Unusual subdural empyema in a homeless patient diagnosed by molecular approach: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of subdural empyema in a homeless patient caused by Bartonella quintana. B. quintana is a facultative intracellular bacteria for which bacterial growth is fastidious. The molecular biology approach has been a real help in establishing the diagnosis. CASE REPORT: A 59-years old homeless patient, with a history of chronic alcohol abuse, was brought to the emergency department with a massive subdural empyema. Extensive microbiological evaluation didn't reveal any pathogen in the pus collected before antibiotic treatment. B. quintana was detected in the pus from the empyema using a 16S rRNA-based PCR. Histology of intraoperative samples was consistent with the diagnosis and a serological assay was positive. The patient responded well to a treatment that included craniectomy with drainage of the loculated pus, total removal of the infected capsule and a combination of antibiotics. CONCLUSION: This unique case of B. quintana-related empyema illustrates the risk of secondary infection of subdural hematoma with B. quintana since such infections have recently reemerged, predominantly among the homeless populations. Patients with subdural empyema in at-risk populations should be systematically evaluated for B. quintana with an appropriate diagnostic approach involving molecular biology.

[Bacillary angiomatosis related to Rochalimaea quintana. Anatomoclinical and ultrastructural study of cutaneous localizations in AIDS]. / Angiomatose bacillaire liée à Rochalimaea quintana. Etude anatomoclinique et ultrastructurale de localisations cutanées au cours d'un SIDA.

We report a case of bacillary angiomatosis in a 53-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Pathological and bacteriological studies of cutaneous nodules led to the identification of a rickettsia: Rochalimaea quintana. This observation prompted us to relate the clinical presentation of cutaneous and visceral forms of this disease. Histopathological patterns are also considered. They usually consist in a lobular proliferation of capillaries with plump and sometimes epithelioid endothelial cells. Polymorphonuclear cells, histiocytes and necrotic areas may be present. The most characteristic feature is the presence of interstitial, granular and amorphous clusters of bacteria. Diagnostic problems can be raised with Kaposi's angiosarcoma which can be associated with bacillary angiomatosis. Two types of Rochalimaea have so far been isolated in this disease i.e., R. henselae which is the most frequently involved, and R. quintana. The usefulness of making such a diagnosis resides in the sensitivity of bacillary angiomatosis to antibiotics, emphasing the need to carefully look for the presence of bacterial clusters when atypical angioproliferative lesion appears in patients with AIDS.