Surgical infections
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Surgical infections · Jan 2002
Endothelium down-regulates Fas, TNF, and TRAIL-induced neutrophil apoptosis.
Neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis regulates PMN functional longevity and is integral to the resolution of inflammation. We have recently shown that PMN contact with an endothelial monolayer down-regulates spontaneous PMN apoptosis. We sought to explore endothelial-mediated down-regulation of PMN apoptosis following mediator-induced apoptosis. We tested the three known membrane-initiated, receptor-ligand apoptotic pathways: Fas, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). ⋯ Endothelial-mediated down-regulation of PMN apoptosis is conferred after 4 h of co-culture. In addition to spontaneous apoptosis, endothelial contact down-regulated the three known membrane-initiated PMN apoptotic pathways: Fas, TNF, and TRAIL. These data imply that endothelial-mediated down-regulation of PMN apoptosis may involve defects in each apoptotic pathway or a single defect in a distal transduction or effector event common to all three pathways. Alterations in the activity of caspase 3 did not appear to serve as a mechanism for endothelial-mediated down-regulation of PMN apoptosis.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2002
Case ReportsSystemic Apophysomyces elegans after trauma: case report and literature review.
We present a case of systemic fungal infection caused by Apophysomyces elegans in a 50-year-old patient who developed a progressive skin lesion after a motor vehicle crash. Histopathological and mycological examination of the surgical sample showed non-septated hyphae characteristic of mucoraceous fungi. ⋯ Autopsy findings suggested systemic involvement. The fungi recovered from culture had non-apophyseal and globose sporangi, and branched sporaniophores and was identified as Apophysomyces elegans.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2002
Systemic Candida infection in burn patients: a case-control study of management patterns and outcomes.
Burn patients are ideal hosts for opportunistic infections. Candida infection in burn patients has a reported mortality ranging from 14% to 90%. This retrospective case-control study compares management patterns and outcomes of burn patients who develop systemic Candida with those who do not. ⋯ Early wound coverage with autograft clearly decreases the likelihood of systemic Candida infection in burn patients. Patients who received artificial dermis as a component of their wound management strategy more often developed systemic Candida infection in this series. Burn patients who require prolonged courses of antibiotics or treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics should be carefully monitored for the development of Candida. Survival of burn patients who develop systemic Candida infection is no different from survival in comparable burn patients who do not acquire Candida. Future research should address optimal management of Candida infection in burn patients.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2002
A 28-day study of the effect of Coated VICRYL* Plus Antibacterial Suture (coated polyglactin 910 suture with triclosan) on wound healing in guinea pig linear incisional skin wounds.
This study evaluated the effect of coated polyglactin 910 suture with triclosan on tissue response and wound healing over a 28-day period on full-thickness linear wounds in the hairless guinea pig model. ⋯ Based on the in vivo biomechanical testing and histological results, no evidence of impedance to wound healing was detected.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2002
Comparative StudyPhysical and functional comparison of Coated VICRYL* Plus Antibacterial Suture (coated polyglactin 910 suture with triclosan) with Coated VICRYL* Suture (coated polyglactin 910 suture).
The goal of this study was to compare the physical and functional properties of coated polyglactin 910 suture with and without triclosan by human assessment and instrument-based measurements. ⋯ The addition of triclosan to coated polyglactin 910 sutures did not affect physical handling properties or performance characteristics based on the testing and evaluations performed.