Effects of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation versus Standard of Care in Multiple Wound Types: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Large randomized controlled trials that evaluate the effects of negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation of a topical solution and dwell time (NPWTi-d) are lacking. There is a need to synthesize existing data across multiple studies to provide a more precise estimate of the clinical effects of NPWTi-d. METHODS: A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of comparative studies were performed to determine the effects of NPWTi-d versus control therapy in the adjunctive management of complex wounds. Weighted standardized mean difference or odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to pool study and control group results in each publication for analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen studies comprising 720 patients were included in the analysis. Significantly fewer surgical debridements were performed in NPWTi-d patients versus control patients (P = 0.01). Wounds in the NPWTi-d group were ready for closure faster than control wounds (P = 0.03). The odds of reducing bacterial count from baseline in the NPWTi-d group was 4.4 times greater than control group wounds (P = 0.003), and percent reduction of bacterial count in NPWTi-d wounds was evident in all studies that captured that endpoint. There was a significantly shorter length of therapy in NPWTi-d patients versus control patients (P = 0.03). Wounds in NPWTi-d group were 2.39 times more likely to close than control group wounds (P = 0.01). Length of hospital stay was not significantly reduced for NPWTi-d patients compared with that for control patients (P = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis show a positive effect with use of NPWTi-d in various wound types.

Characterization of the cortisol response to traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination models in Cynomologus Macaques.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma, hemorrhage, and peritonitis have widely varying impacts on endocrine response in the injured patient. We sought to examine cortisol response in established non-human primate models of traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination. METHODS: Cynomologus Macaques were separated into two experimental groups, the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, involving a laparoscopic liver resection with uncontrolled hemorrhage, cecal perforation, and soft tissue excision; and the traumatic hemorrhage model, involving only liver resection and uncontrolled hemorrhage. Cortisol levels were measured pre-operatively, at the time of injury, and at regular intervals until post-operative day 1. RESULTS: Cortisol levels increased 600% from the pre-operative value in the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, with minimal changes (20%) in the hemorrhage only model. CONCLUSION: Cortisol levels increase dramatically in response to polytrauma and intra-abdominal contamination as compared to hemorrhage only. The lack of response in the hemorrhage only group may be due to relative adrenal insufficiency caused by the shock state or lack of enticing stimuli from fecal peritonitis.

Polytrauma independent of therapeutic intervention alters the gastrointestinal microbiome.

BACKGROUND: This study characterizes the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome in a pre-clinical polytrauma hemorrhage model. METHODS: Rats (n = 6) were anesthetized, hemorrhaged 20% of their blood volume, and subjected to a femur fracture and crush injuries to the small intestine, liver, and limb skeletal muscle without resuscitation. Fecal samples were collected pre-injury and 2 h post-injury. Purified DNA from the samples underwent 16s rRNA sequencing for microbial quantification. Bacterial diversity analysis and taxonomic classification were performed. RESULTS: Following injury, the gut microbial composition was altered with a shift in beta diversity and significant differences in the relative abundance of taxa. The relative abundance of the families Lachnospiraceae and Mogibacteriaceae was increased at 2 h, while Barnesiellaceae and Bacteroidaceae were decreased. Alpha diversity was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The GI microbiome is altered in rats subjected to a polytrauma hemorrhage model at 2 h post-injury in the absence of antibiotics or therapeutic interventions.

RECENT PRINCIPLES OF ANTIMICROBIAL TREATMENT IN POLYTRAUMA INDUCED SEPSIS AND SEPTIC SHOCK (REVIEW).

20% of trauma deaths occur late after the injury. It is usually the result of sepsis, multi-system organ failure, or other complications. In Polytrauma induced sepsis and septic shock patients, antibacterial management is crucial. The knowledge of recent aspects of treatment is decreasing the costs and the resistance of pathogens, morbidity and mortality. Different models of treatment are suggested by authors, basically they are depended on: the patients age, there health condition, the factors of immunodeficiency, at the location of infection and others. Using the key words, the search engines produced articles. The review was made on the studies about Polytrauma induced sepsis and septic shock patients, about their antimicrobial treatment dosage and duration, about the source control and about the methods of early identification of pathogens (Bacteria and Candida). The advantages and disadvantages of early identification were also studied. Also the role if biomarkers were also reviewed. Based on the review, recommendations are given about the recent principles of antibacterial treatment of Polytrauma induced sepsis and septic shock patients.

[Pathogen Spectrum of Complex Wounds in Germany from War Zones]. / Verändertes Keimspektrum von Komplexwunden in Deutschland durch die Behandlung von Verletzten aus Konfliktländern.

Background Treatment of the injured from war zones with wounds with multi-resistant pathogens is becoming more common in Germany, especially in German Armed Forces Hospitals. In most cases, the pre-treatment of these patients has been inadequate and they have a high load of rare pathogens. In Germany, hospitals have to evaluate these pathogens by law. The aim of this study was to review current German guidelines and data on the array of pathogens of complex trauma wounds in Germany and to compare patients with wounds and multi-resistant pathogens from war zones treated in Germany. Patients and Methods A PubMed search was performed on all multiresistant pathogens, antibiotic resistance and guidelines in Germany from 2005 to 2015. The databases and recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute, the Paul Ehrlich Society and the National Reference Centre for the Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections were analysed. The screening results of injured patients from war zones treated in the German Armed Forces Hospital Ulm were included. Results The array of pathogens for nosocomial infections has not changed, but the ratios of the pathogens has altered. Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has decreased, but vancomycin-resistant enterococci have increased continuously. Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) now make up the largest fraction of VRE. The databases do not yet provide data on the relatively new classification of multiresistant gramnegative (MRGN) pathogens. MRGN pathogens play the main role in injured patients from war zones. Conclusion In the last ten years, there have been changes in the resistance and ratios of multi-resistant pathogens. MRSA has decreased over the last ten years, but reserve antibiotics are increasingly needed. VRE are increasing and even some reserve antibiotics have lost their efficacy because of the use of modern antibiotics. There are not yet any German datasets available on 3- and 4-MRGN. These pathogens play the main role in injured patients from war zones treated in Germany: it is crucial to perform routine screening and to take all precautions, including isolation. Surgical wound therapy is of increasing importance and uncritical and expensive antibiotic therapy is becoming becomes less important.

Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens in Hospitalized Syrian Children.

Since 2013, wounded and ill children from Syria have received treatment in Israel. Screening cultures indicated that multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens colonized 89 (83%) of 107 children. For 58% of MDR infections, the pathogen was similar to that identified during screening. MDR screening of these children is valuable for purposes of isolation and treatment.

Survival after multiple traumas is associated with improved outcomes from gram-negative sepsis: Clinical and experimental evidence.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the susceptibility to Gram-negative sepsis after multiple traumas (MT). METHODS: From a prospective cohort of 5076 Greek patients with sepsis, 16 with Gram-negative bacteremia after MT were compared with 204 patients well-matched for severity, comorbidities and appropriateness of antimicrobials; circulating mononuclear cells were isolated and stimulated for the release of interleukin (IL)-10. Male C57Bl6J mice were subject to MT (right pneumothorax and right femur fracture) followed after 72 h by the intravenous challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Survival was recorded and splenocytes were isolated for cytokine stimulation. RESULTS: 28-day mortality after MT was 18.8% compared to 48.0% of comparators (48.0%) (odds ratio 0.25, p: 0.035). This was confirmed after logistic regression analysis taking into consideration comorbidities and age. Stimulation of IL-10 was enhanced from MT patients. Survival of mice challenged by P. aeruginosa 72 h after MT was prolonged compared to mice challenged by P. aeruginosa without prior MT. Cytokine production was decreased 24 h after MT and restored 96 h thereafter. Production of IL-10 was particularly pronounced from splenocytes of mice challenged by P. aeruginosa after MT. CONCLUSIONS: Survival after MT is accompanied by favorable immune responses allowing survival benefit from Gram-negative sepsis. This is associated with increased IL-10 release.

A surgical approach in the management of mucormycosis in a trauma patient.

Mucormycosis as a consequence of trauma is a devastating complication; these infections are challenging to control, with a fatality rate approaching 96% in immunocompromised patients. We present a case where a proactive approach was successfully employed to treat mucormycosis following complex polytrauma. Aggressive repeated surgical debridement, in combination with appropriate antifungal therapy, proved successful in this instance. In our opinion, mucormycosis in trauma mandates an aggressive surgical approach. This prevents ascending dissemination of mucormycosis and certainly reduces the risk of patient mortality as a direct result. Anti-fungal therapy should be used secondarily as an adjunct together with surgical debridement, or as an alternative when surgical intervention is not feasible.

Polytrauma Increases Susceptibility to Pseudomonas Pneumonia in Mature Mice.

Pneumonia is the most common complication observed in patients with severe injuries. Although the average age of injured patients is 47 years, existing studies of the effect of injury on the susceptibility to infectious complications have focused on young animals, equivalent to a late adolescent human. We hypothesized that mature adult animals are more susceptible to infection after injury than younger counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we challenged 6 to 8-month-old mature mice to a polytrauma injury followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and compared them to young (8-10-week-old) animals. We demonstrate that polytrauma injury increases mortality from pneumonia in mature animals (sham-pneumonia 21% vs. polytrauma-pneumonia 62%) but not younger counterparts. After polytrauma, pneumonia in mature mice is associated with higher bacterial burden in lung, increased incidence of bacteremia, and elevated levels of bacteria in the blood, demonstrating that injury decreases the ability to control the infectious challenge. We further find that polytrauma did not induce elevations in circulating cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IL-6, KC, and IL-10) 24  h after injury. However, mature mice subjected to polytrauma demonstrated an exaggerated circulating inflammatory cytokine response to subsequent Pseudomonas pneumonia. Additionally, whereas prior injury increases LPS-stimulated IL-6 production by peripheral blood leukocytes from young (8-10-week-old) mice, injury does not prime IL-6 production by cell from mature adult mice. We conclude that in mature mice polytrauma results in increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas pneumonia while priming an exaggerated but ineffective inflammatory response.

Epidemiology and classification of dog bite injuries to the face: A prospective study of 108 patients.

BACKGROUND: Dog bites are considered to be septic injuries, and their location on the face, with its highly symbolic topography and important social functions, is particularly pertinent. In addition to specific medical aspects, such as their psychological impact, they are also of relevance in terms of child protection measures. In light of the far-reaching importance of this subject, we were prompted to carry out a prospective study, over 13 years, to identify risk factors. Our results highlight specific risk factors, and they may hence assist with the implementation of concrete primary prevention measures against dog bites. METHODS: An information sheet was prepared and filled out during the intake of patients who had been bitten on the face. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info Version 6.04dfr software to find a correlation between the factors studied and the dog bite to the face. RESULTS: Dog bites to the face represented 0.83% of the emergency admissions to our service. A considerable majority of these involved children, with 68.5% of patients <16 years of age, and 33.3% of patients aged between 2 and 5 years. The wounds were multiple and of variable severity. The type of dog involved was frequently a German Shepherd. Strikingly, 91.3% of bites had occurred in a single-parent environment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has determined that the fundamental factors that increase the probability of a dog bite to the face are as follows: the child being 2-5 years old, a single-parent context, and involvement of a German Shepherd-type dog.

The role of thoracic trauma in inflammatory responses, apoptosis and bacterial translocation following multiple traumas.

BACKGROUND: Blunt chest trauma and its complications are commonly encountered in emergency medicine. Herein, we used a rat model to investigate the role of thoracic trauma in inflammation, apoptosis and bacterial translocation following multiple traumas. METHODS: Ninety Wistar rats were divided equally into nine groups. Rats underwent a standardized blunt thoracic and/or head trauma and were sacrificed 24 or 48 hours after the trauma. Specimens from various organs and blood samples were collected and quantitatively cultured for aerobic organisms. Interleukins, TNF-α, and MCP-1 levels were assessed in the sera and markers of apoptosis were detected in the lungs. RESULTS: Levels of interleukins, TNF-α and MCP-1 in all of the groups undergoing trauma were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.001). Levels of apoptotic cells in the groups undergoing head and thoracic trauma (HTT) were significantly higher than those of the control group (p=0.009). Light microscopic evaluation indicated that damage in the HTT groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. The incidence of bacterial translocation was also significantly higher in the HTT groups (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Multiple inflammatory mediators are activated in multiple traumas (including blunt thoracic trauma), which allow bacterial translocation and apoptotic processes to occur. Our results indicate that thoracic trauma plays a major role in post-traumatic bacterial translocation, inflammation, and apoptosis following multiple traumas.

[Anesthesiological support of surgical intervention on clavicular osteosynthesis in patients with multiple rib fractures].

In 162 patients, operated on for isolated or combined thoracic trauma with multiple fractures of ribs and clavicle, the results of treatment were compared, depending on the anesthesiological support applied. In 18 (11.1%) patients nosocomial pneumonia have had occurred, in 64 (40.0%)--a respiratory support was applied, in 84 (51.8%)--bronchofibroscopy. Application of regional anesthesia have permitted to reduce the respiratory complications rate as well as the necessity for respiratory support and the patients stay in the intensive care unit.

[Septic complications after multilocal fractures and multiple traumatic injury]. / Powiklania infekcyjne po zlamaniach wielomiejscowych i obrazeniach wielonarzadowych.

INTRODUCTION: The increase of the number of the multiple traumatic injuries is related to social factors, such as: the development of industry, the change of life style and the conditions of work, the manner and the speed of relocation and the biological factors related with the elongation of life time. According to the World Health Organization data the injuries are one of the main health problems in the world. AIM: The clinical analysis of multitrauma patients treated due to the septic complications of the fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material consists of 34 multitrauma patients treated in The Osteomyelitis and Septic Complications Unit in Prof. A. Gruca Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital in Otwock, Poland between 2005 and 2010. The cause of trauma, the timing of arrival to our unit, the number of the days of treatment, the number and the specificity of bone and internal injuries, the bacteriology of bone infections and operative techniques and pharmacologic treatment were analyzed. RESULTS: The causes of the injuries were: road accident (79%), fall from the height (8.8%), others (12.2%). The first stay in our unit was 21 months after the injury on average (1-129 months), the number of stays in the unit was 2,8 on average (1-6), the length of stay was 25.7 days on average (4-108 days). In analyzed group of 34 patients, we found: 12 opened fractures of single bone, 11 opened fractures of more than one bone, 22 closed fractures of single bone, 12 closed fracture of more than one bone. Central nervous system (55.9%), abdominal organs (35.3%) and thorax (29.4%) were the most common internal organs ocuppied with the injury. Osteomyelitis was the most frequently diagnosed in femur (50%) and tibia (41.2%). The main reasons of bone infection were: Methycylin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (35,3%), Methycylin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (17,3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23,5%), Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumani, Enterococcus faecalis. The following treatment was undertaken: the debridement of septic bone, usually together with the removal of the hardware stabilization (73,5%), the removal of the damaged or improperly fixed stabilization (44%), the conversion of the internal fixation into the external fixation(62%). All the patients were taken intravenous antibiotics according to The Hospital Commission for Preventing of Infections, i.e. 2nd generation cephalosporin and gentamycin. Culture directed antibiotics were started after receiving the bacteriology results. The outcomes. The control of infection in 14 patients (41.3%), 18 patients (52.9%) still remain under the treatment, bad outcome (persistent infection, amputation of a extremity) we had in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple traumatic injury and its immunologic consequences predispose to systemic infections including bone infections. Posttraumatic osteomyelitis is the indication to chronic treatment. Surgical management of the wound and external fixation of the fractures of the long bones according to the control damage surgery is the most important in prevention of posttraumatic osteomyelitis.

[Microbiological diagnosis of gas gangrene caused by Clostridium septicum (a clinical case)].

Microscopy of gram-stained impression smears is used for the rapid diagnosis of microorganisms in the wound. The shin tissues of patient P. with suspected gas gangrene of lower extremity soft tissues were microscopically found to have gram-positive spore-forming bacteria that were morphologically similar to C. bifermentans that were identified as C. septicum on cultural diagnosis. The pathogenic C. septicum strain spores were likely to be formed in the macroorganism upon exposure of the pathogen to a patient's defense factors and to a package of therapeutic measures. Microbiological data should be used only in combination with clinical and instrumental findings and the results of other laboratory studies when the optimal technology is chosen to treat gas infection. By keeping in mind that there may be clostridial gangrene in the patients and the experience of clinicians and bacteriologists may be insufficient in diagnosing this pathology, it is necessary to strengthen the training of physicians in the diagnosis of this pathology.

[Effects of Gutuo Qingfu Decoction via gastro-enteric perfusion on 16SrRNA in blood of severe multitraumatic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Gutuo Qingfu Decoction (GQD) via gastro-enteric perfusion on blood level of bacterial 16S rRNA gene in severe multi-traumatic (SMT) patients at early stage. METHODS: Sixty SMT patients were assigned to two groups, the 33 in the treated group and the 27 in the control group. They were treated with the same conventional treatment, but different in the gastro-enteric infusion with GOD for the former and saline for the latter. Blood 16SrRNA gene, body temperature, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood bacterial culture positive rate on the 3, 6, 9 post-trauma days were detected, and incidences of infective complication and mortality were observed. RESULTS: Body temperature on day 9 in the treated group was significantly lower than in the control group (37.6 +/- 0.12 degrees C vs 38.1 +/- 0.15 degrees C, P < 0.05); so did the CRP level on day 6 (52.4 +/- 6.3 mg/L vs 104.3 +/- 20.1 mg/L, P < 0.05) and day 9 (42.9 + 7.5 mg/L vs 92.5 +/- 17.1 mg/L, P < 0.05), as well as the positive rates of blood 16SrRNA gene on day 6 and 9 (33.3% vs 59.3% and 30.3% vs 77.8%, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). However, the positive rates of blood culture were insignificantly different between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Besides, incidence of infective complication in the treated group was significantly lower than in the control group (30.3% vs 59.3%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Early stage gastrointestinal administration of GQD is likely to have benefits for the improvement of intestinal mucosa barrier and reduction of enteric bacterial translocation in SMT patients, and it may also reduce the incidence of infective complication in these patients.

[Rational approach to treatment of patients with polytrauma complicated by urinary tract infection].

Development of secondary immune dysbalance in patients with polytrauma complicated by urinary tract infection (acute pyelonephritis) was observed. In such cases bacterial complications were highly possible, that required the use of immunotropic drugs (cycloferon) increasing the host nonspecific resistance, responsible for Th1 immune response. The cycloferon therapy of the patients with chronic pyelonephritis normalized the lymphocyte electrophoretic mobility promoting efficient recovery of the immune homeostasis. Cycloferon was shown to be effective in the prophylaxis and therapy of infective inflammation in the patients with polytrauma, that was evident of the antibacterial therapy efficacy increasing and more rapid healing of the infective inflammation.

Different bacteria species lipopolysaccharide co-exposure with Pseudomonas exotoxin A on multiple organ injury induction.

The present study investigated the effect of different bacterial species lipopolysaccharide plus Pseudomonas exotoxin A (LPS/PEA) on the induction of multiple organ injury (MOI). Rats were injected with various LPS from Salmonella (SAE, SAT), E. coli (EB4, EB5), or P. aeruginosa (PAL) and PEA showed a greater mortality in the SAE/PEA and SAT/PEA groups. Histological alterations, serum enzymes, and cytokines changes were severer in the SAE/PEA group than the EB4/PEA or PAL/PEA group. EB4/PEA and PAL/PEA failed to induce MOI, even at the LPS doses increased up to 2-4- and 4-8-fold, respectively. Rats co-treated with Salmonella lipid A/PEA developed severer MOI than the E. coli lipid A/PEA. The results indicated the critical roles of MOI induction, which were related to LPS derived from appropriate bacterial species.

Procalcitonin levels as an early marker in patients with multiple trauma under intensive care.

This prospective study investigated the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with various types and severity of multiple trauma, and their relationship to trauma-related complications. Adult multiple-trauma patients (n = 113) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the first 24 h after trauma were included. The Injury Severity Scores (ISS), and PCT and CRP levels were measured in the first 24 h (day 1), on day 7 and on the final day of their ICU stay. Survival at 30 days was recorded. Mean PCT and CRP levels were both significantly higher on day 7 compared with day 1 and the final assessment day in patients with an ISS > 20. Levels of PCT were significantly higher in cases with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock compared with cases who developed systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), however levels of CRP were significantly higher only in cases with severe sepsis or septic shock, but not in cases with sepsis alone. These data support the view that PCT levels may be a better indicator than CRP levels in the early diagnosis of septic complications in patients with multiple trauma.