BACKGROUND: Microbiological data of secondary wound infections following snakebites is rarely reported in Taiwan. The objective of this study was to assess the secondary wound infection after venomous snakebites. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year retrospective survey on patients admitted for venomous snakebites and microbiological data of wound cultures at a medical center in northern Taiwan. RESULTS: Between April 2001 and April 2010, 231 patients who experienced snakebites were included. Male predominated, accounting for 62.3% (144). The age range of patients was 4-95 years. Ninety-five (41.1%) people were bitten by Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus, followed by Tstejnegeri, and cobra. A total of 61 pathogens were obtained from 21 patients. Thirty-nine (63.9%) isolates were gram-negative bacteria, 14 (23%) gram-positive pathogens, and 8 (13.1%) anaerobic pathogens. There were 17 patients bitten by cobra in these 21 patients. Morganella morganii and Enterococcus species were the most common pathogens identified in the wound cultures. CONCLUSION: Cobra bite causes more severe bacterial infection than other kinds of snakebites. Oral amoxicillin/clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin or parenteral piperacillin/tazobactam alone can be the choices for empirical or definitive treatment, and surgical intervention should be considered for established invasive soft tissue infections.
BACKGROUND: Microbiological data of secondary wound infections following snakebites is rarely reported in Taiwan. The objective of this study was to assess the secondary wound infection after venomous snakebites. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year retrospective survey on patients admitted for venomous snakebites and microbiological data of wound cultures at a medical center in northern Taiwan. RESULTS: Between April 2001 and April 2010, 231 patients who experienced snakebites were included. Male predominated, accounting for 62.3% (144). The age range of patients was 4-95 years. Ninety-five (41.1%) people were bitten by Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus, followed by Tstejnegeri, and cobra. A total of 61 pathogens were obtained from 21 patients. Thirty-nine (63.9%) isolates were gram-negative bacteria, 14 (23%) gram-positive pathogens, and 8 (13.1%) anaerobic pathogens. There were 17 patients bitten by cobra in these 21 patients. Morganella morganii and Enterococcus species were the most common pathogens identified in the wound cultures. CONCLUSION: Cobra bite causes more severe bacterial infection than other kinds of snakebites. Oral amoxicillin/clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin or parenteral piperacillin/tazobactam alone can be the choices for empirical or definitive treatment, and surgical intervention should be considered for established invasive soft tissue infections.
Authors: Chanaveerappa Bammigatti; Preetham A Reddy; Nandeesha Hanumanthappa; K T Harichandrakumar; Rathinam Palamalai Swaminathan Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Francesco Di Ianni; Pier Luigi Dodi; Clotilde Silvia Cabassi; Igor Pelizzone; Andrea Sala; Sandro Cavirani; Enrico Parmigiani; Fausto Quintavalla; Simone Taddei Journal: BMC Vet Res Date: 2015-04-10 Impact factor: 2.741
Authors: Jacqueline A G Sachett; Iran Mendonça da Silva; Eliane Campos Alves; Sâmella S Oliveira; Vanderson S Sampaio; Fábio Francesconi do Vale; Gustavo Adolfo Sierra Romero; Marcelo Cordeiro Dos Santos; Hedylamar Oliveira Marques; Mônica Colombini; Ana Maria Moura da Silva; Fan Hui Wen; Marcus V G Lacerda; Wuelton M Monteiro; Luiz C L Ferreira Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-07-10