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The COVID-19 pandemic represents the greatest global public health crisis since the pandemic influenza outbreak of 1918. We are facing a new virus, so several antiviral agents previously used to treat other coronavirus infections such as SARS and MERS are being considered as the first potential candidates to treat COVID-19. Thus, several agents have been used by the beginning of the current outbreak in China first and all over the word successively, as reported in several different guidelines and therapeutic recommendations. At the same time, a great number of clinical trials have been launched to investigate the potential efficacy therapies for COVID-19 highlighting the urgent need to get as quickly as possible high-quality evidence. Through PubMed, we explored the relevant articles published on treatment of COVID-19 and on trials ongoing up to April 15, 2020.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) involve a heterogeneous group of entities with different clinical presentations classified according to several specific criteria. Because of their great variability, their incidence and prevalence is difficult to accurately determine. Yet it is generally thought that the rate of SSTIs is globally increasing due to an aging population, strictly associated with the increase in the number of critical and immunocompromised patients. The aetiology of SSTIs is also extremely variable, reflecting the noteworthy heterogeneity of their clinical presentations and their epidemiology. Gram-positive are far more prevalently than Gram-negative cocci responsible for STTIs globally considered including both aerobe and anaerobe microorganisms. The emergence of multidrug-resistance bacteria represents a serious public health threat which is making antimicrobial therapy less efficacious and more challenging by the day.

This study aimed to assess the extent and nature of recent changes in the management of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in Italy. We reviewed our previously reported data from 1999 to 2003 and compared them with data from patients who received OPAT from 2005 to 2010. Data for 1175 patients who received OPAT were analysed. Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) were the most common infection treated with OPAT in both time periods, but an increase in patients with SSTIs receiving OPAT was observed. By contrast, a decline over time of OPAT use was found for patients affected by pneumonia. Furthermore, ceftriaxone use declined, whereas teicoplanin increased over time. In conclusion, OPAT use has significantly changed over time in Italy.

Dalbavancin is a novel parenteral lipoglycopeptide antibiotic approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) in adults. Dalbavancin is highly active against common Gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Dalbavancin has a prolonged half-life that allows for once weekly dosing. Phase III trials have demonstrated non-inferiority compared with vancomycin/linezolid in the treatment of ABSSSIs, including those sustained by MRSA.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated infection has become a worrisome issue worldwide. Glycopeptides are the backbone antibiotics for the treatment of MRSA infections. However, several reports have highlighted the limitations of vancomycin. Daptomycin is successfully used for the treatment of serious MRSA infections, however selection of resistant strains has been reported during daptomycin-monotherapy. This review will briefly discuss the available data on daptomycin/beta-lactam combination therapies for the treatment of MRSA infections.

Diabetes is one of the most common non-transmitted disease and currently 346 million people are affected in the world. According to the World Health Organization about 15% of diabetic patients develop a foot ulcer in need of medical care. Infection is a serious complication and in the western world it is the major responsible cause of lower limb amputation. In the 84% of cases amputation is the final step in the treatment of a non-healing foot ulcer. So, it's clear that, in order to reduce amputation rate, it's important to prevent foot ulcer formation and improve the treatment of lesion. In this review we report the most recent international literature as regards epidemiology, etiology, classification, diagnosis, microbiology and treatment of infected diabetic foot ulcers. The purpose of our work is to remark the multifactorial features of this pathology and the role of infectious disease specialist in a multidisciplinary team for the treatment of infected diabetic foot ulcers. The knowledge of microbiology on one hand, and the need of a complex and long term antibiotic therapy on the other, point out the importance of infectious disease specialist to facilitate, if possible, the healing of a infected diabetic foot ulcers.

All infected diabetic foot wounds require antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment is influenced by the patient's features as the vascular status, the leukocyte function and the kidney activity. The initial antibiotic regimen is usually chosen empirically and it can be modified on the basis of the microbiological information obtained subsequently. The initial empiric therapy should be based, on one hand, on the grade of infected lesion and, secondly, on the epidemiological data. Almost all of the mild/moderate infected wounds can be treated with antibiotics with a spectrum of activity limited to Gram-positive cocci. Treatment with oral antibiotics is sufficient in most cases in patients with mild/moderate infections. With severe infections is more appropriate to use a broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Furthermore it is safer to start a parenteral therapy, possibly modifying it into an oral administration if the patient has stabilized. The most frequently pathogen observed in diabetic foot infections is Staphylococcus aureus. It is important to understand whether there are elements that may lead to the suspicion of MRSA infection in order to establish an appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

The diagnosis of wound infection is based on clinical signs and local and/or systemic inflammation. Therefore, the examination has a major role in the diagnosis of infected lesions of the foot. Once the clinical diagnosis of infection is made, the next step is to determine the etiology with the aim to undertake a rational and appropriate treatment. The most reliable method for assessing microbiological etiology is the specimen of material from infected lesion to perform a bacterioscopic examination and culture. The microorganisms involved in the etiology of diabetic foot depends on the type of injury and on specific patient features (antibiotic therapy, previous hospitalization). The most frequently detected pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. Mild infections are mostly caused by Gram positive cocci, with a prevalence of S. aureus. Moderate infections are mostly supported by pyogenic Gram positive cocci, but also Gram-negative bacteria can be involved. In severe infections the etiology is polymicrobial. As regards the involvement of fungi in diabetic foot infections data are few and mostly conflicting.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a set of commonly observed pathologies which can present different features in terms of site and localization, clinical features, and the aetiological agent; their severity is related to the depth of the affected sites. The aim of this review is to summarize the recommendations of current guidelines concerning the management of SSTIs.

In the present review, authors take into consideration the classification and the epidemiology of the skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), a set of commonly observed pathologies, which can present different features, relatively to site and localization, clinical characteristics, and aetiological agent, their severity being related to the depth of the interested sites. Given the variable presentation of SSTIs, an assessment of their incidence and prevalence is difficult. In general, the incidence of SSTIs has increased due to the ageing of the general population, the increased number of critically ill patients, the increased number of immunocompromised patients (HIV, cancer and organ transplant patients) and the recent emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent the second most often observed infectious diseases in community, following the respiratory tract infections. In the United States, these infections account for up to 7 million/year of visits, with a mean yearly expense for the related antibiotic treatment that has been estimated in more than one billion dollars. In nosocomial setting, UTIs represent the most frequent diseases, whose incidence equates 40% of nosocomial infections overall considered; about 80% of UTIs is related to urinary catheterization. In the present review, the authors, after a brief introduction about epidemiology, pathogenesis and aetiology of urinary tract infections, consider two particular settings: long term care facilities, where UTIs represent the most often diagnosed and treated infections, and the Intensive Care Units where occurrence of urinary tract infections represents an especially frequent event as well. Patients referred to both these settings are particular, as they undergo, in most cases, to urinary catheterization. After describing the pathogenesis of UTIs related to catheterization, either short- or long term, the authors consider the different currently available catheters, focusing on silver-coated and silver alloy coated (silver, gold, and platinum). With regard to this latter issue, results presented by a number of papers in the literature are reported, where clinical experiences following the use of these urinary catheters are described. In their conclusion, authors suggest the opportunity to increase any prevention strategy able to reduce the incidence of infections related to urinary catheterization and its consequences, as a more rational length and modality of catheterization, in addition to the use of innovative catheters.

In the present review, the authors focus on skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), a set of commonly observed pathologies which can present different features in terms of site and localization, clinical characteristics, and the aetiological agent responsible; their severity is related to the depth of the affected sites. After a brief introduction to the diverse classification criteria which are currently adopted by various authors, the aetiology and role of the most frequently occurring pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, often methicillin-resistant is discussed, as well as the possible therapeutic options. We first present the internationally recommended guidelines, and stress that SSTI management has to conform to different criteria, in accordance with the different clinical settings: mild infections require simple and cost-saving treatments while severe infections make timely and aggressive treatments mandatory. The review then reports the recent data concerning the efficacy of new antimicrobials for treating SSTIs. In particular, results observed with linezolid, tigecycline, and daptomycin are discussed.

Long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) comprise a heterogeneous group of institutions that provide a wide variety of services to diverse groups of patients, most of whom are elderly. Infections are common in LTCFs and these are complicated by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The residents in LTCFs have a high frequency of colonization with antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, penicillin-resistant pneumococci, extended spectrum P-lactamase-producing gram-negative organisms, and fluoroquinolone-resistant gram-negative organisms. Although several control programs have been published, up to now there still is a long way to go in this area of health care. This review will briefly touch upon the clinical relevance of antimicrobial resistance in LTCFs.

The present investigation aimed to compare the in vitro antimicrobial activity of prulifloxacin to that of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin against recently urinary pathogens. From our large bacterial collection, 978 non-duplicated clinical isolates, derived from patients urinary infections, maintained with minimal sub-culture deep frozen at -70 degrees C in a matrix of Brain Heart Infusion broth +20 % glycerol were tested to determine MICs of prulifloxacin, levolfoxacin and ciprofloxacin by means of broth microdilution technique. For Gram negartive bacteria, no significant diffrences was observed between all three antibiotics. Enterobacteria showed a resistance rate ranging between 6% (Enterobacter spp) and approximately 20% (Escherichia coli). Antibiotic resistance of Pseudomas spp was higher (30.3%). For Gram positive, all methicillin-susceptible Stalphylococcus aureus strains were sensitive whereas 30% of methicillin-resistant and enterococci were resistant to all three antibiotics. Purification exerts its antibacterial activity at lower concentrations than ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The in vitro activity of prulifloxacin against urinary pathogens and its high and prolonged urinary concentration following a single oral dose, suggest that for treatment of urinary prulifloxacin is an alternative to other flouroquinolones for treatment of urinary tract infections.

Pharyngo-tonsillitis represents the most common infection of the upper respiratory tract, its treatment being the most common cause for prescribing antibiotics. Efficacy, safety and compliance of cefaclor were compared with those of other antibiotics in the treatment of paediatric acute bacterial tonsillo-pharyngitis in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published between 1979 and 2003. Overall, evaluations were performed on 16 studies (Medline/PubMed, keywords "Cefaclor and tonsillo-pharyngitis) which proved eligible (Jadad score > or = 1); twelve out of 16 studies were multicentre ones, only one was a double-blind study. Mostly, the comparator agent was a beta-lactam, in four cases it was a macrolide. Efficacy and safety were end-points of all studies whereas only 13 and 4 studies evaluated adverse events and compliance, respectively. The analysis was based on a 2 x 2 contingency table with classification by treatment and number of improvements/cures, side-effects, and compliance of the individual studies. The global estimate of the effective treatment was obtained with the weighted mean of the log OR (Odds Ratio) according to Mantel-Haenszel and associated confidence intervals (CI) at 95%. Chi-square test was performed. All the calculations were performed using SAS v.8. Clinical efficacy evaluation, number of improvements/cures, did not evidence a statistically significant difference among cefaclor and comparators (93.8% vs 92.3%; Odds Ratio 1.21, IC 0.95/1.48). In the cefaclor-treated patients, adverse events were observed in a statistically significant lower percentage compared to other antibiotics: 8.5% vs 15.5% (Odds Ratio 0.49, IC 0.22/0.76; P < 0.0001). Compliance was observed in a similar proportion in both the two groups, cefaclor and comparators (Cefaclor, mean 100%; comparators, mean 98.3%). The present meta-analysis proves that in the treatment of paediatric acute bacterial tonsillo-pharyngitis cefaclor exhibits a clinical efficacy equal to other antibiotics usually employed in this setting, similar compliance but superior safety.

Administration of antimicrobial agent is the most frequent and significant cause of modifications to gastrointestinal bacterial microflora. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact on Gram-negative aerobic bacterial intestinal flora, the possible colonization of Candida spp. and the possible emergence of resistant bacterial strains in a ten rats group receiving levofloxacin at the dosage of 10mg/kg one a day for 5 consecutive days. Our result are in agreement with those of other studies and the reveal that Gram-negative aerobic bacteria are strongly suppressed during levofloxacin treatment. Neither colonization by Candida spp. nor emergence of resistant micro-organism to levofloxacin were observed. After 7 days from completing treatment, bacterial intestinal flora was restored in 8 out of 9 rats. Levofloxacin does not significantly affect intestinal microflora. Therefore, it may be suitable for selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract in immunocompromised patients, for prophylaxis of urinary tract infections and for treatment of intestinal bacterial infections.

Otitis represents the second most common infection of the upper respiratory tract, its treatment being the most common cause for prescribing antibiotics in the United States. A large number of antimicrobials, especially beta-lactams and macrolides, are generally used for treating acute otitis media (AOM) in paediatric patients, owing to their antibacterial spectrum including the main aetiological pathogens. Efficacy, safety and compliance of Cefaclor were compared with those of other antibiotics in the treatment of paediatric AOM in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published between 1981 and 2004. Overall, evaluations were performed on 24 studies (Medline/PubMed, keywords "Cefaclor and otitis") which proved eligible (jadad score > or = 1); sixteen out of the 24 studies were multicentre, seven were double-blind. Mostly, the comparator agent was a beta-lactam, in four and three cases it was a macrolide or the association trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. Efficacy and safety were end-points of all studies whereas only 9 studies evaluated compliance. For the majority of studies (16/24) Cefaclor was administered for 10-day course. The analysis was based on a 2 x 2 contingency table with classification by treatment and number of improvements/cures, side-effects, and compliance of individual studies. The global estimate of the effective treatments was obtained with the weighted mean of the log OR (Odd Ratio) according to Mantel-Haenszel and associated confidence intervals (CI) at 95%. All the calculations were performed using SAS v.8. Chi-square test was performed. Clinical efficacy evaluation, number of improvements/cures, did not evidence a statistically significant difference among Cefaclor and comparators (86.8% vs 88.7%; Odds Ratio 0.77, IC 0.61/0.94). In the Cefaclor-treated patients, adverse events were observed in a statistically significant lower percentage compared to other antibiotics: 13.3% vs 19.4% (P < 0.0001), diarrhoea and gastro-intestinal disturbances being the most frequently observed. Compliance was observed in a similar proportion in the two patient groups, Cefaclor and comparators (Cefaclor 88.1; comparators 91.1%) and the slight difference was not statistically significant (Odds Ratio 0.77, IC 0.39-1.15). The present meta-analysis proves that in the treatment of paediatric AOM Cefaclor exhibits a clinical efficacy equal to other antibiotics usually employed in this setting, similar compliance but superior safety.

Ascertainment of SBIs plays a central role in their management, which can affect the prognosis, hopefully avoiding an inappropriate antibacterial therapy concerning choice, dosing, timing, duration and route of administration of antibiotics. Different aspects of SBI management were evaluated by interviewing doctors practising in ICU, Surgery and Haematology wards. In the period 16 June - 7 July 2003, 150 doctors, equally distributed by specialty and geographical location, experienced in the management of antibiotic therapy, were interviewed in order to acquire the following information: criteria adopted to define SBIs, presumed incidence, most frequent diagnosis, initial approach to antibiotic therapy (empirical or not, route of administration, mono- or combination therapy), ID consultation request. In most cases generic and empirical criteria are used to define SBI, generally associated to the presence of co-morbidities, the highest rates being reported in ICUs (35.1%) and Haematology (34.7%) wards. Pneumonia is the top reported SBI in all the wards, followed by sepsis in ICUs and Haematology, and by intrabdominal infections in Surgery. Antibiotic therapy is often empirical (~90%), often performed i.v. with antibiotics given in combination. Following treatment failure, which occurs on average in 35.5% of cases, ID consultation and microbiological investigation are required. ID consultation is required in 20.2%, 26.1% and 28.1% of cases by haematologists, surgeons and ICU specialists, respectively. SBIs frequently occur in all the wards where the interviews were conducted. Their management is generally empirical and either ID consultation or microbiological investigation is infrequently required especially as an initial approach. The use of appropriate guidelines and ID consultation, as proven in many controlled studies, could be efficacious in reducing the incidence of inappropriate therapies and increasing favourable outcome rates.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of post-surgical infections and to assess the way of managing antibiotic surgical prophylaxis. The survey was carried out by means of a questionnaire in order to obtain diverse information such as demographics, length of pre- and post-operative hospitalization, type of surgery, intervention duration, possible antibiotic prophylaxis and onset of post-surgical infections also monitored by post-discharge ambulatory controls. Four General Surgery and five Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments in Campania (southern Italy) participated in the study, which was carried out in the period December 2001-January 2002. Overall, 410 questionnaires were collected referring to as many patients; antibiotic prophylaxis was performed in 385 (93.9%) patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis was generally managed not according to the general principles suggested by the international guidelines either for timing or for its duration or for the route of administration. Substantial differences were also noted in patient selection and antibiotic choice. Surgical site infections were recorded in 0.6% of patients undergoing clean surgery, in 5.3% of patients undergoing clean-contaminated surgery and in 3.2% of those undergoing contaminated surgery. Distant infections occurred in 1.8% and 6.5% in clean-contaminated and contaminated surgery, respectively. The results of the present study suggest the need of a continuous and accurate monitoring of post-surgical infections and the need to adopt appropriate guidelines to improve the management of surgical prophylaxis.

Treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFIs) represents an important challenge for surgeons, especially in light of the poor results achieved by traditional therapeutic approaches. In this study, the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of TZP for treatment of DFIs in 38 outpatients was evaluated. All patients (median age 63 yrs) were affected by DFIs to different degrees of severity according to Wagner's classification: degree 0, 7 pts; degree 1, 17 pts; degree 2, 10 pts; degree 3, 4 pts. Degree 0-1 infections underwent a 10-18 day course with TZP given i.m. (2.25 g bid); degree 2-3 infections were initially treated with TZP i.v. (4.5 g bid or tid). Some patients began treatment in hospital and after early discharge continued parenteral therapy at home; others were treated exclusively at home. Some pts, after a 5-7-day course of i.v. therapy switched to i.m. route. The average duration of antibiotic therapy was 28 days. At the end of treatment with TZP, some patients underwent a new treatment with oral coamoxi-clav for 10-15 days. A bacteriological examination was done for all patients: ulcus (degree 1) and deep tissue (degree 2-3) swabs at the first surgical toilette. Clinical controls, medications, surgical toilettes and microbiological cultures were performed according to the degree of severity, extension of the lesion and response to treatment. All cultures were positive for polymicrobial infections (Staphylococcus spp, Enterococcus spp, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp). In 30/38 pts (79%) a complete resolution was observed; in 4 pts (10%) an improvement. DFIs require long term parenteral treatment, with wide spectrum antibiotics including Gram +, Gram - and anaerobes. OPAT represents a valid alternative to hospitalisation when the general conditions of the patient are stable, the infection is not too severe and complications are not present. TZP proved to be a good choice for treatment of diabetic foot infections that, due to its high safety, can be successfully utilized also in OPAT programmes

In the early eighties, in the US the advantages (reduced costs, no hospitalisation trauma in children, no immobilization syndrome in elderly, reduction of nosocomial and acquired infections by multi-resistant organisms) of OPAT were identified and suitable therapeutic programs were established. Following the US experience, other countries set up their own OPAT programs which vary considerably from country to country because of different ways in which infections are managed in different parts of the world and because of different reimbursement systems. In order to understand the ways of managing OPAT and its results, a National OPAT Registry was set up in 1999 in Italy belonging to a wider International OPAT database, which collects data also from USA, Canada, Spain, Uruguay and Argentina. Up to now 396 patients and as many antibiotic courses have been included in the National Registry by eight different centres. The analysis of data permits to get information about the criteria of patient's selection, treatment (route of administration, site of care, choice of antibiotic, dosage and duration), outcomes and possible side-effects. Italian results offer a quite peculiar picture of OPAT in this country when comparing data with those of other countries. In contrast with other countries where soft tissue infections and osteomyelitis are the most frequent diagnoses for including patients in OPAT programmes, in Italy pneumonia and bronchitis are the top two amenable infections. Ceftriaxone, Teicoplanin and Amikacin are absolutely the top three antibiotics selected for OPAT in Italy which confirm that a single daily dose regimen represents a great advantage in terms of compliance. Finally, a large percentage of antibiotic courses (50%) are carried out by using the i.m. administration route, which is very unusual in other countries. OPAT Registry is still ongoing and it will give us more detailed information in the future about the management of infections in the outpatient setting, but it already permits to define an actual picture of OPAT in our country and/or to compare and correlate data and information from different countries.

The Bactericidal Index is a new way to assess bactericidal activity, representing the total bacterial kill over a drug concentration range. The aim of the study was to compare the in vitro activity of LEV with that of CIP against uropathogens determined by MIC, MBC, time-kill curves and BI analysis. A total of 141 strains [E. coli (EC) n=30; Klebsiella spp n=30; P aeruginosa (PA) n=35; P. mirabilis (PM) n=21; E. cloacae n=25] were preliminarily tested for MIC evaluation. MICs were obtained by 100 l microbroth dilution, followed by whole volume transfer for MBC determination. The time-kill tests were determined with 3 isolates each of EC, PA and PM and the killing monitored over 24h. FQs were added to a final concentration of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16xMIC. Aliquots were sub-cultured at intervals. To assess the BI, overnight bacterial cultures were diluted to about 107 CFU/ml and set up containing a range of drug concentrations. MIC values of LEV were slightly higher than CIP; MBC/MIC ratio was in the range 1:1/1:2. LEV showed 99.9% killing after 6h against EC and after 3 h against PA at 1xMIC and after 3h at 2xMIC against PM in contrast with CIP (after 3h at 8xMIC). The BI data showed that FQs became more bactericidal with increasing incubation time and evidenced the enhanced bactericidal potency of LEV. A paradoxical effect was observed for all PA and PM strains, with slower killing at high concentrations of LEV (128 g/ml) at 24h and CIP (4 g/ml) at 3h. CIP was more active in terms of MIC values but LEV exhibited similar or even better bactericidal activity when time-kill curves or BI were compared. Calculation of BI allows the bactericidal activity of drugs, at clinically relevant concentrations, to be readily compared.

Objectives: Candidal vulvovaginitis is a frequent infectious process in adult women that assumes particular clinical, epidemiological and social importance in prostitutes due to its possible sexual transmission. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of symptomatic or non-symptomatic vulvovaginitis caused by Candida spp and its possible relationship to behavioural risk factors, by a prospective study carried on 153 immigrant prostitutes from various African countries., Patients and Methods: All subjects (average age 27 yrs; range 18-50 yrs) coming from sub-Saharan areas (Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Senegal) and resident in the coastal area northwest of Naples (southern Italy) underwent a microbiological investigation to detect the possible presence of Candida in vaginal, rectal and pharyngeal swabs. Agar Sabouraud with the addition of chloramphenicol was used for cultures and the mycotube system for identification; in vitro sensitivity tests with amphotericin, nystatin, 5-fluorocytosine, econazole, and fluconazole were also performed according to the Kirby Bauer technique., Results: The rate of Candida detection from vaginal swabs was 45% (69/153) with the following distribution by specie: C. albicans 75.4%, C. glabrata 7.2%, C. krusei 2.9%, C. tropicalis 1.4%, Candida spp 13%. The incidence of Candida from pharyngeal and rectal swabs was 18.3% and 26.1%, respectively. The overall resistance of Candida was comprised between 6% for fluconazole and 27% for econazole. No strain was resistant to 5-fluorocytosine, nystatin and amphotericin., Conclusions: The incidence of Candida in this particular population of immigrates was very high and correlated to many well-identified risk factors.

Assessment of behaviour at risk of HIV-infection and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) in high-risk subjects, such as illegal immigrants is the first step for successful prevention measures. In order to assess knowledge of AIDS, STDs, risk behaviour and condom use, a sexual behaviour questionnaire was administered to all illegal immigrants living in the Domitia area (north-west of naples) and coming to our ambulatory for several pathologies. The following risk markers identified were: low level of knowledge concerning HIV and STD transmission and prevention, multiple sexual partners, casual sex, low frequencies of condom use, drugs and alcohol use. Therefore prevention campaigns should include educational activities concerning AIDS and STD transmission and prevention, and condom promotion. Particular attention should be given to improve access to STD services that provide treatment and counselling. Moreover, commercial sex workers require counselling at each visit, screening and treatment.

Short-course treatments of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis with oral cephalosporins and macrolides have resulted in a similar bacteriologic and clinical cure rate and in better compliance compared to the conventional 10-day course. Cefaclor has never been investigated for this purpose. 138 patients out of 420 recruited patients had a positive culture for S. pyogenes and were randomly assigned to receive cefaclor (25 mg/kg/bid) for a 5- (70 pts) or 10-day (68 pts) course. Patients were assessed clinically and bacteriologically 2-3 days after completing the course and followed up after 20-30 days. All 420 recruited patients belonged to a population of 2,800 children who had been previously screened for a streptococcal carrier state to exclude carriers from final evaluation. Clinical cure and bacteriological eradication was recorded in 92.8% and 92.6% of patients in groups A and B respectively. Therefore, short-course therapy with cefaclor may offer an effective alternative treatment to conventional regimens, with potential for better compliance.

Bacterial infections represent the main cause of morbidity and mortality in Intensive Care Units (ICU). The infections developed in ICU correspond to 24% of the overall nosocomial infections. Endogenous bacterial flora sustains 85% of infectious episodes. In fact in ICU cutaneous, oro-pharyngeal and gastro-intestinal flora are substantially modified being replaced by nosocomial microrganisms which will become responsible for sepsis and infections localized at respiratory and urinary tract. The Authors review these main diseases acquired in ICU analysing the epidemiologic features, pathogenesis, ways of transmission and diagnostic criteria. Finally it is underlined the importance of microbiology in any surveillance program of ICU acquired infections. It is desirable that each unit carries out an epidemiological evaluation by means of own microbiological data in order to establish, together with clinical epidemiologists and infectious diseases specialists, accurate programs of prevention.

An epidemiological survey on 827 pediatric patients has been performed from March '95 to November '96 to verify the incidence of streptococcal etiology during acute pharyngo tonsillitis in pediatric age and the "in vitro" susceptibility of the group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus isolates. S. pyogenes was responsible of acute pharyngo tonsillitis in 32.7% of cases. No strain was resistant to beta lactams, but resistance to erythromycin was high (38.7% of bacterial isolates). These results suggest the importance of a constant epidemiological surveillance of bacterial resistance of S. pyogenes in the community setting.

Authors compared the efficacy and safety of 10-day regimen of Cefaclor (CEC), oral suspension, at the dose of 25 mg/kg BID, and Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC), and Erythromycin (E) both given TID at the dose of 15 mg/kg in the treatment of proven group A beta hemolytic streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis. Of the 673 enrolled pediatric patients, 245 were selected and assigned to three groups of treatment (85 received CEC, 78 received AMC and 82 received E) and 217 were evaluated for efficacy. Clinical evaluations were performed on days 5 and 10 of treatment and 20 days after its completion (follow up). Before treatment, on treatment day 10 and at follow up throat swab cultures were performed. In evaluable patients the post-therapy clinical success and bacteriological eradication rate for CEC was 91.8% (68 of 74 evaluable patients); the rate for AMC and E were 90.5% (67/74) and 76.8% (53/69) respectively. At follow up bacteriological eradication was observed in 63 of 68 clinically cured patients (92.6%) in the CEC treatment group; in 64 of 67 (95.5%) in the AMC treatment group and in 49 of 53 (92.4%) in the E treatment group. Adverse events occurred in 24 of 217 (11.05%) treated patients and the incidence of side effects was lower in CEC group. In vitro sensitivity tests showed 37.9% of isolated SBEGA strains resistant to macrolides and 32% of SBEGA strains resistant to tetracycline. In our experience Cefaclor administered BID is as effective and more safe than Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and more effective than Erythromycin both given TID.