First Documented Case of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube-Associated Bacterial Peritonitis due to Achromobacter Species with Literature Review

MAPLE Processed Nanostructures for Antimicrobial Coatings

Despite their great benefits for debilitated patients, indwelling devices are prone to become easily colonized by resident and opportunistic microorganisms, which have the ability to attach to their surfaces and form highly specialized communities called biofilms. These are extremely resistant to host defense mechanisms and antibiotics, leading to treatment failure and device replacement, but also to life-threatening complications. In this study, we aimed to optimize a silica (SiO₂)-coated magnetite (Fe₃O₄)-based nanosystem containing the natural antimicrobial agent, eugenol (E), suitable for MAPLE (matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation) deposition as a bioactive coating for biomedical applications. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy investigations were employed to characterize the obtained nanosystems. The in vitro tests evidenced the superior biocompatibility of such nanostructured coatings, as revealed by their non-cytotoxic activity and ability to promote cellular proliferation and sustain normal cellular development of dermal fibroblasts. Moreover, the obtained nanocoatings did not induce proinflammatory events in human blood samples. Our studies demonstrated that Fe₃O₄ NPs can improve the antimicrobial activity of E, while the use of a SiO₂ matrix may increase its efficiency over prolonged periods of time. The Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ nanosystems showed excellent biocompatibility, sustaining human dermal fibroblasts' viability, proliferation, and typical architecture. More, the novel coatings lack proinflammatory potential as revealed by the absence of proinflammatory cytokine expression in response to human blood sample interactions.

Achromobacter spp. Surgical Site Infections: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series

Achromobacter species are isolated from rare but severe healthcare-associated infections, including surgical site infections. They are considered to preferentially infect immunocompromised patients but so far with limited evidence. We conducted a systematic review on Achromobacter spp. surgical site infections (SSIs) to determine if such infections were indeed more commonly associated with immunocompromised patients. The secondary objective was to describe the characteristics of infected patients. Eligible articles had to be published before 30 September 2020 and to report Achromobacter spp. SSIs across all surgical specialties excluding ophthalmology. Analyses were performed on individual data without meta-analysis. Cases were divided into 2 subgroups: one group which had either prosthesis or implant and the other group which did not. A first selection led to a review of 94 articles, of which 37 were analyzed. All were case reports or case series and corresponded to 49 infected patients. Most of the patients were under 65 years of age and had undergone a heart or digestive surgery followed by deep infection with no co-infecting pathogens. Nine out of the 49 cases were immunocompromised, with similar distribution between the two subgroups (16.6% and 20%, respectively). This review suggests that Achromobacter spp. SSIs do not preferentially target immunocompromised patients.