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Wound Infections . Consequences include: Delay in healing May result in localized infection (abscess) Bacteria or their products may migrate to adjacent tissues or bloodstream. Necrotizing Fasciitis. Causative Agent Streptococcus pyogenes “flesh eating bacteria” Dramatic but rare
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Wound Infections • Consequences include: • Delay in healing • May result in localized infection (abscess) • Bacteria or their products may migrate to adjacent tissues or bloodstream
Necrotizing Fasciitis • Causative Agent • Streptococcus pyogenes • “flesh eating bacteria” • Dramatic but rare • Small epidemics occur • Generally easily treated • Not a lot of antimicrobial resistance
Signs and symptoms • Nausea, and other flu-like symptoms • Intense pain and swelling at infection site • Discoloration and distortion of skin • Skin hot to the touch • Fever, malaise,
Epidemiology • Usually spread through direct contact • Pathogen enters through wound and produces enzymes and toxins that destroy tissue • several cm per hour • may cause organ failure • Severe infections termed invasive • Pneumonia • Meningitis • Streptococcal toxic shock • Death
Prevention • No proven prevention measures • Wounds increase risk • Difficult to diagnose in the early stages because the symptoms are nonspecific and flulike
Treatment • clindamycin and penicillin • treatment must be given early • has little or no effect on bacteria in necrotic tissues • No effect on toxin • Urgent surgery required • Removal of necrotic tissue • Amputation
Pseudomonas Infections • Causative agent: • Pseudomonas aeruginosa • G-, aerobic bacillus • Opportunistic pathogen • Major cause of nosocomial infections • Burn and lung infections • Occasional cause of community acquired infections • Contaminated pools and hot tubs
Signs & Symptoms • Change in tissue color • pyocyanin • Chills, fever, skin lesions and shock
Multiple virulence factors • Endotoxin • Exoenzyme S • Toxin A • Elastase • Neuramindase • Polysaccharide capsule • Fimbriae
Epidemiology • Rarely part of the microbiota • Widespread in nature • Found extensively in soil, water and on plants • Introduced in hospitals on shoes, on plants and flowers and on produce • Contaminates soaps, ointments, eye drops, swimming pools and hospital equipment
Prevention • Prevention involves elimination of source • Prompt wound care • Debridement of burns • Removal of eschar followed by application of antibacterial cream like silver sulfadiazine
Treatment • Established infections are extremely difficult to treat • P. aeruginosa is multi-drug resistant • Typically combine aminoglycosides and beta-lactam drugs • Polymyxin last resort drug
Clostridial Myonecrosis • gas gangrene • Causative agent: • Species of Clostridium, most commonly C. perfrigens • Encapsulated; anaerobic, gram + bacillus • Produces endospores
Signs and symptoms • Begins abruptly with rapidly increasing localized pain and swelling • Thin, foul smelling fluid leaks from wound • Fluid is often brownish and frothy • Frothy appearance is due to gas production by infection bacteria • Crepitation • Skin becomes stretched and mottled with black spots • Ishemia and necrosis • Delirium and coma followed by death • Mortality ~ 40%
C. perfringens unable to grow in healthy tissue • Survives well in dead or poorly oxygenated tissue • Releases toxin in tissue • Bacteria produces gas through fermentation • Gas accumulates in tissue contributing to spread • Crepitation
Bacteria produces neurotoxin • Toxin attacks host cell membrane • Toxin diffuses and kills tissue cells • Other enzymes breakdown dead tissues • Collagenase • Hyaluronidase (spreading factor)
Factors that increase susceptibility to clostridial myonecrosis • Presence of dirt and dead tissue in wound • Spores found in nearly all soil or dusty surface • Poor circulation • encourages poor oxygenation of tissues • Long delays in treatment • Immediate medical attention in severe wound is especially important
Prevention and treatment Vaccine unavailable Prompt cleaning and debridement of wound Surgical removal of dead and damaged tissue Amputation may be required Hyperbaric oxygen treatment Inhibits growth of clostridia Stops release of toxin Penicillin or cephalosporin are given to halt bacterial growth No growth = no toxin production