BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) management is challenging, usually requiring multidisciplinary collaboration from cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, interventional cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons, as more than half of the cases will require surgical procedures. Therefore, it is essential for all healthcare providers involved in managing IE to understand the disease\'s characteristics, potential complications, and treatment options. While systemic embolization is one of the most frequent complications of IE, the coronary localization of emboli causing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is less common, with an incidence ranging from 1% to 10% of cases, but it has a much higher rate of morbidity and mortality. There are no guidelines for this type of AMI management in IE.
METHODS: This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge regarding septic coronary embolization in patients with IE. Additionally, this paper highlights the diagnosis and management challenges in such cases, particularly due to the lack of protocols or consensus in the field.
RESULTS: Data extracted from case reports indicate that septic coronary embolization often occurs within the first two weeks of the disease. The aortic valve is most commonly involved with vegetation, and the occluded vessel is frequently the left anterior descending artery. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy followed by targeted antibiotic therapy for infection control is essential, and surgical treatment offers promising results through surgical embolectomy, concomitant with valve replacement or aspiration thrombectomy, with or without subsequent stent insertion. Thrombolytics are to be avoided due to the increased risk of bleeding.
CONCLUSIONS: All these aspects should constitute future lines of research, allowing the integration of all current knowledge from multidisciplinary team studies on larger patient cohorts and, subsequently, creating a consensus for assessing the risk and guiding the management of this potentially fatal complication.

UNASSIGNED: Adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China suffer high morbidity. CAP is caused by a multitude of pathogens; however, pathogen-directed clinical symptoms are often lacking. Therefore, patients lacking an accurate microbiological diagnosis are administered with empirical antimicrobials.
UNASSIGNED: We collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as clinical and laboratory data from 650 adult patients with CAP admitted to three hospitals in Hubei, Sichuan, and Zhejiang provinces in China. Specimens were cultured and tested using real-time reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the presence of 42 respiratory bacteria and viruses. CAP was investigated with respect to regions, genders, and age and patterns of infections or co-infections. Employing clinical guidelines adapted for diagnosis, we assessed retrospectively the appropriate pathogen-directed therapy and compared it with the initial empirical therapies.
UNASSIGNED: Our study identified that 21.38% (139/650) of the patients were classified as having Severe CAP (S-CAP), with a higher prevalence among males, older adults, and during the warm season. Bacterial pathogens were detected in 35.53% (231/650) of cases. K. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and S. aureus were the most prevalent bacteria across different demographics and regions. Viral pathogens were found in 48.76% (317/650) of patients Epstein-Barr, Human rhinovirus, and Cytomegalovirus were the most common viruses. Co-infections were present in 24.31% (158/650) of cases, with viral-bacterial co-infections being the most frequent. The RT-qPCR demonstrated significantly higher detection rates for key pathogens compared to standard culture methods. It showed potential in optimizing antimicrobial prescriptions by allowing for de-escalation in 18.30% (95/518) of patients, among which reducing the number of excessive antibiotics mainly comprised decreasing the use of 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporins (5.79%, 30/518) and β-lactamase inhibitor combinations.
UNASSIGNED: The study highlights the significant burden of S-CAP, particularly among specific demographics and seasons. The prevalence of bacterial and viral pathogens, along with the high rate of co-infections, emphasizes the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches. The RT-qPCR assays emerge as a superior diagnostic tool, offering enhanced pathogen detection capabilities and facilitating more precise antimicrobial therapy. This could lead to improved patient outcomes and contribute to the rational use of antimicrobials, addressing the growing concern of antibiotic resistance.

Bite injuries require differentiated treatment due to the deeply inoculated polymicrobial pathogen spectrum, possible concomitant injuries and pronounced soft tissue damage. Dog bites are the most common bite injuries but are less complicated to heal than human and cat bites. The location of the bite greatly depends on the age and the size of the bite victim as well as the type of bite perpetrator. In every case detection of the pathogen should be carried out to provide the best possible adapted treatment in the event of an exacerbation. The primary antibiotic treatment should be empirical with amoxicillin + clavulanic acid or ampicillin + sulbactam and, if necessary, adjusted according to the antibiogram. Depending on the findings, surgical treatment includes excision of the bite canal and a customized wound debridement. It is important to check the vaccination status of those involved and if indicated, to carry out postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus and rabies.
UNASSIGNED: Bissverletzungen stellen wegen des tief inokulierten polymikrobiellen Erregerspektrums, möglicher Begleitverletzungen und ausgeprägter Weichteilschäden ein differenziert zu behandelndes Krankheitsbild dar. Hundebisse sind die häufigsten Bissverletzungen und heilen, verglichen mit Menschen- und Katzenbissen, weniger komplikativ. Die Bisslokalisation hängt stark vom Alter und von der Größe des Bissopfers sowie der Art des Bissverursachers ab. Bei jedem Biss ist der Erregernachweis anzustreben, um auf eine Exazerbation kalkuliert reagieren zu können. Die primäre Antibiotikatherapie sollte empirisch mit Amoxicillin + Clavulansäure oder Ampicillin + Sulbactam erfolgen und ggf. im Verlauf antibiogrammgemäß angepasst werden. Die chirurgische Sanierung beinhaltet je nach Befund das Ausschneiden des Bisskanals und das differenzierte Wund-Débridement. Wichtig sind die Überprüfung des Impfstatus der Beteiligten und, wenn indiziert, die Postexpositionsprophylaxe für Tetanus und Tollwut.

Foreign body-related complications are rare but possibly fatal events in clinical practice. Liver abscess as a result of gastrointestinal perforation caused by foreign bodies is even more rare. We report a case of a 63-year-old man who was admitted with fever and left epigastric pain. Further investigation revealed a liver abscess without resolution despite antibiotic therapy for several weeks. In the second admission, an enhanced computerized tomography scan revealed multiple abscesses in the left lobe of the liver, with a linear radio-dense foreign body within the collection. Open surgery was performed to extract the foreign body. The patient made a satisfactory postoperative recovery without complications and was discharged on the sixth postoperative day.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections (BIs) are widespread in ICUs. The aims of this study were to assess compliance with antibiotic recommendations and factors associated with non-compliance.
METHODS: We conducted an observational study in eight French Paediatric and Neonatal ICUs with an antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) organised once a week for the most part. All children receiving antibiotics for a suspected or proven BI were evaluated. Newborns < 72 h old, neonates < 37 weeks, age ≥ 18 years and children under surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis were excluded.
RESULTS: 139 suspected (or proven) BI episodes in 134 children were prospectively included during six separate time-periods over one year. The final diagnosis was 26.6% with no BI, 40.3% presumed (i.e., not documented) BI and 35.3% documented BI. Non-compliance with antibiotic recommendations occurred in 51.1%. The main reasons for non-compliance were inappropriate choice of antimicrobials (27.3%), duration of one or more antimicrobials (26.3%) and length of antibiotic therapy (18.0%). In multivariate analyses, the main independent risk factors for non-compliance were prescribing ≥ 2 antibiotics (OR 4.06, 95%CI 1.69-9.74, p = 0.0017), duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy ≥ 4 days (OR 2.59, 95%CI 1.16-5.78, p = 0.0199), neurologic compromise at ICU admission (OR 3.41, 95%CI 1.04-11.20, p = 0.0431), suspected catheter-related bacteraemia (ORs 3.70 and 5.42, 95%CIs 1.32 to 15.07, p < 0.02), a BI site classified as \"other\" (ORs 3.29 and 15.88, 95%CIs 1.16 to 104.76, p < 0.03), sepsis with ≥ 2 organ dysfunctions (OR 4.21, 95%CI 1.42-12.55, p = 0.0098), late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR 6.30, 95%CI 1.15-34.44, p = 0.0338) and ≥ 1 risk factor for extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.07-6.14, p = 0.0353). Main independent factors for compliance were using antibiotic therapy protocols (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.19-0.92, p = 0.0313), respiratory failure at ICU admission (OR 0.36, 95%CI 0.14-0.90, p = 0.0281) and aspiration pneumonia (OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.14-0.99, p = 0.0486).
CONCLUSIONS: Half of antibiotic prescriptions remain non-compliant with guidelines. Intensivists should reassess on a day-to-day basis the benefit of using several antimicrobials or any broad-spectrum antibiotics and stop antibiotics that are no longer indicated. Developing consensus about treating specific illnesses and using department protocols seem necessary to reduce non-compliance. A daily ASP could also improve compliance in these situations.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov: number NCT04642560. The date of first trial registration was 24/11/2020.

Appendicitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions a person can develop. Throughout the years of assessing the different focuses of appendicitis, such as origin, symptoms, labs, diagnosis, treatment, and complications, there have been mere mentions of sex differences. One of the most known sex differences in appendicitis is the fact that males are significantly more likely to develop appendicitis compared to females. Another postulated difference is that males may be more likely to develop a perforated appendix. These differences significantly affect the various aspects of diagnosing and treating appendicitis and may even influence the outcome of appendicitis. Sex difference analysis of conditions has been widely researched over the last two decades, and sex can influence and impact conditions from initial presentation to the outcome of treatment. This paper evaluates the sex differences in appendicitis concerning incidence, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis technique, treatment, and outcomes across ages. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review reviewed PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases for articles pertaining to sex differences in appendicitis. The original article count was 21,121, which was narrowed down to 28 publications. It was found that, as previously described, males had a significantly higher rate of appendicitis, as well as were at significant risk of perforated appendicitis. No official risk factors were found to differ between the sexes, but males were more likely to complain of symptoms like right lower quadrant cramps/tenderness/pain and loss of appetite. Scores such as the pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and Ohmann have been used to diagnose appendicitis, but the PAS was significantly more accurate for females, and the Ohmann resulted in significantly fewer negative appendectomies in females as well. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are still the gold standards for diagnosis; however, while time to CT was significantly delayed in females, they were more likely to undergo extensive imaging, possibly to rule out other conditions. Males were more likely to undergo open appendectomies compared to females, who more frequently underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, yet females were more likely to experience complications. Further research should evaluate the influences that can predict postoperative outcomes following appendectomies between sexes and how to prevent/reduce their occurrence.

Bloodstream infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms such as Klebsiella pneumoniae are a significant challenge in managing hematological malignancies. This study aims to characterize the epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections specifically in patients with hematological malignancies, delineate the patterns of initial antibiotic therapy, assess the prevalence of resistant strains, identify risk factors for these resistant strains, and evaluate factors influencing patient outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted at a single center from January 2017 to December 2020, focusing on 182 patients with hematological malignancies who developed Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections. We compared the 30-day mortality rates between patients receiving appropriate and inappropriate antibiotic treatments, including the effectiveness of both single-drug and combination therapies. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate logistic and Cox regression were used to identify factors influencing mortality risk. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 30.2% for all patients. The 30-day all-cause mortality rates were 77.2% and 8.8% in patients who received inappropriate initial treatment and appropriate initial treatment (p < 0.001). Inappropriate initial treatment significantly influenced mortality and was a key predictor of 30-day mortality, along with septic shock and previous intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) bloodstream infections exhibited more severe clinical symptoms compared to the CSKP group. The study demonstrates a significant association between empirical carbapenem administration and the escalating prevalence of CRKP and multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae (MDR-KP) infections. Furthermore, the study identified inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy, septic shock, and ICU admission as independent risk factors for 30-day mortality.

Infected skin ulcers represent a frequent and intricate clinical challenge, necessitating prompt and comprehensive multidisciplinary interventions to avert complications. Anti-infective therapy constitutes a cornerstone in the therapeutic paradigm. This manuscript delineates our approach to anti-infective management of infected ulcers, encompassing insights into clinical classifications, diagnostic features, exampless of early clinical decision-making in anti-infective treatment, comprehensive evaluation of infectious diseases encompassing host clinical considerations and potential interventions, determination of antibiotic therapy duration, methodologies for assessing clinical response, identification of potential causes for lack of clinical response, as well as strategies for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy and a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory process that starts with soft tissue inflammation caused by the intervention of oral bacteria. By modulating local immunity, it is possible to supplement or replace current therapeutic methods. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an immunostimulatory treatment with the antibiotherapy usually applied to periodontitis patients. On a model of periodontitis induced in 30 rats (divided into three equal groups) with bacterial strains selected from the human oral microbiome (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus oralis), we administered antibiotics, bacterial lysates and saline for 10 days. Clinically, no significant lesions were observed between the groups, but hematologically, we detected a decrease in lymphocyte and neutrophil counts in both the antibiotic and lysate-treated groups. Immunologically, IL-6 remained elevated compared to the saline group, denoting the body\'s effort to compensate for bone loss due to bacterial action. Histopathologically, the results show more pronounced oral tissue regeneration in the antibiotic group and a reduced inflammatory reaction in the lysate group. We can conclude that the proposed bacterial lysate has similar effects to antibiotic therapy and can be considered an option in treating periodontitis, thus eliminating the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Sepsis poses a significant global health challenge due to immune system dysregulation. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between antibiotics and the immune system, aiming to clarify the involved mechanisms and their clinical impacts. From pre-clinical studies, antibiotics exhibit various immunomodulatory effects, including the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, interaction with Toll-Like Receptors, modulation of the P38/Pmk-1 Pathway, inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases, blockade of nitric oxide synthase, and regulation of caspase-induced apoptosis. Additionally, antibiotic-induced alterations to the microbiome are associated with changes in systemic immunity, affecting cellular and humoral responses. The adjunctive use of antibiotics in sepsis patients, particularly macrolides, has attracted attention due to their immune-regulatory effects. However, there are limited data comparing different types of macrolides. More robust evidence comes from studies on community-acquired pneumonia, especially in severe cases with a hyper-inflammatory response. While studies on septic shock have shown mixed results regarding mortality rates and immune response modulation, conflicting findings are also observed with macrolides in acute respiratory distress syndrome. In conclusion, there is a pressing need to tailor antibiotic therapy based on the patient\'s immune profile to optimize outcomes in sepsis management.