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. 2022 Jan 24;14(2):89.
doi: 10.3390/toxins14020089.

Characteristics of Snakebite-Related Infection in French Guiana

Stéphanie Houcke  1 , Dabor Resiere  1   2 , Guy Roger Lontsingoula  1 , Fabrice Cook  1 , Pierre Lafouasse  1 , Jean Marc Pujo  3 , Magalie Demar  4 , Severine Matheus  1 , Didier Hommel  1 , Hatem Kallel  1
Affiliations

Characteristics of Snakebite-Related Infection in French Guiana

Stéphanie Houcke et al. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

Wound infection is frequently reported following snakebite (SB). This study is retrospective. It was conducted in the emergency department and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Cayenne General Hospital between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2021. We included 172 consecutive patients hospitalized for SB envenoming. All patients were monitored for wound infection. Sixty-three patients received antibiotics at admission (36.6%). The main antibiotic used was amoxicillin-clavulanate (92.1%). Wound infection was recorded in 55 cases (32%). It was 19% in grade 1, 35% in grade 2, and 53% in grade 3. It included abscess (69.1%), necrotizing fasciitis (16.4%), and cellulitis (21.8%). The time from SB to wound infection was 6 days (IQR: 3-8). The main isolated microorganisms were A. hydrophila and M. morganii (37.5% and 18.8% of isolated organisms). Surgery was required in 48 patients (28.1%), and a necrosectomy was performed on 16 of them (33.3%). The independent factors associated with snakebite-associated infection were necrosis (p < 0.001, OR 13.15, 95% CI: 4.04-42.84), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.002, OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.59-7.16), and rhabdomyolysis (p = 0.046, OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.02-5.19). In conclusion, wound infection following SB is frequent, mainly in grade 2 and 3 envenomed patients, especially those with necrosis, thrombocytopenia, and rhabdomyolysis. The main involved bacteria are A. hydrophila and M. morganii.

Keywords: Bothrops atrox; French Guiana; clinical manifestations; infection; snakebite envenoming.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of wound infection following snakebite according to the grade of envenoming.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of elapsed time from snakebite to the diagnosis of wound infection according to the grade of envenoming. (95% CI: 95% confidence interval).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Isolated microorganisms from the local samples and blood cultures in patients with wound infection following snakebite. (The percentage is calculated based on the number of positive microbiological samples). CTX: cefotaxime, CAZ: ceftazidime, OXA: oxacillin, LEV: levofloxacin, AMX: amoxicillin, AAC: amoxicillin-clavulanate, S: susceptible.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Coinfection patterns in patients with wound infection caused by microorganisms. CTX: cefotaxime, CAZ: ceftazidime, OXA: oxacillin, LEV: levofloxacin, AMX: amoxicillin, AAC: Amoxicillin-clavulanate, S: susceptible.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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