A novel alphaherpesvirus and concurrent respiratory cryptococcosis in a captive koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

A novel alphaherpesvirus was detected in a captive adult, lactating, female koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) admitted to James Cook University Veterinary Emergency Teaching & Clinical Hospital in March 2019, showing signs of anorexia and severe respiratory disease. Postmortem examination revealed gross pathology indicative of pneumonia. Histopathology demonstrated a chronic interstitial pneumonia, multifocal necrotising adrenalitis and hepatitis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were detected by light microscopy in the respiratory epithelium of the bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and hepatocytes, biliary epithelium and adrenal gland associated with foci of necrosis. Cryptococcus gattii was isolated from fresh lung on necropsy, positively identified by PCR, and detected histologically by light microscopy, only in the lung tissue. A universal viral family-level PCR indicated that the virus was a member of the Herpesviruses. Sequence analysis in comparison to other known and published herpesviruses, indicated the virus was a novel alphaherpesvirus, with 97% nucleotide identity to macropodid alphaherpesvirus 1. We provisionally name the novel virus phascolarctid alphaherpesvirus 3 (PhaHV-3). Further research is needed to determine the distribution of this novel alphaherpesvirus in koala populations and establish associations with disease in this host species.

Outbreak of severe sepsis due to contaminated propofol: lessons to learn.

Nosocomial infections are a frequent concern in healthcare. Despite the available knowledge on nosocomial infections and preventive measures, outbreaks of infections continue to occur. An outbreak of severe sepsis in patients who underwent minor procedures in an operating theatre during two consecutive days is described and analysed in this study. We performed a retrospective cohort study using epidemiological data in order to investigate the source of infection together with microbiological and on-site investigations and interviews. Seven patients met the case definition of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). All other patients operated on over the same period served as controls. Of the risk factors investigated, general anaesthesia and propofol were statistically significant (P=0.003). Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens were cultured from opened vials of propofol, propofol-related devices and from blood cultures from two of the patients. These strains were genotypically indistinguishable. Lapses in aseptic preparation, handling and storage of the propofol were observed, and were the most probable cause of the extrinsic contamination. The daily procedure of handling propofol was not performed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, the main departure being the use of a single-use vial for multiple patients. This study documents the risk of infection due to contaminated propofol and the importance of having written guidelines for its handling.

[Prevention of contrast nephropathy; guidelines from the Department Nephrology of the University Medical Centre Groningen]. / Preventie van contrastnefropathie; richtlijnen vanuit de afdeling Nefrologie van het Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen.

Contrast nephropathy' is commonly defined as an increase in serum creatinine concentration of more than 44 micromol/l or 25% of the reference value within 48 hours after administration of radiological contrast media. Risk factors are pre-existing renal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, paraproteinaemia, advanced age, use of nephrotoxic medication, intra-arterial use of contrast media and use of large volumes of contrast media. The only form of therapy possible is supportive care, such as renal function replacement therapy. Prevention of contrast nephropathy is of great importance. For patients with risk factors, the treatment of first choice is hydration with intravenous sodium chloride 0.9% combined with oral acetylcysteine given before and after the administration of contrast media.

[Clinical reasoning and decision-making in practice. A woman with hypokalaemia]. / Klinisch denken en beslissen in de praktijk. Een vrouw met hypokaliëmie.

A 39-year-old woman had been investigated elsewhere due to symptomatic hypokalaemia, renal potassium wasting and metabolic alkalosis. Vomiting was considered to be the underlying cause but the patient repeatedly denied this behaviour. After extensive investigations, Bartter's syndrome was finally diagnosed. Eighteen months later the patient was readmitted due to progressive renal insufficiency. On the basis of a very low urinary chloride excretion and the aforementioned laboratory results, it was concluded that the metabolic disturbances were due to vomiting and the diagnosis of Bartter's syndrome was rejected. Upon being confronted with these findings, the patient finally admitted to vomiting, but stated that this happened involuntarily after meals. She had a stenotic ulcer in the pylorus and a gastric biopsy demonstrated the presence of Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis. Eradication therapy was given and the symptoms disappeared. The renal insufficiency was partly accounted for by hypovolaemia and partly by tubulointerstitial nephropathy (demonstrated by kidney biopsy) which was probably due to the chronic hypokalaemia. This case illustrates the difficulty of establishing the differential diagnosis of hypokalaemia, especially in the case of denied vomiting. However, it also shows that in such cases the correct diagnosis can be made if objective parameters are used.