Permanent transvenous pacemaker infections: An analysis of 59 cases.

BACKGROUND: Pacemaker infection is a severe process affecting 1-7% of implants. Pulse generator pocket infection is most common. Endocarditis in patients with pacemakers is quite rare. Clinical signs include systemic-related symptoms and severe complications in as many as 40% of cases. The aim of our study was to review our experience and to analyze the epidemiology and treatment of those patients diagnosed as having pacemaker lead endocarditis. METHODS: A retrospective study included all patients diagnosed as having pacemaker endocarditis in our hospital from 1996 to 2002. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients with pacemaker-related infection were identified, including 39 (66%) with pocket infection. Fever occurred in 25 patients (42%). In 39 patients, a germ was isolated, corresponding to Staphylococcus spp. in 22 (56%). Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated vegetations in 7 patients (12%), whereas transesophageal echocardiography disclosed abnormal appearances on the pacemaker lead in 10 patients (17%). Ten patients were treated exclusively with antibiotics, while 38 patients required the removal of all infected material. Two patients died. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of endocarditis related to pacemaker infection should be suspected in the presence of fever. High morbidity and mortality are associated with this disease. Prompt treatment, including in some cases removal of the device, is mandatory.

[Splenic abscess: presentation of nine cases]. / Abscesos esplénicos: presentación de nueve casos.

Relatively rare, splenic abscess is difficult to diagnose and often fatal if left untreated. The disease is thought to be growing in frequency because of the increasing number of inmunocompromised patients. Several mechanisms for the development of splenic abscess may exist. Some studies demonstrate that prior splenic injury in addition to bacteraemia is required for a splenic abscess to occur. In our series, 9 non immunocompromised patients were identified to have this disease during a 6 years period. Pathogens isolated included Salmonella sp, Staphylococcus sp and Enterococcus sp. Splenectomy was performed in three patients; in another a percutaneous drainage was done. One patient died. In summary, though rare, splenic abscess presents with high morbidity and mortality. In our experience, risk factors as immunocompromise seem not to be so prevalent in patients with splenic abscess and therefore this diagnosis should be considered in all patients with fever of unknown origin.

[Hiccup: review of 24 cases]. / Hipo (singultus): revisión de 24 casos.

BACKGROUND: Although common and usually benign, hiccups can be an extremely uncomfortable disease. There is not much information about persistent and refractory hiccups. AIM: To report clinical features of patients admitted in a hospital due to hiccup. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study and prospective follow up of patients admitted for hiccup in Hospital Clínico de Santiago de Compostela between January 1998 and May 2005. RESULTS: Twenty four patients (age 47 to 91 years, 23 males) were studied. Nineteen (79%) were admitted because of persistent hiccups. In twenty one patients, at inverted exclamation markeast one organic etiology was identified, and thirteen patients presented two or more possible associated conditions. The most common possible causes were digestive tract disorders, followed by central nervous system diseases. Twelve patients had a history of exposure to drugs that potentially could cause hiccups, mainly corticosteroids and benzodiazepines. Chlorpromazine was the first choice treatment in 23 patients, but seven required a second line drug. Average hospital stay was 13 days (range 3-90 days). Twelve patients died during follow up. Death occurred during the first three months of follow up in 61%. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent hiccup is often associated with organic conditions, specially advanced tumors of the digestive tract. It is usually associated with a bad prognosis.

[Pyomyositis: report of seventeen cases]. / Piomiositis: presentación de 17 casos en niños y adultos.

BACKGROUND: Pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle. Although more commonly seen in the tropics, it is increasingly recognized in temperate regions. The age distribution for patients with so called "tropical" or "temperate" pyomyositis differs. Most cases of tropical pyomyositis are seen in otherwise healthy patients and mainly in children, while the majority of cases of temperate pyomyositis occur in inmunocompromised adults. AIM: To report a series of patients with pyomyositis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical records of patients admitted to our hospital with pyomyositis during the period 1996-2001. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were identified, aged from 5 to 86 years old, nine (53%) males. Staphylococcus aureus (13 cases, 76%) was the most common infecting organism. Eleven patients (65%) had a history of previous trauma. All patients were immunocompetent. Six patients underwent surgical drainage. Six patients (35%) presented complications and of those, one died. CONCLUSIONS: All patients of this series were immunocompetent. Pyomyositis is a serious and life threatening disease but curable. An early treatment is the key to a better prognosis.

[HIV infection in patients aged 50 years or older in the HAART era]. / Infección por VIH en pacientes mayores de 50 años en la etapa TARGA.

There is little information on patients 50 years or older with HIV infection since the start of the HAART era. We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study during 2004 including 28 patients aged 52 to 87 years. Eighteen patients were men (64%) and sexual transmission was the risk factor in 23 (81%). Four patients (14%) fulfilled slow progression criteria and 13 (46%) belonged to the C3 category. Twenty-four patients were on HAART, with optimal adherence. All the patients were receiving HIV-unrelated medications to treat comorbid conditions. Hence, the profile of these patients is as follows: mainly male with sexually transmitted infection, severe immunodeficiency at the diagnosis, and frequent comorbid processes.

Complicaciones focales en salmonelosis, 13 casos entre los años 1996 y 2002 en Galicia, España / Focal complications in salmonelosis: 13 cases among 1996 - 2002 in Galicia, Spain

El género salmonella incluye enterobacterias responsables de numerosos casos de patología infecciosa. Las complicaciones focales son poco frecuentes. Se realizó el estudio retrospectivo entre los años 1996 y 2002 de los casos diagnosticados en el Hospital Clínico de Santiago de Compostela, España. Se diagnosticaron 153 casos como infección por salmonella, de los que 13 (8,5%) presentaron complicaciones. Las edades incluidas fueron entre 17 y 80 años, con una mediana de 37 años, de los que nueve casos (69%) eran hombres y en 7 (54%) no existían factores de riesgo asociados. En 12 pacientes (93%) existía antecedente de gastroenteritis. Los diagnósticos se realizaron por coprocultivo (5 casos), en 6 pacientes (46%) por hemocultivo, en otros 3 casos ambos fueron positivos. Las complicaciones incluyeron absceso esplénico, neumonía, endocarditis, endarteritis, sepsis, hepatitis y artritis reactiva. No existió un claro predominio estacional. El antibiótico pautado fue en 8 pacientes (64%) ciprofloxacino; tres pacientes fueron intervenidos. Dos pacientes fallecieron. En esta serie de casos se concluyó que la prevalencia y morbimortalidad de complicaciones, es elevada. La presentación más habitual es sepsis (4 casos), neumonía (3 casos) y absceso esplénico (2 casos), frente a la osteomuscular o partes blandas (1 caso). Se detectó bacteriemia en un porcentaje elevado de los casos...

Genus salmonella includes enterobacteriaes responsible of a great amount of infectious diseases. Focal complications are not frecuent. We conducted a 5 retrospective study between 1996 and 2002. We included 153 cases with salmonella infection, 13 of which (8, 5%) with ages between 17 and 80 years (median 37) presented focal complications. Nine of the patients were male (69%) and in 7 cases (54%) risk factors were present, 12 (93%) presented previously gastroenteric signs. Microbiological diagnosis established through stool examination (5 cases), in 6 (46%) with blood culture, in other 3 cases, both were positive. Complications included splenic abscess, pneumonia,endocarditis, endarteritis, sepsis, hepatitis and reactive arthritis. No clear seasonal pattern was established. Eight patients (64%) received ciprofloxacin. Three patients were surgically treated. Two patients died. Conclusion: In our series prevalence and morbimortality in focal complications is high. The most common presentation was sepsis (4 cases), pneumonia (3) and splenic abscess (2). Bacteraemia was documented in a high percentage of cases. No seasonal pattern was established...

Piomiositis: presentación de 17 casos en niños y adultos / Pyomyositis: Report of seventeen cases

Background: Pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of skeletal muscle. Although more commonly seen in the tropics, it is increasingly recognized in temperate regions. The age distribution for patients with so called "tropical" or "temperate" pyomyositis differs. Most cases of tropical pyomyositis are seen in otherwise healthy patients and mainly in children, while the majority of cases of temperate pyomyositis occur in inmunocompromised adults. Aim: To report a series of patients with pyomyositis. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of clinical records of patients admitted to our hospital with pyomyositis during the period 1996-2001. Results: Seventeen patients were identified, aged from 5 to 86 years old, nine (53%) males. Staphylococcus aureus (13 cases, 76%) was the most common infecting organism. Eleven patients (65%) had a history of previous trauma. All patients were immunocompetent. Six patients underwent surgical drainage. Six patients (35%) presented complications and of those, one died. Conclusions: All patients of this series were immunocompetent. Pyomyositis is a serious and life threatening disease but curable. An early treatment is the key to a better prognosis.

Abscesos esplénicos: presentación de nueve casos / Splenic abscess: presentation of nine cases

El absceso esplénico es una entidad poco frecuente, que presenta dificultad diagnóstica y tiene alta letalidad si no se trata. Se estima que la enfermedad está en aumento en relación al incremento en el número de pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Varios serían los mecanismos implicados en su patogenia. Algunos estudios muestran la preexistencia de lesiones esplénicas sumadas a bacteriemia como necesarios en su génesis. En nuestra serie se identificaron 9 pacientes inmunocompetentes en un período de 6 años. Entre los patógenos se aislaron Salmonella sp, Staphyloccus sp y Enterococcus sp. En tres casos se realizó esplenectomía, y en uno se efectuó drenaje percutáneo. Un paciente falleció. En definitiva, aunque infrecuentes, los abscesos esplénicos presentan una gran morbimortalidad. Factores de riesgo como inmunodeficiencia no son tan prevalentes en nuestra experiencia, debiéndose considerar esta patología en la evaluación completa de los pacientes con fiebre de origen no precisado.