[Pyomyositis: retrospective review in a third-level hospital in the north of Spain]. / Piomiositis: una revisión retrospectiva en un hospital terciario del norte de España.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, radiological and microbiological features of a series of patients diagnosed with pyomyositis in a tertiary care university-affiliated center over a 12-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients diagnosed with pyomyositis between January 1992 and December 2003 were reviewed. The charts were retrieved from the hospital database. Data were extracted according to a standardized protocol and included clinical, radiological, laboratory and microbiological parameters. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients (mean age, 50 years, 61% men) had pyomyositis. The most frequent predisposing factors were diabetes mellitus (22%) and traumatic injury (20%), followed by neoplasms (9%). Primary pyomyositis was diagnosed in 25 patients (55%), and a contiguous source of infection was detected in the remainder, with skin infection being the most frequent (40%). The most common presentation was isolated inflammatory signs with or without other symptoms (94%). Isolated fever was documented in only one patient. Ultrasonography was the most common diagnostic procedure performed (32%), followed by CT scanning (18%). Forty-five patients underwent a drainage procedure combined with antibiotic therapy. Pyomyositis was monomicrobial in 20 cases, and polymicrobial in 12. The most frequent pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (6 cases). Sepsis developed in 4 patients, and recurrence was observed in 8 (15%). Mortality was 10% (5 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Pyomyositis is a relatively uncommon infection in temperate climates, and is often considered late in the diagnostic workup. Physicians should bear this disease in mind to avoid diagnostic delays and initiate prompt therapy, in order to improve the prognosis of these patients.

[Electrolyte disorders following colonic cleansing for imaging studies]. / Alteraciones electrolíticas inducidas por la preparación para los estudios de imagen del colon.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An adequate bowel cleansing is needed prior to radiologic and endoscopic procedures. However, it may have a number of adverse effects, including abnormalities of calcium-phosphorus homeostasis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This was an observational prospective study in a hospital practice setting. We included consecutive inpatients (n = 47) subjected to a barium enema or colon endoscopy. Prior cleansing was done as indicated by the attending physician by using a low-salt oral poliethylenglicol (PEG) solution, oral sodium phosphate or a phosphate-containing enema. RESULTS: PEG solution frequently caused mild increases in serum sodium, and decreases in serum potassium. Oral phosphate caused a significant increase in serum phosphorus and parathormone concentrations, whereas it decreased serum calcium. Mild hyperphosphatemia was found in 57% of cases, and hypocalcemia in 36%. Phosphate enema also increased serum phosphate, causing mild hyperphosphatemia (33% cases). Although in the whole subgroup of enema-treated patients there were no significant changes in serum calcium, mild hypocalcemia was found in 27% cases. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel cleansing procedures, particularly those using oral phosphate salts, frequently induce hyperphosphatemia and other abnormalities in serum electrolytes. Although usually transitory and without overt clinical consequences, clinicians should be aware of this potential risk, especially in elderly patients and those with impaired renal function.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura after intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

The administration of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in early stages of bladder cancer is usually a safe therapy. Side-effects of BCG immunotherapy can be of both local and systemic nature. We report the first case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura following intravesical administration of BCG.