Successful endoscopic closure of alveolar-pleural fistula due to Aspergillus empyema using a ventricular septal defect occluder.

We report a patient with fever and cough for 2 months who was finally given a diagnosis of alveolar-pleural fistula due to aspergillus empyema. We successfully closed the alveolar-pleural fistula with a ventricular septal defect occluder through bronchoscopy. Endoscopic closure of an alveolar-pleural fistula with ventricular septal defect occluder is worth being explored.

Case Report: Spontaneous Carinal Perforation and Bronchonodal Fistula due to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in an HIV-Infected Patient.

In clinical practice, nocardial infection is a rare opportunistic infection coexisting with potentially life-threatening condition, particularly in patients with HIV infection. Although the incidence remains low, it is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. The lung is a typical site involved in this organism, and complicating conditions can be resulted from local disruption and or destruction of adjacent structures. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pulmonary nocardiosis in an HIV-infected patient who is complicated with spontaneous carinal perforation, leading to develop bronchonodal fistula.

Fever of Unknown Origin - infected Fistula-in-Ano as the focus on 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) is a vexing clinical problem. Diagnosis of aetiology is essential for definitive management. A wide array of infective, inflammatory, malignant and miscellaneous pathologies can cause FUO. Hybrid imaging with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is now an integral part of FUO management because of its ability to demonstrate the cause in a large proportion of cases. The authors present the case of a 42-year-old male, where an infected fistula-in-ano was detected as the cause of FUO on 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Factors associated with local invasion in infective endocarditis: a nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: A substantial proportion of infective endocarditis (IE) cases are complicated by local invasion. The purpose of this study was to identify patient and disease characteristics associated with local invasion in surgically treated IE patients. METHODS: This was a nested case-control study. All episodes of IE for patients admitted to Cleveland Clinic from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2016 were identified from the Cleveland Clinic IE Registry. Patients ≥18 years of age who underwent surgery for IE were included. Among these, cases were those with local invasion, controls were those without. Local invasion, defined as periannular extension, paravalvular abscess, intracardiac fistula or pseudoaneurysm, was ascertained from the surgical operative note. Associations of selected factors with local invasion were examined in a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Among 511 patients who met inclusion criteria, 215 had local invasion. Mean age was 56 years; 369 were male. Overall 345 (68%) had aortic valve, 228 (45%) mitral valve, and 66 (13%) tricuspid or pulmonic valve involvement. Aortic valve involvement (OR 6.23, 95% CI 3.55-11.44), bioprosthetic valve (OR 3.88, 95% CI 2.36-6.44), significant paravalvular leak (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.60-9.89), new atrioventricular nodal block (OR 3.77, 95% CI 1.87-7.90), infection with streptococci other than viridans group streptococci (OR 7.54, 95% CI 2.42-24.87) and presence of central nervous system emboli (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.13-3.04) were associated with local invasion. DISCUSSION: Intracardiac and microorganism factors, but not comorbid conditions, are associated with local invasion in IE.

Extirpative Cultures Reveal Infectious Pubic Bone Osteomyelitis in Prostate Cancer Survivors With Urinary-Pubic Symphysis Fistulae (UPF).

OBJECTIVE: To examine the infectious features of patients with urinary pubic symphysis fistula (UPF) and their association with osteomyelitis. METHODS: We conducted a review of our quality improvement database for 36 patients with UPF undergoing bone resection and extirpative surgery from October 2012 to January 2019. An assessment of bone and urine cultures was carried out along with surgical, radiologic, and demographic data. We analyzed descriptive statistics and used Fisher Exact Tests and unpaired Welch t tests to assess for associations with positive bone cultures. RESULTS: In our cohort, 33 patients (91.7%) had positive bone cultures with the 3 most common organisms being candida (22.0%), enterococcus (18.0%), and pseudomonas (10.0%). There was a correlation between positive preoperative urine culture and positive bone culture (P <.01), with 63.0% of those with positive urine cultures growing the same organism on bone culture. CONCLUSION: In this series, 91.7% of patients undergoing extirpative surgery for UPF at our institution have positive bone cultures at time of pubic bone debridement. Additionally, we demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between positive urine cultures and positive bone cultures in these patients. This supports the need for a multidisciplinary approach including infectious disease, orthopedic surgery and reconstructive urology in order to address this complex clinical condition.

Multidrug resistant lymph node fistula tracheobronchial tuberculosis: A case report.

RATIONALE: The patient in this case report has been diagnosed with multidrug resistant lymph node fistula tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB). The PubMed was searched using the keywords "Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant", "Tuberculosis", and "Bronchial Fistula", and the results yielded no similar case reports. Therefore, this report helps us to explore more on the causes of multidrug resistance and formation of lymph node fistula, as well as associated treatment strategies. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 15-year old Tibetan girl who was previously treated in the local Hospital for Infectious Diseases for repeated TBTB demonstrated poor treatment outcomes, and so was further diagnosed in our hospital. After standard treatments, the cough and expectoration of the girl showed improvement, and mycobacterium culture showed negative results. Thoracic CT showed local compression of the right bronchus, and disappearance of stenosis. Bronchoscopy showed that the fistula was closed and healed. DIAGNOSES: Multidrug resistant lymph node fistula TBTB. INTERVENTIONS: Antituberculosis drugs such as pyrazinamide (0.75 g/time, twice per day), moxifloxacin (0.4 g per day), protionamide enteric-coated tablets (0.2 g/time, 3 times per day), pasiniazide tablets (0.3 g/time, 3 times per day), and capreomycin (0.75 g per day) were orally administered. The treatment included an 8-month intensive treatment phase and a 12-month consolidation phase. Bronchoscopic local injection combined with cryotherapy was also conducted. OUTCOMES: Bronchoscopy showed that the fistula was closed and healed, mycobacterium culture showed negative results, and thoracic CT showed local compression of the right bronchus, disappearance of stenosis after treatment. LESSONS: (1) This girl had a history of long-term oral intake of antituberculosis drugs, but the treatment effectiveness remained poor. Therefore, resistance to tuberculosis can be considered, and also mycobacterium culture and drug sensitivity tests should be considered. After these, the treatment strategies should be adjusted accordingly.(2) TBTB should be further classified by analyzing under the bronchoscope to decide the best treatment strategy accordingly.

[Microflora of surgical wounds and fistulas in patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia before reconstructive treatment, in case of recurrence of infection.]

Relevance of microbiological monitoring in chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia developed during treatment of fractures with a plate is associated with a noticeable increase of various kinds of the microflora. A microbiological study was conducted of pathological material taken from wounds, fistulas and from the focus of inflammation in 49 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis, developed during treatment of fractures with a plate. The patients underwent sequestrectomy of the tibia and subsequent application of bilocal consecutive compression-distraction osteosynthesis or monolocal compression osteosynthesis. Microbiological study of smears taken before the reconstructive treatment from fistulas and wounds of patients showed that in monoculture there were 30 strains, the remaining 30 - as a part of 14 two - and three-component associations. The frequency of S. aureus strains was 55.3%, followed by coagulase-negative staphylococcus - 13.6% and representatives of the family Enterobacteriacae - 10.2%. There were methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus in 11.8%, strains of coagulase-negative staphylococcus (MRCoNS) - 6.8%. Recurrence of the disease was observed in 7 patients. The microflora of the discharge from the fistula was represented by monocultures of S. aureus and associations of bacteria in which one of the components was methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus. We observed differences in the contents of the microflora before reconstructive treatment of patients and in recurrence of infection. In case of recurrence of infection, the qualitative contents of the microflora changed: in 2 patients in the association of microorganisms and in 3 - in monocultures, S. aureus strains acquired resistance to ß-lactam antibiotics, new associations appeared, which were not present in primary cultures before reconstructive treatment. The study showed that the spectrum of micro-organisms in chronic osteomyelitis of the tibia, developed after osteosynthesis with a plate, varied and is subject to change and that dictates the need for microbiological monitoring to detect the etiological structure of pathogens, monitoring of antibiotic resistance of the isolated strains and rational approach to treatment of patients.

Nivolumab therapy for lung cancer with tracheo-parenchymal fistula: A case report.

RATIONALE: Tracheobronchial fistulas are rare complications in lung cancer patients. These lesions are associated with a high rate of mortality caused by infection and bleeding, and there is no consensus on a definitive optimal therapy. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES: The patient was a 59-year-old man with a right lung mass showing mediastinal invasion and tracheal compression, diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, cT4N0M0, stage IIIA. He was treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel, and the lesion markedly shrunk. Eleven months later, the lesion showed regrowth, and he underwent repeated chemotherapy for stabilization of the lesion. Thirty-six months after the first regrowth, the tumor showed regrowth again. The patient was then administered docetaxel and bevacizumab as fifth-line therapy. After 11 cycles of docetaxel and bevacizumab therapy, a tracheo-parenchymal fistula appeared. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Docetaxel and bevacizumab therapy was stopped, and nivolumab therapy was initiated. Subsequently, the fistula and cavity became stable with slight shrinkage. To date, the patient is alive with no complaints and no disease progression and has continued nivolumab for a total of 28 months. LESSONS: Immune-checkpoint inhibitor therapy involving nivolumab therapy might be a useful alternative for the treatment of lung cancer involving a tracheobronchial fistula.

[Pathological analysis and treatments of neck infection induced by congenital pyriform sinus fistula].

Objective:To identify the pathogenic bacteria of CPSF and their resistance to antibiotics,and guide the rational use of antibiotics therapy.Method:One hundred and thirty cases of deep neck infection whose imaging finding depicted patients with suspected as CPSF were enrolled in the study from January 2010 to June 2017.Specimens were collected from abscesses or other inflammatory lesions from all patients through a small incision or the external orifice on the skin of the neck.Result:A total of 108 strains of pathogens have been isolated from 88 patients (positive rate: 67.7%), among which the gram-positive bacteria accounted for 56.5%, gram-negative bacteria accounted for 43.5%. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus (22.2%) were the most common pathogens among young patients (≤14 years old) (17.7%);Klebsiellapneumoniae (15.7%) were the most common pathogens among the patients over 14 years old. Separation of pathogenic bacteria have maintained a low resistance to most antibiotics. G+ bacteria is totally sensitive to quinupristin/dalfopristin and vancomycin; G-bacteria is totally sensitive to cefoperazone/Batan, piperacillin/tazobactam,imipenem.Conclusion:Most of pathogens come from upper respiratory tract in CPSF cases, and are mostly sensitive to ßlactamase.

[Aorto-bifermoral grafs infection due to Candida parapsilosis. An unusual pathogen]. / Infección de injerto aortobifemoral por Candida parapsilosis. Un germen inhabitual.

BACKGROUND: Aorto-enteric fistula is a rare and potentially lethal entity. Its presentation may be as an enteric-paraprosthetic fistula, due to injury in the gut caused by direct contact with the vascular prosthesis. OBJECTIVE: We report a case of enteric-paraprosthetic fistulae with the unusual finding of Candida parapsilosis as the only isolated pathogen. CLINICAL CASE: A 65-year-old male, smoker, with aortobifemoral revascularisation with dacron due to aortoiliac occlusive disease, and re-intervention for thrombosis of left arm at 6 months. Hospitalisation at 22 months was required due to a toxic syndrome, which was diagnosed as enteric-paraprosthetic fistulae after complementary studies. The graft was removed and an extra-anatomic revascularisation was performed. Microbiology specimens taken from the duodenal segment in contact with the prosthesis showed the prosthetic segment and peri-prosthetic fluid were positive to C. parapsilosis. DISCUSSION: The finding of C. parapsilosis in all cultures taken during surgery, along with negative blood cultures and no other known sources of infection, is of interest. It is an unusual pathogen with low virulence and limited as regards other Candida species. Our patient had no clinical data common to cases of infection with C. parapsilosis, and the mechanism of graft infection is unknown. CONCLUSION: Graft infection by C. parapsilosis may be anecdotal. However, its consequences can also be severe. Microbiological tests can be useful to adjust antimicrobial therapy in the post-operative period, but their usefulness for determining the aetiology is doubtful, as it may be just an incidental finding.

[THE BIOFILM FORMATION ABILITY OF STRAINS SERRATIA SPP., SEPARATED FROM WOUNDS OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OSTEOMYELITIS IN MONO-CULTURES AND IN COMPOSITION OF ASSOCIATION OF MICROORGANISMS HARVESTED IN VITRO].

The article presents analysis of characteristics of 7 clinical strains of Serratia marcescens separated from fistulas in pre-operational period and from nidus of inflammation during operations in 2013-2015. in 7 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of long tubular bones. The bacteria S.marcescens are separated in one patient in monoculture and in 6 patients in composition of associations: S.marcescens + S.warneri + P.aeruginosa (n=1); S.marcescens + S.aureus (n=4); S.marcescens + M.morganii (n=1). According phometric analysis, strains of S.marcescens were characterized by average ability for biofilm formation on the surfaces of polystyrene dishes and cover glass that is substantiated by values of optic density and is conformed to data of their adhesion activity. The biofilm formation ability of association of microorganisms (S.marcescens + P.aeruginosa, S.marcescens + M.morgani) already after 24 hours of experiment were correspondingly higher in 1.4 and 1.2 times of levels of biofilm formation in monocultures. The activity of biofilm formation of association (S.marcescens + S.aureus) on the first day of experiment was low. However, after 48 hours a significant growth of biofilm was observed that is substantiated by values of optical density. The results of study demonstrated ability of all clinical strains of S.marcescens separated from osteomyelitis nidus to adhesion on surface of erythrocytes and to biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces (polystyrene and glass) both in monoculture and associations with other microorganisms. In consideration that microbial films play leading role in chronization of infectious diseases it is necessary to be aware of seriousness of etiologic role of S.marcescens in development of osteomyelitis as a pathogen.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria in fistula-in-ano: A new finding and its implications.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are not known to be associated with fistula-in-ano. NTM was detected in three fistula-in-ano patients in our series. In this study, related data was reviewed to find the mycobacterial disease in patients in our database. METHODS: In this study, 311 consecutive fistula-in-ano patients operated over 2years were analyzed. The histopathology of anal fistula tract epithelial lining of every operated patient was analyzed and other tests (real-time-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR], GeneXpert, and mycobacterial culture) were conducted in patients with high index of suspicion of having mycobacterial disease. RESULTS: Two patients had histopathological features suggestive of mycobacterial disease. Of these, one patient had NTM and the other had Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) on RT-PCR. Four patients had normal histopathology features but tested positive on RT-PCR (2 each for NTM and MTB). Therefore, a total of six patients were tested for mycobacterial disease (3 each for NTM and MTB). Mycobacterium culture was performed in two patients (both NTM) but the result was negative. Five of six patients (NTM=2, MTB=3) presented with delayed recurrences after operation (6-18months after complete healing). CONCLUSION: NTM can cause fistula-in-ano. It could be an undiagnosed contributory factor in fistula recurrence. Mycobacterial disease (both tuberculous and nontuberculous) may be associated with delayed recurrence of fistula. RT-PCR is highly sensitive and can differentiate between NTM and MTB. It should perhaps be performed in all recurrent and refractory cases.

[The microbiological study of purulent focus of inflammation in patients with chronic osteomyelitis of long bones].

The article presents analysis of results of microbiological study of pathologic samples from fistula and surgical wounds of 155 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of long bones in the period of exacerbation of disease during 2014-2015. In totality, 126 samples from fistula and 95 samples from wounds were analyzed. Correspondingly, 164 and 102 strains of bacteria were separated. The microbial contamination of fistula and wounds was established. The species composition of microflora was analyzed. It is established that in the analyzed groups the main agent still continues to be staphylococcus and priority pathogen Staphylococcus aureus differing slightly in rate of occurrence and coefficient of resistance. MRSA was separated up to 5.6% more often from surgical wounds than from fistula. The highest detection rate of strains S. aureus and MRSA falls on 2009-2010. In 2015, the lowest detection rate of S. aureus was marked with relatively high rate of detection of MRSA. The disk diffusion D-test was applied to determine resistance of inducible type to Clindamycin of 17 strains of S. aureus resistant to Erythromycin and sensitive to Clindamycin. The inducible resistance to Clindamycin for strains from surgery pounds made up to 62.5% that is three times higher than in case of strains separated from fistula. The important role in development of chronic of osteomyelitis of long bones is played by Gram-negative microorganisms (E. coli, Enterobacter, P. aeruginosa, etc.). The rate of detection of these microorganisms in surgery wounds makes up to 22.5% and 17.1% in fistula.