Cochlear implantation for rare Streptococcus suis meningitis with hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the diagnostic sensitivity of 3D heavily weighted T2-weighted MRI (T2MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with cochlear fibrosis associated with Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis and the practicality of Cochlear implantation (CI) treatments. METHODS: Between January 2020 and December 2022, we enrolled four patients with rare cochlear S. suis meningitis with associated hearing loss despite aggressive or non-aggressive follow-up antibiotic treatment. Clinical imaging data, surgical performances and post-surgical-electrode impedance were evaluated. RESULTS: Combined with HRCT and T2MRI, the cochlea had varying degrees of fibrosis and ossification in different cases. However, the electrodes were successfully and wholly inserted after intraoperative removal of the ossified and fibrotic foci. Post-surgical electrode impedance values of MP1 + 2 mode were normal in all 4 cases at initial activation. CONCLUSION: In patients with S. suis meningitis and associated cochlear fibrosis, T2MRI examination of the inner ear was more sensitive than HRCT. This research highlights the feasibility of CI treatment in S. suis meningitis patients with severe cochlear fibrosis.

Successful surgical management of a pyothorax in a Guinea baboon (Papio papio).

A 16-year-old male Guinea baboon (Papio papio) was evaluated for weakness and focal wet fur of 1-week duration. A pyothorax caused by Streptococcus anginosus was diagnosed. A surgical approach was chosen, combined with a systemic antibiotic therapy. Medical imaging and C-reactive protein follow-up revealed the resolution of the pyothorax.

Cochlear implantation in patients with Streptococcus suis meningitis: clinical characteristics and postoperative evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is a common sequala of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) meningitis, but few have addressed cochlear implantation (CI) candidates with S. suis meningitis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical characteristics and CI postoperative outcomes in S. suis meningitis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight S. suis meningitis patients underwent CI at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital between 2020 and 2023. Control groups included (1) non-Suis meningitis patients (n = 12) and (2) non-meningitis patients (n = 35). Electrode impedances and neural response telemetry (NRT) thresholds were recorded at one month after surgery. The auditory performance-II (CAP) and speech intelligibility rating (SIR) were recorded at the last visit. RESULTS: CAP scores of S. suis meningitis patients were significantly lower than those of non-Suis meningitis and non-meningitis patients (p = .019; p<.001). And NRT thresholds of S. suis meningitis patients were higher than those of non-Suis meningitis and non-meningitis patients (p = .006; p = .027). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: It is recommended for S. suis meningitis CI candidates to undergo CI promptly after controlling infection, preferably within four to six weeks. CI users with S. suis meningitis tend to exhibit suboptimal hearing rehabilitation outcomes, possibly associated with the more severe damage on spiral ganglion cells after S. suis meningitis.

Household Transmission of Group A Streptococcus Necrotizing Fasciitis.

A healthy 40-year-old woman was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis 2 days after her husband's death from the same infectious process. Prompt identification and immediate surgical intervention prevented a similar result in this patient. Additional investigation into both patients' medical records found the inciting organism to be group A streptococcus. Although the exact mechanism of inoculation is unknown, the spread of this infection within a household prompts the question of whether antibiotic prophylaxis should be given among close contacts in future cases of necrotizing fasciitis.

Central Nervous System Infections Due to Streptococcus anginosus Group: A Single-Center Case Series.

BACKGROUND: The Streptococcus anginosus group is known for its pathogenicity and tendency for abscess formation. The S anginosus group also causes brain abscesses, yet few studies describe this presentation in the pediatric neurology literature. We describe 5 patients with central nervous system infection due to S anginosus group evaluated by child neurologists at the University of Iowa from 2014 to 2020. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case series review of electronic medical records detailing the clinical presentation and course of pediatric patients with S anginosus group-associated central nervous system infection. RESULTS: We identified 4 males and 1 female (8, 11, 14, 16, and 21 years). Brain imaging showed abscesses in 4 cases and empyema in 1. All underwent neurosurgical intervention and antibiotic treatment. Cultures obtained during the neurosurgical procedure grew S anginosus group (4 cases with Streptococcus intermedius and 1 with Streptococcus constellatus). An 8-year-old boy with a delayed diagnosis died from brain herniation. CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system infections due to the S anginosus group can be life-threatening. Neuroimaging plays a key role in the early identification of abscesses. Prompt surgical intervention and timely initiation of antibiotics are critical for optimal outcomes.

High re-revision rate following one-stage exchange for streptococcal periprosthetic joint infection of the hip.

INTRODUCTION: This study was undertaken to analyse the outcome of 1-stage exchange in the management of streptococcal periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip at a single hospital. METHODS: We identified 30 patients with a streptococcal PJI of the hip who had been treated by 1-stage exchange at our hospital between 2002 and 2017. Postoperative complications and the need for any subsequent re-revision for infection or other reasons were analysed. The Harris Hip Score (HHS) was evaluated at final follow-up. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 8.2 years (SD 4.1). The overall re-revision rate for any reason was 53% (16/30) at a mean 5.3 years (SD 0.68 years). Re-revision for infection was 20% (6/30) at a mean 1.8 years (SD 0.74 years). All re-revisions for PJI (6/6; 100%) were for relapse of the streptococcal infection. At final follow-up, the mean HHS was 68 points (SD 20). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of re-revision after 1-stage exchange for streptococcal PJI is high. Eradication of a streptococcal PJI of the hip remains challenging. Further extensive and comparative studies between 1-and 2-stage exchange are encouraged.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Dehydrated Amniotic Membrane in Infectious Keratitis: A Small Retrospective Case Series and In Vitro Study.

PURPOSE: To describe a small case series of infectious keratitis with poor visual outcomes after amniotic membrane (AM) placement and to prospectively evaluate whether AM demonstrates antibacterial activity in vitro against pathogens commonly isolated from infectious corneal ulcers. METHODS: A retrospective case series and in vitro study of antibacterial activity of dehydrated AM using disk diffusion and measurement of inhibitory zones for bacterial assessment and inverted microscopy analysis for Acanthamoeba sp. growth. RESULTS: Three cases of known etiology infectious keratitis are described where the clinical presentation worsened after treatment with AM. In vitro analysis of dehydrated AM, with and without a soft contact lens, demonstrated no inhibition of growth against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Streptococcus pneumoniae. There was minimal growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, although these zones of inhibition were much smaller than that surrounding the positive control. For Acanthamoeba sp., solubilized, dehydrated AM did not alter cyst density. CONCLUSIONS: In an in vitro analysis, dehydrated AM did not provide evidence for a potentially clinically meaningful antibacterial effect against organisms commonly isolated from corneal ulcers.

Emergency hip disarticulations for severe necrotising fasciitis of the lower limb: a series of rare cases from a rural district general hospital.

Hip disarticulation is the removal of the entire lower limb through the hip joint by detaching the femur from the acetabulum. This major ablative procedure is rarely performed for infection but may be required in severe necrotising fasciitis. We present a single centre retrospective review of all cases of emergency hip disarticulations in patients with necrotising fasciitis between 2010 and 2020. All five patients included in the review presented with acute lower limb pain and sepsis. Three patients had comorbidities predisposing them to necrotising fasciitis. Three were deemed to be high risk and two were at intermediate risk of developing necrotising fasciitis. There were two deaths in the postoperative period. Of the three survivors, two required revision surgery for a completion hindquarter amputation and one for flap closure. All three survivors had good functional outcomes after discharge from hospital. Despite its associated morbidity, emergency amputation of the entire lower limb is a life-saving treatment in cases of rapidly progressing necrotising fasciitis and should be considered as a first-line option in managing this condition.

A case of Infective Native (Abdominal) Aortic Aneurysm Caused by Streptococcus Agalactiae: An Updated Literature Review Based on New Nomenclature.

The management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has evolved significantly with the advent of endovascular strategies. Thus, there has been a decline in the number of open AAA repairs once an endovascular option is available. There have also been reports of successful endovascular management of infective native aortic aneurysms (INAA)1, previously called mycotic aneurysms2. The rarity of this condition makes its management a challenging one as there are no standard guidelines. The European Society of Vascular Surgery has suggested that the nomenclature be changed from mycotic aneurysms as this can be misleading to standardise reporting1. The authors' present a case of a 67-year old male who presented during the peak of the Corona Virus pandemic with constitutional gastrointestinal symptoms. He was subsequently diagnosed with an INAA and successfully managed with open Neo-Aorto Iliac System reconstruction with a homograft3. The report highlights various strategies used in the surgical approach and their benefits in the management of INAA. Furthermore, a literature review of Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) species as a rare cause of INAA and how these cases were managed are also highlighted.

Role of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in parental satisfaction of treatments for PANDAS.

OBJECTIVE: To examine caregiver satisfaction with treatments for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcus (PANDAS) and how symptom frequency changes over time. METHODS: A list was created for PANDAS subjects seen at the Georgetown Pediatric Otolaryngology clinic from 2015 to 2018. Questionnaires were distributed to caregivers able to be contacted; 62% responded (n = 60). Subjects were placed in groups based on treatments reported: tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A, n = 28), T&A and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, n = 22), or nonsurgical treatment(s) (n = 10). Caregivers reported frequencies for each of 10 associated symptoms from time of treatment to 12 months and also expressed their satisfaction with treatment. RESULTS: Patients were treated with antibiotics (n = 60, 100%), T&A (83.3%), IVIG (40%), Rituximab (15%), steroids (20%), and/or plasma exchange (10%). Caregivers for 66% (n = 33) of surgical patients identified T&A as the most effective treatment, and 80% would choose the operation again. No difference in median caregiver satisfaction level was found among the groups (n = 0.196). There was no significant difference in frequency for any of the symptoms (all p > 0.05) except choreiform movement (p = 0.0296). CONCLUSION: Caregivers reported a decreasing frequency of symptoms over time regardless of treatment and had no difference in satisfaction. T&A was the most preferred treatment and the most impactful on symptoms for surgical patients. Given the challenges of immunologic therapies, T&A in combination with antibiotics should be considered as an early intervention for PANDAS.

Asymptomatic man with an incidental finding of a massive empyema.

We describe the case of a 67-year-old asymptomatic man who was referred to our hospital for abnormal laboratory results. He was incidentally found to have a massive empyema without underlying bronchopulmonary pneumonia. Following thoracentesis, he was diagnosed with chronic Streptococcus anginosus empyema. Therapeutic thoracentesis and treatment with tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease failed to resolve the empyema, and there was residual loculated pleural fluid that was surrounded by a thick rind. The patient was referred to thoracic surgery for decortication of the pleural space via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. At 2-month follow-up, the patient had complete re-expansion of the lung tissue.

Infective endocarditis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has recently emerged as a less invasive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in high risk patients. Although several procedures have been performed worldwide, infective endocarditis (IE) has been reported to be a rare TAVI complication, nevertheless if IE occurs it represents a life-threatening condition and treatment is challenging. TAVI-IE are thus normally treated conservatively by targeted antibiotic therapy with a high reported mortality (40%). Surgical explant represent the definitive strategy but, the intervention is at a high risk (risk of complication 87%, with an in hospital mortality of about 47%). In the present paper, we report the case of a 71-year-old patient affected by an early endocarditis after TAVI (TAVI-IE) treated at our Institution by surgical explant. The case highlights a paradox: if TAVI procedures are indicated over traditional surgical valve replacement in treatment of high surgical risk patients, what should be the best management when TAVI-IE occurs in these same population of patients?

Aortic valve replacement with sutureless Perceval S valve: A case report of aortic root homograft failure in the setting of Streptococcus constellatus endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for failed homograft aortic root replacement with extensive calcification in the setting of endocarditis alone is very challenging. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of redo aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement, in a 39 years old presenting with a rare Streptococcus constellatus endocarditis of a previously implanted homograft root and native mitral valve, where conventional valve replacement proved nonfeasible. S. constellatus had caused severe tissue destruction and the extensive calcification in the homograft prevented conventional valve replacement with sutures. In this case, a sutureless valve provided a useful alternative surgical strategy. DISCUSSION: We consider heavily calcified failed homografts to be a good indication for sutureless (rapid deployment) valves.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw in a metastatic lung cancer patient with bone metastases undergoing pembrolizumab + denosumab combination therapy: Case report and literature review.

The rare adverse drug reaction MRONJ (medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw) can be induced by treatment with antiresorptive, antiangiogenic, or immunomodulating agents. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs; e.g., pembrolizumab) are the standard care for advanced or metastatic cancer patients. Denosumab directed against receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) is approved for preventing skeletal-related events (SREs) in cancer patients with bone metastases. The combination therapy of ICIs + denosumab has shown promising efficacy and no unexpected safety issues in metastatic melanoma and lung cancer patients with bone metastases. We present a rare case of advanced mandibular osteonecrosis in an adult female with metastatic lung cancer and bone metastases who received concomitant pembrolizumab + denosumab.

Necrotizing Fasciitis Complicating Transobturator Tape Operation.

Midurethral slings (MUSs) have been used successfully for the last 20 years in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and accepted as the gold standard surgical procedure. High success rates and minimal invasiveness of surgery are among the most important advantages, but sometimes serious complications can occur during or after surgery. Although serious complications are rare after widely performed transobturator tape (TOT) operation, awareness, early diagnosis, and aggressive management are essential as they can progress with serious morbidity and mortality. In order to reduce the infectious complications after MUS procedures, in addition to sterility of the operating theater and the operating equipment, the type of mesh used and the preparation of the surgical site are crucial. We aimed to pre-sent the successful management of a case of necrotizing fasciitis in a TOT patient.