Update on treatment of COVID-19: ongoing studies between promising and disappointing results.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents the greatest global public health crisis since the pandemic influenza outbreak of 1918. We are facing a new virus, so several antiviral agents previously used to treat other coronavirus infections such as SARS and MERS are being considered as the first potential candidates to treat COVID-19. Thus, several agents have been used by the beginning of the current outbreak in China first and all over the word successively, as reported in several different guidelines and therapeutic recommendations.

New insights into classification, epidemiology and microbiology of SSTIs, including diabetic foot infections.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) involve a heterogeneous group of entities with different clinical presentations classified according to several specific criteria. Because of their great variability, their incidence and prevalence is difficult to accurately determine. Yet it is generally thought that the rate of SSTIs is globally increasing due to an aging population, strictly associated with the increase in the number of critical and immunocompromised patients.

Deep tissue biopsy vs. superficial swab culture, including microbial loading determination, in the microbiological assessment of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs).

Thirty-two patients affected by SSTIs including DFIs were enrolled between 2013 and 2014. Superficial swab was obtained before and after cleansing with sterile saline, and after ultrasonic debridement; deep tissue biopsy was obtained from ulcer base. Samples were diluted with 1 mL of saline, serial 10-fold dilutions to 10 were made and 50 μL of each dilution was plated onto appropriate media.

Changing modalities of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy use over time in Italy: a comparison of two time periods.

This study aimed to assess the extent and nature of recent changes in the management of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in Italy. We reviewed our previously reported data from 1999 to 2003 and compared them with data from patients who received OPAT from 2005 to 2010. Data for 1175 patients who received OPAT were analysed.

Epidemiology and microbiology of skin and soft tissue infections.

Purpose Of Review: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a broad spectrum of diseases, including uncomplicated and complicated infections. Herein, we review the current epidemiology and microbiology of SSTIs.

Recent Findings: In the last decades, a significant growing trend of SSTIs both in the community and healthcare settings with a dramatic increase of the economic burden for these diagnoses was observed.

Dalbavancin for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

Dalbavancin is a novel parenteral lipoglycopeptide antibiotic approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) in adults. Dalbavancin is highly active against common Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Dalbavancin has a prolonged half-life that allows for once weekly dosing.

Combination antibiotic therapy for the treatment of infective endocarditis due to enterococci.

Introduction: Enterococci are common causes of infective endocarditis (IE) in both health care and community-based setting. Enterococcal IE requires bactericidal therapy for an optimal outcome. For decades, cell-wall-active antimicrobial agents (penicillins or vancomycin) in combination with aminoglycosides were the cornerstone of the treatment; however, the emergence of antibiotic resistance has significantly reduced the efficacy of these regimens.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: role of daptomycin/β-lactams combination.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated infection has become a worrisome issue worldwide. Glycopeptides are the backbone antibiotics for the treatment of MRSA infections. However, several reports have highlighted the limitations of vancomycin.

Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance in the Surgery Wards of a Large Teaching Hospital in Southern Italy.

Objectives: Surgical infections represent an increasingly important problem for the National Health System. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the bacterial epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of the microorganisms concerned as well as the utilization of antibiotics in the General and Emergency Surgery wards of a large teaching hospital in southern Italy in the period 2011-2013.

Methods: Data concerning non-duplicate bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility were retrieved from the Vitek 2 database.

Diagnostic and therapeutic appropriateness in bone and joint infections: results of a national survey.

The impact of infectious diseases (ID) specialist consultation in the management of many types of bacterial infections has been fully demonstrated but not for bone and joint infections (BJIs). Nineteen ID Italian centres collected of data from June 2009 to May 2012. Italian guidelines (2009) were used to determine the appropriateness of the diagnostic and therapeutic process of BJIs before and after consulting an ID specialist.

Epidemiology and antibiotic resistance in a large Italian teaching hospital.

We focused our attention on susceptibility profile of Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Klebsiella spp.

[Management of diabetic foot infections].

All infected diabetic foot wounds require antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment is influenced by the patient's features as the vascular status, the leukocyte function and the kidney activity. The initial antibiotic regimen is usually chosen empirically and it can be modified on the basis of the microbiological information obtained subsequently.

[Diabetic foot infections: microbiological aspects].

The diagnosis of wound infection is based on clinical signs and local and/or systemic inflammation. Therefore, the examination has a major role in the diagnosis of infected lesions of the foot. Once the clinical diagnosis of infection is made, the next step is to determine the etiology with the aim to undertake a rational and appropriate treatment.

[Update on diabetic foot infections].

Diabetes is one of the most common non-transmitted disease and currently 346 million people are affected in the world. According to the World Health Organization about 15% of diabetic patients develop a foot ulcer in need of medical care. Infection is a serious complication and in the western world it is the major responsible cause of lower limb amputation.

[Analysis of current guidelines for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections].

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a set of commonly observed pathologies which can present different features in terms of site and localization, clinical features, and the aetiological agent; their severity is related to the depth of the affected sites. The aim of this review is to summarize the recommendations of current guidelines concerning the management of SSTIs.

[Skin and soft tissue infections: classification and epidemiology].

In the present review, authors take into consideration the classification and the epidemiology of the skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), a set of commonly observed pathologies, which can present different features, relatively to site and localization, clinical characteristics, and aetiological agent, their severity being related to the depth of the interested sites. Given the variable presentation of SSTIs, an assessment of their incidence and prevalence is difficult. In general, the incidence of SSTIs has increased due to the ageing of the general population, the increased number of critically ill patients, the increased number of immunocompromised patients (HIV, cancer and organ transplant patients) and the recent emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Treatment options for skin and soft tissue infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus:oralvs.parenteral; home vs. hospital.

Although meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as a significant cause of nosocomial infections, it is also becoming an increasingly common cause of infections in the community. Overall, the most common infections caused by MRSA are those involving the skin and skin structures. These infections are difficult to treat and are associated with high morbidity and substantial cost.

[Skin and soft tissue infections: current therapeutic options].

In the present review, the authors focus on skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), a set of commonly observed pathologies which can present different features in terms of site and localization, clinical characteristics, and the aetiological agent responsible; their severity is related to the depth of the affected sites. After a brief introduction to the diverse classification criteria which are currently adopted by various authors, the aetiology and role of the most frequently occurring pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, often methicillin-resistant is discussed, as well as the possible therapeutic options. We first present the internationally recommended guidelines, and stress that SSTI management has to conform to different criteria, in accordance with the different clinical settings: mild infections require simple and cost-saving treatments while severe infections make timely and aggressive treatments mandatory.

Antibiotic resistance in long-term care facilities.

Long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) comprise a heterogeneous group of institutions that provide a wide variety of services to diverse groups of patients, most of whom are elderly. Infections are common in LTCFs and these are complicated by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The residents in LTCFs have a high frequency of colonization with antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, penicillin-resistant pneumococci, extended spectrum P-lactamase-producing gram-negative organisms, and fluoroquinolone-resistant gram-negative organisms.

Ceftriaxone versus Other Antibiotics for Surgical Prophylaxis : A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To investigate possible differences in prophylaxis with ceftriaxone compared with other antimicrobial agents for surgical-site infections and remote infections such as respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Methods: The efficacy of ceftriaxone was compared with that of other antibiotics in the perioperative prophylaxis of local (surgical wound) and remote (RTIs and UTIs) infections in a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials published between 1984 and 2003. The analysis was based on a 2 x 2 contingency table with classification by treatment and number of infections obtained from individual studies.

[Treatment of acute otitis media in paediatrics: a meta-analysis].

Otitis represents the second most common infection of the upper respiratory tract, its treatment being the most common cause for prescribing antibiotics in the United States. A large number of antimicrobials, especially beta-lactams and macrolides, are generally used for treating acute otitis media (AOM) in paediatric patients, owing to their antibacterial spectrum including the main aetiological pathogens. Efficacy, safety and compliance of Cefaclor were compared with those of other antibiotics in the treatment of paediatric AOM in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published between 1981 and 2004.

[In vitro activity of prulifloxacin, levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against urinary pathogens].

The present investigation aimed to compare the in vitro antimicrobial activity of prulifloxacin to that of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against recently urinary pathogens. From our large bacterial collection, 978 non-duplicated clinical isolates, derived from patients urinary infections, maintained with minimal sub-culture deep frozen at -70 degrees C in a matrix of Brain Heart Infusion broth +20 % glycerol were tested to determine MICs of prulifloxacin, levolfoxacin and ciprofloxacin by means of broth microdilution technique. For Gram negartive bacteria, no significant diffrences was observed between all three antibiotics.

[Changes in intestinal microflora following levofloxacin administration in laboratory animals].

Administration of antimicrobial agent is the most frequent and significant cause of modifications to gastrointestinal bacterial microflora. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact on Gram-negative aerobic bacterial intestinal flora, the possible colonization of Candida spp. and the possible emergence of resistant bacterial strains in a ten rats group receiving levofloxacin at the dosage of 10mg/kg one a day for 5 consecutive days.

Concentration of moxifloxacin in plasma and tonsillar tissue after multiple administration in adult patients.

Objectives: The antibacterial spectrum of moxifloxacin includes all the major respiratory pathogens, and its pharmacokinetics demonstrate high peak concentrations in plasma as well as at respiratory sites. Nevertheless, tonsillar tissue concentrations have never been investigated. In this study we determined the moxifloxacin concentrations in plasma and tonsillar tissue after the administration of three doses of moxifloxacin 400 mg to adult patients with chronic or recurrent tonsillitis undergoing tonsillectomy.