Diabetes-related lower extremity complications in a multi-ethnic Asian population: a 10 year observational study in Singapore.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Diabetes progression and complication risk are different in Asian people compared with those of European ancestry. In this study, we sought to understand the epidemiology of diabetes-related lower extremity complications (DRLECs: symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, ulceration, infection, gangrene) and amputations in a multi-ethnic Asian population. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study using data obtained from one of three integrated public healthcare clusters in Singapore. The population consisted of individuals with incident type 2 diabetes who were of Chinese, Malay, Indian or Other ethnicity. We examined incidence, time to event and risk factors of DRLECs and amputation. RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2017, of the 156,593 individuals with incident type 2 diabetes, 20,744 developed a DRLEC, of whom 1208 underwent amputation. Age- and sex-standardised incidence of first DRLEC and first amputation was 28.29/1000 person-years of diabetes and 8.18/1000 person-years of DRLEC, respectively. Incidence of both was highest in individuals of Malay ethnicity (DRLEC, 36.09/1000 person-years of diabetes; amputation, 12.96/1000 person-years of DRLEC). Median time from diabetes diagnosis in the public healthcare system to first DRLEC was 30.5 months for those without subsequent amputation and 10.9 months for those with subsequent amputation. Median time from DRLEC to first amputation was 2.3 months. Older age (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), Malay ethnicity (p < 0.001), Indian ethnicity (p = 0.014), chronic comorbidities (nephropathy [p < 0.001], heart disease [p < 0.001], stroke [p < 0.001], retinopathy [p < 0.001], neuropathy [p < 0.001]), poorer or missing HbA1c (p < 0.001), lower (p < 0.001) or missing (p = 0.002) eGFR, greater or missing BMI (p < 0.001), missing LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) at diagnosis, and ever-smoking (p < 0.001) were associated with higher hazard of DRLEC. Retinopathy (p < 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (p < 0.001), poorer HbA1c (p < 0.001), higher (p = 0.009) or missing (p < 0.001) LDL-cholesterol and missing BMI (p = 0.008) were associated with higher hazard of amputation in those with DRLEC. Indian ethnicity (p = 0.007) was associated with significantly lower hazard of amputation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study has revealed important ethnic differences in risk of diabetes-related lower limb complications, with Malays most likely to progress to DRLEC. Greater research efforts are needed to understand the aetiopathological and sociocultural processes that contribute to the higher risk of lower extremity complications among these ethnic groups.

Chromobacterium violaceum infection on lower limb skin: A case report.

RATIONAL: Chromobacterium violaceum is a motile gram-negative bacterium. This bacterium commonly grows in tropical or subtropical areas in sewage and can cause opportunistic infections. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 50-year-old Chinese man had a skin ulcer in the middle of his left leg in front of the tibia. The diameter of the wound was 3.0 cm, the exudation was obvious, and necrotic tissue was attached to the wound. One week previously, he was working in a field where he accidentally punctured his left leg. DIAGNOSIS: C violaceum infection was diagnosed as per the results of pathogen culture from the infection site. INTERVENTIONS: He was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam (3.375 g/12 h iv) and levofloxacin (0.5 g/24 h iv) for 5 days. OUTCOMES: The patient showed good response to therapy and was discharged on day 18 after wound healing. LESSONS: C violaceum rarely infects humans. When an infection is suspected, samples should be immediately sent for microbial culture. Timely treatment on the basis of drug sensitivity test results can prevent further complications.

Day-of-Free Tissue Transfer Qualitative Cultures Do Not Predict Limb Salvage Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Successful free tissue transfer is critical for lower extremity salvage in the chronic wound population. The rates of lower extremity free tissue transfer success lag behind those for other anatomical sites. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether positive qualitative day-of-free tissue transfer cultures or pathogen virulence negatively impacts short- and long-term outcomes of lower extremity free tissue transfer. METHODS: Between April of 2011 and January of 2018, 105 lower extremity free tissue transfer procedures were performed. Growth level and speciation were identified from qualitative cultures taken during free tissue transfer. The relationship between demographics, comorbidities, culture data, postoperative infection, free tissue transfer survival, and long-term limb salvage was examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: The median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3. Intraoperative free tissue transfer cultures were positive in 39.1 percent. Flap survival was 93.3 percent. Postoperative infection developed in 12.4 percent. The limb salvage rate was 81.0 percent. Positive culture was not significant for flap survival, postoperative infection, or amputation. Cultures positive for Enterococcus species had a significant relationship with flap success (OR, 0.08; p = 0.01) and amputation (OR, 7.32; p = 0.04). Insufficient antimicrobial coverage had a significant relationship with postoperative infection (OR, 6.56; p = 0.01) despite the lack of pathogen concordance. On multivariate analysis, postoperative infection (OR, 12.85; p < 0.01) and Charlson Comorbidity Index were predictive of eventual amputation (OR, 1.44; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Positive day-of-free tissue transfer cultures, regardless of pathogen, had limited predictive value for short- and long-term outcomes of free tissue transfer in the authors' cohort. These findings call for a broader multicenter prospective analysis and consideration of health care-associated infections and their impact on limb salvage outcomes. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Effect of antibiotic-loaded chitosan nanodroplets on Enterococci isolated from chronic ulcers of the lower limbs.

Aim: To investigate the effect of a new platform of nanocarriers, called nanodroplets (NDs), to enhance the in vitro activity of vancomycin (Vm), against bacterial colonies isolated from chronic ulcers of the lower limbs. Materials & methods: Oxygen-loaded nanodroplets (OLNDs) or oxygen-free nanodroplets (OFNDs) were loaded with Vm (Vm-OLNDs and Vm-OFNDs). MIC and minimal bactericidal concentrations were evaluated for Vm, OLNDs and OFNDs loaded with Vm, OLNDs and OFNDs. Results & conclusion: Nanodroplets, either with or without oxygen, appeared as a suitable platform of antibiotic nanocarriers to enhance the antibacterial effects of Vm against Enterococci, with a decrease in both MIC and minimal bactericidal concentration against Vm-resistant Enterococci strains.

Novel ulcerative leg lesions in yearling lambs: Clinical features, microbiology and histopathology.

Here we report an outbreak of an atypical, ulcerative dermatitis in North Country mule lambs, located in South Gloucestershire, UK. The lesions, which appeared to be contagious, occured between the coronary band and the carpal joint as a focal, well demarcated, circular, ulcerative dermatitis. Histopathological examination of the lesion biopsies revealed areas of ulceration, epidermal hyperplasia, suppurative dermatitis and granulation tissue. Clumped keratohyalin granules and intracellular keratinocyte oedema (ballooning degeneration) were evident within lesion biopsies, consistent with an underlying viral aetiology. A PCR-based microbiological investigation failed to detect bovine digital dermatitis-associated treponeme phylogroups, Dichelobacter nodosus, Staphylococcus aureus, Dermatophilus congolensis or Chordopoxvirinae virus DNA. However, 3 of the 10 (30 %) and 6 of 10 (60 %) lesion samples were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum and Streptococcus dysgalactiae DNA, respectively. Contralateral limb swabs were negative by all standard PCR assays. To better define the involvement of F. necrophorum in the aetiology of these lesions, a qPCR targeting the rpoB gene was employed and confirmed the presence of F. necrophorum DNA in both the control and lesions swab samples, although the mean F. necrophorum genome copy number detected in the lesion swab samples was ∼19-fold higher than detected in the contralateral control swab samples (245 versus 4752 genome copies/µl, respectively; P < 0.001). Although we have not been able to conclusively define an aetiological agent, the presence of both F. necrophorum and S. dysgalactiae in the majority of lesions assayed supports their role in the aetiopathogenesis of these lesions.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors for deep infection in lower limb Gustilo-Anderson type III fractures.

BACKGROUND: Open fractures are among the most severe injuries observed in orthopedic patients. Treating open fractures is difficult because such patients with infections may require multiple operations and amputations. Furthermore, only a few studies have focused on antibiotic prophylaxis in open fractures and evaluated how to cover lost soft tissue to increase the success rate of reconstruction. We evaluated the risk factors for deep infection in lower limb Gustilo-Anderson (G-A) type III fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study investigated patients who underwent surgical procedures for lower limb G-A type III fractures between January 2007 and January 2017 at our institution. We enrolled 110 patients with 114 lower limb G-A type III fractures (77 G-A type IIIA fractures and 37 G-A type IIIB fractures) who were followed up for at least 2 years. We compared patients presenting infections with those without infections by assessing the following factors: severe contamination, diabetes, smoking, Injury Severity Scale, segmental fracture, location of fracture, G-A classification, damage control surgery, methods of surgery, timing of fixation, combination of antibiotics used, duration of antibiotic prophylaxis, timing of wound closure, and soft-tissue reconstruction failure. RESULTS: Eighteen fractures presented deep infections. Compared with patients without infections, patients developing infections differed significantly in terms of severe contamination (P < 0.01), G-A classification (P < 0.01), duration of antibiotic prophylaxis (P < 0.01), timing of wound closure (P < 0.01), and incidence of soft-tissue reconstruction failure (P < 0.01). Skin grafting was associated with significantly higher failure rates than muscle and free flap reconstructions (P = 0.04). Treatment with antibiotics was significantly longer in patients with drug-resistant bacterial infections than in those without infections (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early flaps rather than skin grafting should be used to cover G-A type IIIB fractures, because skin grafting resulted in the highest failure rate among soft-tissue reconstructions in open fractures. Longer duration of antibiotic use had a significant impact not only on deep infection rates but also on the presence of drug-resistant bacteria. These findings suggest that prolonged use of antibiotics should be avoided in cases of open fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV retrospective observational study.

Predictors for gram-negative monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis in southern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening necrotizing skin and soft-tissue infection. Infectious pathogens of NF must be detected early and treated rapidly to prevent loss of limb or a fatal outcome. This study aimed to detect more reliable predictors between gram-negative and gram-positive monomicrobial NF of limbs. METHODS: A total of 100 patients with limb monomicrobial NF were diagnosed prospectively from April 2015 to July 2018. These monomicrobial NF pathogens can be divided into gram-negative and gram-positive groups according to the result of Gram staining and final bacterial reports. Data such as demographics, seawater or seafood contact history, infectious location, comorbidities, presenting signs and symptoms, and laboratory findings were recorded and compared. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were infected with gram-negative organisms and 45 patients with gram-positive organisms. Among the 55 cases of monomicrobial gram-negative NF, 48 (87.3%) were caused mainly by Vibrio spp. (38, 69.1%) and Aeromonas spp. (10, 18.2%). A higher incidence of chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular accident, tachypnea, and septic shock; a higher rate of band forms of leukocytes of more than 3%, serum lactate of more than 20 mg/dL, and C-reactive protein level of less than 150 mg/dL; prolonged prothrombin time; and a lower fibrinogen level were observed in patients with gram-negative infection. In a multivariate analysis, a higher incidence of seawater or seafood contact history (odds ratio [OR]: 66.301; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.467-588.702), a higher rate of hyperlactatemia (OR: 7.904; 95% CI: 1.231-50.744), and a low fibrinogen level (OR: 1.013; 95% CI: 1.004-1.023) indicated gram-negative infection. CONCLUSIONS: In southern Taiwan, NF of limbs mainly affected the lower limbs, exhibited monomicrobial infection, and was predominated by gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative monomicrobial NF of limbs often occurred in individuals with the more seawater or seafood contact history, hyperlactatemia, and low fibrinogen levels.

Bacterial Flora in the Genital Area of Patients with Lower Limb Lymphedema.

Background: Patients with lymphedema, especially those having genital lymphangiectasia, experience repeated cellulitis; however, the causative bacteria are not detected in most cases. In this study, we investigated the composition of genital bacterial flora in patients with lower limb lymphedema to appropriately treat or prevent repeated cellulitis in these patients. Methods and Results: We examined 47 women with lower limb lymphedema. The average age was 58.4 (range 36-80) years. We performed indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography to confirm the presence of genital lymphedema. For each patient, we swab the skin in the genital area. The swabs were applied to aerobic agar plates, incubated, and evaluated to assess bacterial colonization and resistance to antibiotics. We numbered the patients who held the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Among the 47 patients enrolled, 30 patients (63.8%) had a history of cellulitis accompanied by lymphedema and 31 patients (66.0%) had genital lymphedema diagnosed by ICG lymphography. Among 47 patients, 43 (91.5%) had at least one bacterial strain. Coryneform bacterial species were most commonly detected in 19 patients. Of 29 patients with a history of cellulitis, 9 had antibiotic-resistant bacteria (31.0%). In contrast, of 18 patients with no history of cellulitis, only 2 had antibiotic-resistant bacteria (11.1%) (p = 0.12). Conclusions: The percentage of patients with drug-resistant bacteria was higher among those with a history of cellulitis than among those without it.

Lesión cutánea y linfangitis en paciente inmunocompetente / Skin lesion and lymphangitis in an immunocompetent patient

No disponible

Early outcome of culture-negative infection in open fractures of the lower limb: A prospective study.

Background: Culture-negative infections in open long bone fractures are frequently encountered in clinical practice. We aimed to identify the rate and outcome of culture-negative infections in open long bone fractures of lower limb. Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2015 to May 2017 on Gustilo and Anderson Grade III open long bone fractures of the lower limb. Demographic data, injury details, time from injury to receiving antibiotics and index surgical procedure were noted. Length of hospital stay, number of additional surgeries and occurrence of complications were also noted. Patients with infected open fractures were grouped as culture positive or culture negative depending on the isolation of infecting microorganisms in deep intraoperative specimen. The clinical outcome of these two groups was statistically analysed. Results: A total of 231 patients with 275 open fractures involving the femur, tibia or fibula were studied. There was clinical signs of infection in 84 patients (36.4%) with 99 fractures (36%). Forty-three patients (51.2%) had positive cultures and remaining 41 patients had negative cultures (48.8%). The rate of culture-negative infection in open type III long bone fractures in our study was 17.7%. There was no statistical difference in the clinical outcome between culture-negative and culture-positive infections. Conclusion: Failure to identify an infective microorganism in the presence of clinical signs of infection is routinely seen in open fractures and needs to be treated aggressively.

Tuberculosis verrucosa cutis presenting with unilateral elephantiasis nostras verrucosa of the left lower limb: A rare entity.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa is used to describe lymphedema of the lower limbs caused by a nonfilarial etiology. Infective etiologies include bacterial and fungal infections along with chronic venous stasis, postirradiation, congestive heart failure, obesity, and malignancies, all causes leading to lymphatic obstruction and edema. We herein describe a case of a 70-year-old male who presented with diffuse nonpitting edema of the entire left lower limb with cobblestoning of the surface with a positive Kaposi-Stemmer sign and presence of a verrucous plaque over the left ankle. Histopathology of the verrucous plaque revealed it to be tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TVC). We report this rare presentation of TVC as a cause of unilateral lymphedema.

Osteomyelitis in limb amputated by amniotic band sequence.

A preterm (30+2 week) neonate with below-knee amputation (right lower limb), constriction rings and syndactyly, subsequent to amniotic band sequence, developed pus discharge from the right tibial stump. The neonate did not have clinical features of systemic sepsis. Blood culture was sterile. The pus culture, however, grew methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and bone scan was suggestive of osteomyelitis of right proximal tibial stump. Osteomyelitis was likely caused by the contiguous spread of infection from the exposed stump. Neonate was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 4 weeks and discharged on oral feeds.

Multiple abscesses in the lower extremities caused by Trichophyton rubrum.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi, that usually infect the hair, stratum corneum, and nails. However, dermatophytes occasionally invade the dermis, subcutaneous tissues, and internal organs, resulting in a condition called deep dermatophytosis. We report a case of an unusual presentation of Trichophyton rubrum infection causing multiple fungal abscesses in the lower extremities of an immunocompromised patient. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old male who had been receiving immunosuppressive drugs for 7 years developed numerous subcutaneous nodules in the lower extremities. The yellow purulent fluid obtained from the cyst was positive for T. rubrum. Topical bifonazole cream was effective for tinea pedis, but oral Sporanox 400 mg/day was discontinued after 2 months because the patient died from pneumonia after hospitalization for a lumbar fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Although deep dermatophytosis is very rare, dermatomycosis should be considered in any examination of patients who are receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Fungi can enter the bloodstream and disseminate to distant major organs, including the lymph nodes, liver, brain, and bone, which often causes systemic infections that can be fatal.

Intrawound Antibiotic Powder Decreases Frequency of Deep Infection and Severity of Heterotopic Ossification in Combat Lower Extremity Amputations.

BACKGROUND: Amputations sustained owing to combat-related blast injuries are at high risk for deep infection and development of heterotopic ossification, which can necessitate reoperation and place immense strain on the patient. Surgeons at our institution began use of intrawound antibiotic powder at the time of closure in an effort to decrease the rate of these surgical complications after initial and revision amputations, supported by compelling clinical evidence and animal models of blast injuries. Antibiotic powder may be useful in reducing the risk of these infections, but human studies on this topic thus far have been inconclusive. PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether administration of intrawound antibiotic powder at the time of closure would (1) decrease the risk of subsequent deep infections of major lower-extremity combat-related amputations, and (2) limit formation and decrease severity of heterotopic ossification common in the combat-related traumatic residual limb. METHODS: Between 2009 and 2015, 252 major lower extremity initial and revision amputations were performed by a single surgeon. Revision cases were excluded if performed specifically to address deep infection, leaving 223 amputations (88.5%) for this retrospective analysis. We reviewed medical records to collect patient information, returns to the operating room for subsequent infection, and microbiologic culture results. We also reviewed radiographs taken at least 3 months after surgery to determine the presence and severity of heterotopic ossification using the Walter Reed classification system. We grouped cases according to whether limbs underwent initial or revision amputations, and whether the limbs had a history of a prior infection. Apart from the use of antibiotic powder and duration of followup, the groups did not differ in terms of age, mechanism of injury, or sex. We then calculated the absolute risk reduction for infection and heterotopic ossification and the number needed to treat to prevent an infection. RESULTS: Overall, administration of antibiotic powder resulted in a 13% absolute risk reduction of deep infection (14 of 82 [17%] versus 42 of 141 [30%]; p = 0.03; 95% CI, 0.20%-24.72%). In revision amputation surgery, the absolute risk reduction of infection with antibiotic powder use was 16% overall (eight of 58 versus 17 of 57; 95% CI, 1.21%-30.86%), and 25% for previously infected limbs (eight of 46 versus 14 of 33; 95% CI, 4.93%-45.14%). The number needed to treat to prevent one additional deep infection in amputation surgery is eight in initial amputations, seven in revision amputations, and four for revision amputation surgery on previously infected limbs. With the numbers available, we observed no reduction in the risk of heterotopic ossification with antibiotic powder use, but severity was decreased in the treatment group in terms of the number of residual limbs with moderate or severe heterotopic ossification (three of 12 versus 19 of 34; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that administration of intrawound antibiotic powder reduces deep infection in residual limbs of combat amputees, particularly in the setting of revision amputation surgery in apparently aseptic residual limbs at the time of the surgery. Furthermore, administration of antibiotic powder for amputations at time of initial closure decreases the severity of heterotopic ossification formation, providing a low-cost adjunct to decrease the risk of two complications common to amputation surgery.Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Cellulitis: An unusual manifestation of Neisseria meningitidis infection.

INTRODUCTION: Neisseria meningitidis infections often cause severe meningitis as well as bacteraemia. However, cellulitis in meningococcal diseases have rarely been described. Here, we report a case of right lower limb cellulitis caused by N. meningitidis. CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old woman presented with fever and lower limb swelling. She had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and a history of surgical resection of vulvar carcinoma. N. meningitidis was isolated from her blood culture. DISCUSSION: This report provides additional evidence in support of N. meningitidis as a cause of cellulitis.

[Recidives of Mycetoma after Amputation in Dakar (Senegal)]. / Récidives de mycétome après amputation à Dakar (Sénégal).

The treatment of fungal mycetoma is essentially surgical. This carcinological-like surgery consists of amputation in case of bone involvement. The recurrences after amputation are rare and address the problem of the operative indication. We report 5 cases of recurrence of fungal black-grain mycetoma after amputation of leg or thigh. Case 1: a 52-year-old patient with a mycetoma of the knee evolving for 8 years. There is no history of surgery. A thigh amputation with ganglion dissection is performed. One year after the surgical procedure, the patient presents a recurrence on the amputation stump and on the lymph node dissection site. An indication of hip disarticulation is made and performed 17 months after amputation. Case 2: a 25-year-old patient who has a black-grain mycetoma of the foot with osteitis evolving since 10 years. A leg amputation was performed. The patient had a recurrence at the popliteal level at 15 months postoperatively. An indication of amputation of the thigh is posed and refused by the patient. Case 3: a30-year-old woman with black-grain mycetoma of the knee with bone involvement for more than 10 years. A thigh amputation was performed and at nine months postoperativeshe presented a recurrence in the amputation stump. She was lost of sight despite the decision of surgical revision. Case 4: a 43-year-old patient operated on his foot and leg mycetoma at least 5 timesbefore amputation in 2000. The recurrence occurred one year after amputation. 18 years after amputation, a new surgical procedure was difficult due to extension of the lesions in the pelvis. Case 5: a 50-year-old female patient operated in Mauritania in 2012 (thigh amputation for mycetoma of the knee). She presented a recurrence on the amputation stump in 2018. An indication of disarticulation of the hip was posed and refused by the patient. These recurrences were testified by to the persistence of grains on the preserved segment. They pose the problem of the level of amputation and therefore of preoperative planning. Good preoperative planning allows optimization of the surgical procedure and avoids certain recurrences.

La chirurgie constitue le temps essentiel du traitement des mycétomes fongiques. Elle consiste en une amputation en cas d'atteinte osseuse. Nous avons observé 5 cas de récidives après amputation pour mycétome. Il s'agit dans tous les cas de patients présentant des mycétomes à grain noir avec atteintes osseuses. Les récidives sont survenues à moins de 18 mois de l'amputation faisant parler de reprise évolutive et posant le problème du niveau de l'amputation.

Seasonal and regional patterns of lower leg cellulitis in Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Lower leg cellulitis (LLC) is a common infection that is usually caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or other beta-haemolytic streptococci. We hypothesised that in Western Australia (WA), LLC is a summer disease and would be more common in the northern, tropical regions. METHODS: We conducted a statewide data linkage of adult patients presenting to WA hospitals with a first ever diagnosis of LLC, from January 2002 through December 2013 according to the region and season. RESULTS: A total of 36 276 cases presented with a primary episode of LLC. The northern regions of the Kimberley (2.26 (2.13-2.39), P < 0.001) and midwest (1.13 (1.06-1.20), P < 0.001) had higher incidence rates than the Perth metropolitan region, while the southern regions of Southwest, Great Southern and Goldfields had lower incidence rates (0.89 (0.85-0.93), P < 0.001; 0.81 (0.75-0.88), P < 0.001; and 0.77 (0.71-0.83), P < 0.001, respectively). The total number of primary cases was higher in summer (10 570 (29.1%, 95% confidence interval 28.7-29.6), P < 0.0001) and autumn (9306 (25.7%, 95% confidence interval 25.2-26.1), P = 0.004). Seasonality of LLC was observed in all WA regions except those in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Great Southern regions. CONCLUSION: In most non-tropical regions of WA, LLC is a summer disease, while in the warmer tropical regions of WA where year-round temperatures are higher, no seasonality was observed, but overall incidence of LLC presentations were higher. These findings may have important implications for public health messaging and research around prevention of LLC.

Death related to Cedecea lapagei in a soft tissue bullae infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cedecea lapagei bacterium was discovered in 1977 but was not known to be pathogenic to humans until 2006. In the medical literature there are very few clinical case reports of Cedecea lapagei; none have reported a catastrophic death secondary to a soft tissue hemorrhagic bullae infection. As well as soft tissue infection, rare cases of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, peritonitis, osteomyelitis, bacteremia, and sepsis have been documented with the majority having good outcomes. Here, we present the first case of a fatal outcome in a Cedecea lapagei soft tissue infection with multiple hemorrhagic bullae. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old Mexican man with antecedents of liver cirrhosis and treated hypertension was brought to our institution with clinical signs of sepsis and 16 to 18 hours of history of pain and edema in his right lower limb. During the course of the first day hospitalized in our institution, he developed several large serohematogenous bullae with ascending progression on his entire right lower limb. He subsequently developed multiple organ failure and septic shock with rapid deterioration, dying on the second day. Bullae fluid samples taken the first day undoubtedly isolated Cedecea lapagei within the second day using MicroScan WalkAway® 96 plus System as well Gram-negative bacteria in MacConkey and blood agar. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation of Cedecea lapagei was an unexpected etiological finding that will enable physicians in the future to consider this bacterium as a probable cause of serohematogenous bullae infections. We do not exclude contamination although it has never been isolated in bullae fluid in the medical literature. Future encounters with this bacterium should not be taken lightly as it may have the potential to have fatal outcomes.

Is PASH Syndrome a Biofilm Disease?: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: When occurring together, pyoderma gangrenosum, severe acne, and hidradenitis suppurativa have been described as PASH syndrome. Due to the chronic autoinflammatory state existing in affected patients, PASH syndrome has been attributed to the dysregulation of wound healing. CASE REPORTS: Two cases are presented that demonstrate the paradigmatic clinical features of PASH syndrome and its potential link as an expanding spectrum of bacterial biofilm disorder. CONCLUSIONS: As reported herein, based on biofilm's clinical presentation and resistance to proper wound healing, it could serve as the common denominator and may redirect clinicians' treatment pathways in the near future.