICU are respiratory infections, urinary tract infections and infections of the central nervous system. Among the infections acquired in the ICU, devices-associated infections are the most frequent. ETIOLOGY: The most frequent in ICU are Gram negative pathogens. ETIOPATHOGENESIS: In the critical patient, several factors are combined making them especially vulnerable to infections. CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Depends on the location of the infection. DIAGNOSIS: It must be early due to its increased mortality. PROGNOSIS: Nosocomial infections are associated with an increase in mortality and in the length of stay. TREATMENT: The delay in treatment is associated with an increase in mortality.
RESUMO
The cases of three female Guinean children are described. Bloods tests were nonspecific, showing a moderately high globular sedimentation rate. The patients received combined therapy with systemic antibiotic therapy (including local gentamicin administration in two of the three patients) and surgery. One patient returned to Guinea and was lost to follow-up. The second patient showed severe sequelae and the third patient had a favorable outcome. In recent years, the prevalence of chronic osteomyelitis in Africa has increased. Most patients have multiple bone involvement and multiple etiology. Blood cultures are negative in 40 % of patients and severe radiologic abnormalities, most commonly fractures, are frequent. A successful therapeutic regimen must be based on antibiotic and surgical treatment.
