Significantly reduced duration of antibiotic prescription for erysipelas subsequent to the 2019 French guidelines on skin and soft tissue infection: A before-after study

BACKGROUND

New skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) guidelines were published in 2019 in France, changing the recommended duration for antibiotic treatment. The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of the publication of the 2019 French guidelines on SSTIs on the duration of antibiotic prescription for erysipelas.

METHODS

In a before-after study (a year before and a year after April 1st, 2019), we included all adult patients diagnosed with erysipelas in Reims University Hospital medical wards and the emergency department. We retrospectively retrieved antibiotic prescription duration in the patients' medical files.

RESULTS

Among 50 patients in the "before" and 39 in the "after" group, the mean duration of antibiotic prescription was significantly shorter in the "after" group (9.4 ± 2.8 vs. 12.4 ± 3.8 days, p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

A 25% decrease in the duration of antibiotic prescription for erysipelas was observed following the implementation of these guidelines, providing useful information for an antibiotic stewardship policy.

Serum S100B Level in the Management of Pediatric Minor Head Trauma: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Minor head trauma (HT) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in children. A diagnostic test could prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and cranial computed tomographic (CCT) scans.

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of serum S100B values in reducing exposure to CCT scans and in-hospital observation in children with minor HT.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multicenter, unblinded, prospective, interventional randomized clinical trial used a stepped-wedge cluster design to compare S100B biomonitoring and control groups at 11 centers in France. Participants included children and adolescents 16 years or younger (hereinafter referred to as children) admitted to the emergency department with minor HT. The enrollment period was November 1, 2016, to October 31, 2021, with a follow-up period of 1 month for each patient. Data were analyzed from March 7 to May 29, 2023, based on the modified intention-to-treat and per protocol populations.

Interventions

Children in the control group had CCT scans or were hospitalized according to current recommendations. In the S100B biomonitoring group, blood sampling took place within 3 hours after minor HT, and management depended on serum S100B protein levels. If the S100B level was within the reference range according to age, the children were discharged from the emergency department. Otherwise, children were treated as in the control group.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Proportion of CCT scans performed (absence or presence of CCT scan for each patient) in the 48 hours following minor HT.

Results

A total of 2078 children were included: 926 in the control group and 1152 in the S100B biomonitoring group (1235 [59.4%] boys; median age, 3.2 [IQR, 1.0-8.5] years). Cranial CT scans were performed in 299 children (32.3%) in the control group and 112 (9.7%) in the S100B biomonitoring group. This difference of 23% (95% CI, 19%-26%) was not statistically significant (P = .44) due to an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.32. A statistically significant 50% reduction in hospitalizations (95% CI, 47%-53%) was observed in the S100B biomonitoring group (479 [41.6%] vs 849 [91.7%]; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial of effectiveness of the serum S100B level in the management of pediatric minor HT, S100B biomonitoring yielded a reduction in the number of CCT scans and in-hospital observation when measured in accordance with the conditions defined by a clinical decision algorithm.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02819778.

[Surgical management of animal bites in children]

Children represent a population at risk, because of their short size, their naivety and their attraction to animals. The face and hands are the most specific locations in young children. Wounds are often multiple. In more than half the cases, the child knows the animal, which are dogs and cats by frequency argument. The bite episode occurs mostly when the child is alone with the pet without direct supervision, while playing or stroking the animal. As in all bites, pediatric lesions are infectious, functional and aesthetic emergencies, but the goal of this work was primarily to make a point on principles of surgical management of animal bites in children, highlighting pediatric specificities. Animal bites require psychological, anesthetic and surgical treatment, adapted to the child, in a specialized structure. Hospitalization and general anesthesia are more frequent in children. Any suspicion of mistreatment (and/or abuse) should lead to the child's hospitalization, even if wounds do not justify monitoring in a surgical environment. Emergency surgery is essential to limit functional and aesthetic consequences. The healing capacities of the child and the frequent lack of co-morbidity allow a conservative surgical treatment with suture, repositioning skin flaps and controlled healing in the first place. Immobilization, drainage, and antibiotics will complete the surgery. The healing process, however, leads to a specific management during scar remodeling phase and growth. Psychological care of the child and parents should not be forgotten, and has to start at the same time as surgical treatment at in acute phase.