Disseminated Yersinia enterocolitica infection associated to Sweet's syndrome.

We report the case of a young woman sough care for disseminated form of Yersinia enterocolitica infection (pseudoappendicitis with mesenteric lymph node, arthralgia, glomerulonephritis and hepatitis) diagnosed on Western Blot method for the detection of Yersinia antibodies. The patient also presented a rare concomitant cutaneous manifestation, as Sweet's syndrome, confirmed histologically. Neutrophilic dermatosis is an exceptional skin features among post-infectious autoimmune disorders when encountering Yersinia enterocolitica infection in clinical practice.

Acute Cerebellitis Following COVID-19: Alarming Clinical Presentation Challenged by Normal Paraclinical Findings.

We report the case of an acute cerebellitis following COVID-19 in 32-year-old man who presented with a life-threatening critical cerebellar syndrome contrasting with normal paraclinical findings. Despite this fulminant critical presentation, the patient fully recovered in 37 days after early treatment with high-dose steroids and intravenous immunoglobulins. This case highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of acute cerebellitis following COVID-19, despite normal laboratory, imaging and electroencephalography findings and the importance to start appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

Linezolid in enterococcal urinary tract infection: a multicentre study.

PURPOSE: Few data have been published on the efficacy of linezolid in enterococcal urinary tract infection (e-UTI). The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of patients with enterococci UTI treated with linezolid, and to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerance of linezolid treatment. METHODS: An observational multicentre retrospective study was conducted in 5 hospitals in France. Patients were included if they met the following criteria: ≥18 years, clinical and microbiological criteria for enterococcal UTI and linezolid treatment > 48 h. Primary outcome was clinical failure. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included between January 2015 and December 2021. The median age was 73.0 [64; 83] years and 47 (58%) were men. The median Charlson comorbidity index was 3.00 [2; 6]. E. faecium was reported in 65 (80%) cases and E. faecalis in 26 cases (32%). Polymicrobial infections occurred in 41 (51%) cases. No enterococci was resistant to vancomycin. Before linezolid prescription an empiric antimicrobial treatment was started in 48 (59%) cases and was effective against enterococci in 19/48 (39.5%) patients for a median of 3.5 days [2.0; 4.0]. The median duration of linezolid antibiotic treatment was 13 days [10; 14]. Three adverse events were reported, none were serious but one led to discontinuation of treatment. Treatment failure was reported in 2 cases (2.5%). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for efficacy and safety of linezolid in enterococcal UTI.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in early lyme neuroborreliosis.

We report a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an adult patient fulfilling criteria for proven early Lyme neuroborreliosis.

Early neurosyphilis with serofast state.

We report a rare case of confirmed early neurosyphilis with serofast state in HIV-negative patient, with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Syphilitic meningitis was diagnosed initially on serology and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. The patient had persistently raised non-treponemal titres on serum with negative CSF venereal disease research laboratory result, following treatment during 3 years of follow-up.

Annular Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis: A New Feature of IgA Vasculitis.

Background: Annular erythema is a rare manifestation of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It may be associated with various drugs, infections, malignancies, or systemic diseases. Case description: A 36-year-old woman with no personal medical history presented with annular erythema with target lesions and petechial purpura. The patient had fever and joint arthralgia. A skin biopsy showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposits on direct immunofluorescence. The diagnosis of immunoglobulin A vasculitis with annular leukocytoclastic vasculitis was made. The patient showed global improvement with topical steroids without relapse. Conclusion: An annular variant of leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare manifestation of immunoglobulin A vasculitis. LEARNING POINTS: Annular erythema may reveal an IgA vasculitis.Annular leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare manifestation of IgA vasculitis.This presentation is treated with topical steroids.

Benefit of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy in the treatment of complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema.

Our study aimed to assess the benefit of intrapleural fibrinolysis before resorting to surgery to treat complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema. We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study, including all patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Abderhaman Mami hospital, Tunisia for empyema treated with instillation of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy between the 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2016. In all patients, empyema was diagnosed on clinical features, imaging findings (chest X-ray, thoracic echography and/or computed tomography (CT), and microbiological data. The fibrinolytic agent used was streptokinase. The efficiency of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy was judged on clinical and paraclinical results. Among 103 cases of complicated parapneumonic effusion and empyema, 34 patients were included. The mean age was 34 years [15-81] with a male predominance (sex ratio at 2.77). Median APACH II score was 9. Fifty (50%) of the patients (n=17) had no past medical history; addictive behavior was described in 17 patients (50%). All patients were admitted for acute respiratory failure and one patient for septic shock. Pleural effusion was bilateral in 7 patients. Bacteria isolated were Streptococcus pneumonia (6 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (3 cases, including one which methicillin-resistant), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1 case), anaerobes (5 cases), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1 case). First-line antimicrobial drug therapy was amoxicillin-clavulanate in 20 patients. A chest drain was placed in all cases in the first 38 hours of ICU admission. The median number of fibrinolysis sessions was 4 [2-9] and the median term of drainage was 7 days [3-16]. No side effects were observed. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was proposed in 5 patients. The median length of hospitalization stay was 15 days [6-31]. One patient died due to multi-organ failure.

Chlamydia psittaci-related pleuro-myocarditis.

Chlamydia psittaci ‒ related community-acquired pneumonia associated to acute myocarditis was diagnosed in a young man with no medical history, and a professional exposition to birds. The diagnosis was confirmed with positive specific polymerase chain reaction in bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was treated with spiramycin for two weeks with anti-inflammatory treatment for myocarditis for three months. Clinical and biological improvement was rapidly observed followed by normalization of electrocardiogram and chest CT scan. No relapse was reported for over a two-year follow-up.

CRP under 130 mg/L rules out the diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (URINELLA Study).

INTRODUCTION: In case of pneumonia, some biological findings are suggestive for Legionnaire's disease (LD) including C-reactive protein (CRP). A low level of CRP is predictive for negative Legionella Urinary-Antigen-Test (L-UAT). METHOD: Observational retrospective study in Nord-Franche-Comté Hospital with external validation in Besançon University Hospital, France which included all adults with L-UAT performed during January 2018 to December 2022. The objective was to determine CRP optimal threshold to predict a L-UAT negative result. RESULTS: URINELLA included 5051 patients (83 with positive L-UAT). CRP optimal threshold was 131.9 mg/L, with a negative predictive value (NPV) at 100%, sensitivity at 100% and specificity at 58.0%. The AUC of the ROC-Curve was at 88.7% (95% CI, 86.3-91.1). External validation in Besançon Hospital patients showed an AUC at 89.8% (95% CI, 85.5-94.1) and NPV, sensitivity and specificity was respectively 99.9%, 97.6% and 59.1% for a CRP threshold at 131.9 mg/L; after exclusion of immunosuppressed patients, index sensitivity and NPV reached also 100%. CONCLUSION: In case of pneumonia suspicion with a CRP level under 130 mg/L (independently of the severity) L-UAT is useless in immunocompetent patients with a NPV at 100%. We must remain cautious in patients with symptoms onset less than 48 h before CRP dosage.

Outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in hospitalized patients: Who is concerned? Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, France, 2023-2024.

We report an outbreak of confirmed Mycoplasma pneumoniae community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, France, from 14 November 2023 to 31 January 2024. All 13 inpatients (11 adults with a mean age of 45.5 years and 2 children) were diagnosed with positive serology and/or positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on respiratory specimens. All patients were immunocompetent and required oxygen support with a mean duration of oxygen support of 6.2 days. Two patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) but were not mechanically ventilated. Patients were treated with macrolides (n = 12, 92.3%) with recovery in all cases. No significant epidemiological link was reported in these patients.

Successful Introduction of Benralizumab for Eosinophilic Ascites.

Eosinophilic ascites is a rare disorder, reported in both adult and pediatric patients, characterized by high eosinophil counts in the peritoneal fluid. Eosinophilic ascites appears as a manifestation of various diseases such as parasitic and fungal infections, malignancy, and hypereosinophilic syndrome. It also represents an uncommon manifestation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, usually treated with corticosteroids. We present the case of a 16-year-old woman with abdominal distention related to abundant ascites. Further work-up concluded that it was eosinophilic gastroenteritis complicated with eosinophilic ascites. The patient was on oral steroids for three weeks, but various abdominal relapses were observed, leading to the introduction of benralizumab, as a steroid-sparing therapy with a favorable outcome.

Chlamydia psittaci—related pleuro-myocarditis

ABSTRACT Chlamydia psittaci - related community-acquired pneumonia associated to acute myocarditis was diagnosed in a young man with no medical history, and a professional exposition to birds. The diagnosis was confirmed with positive specific polymerase chain reaction in bronchoalveolar lavage. The patient was treated with spiramycin for two weeks with anti-inflammatory treatment for myocarditis for three months. Clinical and biological improvement was rapidly observed followed by normalization of electrocardiogram and chest CT scan. No relapse was reported for over a two-year follow-up.

Management strategy in actinomycosis brain abscess.

We reported herein a case of isolated cerebral actinomycosis in a 54-year-old immunocompetent man. Brain MRI showed a left frontal intra-axial lesion and perilesional edema. We performed an open biopsy of the left frontal enhancing lesion. Intraoperative findings showed a yellowish, malleable, and capsulated lesion that was well defined with surrounding normal tissue within pus inside and lacked any necrotic content. MR spectroscopy showed a high level of choline, lactate, and lipid peaks with a choline/N-Acetylaspartic acid ratio of 1.8. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically, and the patient was treated successfully for 3 months after surgical aspiration. Surgical management allowed to confirm the diagnosis with a shorten antibiotics, a rapid resolution of symptoms, and a complete recovery.

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients Receiving Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies: A Diagnostic Challenged by Negative Nasopharyngeal RT-PCR and Successful Treatment with COVID-19 High-Titer Convalescent Plasma.

We highlighted in this current paper similar prolonged respiratory presentation with COVID-19 pneumonia in four severely immunocompromised patients currently being treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as ocrelizumab and rituximab, for multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid polyarthritis. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on a nasopharyngeal swab specimen was negative in all patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A high titer of post-vaccine COVID-19 convalescent plasma was administered with complete recovery in all patients.

Clinical spectrum of ocular manifestations in COVID-19: a case series.

In this current case series, all Coronavirus disease 2019 patients had predominant ophthalmological presentation. Only one patient sough care for concomitant respiratory symptoms. We reported herein 2 cases with cranial oculomotor nerve palsy, one patient with confirmed diagnosis of branch retinal vein occlusion, and the last one patient presenting for acute kareto-conjunctivitis with several recurrences, which was unsuccessfully treated with steroids and requiring cliclosporin. These case series highlights the importance of collecting a careful history of ocular presentation, including exposures to possible infected patients with SARS-CoV-2. This this will lead to an early diagnosis and treatment and to make appropriate infection control measures.

Campylobacter fetus Invasive Infections and Risks for Death, France, 2000-2021.

Campylobacter fetus accounts for 1% of Campylobacter spp. infections, but prevalence of bacteremia and risk for death are high. To determine clinical features of C. fetus infections and risks for death, we conducted a retrospective observational study of all adult inpatients with a confirmed C. fetus infection in Nord Franche-Comté Hospital, Trevenans, France, during January 2000-December 2021. Among 991 patients with isolated Campylobacter spp. strains, we identified 39 (4%) with culture-positive C. fetus infections, of which 33 had complete records and underwent further analysis; 21 had documented bacteremia and 12 did not. Secondary localizations were reported for 7 (33%) patients with C. fetus bacteremia, of which 5 exhibited a predilection for vascular infections (including 3 with mycotic aneurysm). Another 7 (33%) patients with C. fetus bacteremia died within 30 days. Significant risk factors associated with death within 30 days were dyspnea, quick sequential organ failure assessment score >2 at admission, and septic shock.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus a cause of Gram-positive rods bacteremia after prophylactic probiotic consumption.

•Lactobacillus rhamnosus bacteremia was diagnosed in a patient with radiation enteritis after prophylactic probiotic consumption.•L. rhamnosus was identified by culture and MALDI-TOF-MS.•L. rhamnosus may have high MIC values for amoxicillin.•In case of L. rhamnosus bacteremia, bowel diseases should be considered as a possible source of infections.