Abscesos hepaticos en tiempos de pandemia (covid19) / Hepatic abscesses in time of pandemic (COVID 19)

Introducción. Los abscesos hepáticos son infecciones focales supurativas. La Klebsiella pneumoniae es el agente etiológico más frecuente. Afecta principalmente a hombres de edad media, diabéticos, con afecciones hepáticas o en contexto de inmunodepresión. Se clasifican en abscesos colangíticos, pioflebíticos, hematógenos, por continuidad, traumáticos y criptogénicos, según mecanismo de producción. Se manifiestan con dolor abdominal en hipocondrio derecho, sd. febril y sd. colestásico en presencia de obstrucción de vía biliar. La ecografía, TAC y la Resonancia magnética de abdomen son los métodos de elección para determinar topografía y morfología de las colecciones. El tratamiento consiste en el drenaje oportuno de la colección por vía percutánea o quirúrgica, asociado al tratamiento antibiótico. Objetivos: 1. Análisis epidemiológico de abscesos hepáticos durante la Pandemia por Covid 19 en una Institución privada de Tucumán. 2. Estudiar la fisiopatología y agentes patógenos responsables de los mismos. 3. Comparar estadísticas con era similar no Covid 19. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo. Se incluyeron seis pacientes con diagnóstico de Absceso Hepático, cinco de ellos del período de la era Covid 19 y uno de la era no Covid 19. Las variables analizadas fueron: cantidad de pacientes ingresados al Servicio, pacientes con absceso hepático, sexo, edad, comorbilidades, métodos de diagnóstico imagenológico utilizados, localización anatómica del absceso, número de lesiones, microbiología de la muestra quirúrgica y en sangre, tratamiento implementado, días desde el diagnóstico hasta la resolución, STROC y recidiva. Resultados: En el análisis epidemiológico se evidenció un notable descenso de la actividad quirúrgica en el periodo del 2020, respecto al mismo período del año previo, a predominio del mes de abril con un porcentaje de descenso del 52%, coincidiendo este período con el inicio de la cuarentena en la provincia. En nuestra serie resultaron todos masculinos, hipertensos y 3 de ellos diabéticos. Todos estudiados por ecografía y 3 complementaron con TAC con contraste EV. Fueron tratados en un promedio de 48hs desde el diagnóstico. Cultivos positivos, Klebsiella Pn (3), St aureus (1), E. Coli (1), Bacilo gram ­ (1). Hemocultivos: 3 negativos, 2 positivos para Klebsiella Pn y 1 para St. Aureus. 3 pacientes fueron sometidos a drenaje percutáneo, 2 a laparoscópico y uno convencional. Se registraron 2 STROC IIIA y 1 IIIB. Un paciente obitó, el resto recibió alta sanatorial. Se registraron 2 recidivas. Conclusiones: Nuestros pacientes, en su totalidad masculinos y diabéticos, desarrollaron abscesos hepáticos piógenos; el agente patógeno más frecuente fue la Klebsiella Pneumoniae. Los abscesos criptogénicos fueron los más prevalentes. En las recidivas documentadas, se determinó misma ubicación topográfica y agente etiológico del primer episodio, lo que nos lleva a preguntarnos sobre la eficacia del tratamiento implementado en cada caso.

Introduction: liver abscess is a common infection. Klebsiella pneumoniae was de most frecuently etiologic agent. The patients were middle-aged men with diabetes, another liver afection or immunodepression context. According to the production mechanism, they are classified in colangitics, pyophlebics, haematogenes, by continuity, traumatic and cryptogrnics. Patients usually present with right upper quadrant, fever, colestasic síndrome when bile-way obstruction exist. Imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance are useful tools to demostrtate a space occupying lesión and morfology of liver abscess. Treatment consist in timely drainage by percutaneous or surgical route, plus antibiotic treatment. Objetives: 1. Epidemiological análisis of liver abscesses during the pandemic Covid 19 in a private center in Tucumán. 2. Study physiology and pathogenic agents. 3. Campare statistics whit previusly period. Materials and methods: retrospective descriptive study. Six live abscess diagnosis patient were included, five of them included in stage Covid 19 and only one belong stage no Covid 19. Variables analysed: number of patients belong to the Service, number of patients whit liver abscess diagnosis, sex, age, comorbilities, imaging methods, location and number of abscess, microbiology of surgical sample and blood, treatment, days from diagnosis to resolution, STROC and recidivation. Results: epidemiological análisis showed a decrease in surgeries in the period 2020, compared to the same period of the previous year, a predominance in April with a percentage decrease of 52%, coinciding with the start of quarantine in the province. All patients were male, hypertensive and 3 of them with diabetes. Al lof them studied by ultrasound and tomography with contrast. They were treated at 48hours of diagnosis. Microbiology of surgical sample positive: Klebsiella Pn (3), St aureus (1), E. Coli (1), Bacillos gram ­ (1). Microbiology of blood: 3 negative, 2 positive to Klebsiella Pn and 1 to St. Aureus. 3 patients were drainage by percutaneous , 2 by laparoscopic and 1 by surgical conventional. They registered 2 STROC IIIA y 1 IIIB. 1 patiente dead, the rest were external from hospital. Conclusions: our patients developed liver abscess, they were male, diabetics and the most frecuently agent was the Klebsiella pneumoniae. Criptogenics abscess were the most prevalent. The same topographic location in the liver and the etiologic agent was determined in recurrence. That´s why we wonder about the effectiveness of the treatment implemented.

[Emerging bacteria in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis from a microbiologist's perspective]. / Bactéries émergentes dans la mucoviscidose et les dilatations des bronches hors mucoviscidose. Le point de vue du microbiologiste.

INTRODUCTION: Common major pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa are identified in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis. However, other opportunistic bacterial pathogens like Achromobacter xylosoxidans complex, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and non-tuberculous mycobacteria are currently emerging in CF and are also reported in non-CF bronchiectasis. BACKGROUND: The emergence of opportunistic bacterial pathogens has been recognized in CF through annual national reports of sputum microbiology data. Despite common factors driving the emergence of bacteria identified in CF and non-CF bronchiectasis patients, bronchiectasis registries have been created more recently and no longitudinal analysis of recorded microbiological data is currently available in the literature, thereby preventing the recognition of emerging bacteria in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis. OUTLOOK: A longitudinal follow-up of microbiological data is still needed in non-CF bronchiectasis to identify emerging opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Homogeneity in practice of sputum microbiological examination is also required to allow comparative analysis of data in CF and non-CF bronchiectasis. CONCLUSION: Bacterial pathogens recognized as emerging in CF have to be more carefully monitored in non-CF bronchiectasis in view of their association with deterioration of the lung disease.

Human Pythiosis: Emergence of Fungal-Like Organism.

Pythiosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the aquatic oomycete Pythium insidiosum, a fungal-like organism. It is believed that P. insidiosum's zoospores, its infected form, play major role in pathogenesis. Vascular and ocular infections are the most common clinical manifestation in humans. It is difficult to establish the diagnosis given its relatively rarity and difficulty to distinguish P. insidiosum from other molds. Delay in diagnosis and treatment has been associated with poor outcomes. High index of suspicion is the key, particularly in thalassemia patients with arterial insufficiency and patients with fungal keratitis/endophthalmitis without improvement on antifungal therapy. Tissue culture and zoospore induction remain gold standard for diagnosis; however, DNA-based method should be performed simultaneously. The combination of radical surgery, antifungal agents, and immunotherapy has been recommended. It was previously believed that surgery with negative surgical margins was the essential to survive in vascular pythiosis; however, it was recently found that patients could have residual disease despite documented negative surgical margins as infected clot may be dislodged to proximal arterial sites prior to surgery. Serum ß-D-glucan (BG) has been used to monitor disease response after treatment initiation in vascular pythiosis. A significant decrease in BG levels within 2 weeks after surgery is indicative of the absence of residual infection. Unfortunately, monitoring tools for ocular pythiosis are not yet available. Itraconazole plus terbinafine have generally been used in P. insidiosum-infected patients; however, antibacterial agents, including azithromycin and linezolid, have also been used with favorable outcomes in ocular disease. Recently, azithromycin or clarithromycin plus doxycyclin were used in two relapsed vascular pythiosis patients with good outcomes.

Polyomaviruses of the skin: integrating molecular and clinical advances in an emerging class of viruses.

BACKGROUND: Human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) are small, nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that express tumour antigen proteins. Fourteen species of polyomaviruses have been discovered in humans, and since the 2008 discovery of the first cutaneous polyomavirus - Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) - six more species have been detected in the skin: trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV), HPyV6, HPyV7, HPyV9, HPyV10 and HPyV13. Of these cutaneous species, only MCPyV, TSPyV, HPyV6 and HPyV7 have been definitively associated with diseases of the skin, most commonly in immunocompromised individuals. MCPyV is a predominant aetiology in Merkel cell carcinomas. TSPyV is one of the aetiological factors of trichodysplasia spinulosa. HPyV6 and HPyV7 have been recently linked to pruritic skin eruptions. The roles of HPyV9, HPyV10 and HPyV13 in pathogenesis, if any, are still unknown, but their molecular features have provided some insight into their functional biology. RESULTS: In this review, we summarize the known molecular mechanisms, clinical presentation and targeted therapies of each of the eight cutaneous HPyVs. CONCLUSIONS: We hope that heightened awareness and clinical recognition of HPyVs will lead to increased reports of HPyV-associated diseases and, consequently, a more robust understanding of how to diagnose and treat these conditions.

Emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in otorhinolaryngology.

SUMMARY: Emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in otorhinolaryngology (ENT) are an area of growing epidemiological and clinical interest. The aim of this section is to comprehensively report on the epidemiology of key infectious disease in otorhinolaryngology, reporting on their burden at the national and international level, expanding of the need of promoting and implementing preventive interventions, and the rationale of applying evidence-based, effective and cost- effective diagnostic, curative and preventive approaches. In particular, we focus on i) ENT viral infections (HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, Human Papilloma virus), retrieving the available evidence on their oncogenic potential; ii) typical and atypical mycobacteria infections; iii) non-specific granulomatous lymphadenopathy; iv) emerging paediatric ENT infectious diseases and the prevention of their complications; v) the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in ENT and the strategies for its control in different clinical settings. We conclude by outlining knowledge gaps and action needed in ENT infectious diseases research and clinical practice and we make references to economic analysis in the field of ENT infectious diseases prevention and care.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis after Herpes simplex virus-associated encephalitis: an emerging disease with diagnosis and therapeutic challenges.

INTRODUCTION: Morbidity and mortality of Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) remain high. Relapses of neurological signs may occur after initial clinical improvement under acyclovir treatment. METHODS: We report here a case of post-HSE anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated encephalitis in an adult and perform a systematic search on PubMed to identify other cases in adults. RESULTS: We identified 11 previously published cases, to discuss diagnostic and therapeutic management. Symptoms in adults are often inappropriate behaviors, confusion and agitation. Diagnosis of anti-NMDA-R encephalitis after HSE is often delayed. Treatment consists in steroids, plasma exchange, and rituximab. Prognosis is often favorable. CONCLUSION: Anti-NMDA-R antibodies should be searched in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with unexpected evolution of HSE. This emerging entity reopens the hot debate about steroids in HSE.

[Tropical ophthalmology : Intraocular inflammation caused by "new" infectious pathogens and travel-related infections]. / Tropenophthalmologie : Intraokulare Entzündungen bei "neuen" Infektionserregern und Reiseinfektionen.

A number of "new" (emerging) infections that can also cause inflammatory eye changes are appearing and becoming increasingly important. In the past, diseases such as chikungunya, dengue fever or West Nile virus infections were endemic in tropical regions, but are now expanding worldwide and causing significant morbidity and even mortality. "Globalization" and human migration are important factors leading to the import of these infections. Climate changes are probably even more important. Increasing temperatures provide suitable conditions for new vectors, and may lead to autochthonous transmission of infectious pathogens. Diagnosis of these diseases requires not only careful assessment of medical and travel history, but also the application of specific laboratory diagnostic tests. A broad spectrum of ocular involvement has been reported, with frequent posterior segment involvement. Emerging infections should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of retinitis, chorioretinitis, retinal vasculitis and optic neuropathy in a patient living in or traveling back from an endemic area. Since these infections are often vector (insect) borne and effective treatments are almost uniformly lacking, prevention is at least as important as prompt diagnosis and initiation of supportive care. Here, we focus on Chikungunya, Dengue fever, Ebola fever, the West Nile virus and Rickettsioses, which frequently demonstrate ocular involvement.

[Invasive fungal disease due to Scedosporium, Fusarium and mucorales]. / Enfermedad fúngica invasora por Scedosporium, Fusarium y Mucor.

The number of emerging organisms causing invasive fungal infections has increased in the last decades. These etiological agents include Scedosporium, Fusarium and mucorales. All of them can cause disseminated, virulent, and difficult-to treat infections in immunosuppressed patients, the most affected, due to their resistance to most available antifungal agents. Current trends in transplantation including the use of new immunosuppressive treatments, the common prescription of antifungal agents for prophylaxis, and new ecological niches could explain the emergence of these fungal pathogens. These pathogens can also affect immunocompetent individuals, especially after natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, tsunamis), combat wounds or near drowning. All the invasive infections caused by Scedosporium, Fusarium, and mucorales are potentially lethal and a favourable outcome is associated with rapid diagnosis by direct microscopic examination of the involved tissue, wide debridement of infected material, early use of antifungal agents including combination therapy, and an improvement in host defenses, especially neutropenia.

Staphylococcus caprae bone and joint infections: a re-emerging infection?

Staphylococcus caprae has been recently classified as a human pathogen, but the incidence of S. caprae in human bone and joint infections (BJIs) is under-reported. In this study, we report 25 cases of S. caprae BJI, and we review the 31 cases published in the literature. Molecular techniques and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry improved the identification of clinically relevant S. caprae strains. In this study, 96% of S. caprae BJIs were localized to the lower limbs, and 88% of the cases involved orthopaedic device infections. S. caprae joint prosthesis infections (JPIs), internal osteosynthesis device infections (I-ODIs) and BJIs without orthopaedic device infections were recorded in 60%, 28% and 12% of cases, respectively. Ten (40%) S. caprae BJIs were polymicrobial infections. These infections were associated with past histories of malignancy (p 0.024). Of the 14 bacterial species related to S. caprae BJI, 57% were staphylococci. I-ODIs were significantly associated with polymicrobial infections (p 0.0068), unlike JPIs, which were monomicrobial infections (p 0.0344). Treatment with rifampicin and fluoroquinolone was recorded in 40% of cases. Surgical treatment was performed in 76% of cases, e.g. prosthesis removal (36%), osteosynthesis device removal (24%), and surgical debridement (16%). Thirty per cent of cases were not treated. Relapses were observed mainly in the patients treated by surgical debridement only (p 0.033). In summary, S. caprae BJI is an underestimated hospital-acquired emerging infection. S. caprae BJI is correlated with infections in orthopaedic devices, which must be removed to control the infection.

Child, household, and caregiver characteristics associated with hospitalization for influenza among children 6-59 months of age: an emerging infections program study.

BACKGROUND: Young children are at increased risk of severe outcomes from influenza illness, including hospitalization. We conducted a case-control study to identify risk factors for influenza-associated hospitalizations among children in US Emerging Infections Program sites. METHODS: Cases were children 6-59 months of age hospitalized for laboratory-confirmed influenza infections during 2005-2008. Age- and zip-code-matched controls were enrolled. Data on child, caregiver and household characteristics were collected from parents and medical records. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for hospitalization. RESULTS: We enrolled 290 (64%) of 454 eligible cases and 1089 (49%) of 2204 eligible controls. Risk for influenza hospitalization increased with maternal age <26 years [odds ratio (OR): 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.9]; household income below the poverty threshold (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4-3.6); smoking by >50% of household members (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.4-6.6); lack of household influenza vaccination (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.5) and presence of chronic illnesses, including hematologic/oncologic (OR: 11.8, 95% CI: 4.5-31.0), pulmonary (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.9-4.4) and neurologic (OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.6-9.2) conditions. Full influenza immunization decreased the risk among children 6-23 months of age (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) but not among those 24-59 months of age (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 0.8-3.0; P value for difference = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic illnesses, young maternal age, poverty, household smoking and lack of household influenza vaccination increased the risk of influenza hospitalization. These characteristics may help providers to identify young children who are at greatest risk for severe outcomes from influenza illness.

Rapid Generation of Human-Like Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies in Urgent Preparedness for Influenza Pandemics and Virulent Infectious Diseases.

BACKGROUND: The outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases caused by pathogens such as SARS coronavirus, H5N1, H1N1, and recently H7N9 influenza viruses, have been associated with significant mortality and morbidity in humans. Neutralizing antibodies from individuals who have recovered from an infection confer therapeutic protection to others infected with the same pathogen. However, survivors may not always be available for providing plasma or for the cloning of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The genome and the immunoglobulin genes in rhesus macaques and humans are highly homologous; therefore, we investigated whether neutralizing mAbs that are highly homologous to those of humans (human-like) could be generated. Using the H5N1 influenza virus as a model, we first immunized rhesus macaques with recombinant adenoviruses carrying a synthetic gene encoding hemagglutinin (HA). Following screening an antibody phage display library derived from the B cells of immunized monkeys, we cloned selected macaque immunoglobulin heavy chain and light chain variable regions into the human IgG constant region, which generated human-macaque chimeric mAbs exhibiting over 97% homology to human antibodies. Selected mAbs demonstrated potent neutralizing activities against three clades (0, 1, 2) of the H5N1 influenza viruses. The in vivo protection experiments demonstrated that the mAbs effectively protected the mice even when administered up to 3 days after infection with H5N1 influenza virus. In particular, mAb 4E6 demonstrated sub-picomolar binding affinity to HA and superior in vivo protection efficacy without the loss of body weight and obvious lung damage. The analysis of the 4E6 escape mutants demonstrated that the 4E6 antibody bound to a conserved epitope region containing two amino acids on the globular head of HA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study demonstrated the generation of neutralizing mAbs for potential application in humans in urgent preparedness against outbreaks of new influenza infections or other virulent infectious diseases.

BK polyomavirus: emerging pathogen.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a small double-stranded DNA virus that is an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. BKPyV is widespread in the general population, but primarily causes disease when immune suppression leads to reactivation of latent virus. Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis in renal and bone marrow transplant patients, respectively, are the most common diseases associated with BKPyV reactivation and lytic infection. In this review, we discuss the clinical relevance, effects on the host, virus life cycle, and current treatment protocols.

Emergence of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in the United States, with a review of worldwide cases.

BACKGROUND: We examined the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, histopathology, management, and outcomes of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis, an uncommon manifestation of infection caused by the fungus Basidiobolus ranarum. METHODS: In this retrospective observational cohort study, cases of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in the United States were identified by reviewing medical records from Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix, AZ) and contacting local infectious diseases specialists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, the Arizona Department of Health Services, health departments of adjacent states, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A comprehensive literature review identified additional cases worldwide. RESULTS: Of 44 patients (mean age, 37 years [range, 2-81 years]) with gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis, most were from the United States (19 patients [43%], of whom 17 [89%] were from Arizona) or Saudi Arabia (11 [25%]). Most (28 [64%]) were previously healthy. Common chronic medical conditions among 15 patients (34%) were diabetes mellitus (8 patients [18%]) and gastric disorders (7 [16%]). Common findings were abdominal pain (37 patients [84%]) and a palpable abdominal mass (19 [43%]). Intraabdominal malignancy was the leading provisional diagnosis (19 patients [43%]). The large bowel was involved in 36 (82%), the small intestine in 16 (36%), and the liver or gallbladder in 13 (30%). Characteristic histopathologic findings were observed in 43 (98%). Eight patients (18%) died. Combined surgical intervention and antifungal therapy was the preferred treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis is an emerging invasive fungal infection in desert regions of the US Southwest. Clinical findings mimic malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease. Surgical excision and prolonged antifungal therapy are associated with favorable outcomes.

Therapy of refractory nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is increasing in the USA. Clinicians are therefore encountering these patients with increasing frequency, with the attendant multiple therapeutic challenges presented by NTM lung disease including relatively frequent (compared with tuberculosis) treatment failure. RECENT FINDINGS: Critical elements for the successful treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease include aggressive first therapeutic attempts and avoidance of the emergence of macrolide-resistant MAC strains, which are associated with worse treatment response and increased mortality. Reliably effective therapy for M. abscessus lung disease remains elusive but still usually requires parenteral agents. Lung resection surgery for selected patients is an important adjunct for both MAC and M. abscessus lung disease. Aside from surgery and parenteral antibiotics, there are very few data to support the efficacy of other drugs or interventions for patients who have failed the first-line therapy. SUMMARY: Clinicians who manage NTM lung disease will inevitably encounter patients who fail the first-line therapy. The choices for effective treatment of these patients are depressingly sparse. It is critically important to avoid creation of macrolide-resistant MAC strains and to carefully choose those NTM lung disease patients who will benefit from surgery.

Emerging infectious endocarditis due to Scedosporium prolificans: a model of therapeutic complexity.

Scedosporium prolificans is an emerging agent for severe infections. Although among the dematiaceous fungi Scedosporium is the most frequently isolated in blood cultures, Scedosporium endocarditis is rarely reported. We show herein a patient with acute leukaemia who developed S. prolificans endocarditis. Twelve cases were found in an extensive review of the English literature. In six cases (46%), there was predisposing heart conditions such as a prosthetic valve or an intracavitary device. Only 4 patients (31%) were immunocompromised hosts with haematologic neoplasia, solid-organ transplantation or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Exposure to Scedosporium was observed in immunocompetent patients who developed infection while in the community. Scedosporium endocarditis occurred on both sides of the heart. Systemic and pulmonary emboli and other metastatic complications were seen in all of these patients. The overall mortality was 77% and, specifically, all of the immunocompromised hosts and 6 out of 7 patients with mitral or aortic valve endocarditis died. Patients with right-sided endocarditis associated with a removable intracardiac device exhibited a better prognosis. Scedosporium endocarditis, although still rare, is an emerging infection with an ominous prognosis. At the present time, valve replacement or the removal of cardiac devices plus combined antifungal treatment may offer the best possibility of cure.

Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses - an "emerging disease" in Australia.

Liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection has been widely reported in Asia, but rarely reported in Australia until now. We describe four previously well Asian-born patients who presented across Australia with community-acquired K. pneumoniae liver abscesses. With prompt recognition, appropriate antibiotics and early drainage, outcome is significantly improved, although vigilance for metastatic complications is essential.

[Emerging invasive fungal infections]. / Infecciones fúngicas invasivas emergentes.

The frequency and diversity of invasive fungal infections has changed over the last 25 years. The emergence of less common, but medically important fungi has increased, and the children at risk has expanded, with the inclusion of medical conditions such as cancer, mainly haematological malignancy or stem cell transplant, immunosuppressive therapy, prolonged neutropenia, and T-cell immunodeficiency. Among mould infections, fusariosis and phaeohyphomycosis (Dematiaceous fungi) have been increasingly reported in this group of patients. To successfully manage these challenging infections, it is imperative that paediatricians and sub-specialists remain aware of the optimal and timely diagnosis and therapeutic options. Unlike other common mycoses that cause human disease, there no simple antigen or serological tests available to detect these pathogens in tissue or blood. The outcome for these disseminate, and often refractory fungal infections in neutropenic patients and transplant recipients remains extremely poor, requiring early and aggressive therapy. Unfortunately there are no guidelines outlining the choices for optimal therapy in the treatment of paediatric invasive fungal infections do not exist, and on the other hand are limited paediatric data available comparing antifungal agents in children with proven, probable or suspected invasive fungal infection. The options for treatment rest mainly on some adult guidelines that comment on the treatment of these emerging and uncommon important fungi in children. Despite the sparse clinical trials available on treatment and its poor outcome, options for treatment of invasive fungal infections have increased with the advance of new antifungal agents, with improved tolerability and increased range of activity. The epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of fusariosis and phaeohyphomycosis are discussed in this article.

Doença de lyme-símile brasileira ou síndrome baggioyoshinari: zoonose exótica e emergente transmitida por carrapatos: [revisão] / Brazilian lyme-like disease or baggio-yoshinari syndrome: exotic and emerging brazilian tick-borne zoonosis: [review]

A Doença de Lyme (DL) é uma zoonose frequente no hemisfério Norte e considerada uma enfermidade infecciosa causada por espiroquetas do complexo Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato e transmitida pela picada de carrapatos do grupo Ixodes ricinus. Os primeiros casos semelhantes à DL no Brasil foram descobertos, em 1992, em irmãos que após serem picados por carrapatos desenvolveram eritema migratório, sintomas gripais e artrite. Criteriosa análise da casuística brasileira, mostrou que os aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais no país, divergiam bastante dos exibidos pelos pacientes com DL nos Estados Unidos da América e Eurásia. Não foram encontrados carrapatos do complexo Ixodes ricinus hematófago ao homem nas áreas de risco; a enfermidade no país é recorrente; a Borrelia burgdorferi jamais foi isolada no Brasil e os ensaios sorológicos específicos exibem positividade baixa e oscilante. Além disso, o exame do sangue periférico dos pacientes quando analisados à microscopia eletrônica exibe estruturas sugestivas de Mycoplasma spp, Chlamydia spp e bacteroides. Na verdade, estas estruturas podem representar as formas latentes das espiroquetas (forma L ou bactérias desprovidas de parede), adaptadas a sobreviver em condições inóspitas em hospedeiros vertebrados e invertebrados. Assim, a zoonose presente no país recebeu a denominação de Síndrome Baggio-Yoshinari e definida como: "Enfermidade infecciosa nova e emergente brasileira, transmitida por carrapatos não pertencentes ao complexo Ixodes ricinus, causada por espiroquetas na sua morfologia atípica e latente, que origina manifestações clínicas semelhantes às observadas na DL, exceto pela ocorrência de recidivas clínicas e desordens autoimunes".

Lyme disease (LD) is a frequent zoonosis found in the Northern Hemisphere and is considered an infectious disease caused by spirochetes belonging sensu lato to the Borrelia burgdorferi complex transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus group. In 1992, first cases similar to LD were described in Brazil, when brothers, after a tick bite episode developed symptoms , as erythema migrans, general flu-like symptoms and arthritis. Careful analysis of Brazilian LD-like illness casuistry showed that epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial features in the country were very different from those exhibited by North American and Eurasian LD patients. Human blood-suckers Ixodes ricinus complex ticks were absent at risk areas; the disease is recurrent in the country; Borrelia burgdorferi was never isolated in Brazil and specific serologic tests have shown little positivity with inconsistent results. Furthermore, peripheral blood analysis of patients on electron microscopy exhibited structures resembling Mycoplasma spp, Chlamydia spp and spirochete-like microorganisms. In fact, they were assumed to be latent forms of spirochetes (L form or cell wall deficient bacteria) adapted to survive at inhospitable conditions in vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. For these reasons, the Brazilian zoonosis was named Baggio-Yoshinari Syndrome (BYS) and defined as: "Exotic and emerging Brazilian infectious disease, transmitted by ticks not belonging to the Ixodes ricinus complex, caused by latent spirochetes with atypical morphology, which originates LD-like symptoms, except for occurrence of relapsing episodes and auto-immune disorders".

Síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular por hantavírus: aspectos clínicos de uma doença emergente no sudeste brasileiro / Pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome due to hantavirus: clinical aspects of an emerging disease in southeastern Brazil

A síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular por hantavírus é doença causada pela aspiração de aerossóis dos dejetos de roedores silvestres contaminados por vírus da família Bunyaviridae. Estudamos manifestações clínicas e laboratoriais de 70 casos ocorridos de 1998 a 2007 na região de Ribeirão Preto, SP. A freqüência de sintomas foi dispnéia (87 por cento), febre (81 por cento), tosse (44 por cento), cefaléia (34 por cento), taquicardia (81 por cento), hipotensão arterial (56 por cento), hipóxia (49 por cento), acidose metabólica (57 por cento), linfocitopenia (51 por cento), hematócrito >45 por cento (70 por cento), leucocitose com desvio à esquerda (67 por cento), creatinina (51 por cento) e uréia (42 por cento) séricas elevadas. A letalidade (54,3 por cento) ocorreu principalmente no 4o dia. Insuficiência respiratória, hipotensão arterial e choque ocorreu 24-48 horas; o hematócrito elevado e a plaquetopenia são sinais fortemente sugestivos da doença. A hipótese diagnóstica de pneumonia atípica associada a bom prognóstico (p:0,0136); a infusão hídrica >2.000ml e hipotensão arterial associadas a mau prognóstico (p:0,0286 e p:0,0453).

Pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome due to hantavirus is a disease caused by inhalation of aerosols from the excreta of wild rodents contaminated by viruses of the Bunyaviridae family. We studied the clinical and laboratory manifestations of 70 cases that occurred in the region of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, between 1998 and 2007. The frequency of symptoms was as follows: dyspnea (87 percent), fever (81 percent), coughing (44 percent), headache (34 percent), tachycardia (81 percent), low arterial blood pressure (56 percent), metabolic acidosis (57 percent), lymphocytopenia (51 percent), hematocrit > 45 percent (70 percent), leukocytosis with left deviation (67 percent), creatinine (51 percent) and urea (42 percent). Mortality (54.3 percent) occurred mainly on the fourth day. Respiratory insufficiency, low arterial blood pressure and shock occurred after 24 to 48 hours. High hematocrit and decreased platelet levels were signs strongly suggestive of the disease. The diagnostic hypothesis of atypical pneumonia was associated with a good prognosis (p = 0.0136). Fluid infusion greater than 2,000 ml and arterial hypotension were associated with a poor prognosis (p = 0.0286 and p = 0.0453).