Spinal epidural abscess in adults caused by Staphylococcus aureus: clinical characteristics and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a devastating infectious disease, which may result in neurologic sequelae. Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is a common pathogen of SEA. Here, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and laboratory data of adult patients with S. aureus SEA and compared the clinical characteristics of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2008, we collected data regarding 29 adult cases of S. aureus SEA and analyzed the clinical presentations, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features, therapeutic outcome, and prognostic factors. Antibiotic susceptibility test results of 11 implicated MRSA strains were also further analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 17 MSSA strains and 12 MRSA strains. Lumbar and lumbosacral spine segments were the most commonly involved segments. All 29 patients had back pain. Other findings included sensory abnormalities (25), motor weakness (21), fever (16), bladder dysfunction (16), and altered consciousness (3). Disease onset at admission was acute in 6 cases and chronic in 23. The stages of disease severity were early stage in 9 and late stage in 20. After therapy, 21 patients had a good prognosis and 8 had a poor prognosis. Significant prognostic factors included older age (>70years), presence of diabetes mellitus, adrenal insufficiency, and MRSA infection. The prognosis alone was clinically different between patients with MSSA and MRSA infections. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with localized back pain, particularly those with a fever and compromised immune system, should undergo MR imaging to ensure an early diagnosis and management.

The clinical characteristics, therapeutic outcome, and prognostic factors of non-tuberculous bacterial spinal epidural abscess in adults: a hospital-based study.

PURPOSE: Nontuberculous bacterial spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a serious infectious disease of spines. Despite proper management, SEA remains a disease of high morbidity. The epidemiological data in southern Taiwan is still lacking. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical features, laboratory data, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and therapeutic results of 45 bacterial SEA patients, collected during a study period of six years (2003- 2008). RESULTS: The 45 adult SEA patients, 32 were men and 13 women, aged 17-81 years (mean = 62 years). Thoracic and lumbosacral spines were the most commonly affected segments. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly implicated pathogen, accounting for infections in 67% (29/43) of the culture-proven cases, and 41% (12/29) of the S. aureus strains were oxacillin resistant. Gram-negative pathogens were implicated in 30% (13/43) of the culture-proven cases. Of the 45 patients, 19 underwent antibiotic treatment alone and 26 underwent medical and surgical treatments. The therapeutic results showed that 28 patients had a good prognosis and 17 had a poor prognosis. The significant prognostic factors included higher age, presence of diabetes mellitus and chronic heart disease, and initial presentation of altered consciousness. CONCLUSION: S. aureus was the most commonly implicated pathogen of adult SEA, and most S. aureus strains were oxacillin resistant. A relatively high incidence of Gram-negative infection was observed in this study. The epidemiological characteristics of the implicated pathogens must receive special consideration when selecting the empirical antibiotics. Despite adequate management, many adults with bacterial SEA had a high incidence of poor prognosis.

Star fruit intoxication in a patient with moderate renal insufficiency presents as a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

PURPOSE: Star fruit has been reported to contain neurotoxins that often cause severe neurological complications in patients with uremia or severe chronic renal insufficiency. However, the occurrence of neurotoxicity in patients with mild or moderate renal insufficiency has rarely been mentioned. CASE REPORT: A 67-year-old woman who had diabetes mellitus and moderate renal insufficiency presented with acute onset of hiccups and nausea two hours after ingestion of one fresh star fruit. She further presented with progressively incoherent speech, echolalia and bizarre behavior. On the next day, her consciousness level declined to deep coma and she experienced two seizures. Brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations revealed a focal cerebral lesion over the left occipital area. The clinical symptoms recovered and the brain lesion reversed after emergency hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: The clinicians should be aware that star fruit intoxication must be considered when patients with a chronic renal disease, even mild or moderate chronic renal insufficiency, present with unexplained neurological or psychiatric symptoms. Emergency hemodialysis or other replacement therapies may be required for the management of acute star fruit intoxication.