Survival of Patient With Hemorrhagic Meningitis Associated With Inhalation Anthrax.

This report describes a 49-year-old male construction worker who acquired a Bacillus anthracis infection after working on a sheep farm. He experienced a severe respiratory infection, septic shock, and hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis with severe intracranial hypertension. After several weeks with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, he responded favorably to antibiotic treatment. Three weeks into his hospitalization, an intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema led to an abrupt deterioration in his neurological status. A single dose of raxibacumab was added to his antimicrobial regimen on hospital day 27. His overall status, both clinical and radiographic, improved within a few days. He was discharged 2 months after admission and appears to have fully recovered.

Pacemaker-induced endocarditis by Gordonia bronchialis.

PURPOSE: Gordonia species are known to be opportunistic human pathogens causing secondary infections. We present the second case in the world of endocarditis caused by Gordonia bronchialis and a review of all the cases of endocarditis caused by Gordonia spp. METHODS: The identification was performed by matrix-assisted desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to confirm the identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by MIC test Strip on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 5% defibrinated sheep blood according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS: Pacemaker-induced endocarditis due to Gordonia bronchialis infection was determined in an 88-year old woman. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin until completing 6 weeks from the pacemaker explant with a good evolution. CONCLUSION: The case presented supports the pathogenic role of Gordonia bronchialis as an opportunistic pathogen and highlights the high risk of suffering infections caused by environmental bacteria.

Bacteremia during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The reasons for the decrease in blood cultures were investigated and the rate and aetiology of bacteremia and contaminated blood cultures collected from COVID and non-COVID patients were assessed. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis in a tertiary hospital in Spain during the COVID period from 4th March 2020 to 21st June 2020. RESULTS: The number of blood cultures processed was 5313, representing 22.7% and 18.8% of decrease compared to the same months of 2019 and 2018, respectively (p=0.173). The rate of bacteremia was 1.2% higher among COVID-patients than among non-COVID patients (p<0.001). COVID patients had a higher proportion of nosocomial bacteremia (95.5%) than non-COVID patients (30.5%) (p<0.001). In COVID-positive patients, the contamination rate was 12.3% vs 5.7% in non-COVID patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in the number of blood cultures collected during the COVID period compared to previous years. Bacteremia in COVID patients was mainly nosocomial and catheter-related.

Bacteremia during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The reasons for the decrease in blood cultures were investigated and the rate and aetiology of bacteremia and contaminated blood cultures collected from COVID and non-COVID patients were assessed. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis in a tertiary hospital in Spain during the COVID period from 4th March 2020 to 21st June 2020. RESULTS: The number of blood cultures processed was 5313, representing 22.7% and 18.8% of decrease compared to the same months of 2019 and 2018, respectively (p=0.173). The rate of bacteremia was 1.2% higher among COVID-patients than among non-COVID patients (p<0.001). COVID patients had a higher proportion of nosocomial bacteremia (95.5%) than non-COVID patients (30.5%) (p<0.001). In COVID-positive patients, the contamination rate was 12.3% vs 5.7% in non-COVID patients (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in the number of blood cultures collected during the COVID period compared to previous years. Bacteremia in COVID patients was mainly nosocomial and catheter-related.

Pacemaker-induced endocarditis by Gordonia bronchialis.

PURPOSE: Gordonia species are known to be opportunistic human pathogens causing secondary infections. We present the second case in the world of endocarditis caused by Gordonia bronchialis and a review of all the cases of endocarditis caused by Gordonia spp. METHODS: The identification was performed by matrix-assisted desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed to confirm the identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by MIC test Strip on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 5% defibrinated sheep blood according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS: Pacemaker-induced endocarditis due to Gordonia bronchialis infection was determined in an 88-year old woman. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin until completing 6 weeks from the pacemaker explant with a good evolution. CONCLUSION: The case presented supports the pathogenic role of Gordonia bronchialis as an opportunistic pathogen and highlights the high risk of suffering infections caused by environmental bacteria.

Epidemiological investigation of the first human brucellosis case in Spain due to Brucella suis biovar 1 strain 1330.

INTRODUCTION: No cases of human brucellosis caused by Brucella suis has been reported in Spain. METHODS: This study involved interviews with the case and his co-workers, inspection of their workplace, checking infection control measures, and typing the Brucella strain isolated in the blood culture. RESULTS: Brucella suis biovar 1 strain 1330 was isolated from a patient who worked in a waste treatment plant. Food borne transmission, contact with animals, and risk jobs were ruled out. An accidental inoculation with a contaminated needle from a research laboratory waste container was identified as the most probable mode of transmission. CONCLUSION: There should be controls to ensure that waste containers are sealed.