Le infezioni in medicina : rivista periodica di eziologia, epidemiologia, diagnostica, clinica e terapia delle patologie infettive
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A prospective study was designed in order to determine to what extent antibiotics are used in treating community-acquired infections and their costs. Between February and July 2001 a total of 43,011 prescriptions from a representative sample of pharmacies in the city of Denizli (Turkey) were evaluated during the study period. ⋯ The economic burden of antibiotic usage in the community is found higher than in developed countries. In order to reduce this cost the proper use of antibiotics is a matter of urgency
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Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a notable cause of hospital morbidity and mortality. Antibiotic prophylaxis has demonstrated a significant reduction in infection rate in clean-contaminated surgery and in clean surgery to a limited extent. To make antibiotic prophylaxis effective it is necessary to choose the right antibiotic, to administer it preoperatively and maintain sufficient serum and tissue levels through the operation. Open issues remain: antibiotic prophylaxis duration in prosthetic surgery, its use in hernia repair, breast surgery and mini-invasive surgery.
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Acute mediastinitis is an uncommon and potentially devastating infection. Generally, mediastinitis occurs as a postoperative infection following median sternotomy. We describe a case of acute mediastinitis in a patient with ischaemic heart disease, secondary to the spread of cutaneous infection of the chest wall in the application site of transdermal nitroglycerine patches.