Fever of unknown origin: A 12-year case series in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a diagnostic challenge with highly heterogeneous causes. Its etiology can change according to the studied regions, and the chance of reaching a diagnosis depends on available resources. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, etiology and the usefulness of diagnostic aids in cases of FUO managed over 12 years in a Colombian reference center. METHODOLOGY: Single-institution retrospective case series. All cases of FUO between 2006 and 2017 were identified with the help of an electronic medical record search software. Cases of adults with fever for more than three weeks who remained undiagnosed after three days of hospitalization are described. RESULTS: Of 1,009 cases evaluated, 112 cases met the inclusion criteria (median age 43 years, 66% men). The etiologies identified were infectious (31.2%), inflammatory (20.5%), neoplastic (14.3%), and miscellaneous (2.7%) diseases. 31.2% remained without etiological diagnosis. The most frequent conditions were tuberculosis (17%), Hodgkin's lymphoma (7.1%), systemic lupus erythematosus (6.3%), disseminated histoplasmosis, and adult Still's disease. Contrast tomography and biopsies were the studies that most frequently supported or confirmed the final diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This series of contemporary Latin American cases suggests that the categories of FUO etiologies are similar to those reported in studies from developed countries, with tuberculosis being the most frequent cause in our setting. Our results highlight the importance of tomography-guided invasive studies in the diagnostic approach to FUO.

Serial measurements of lymphocytes, D-dimer, LDH, and CRP do not improve the ability to predict COVID-19 adverse outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the discriminatory ability of variations in lymphocyte, D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) serum levels at 48 to 72 hours of hospitalization compared with baseline measurements to predict unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We analyzed diagnostic test results based on a retrospective cohort to determine the ability of variations (gradients or ratios) in patients' lymphocyte, D-dimer, CRP, and LDH serum levels taken 48 to 72 hours after hospital admission to predict adverse outcomes such as death, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit (ICU) admission developing. RESULTS: Among 810 patients (56.1% men, age 61.6 ± 16.2 years), 37.5% had at least one adverse outcome; 28.2% required ICU admission, 26.5% required mechanical ventilation, and 19.4% died during hospitalization. In comparing baseline measurements with measurements at 48 to 72 hours, D-dimer, lymphocyte delta, LDH, and CRP had similar discriminatory ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.57 vs. 0.56, 0.53 vs. 0.57, 0.64 vs. 0.66, and 0.62 vs. 0.65, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Measuring serum risk markers upon hospital admission can be used to evaluate risk of adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Repeating these measurements at 48 to 72 hours does not improve discriminatory ability.

[Tuberculin skin test conversion and association with occupation and demographic characteristics in workers at San Ignacio University Hospital]. / Conversión de tuberculina en trabajadores del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio y asociación con características demográficas y laborales.

Objectives To establish the prevalence of positivity and conversion rate of the tuberculin skin test in workers of our hospital, and to describe the related demographic and occupational characteristics. Materials and Methods An observational, descriptive study was conducted in a cohort of hospital workers who underwent the tuberculin skin test. The positivity of the test was defined as a result of greater than or equal to 10 mm, and conversion was defined as an increase of 6 or 10 mm with respect to the initial test. Results Prevalence of 23.7 % and incidence of conversion of 13.6 % for the major cut-off point of 10 mm, and 23 % for the lesser cut-off point of 6 mm, was found. The age of the subjects was related to the conversion, but there was no relation with occupation. Conclusions The probability of tuberculosis transmission in health-care workers is higher than in the general population. Promotion and prevention measures must be implemented to decrease the transmission and to increase awareness of tuberculosis related to occupational activities.

Regla de predicción PERC y dímero D ajustado por edad: dos nuevas estrategias en el diagnóstico de embolia pulmonar aguda / PERC prediction rule and D-dimer adjusted for age: two new strategies in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism

Resumen: La embolia pulmonar es una enfermedad de alta incidencia a pesar del subdiagnóstico y acarrea alto riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad. Las herramientas preprueba actuales (clínica, escalas de probabilidad y dímero D) han permitido optimizar la precisión diagnóstica con miras a seleccionar al subgrupo de pacientes que obtendrán el mayor beneficio de la práctica de una angiotomografía para establecer el diagnóstico de embolia pulmonar. Este artículo revisa críticamente la evidencia publicada de la escala de predicción clínica PERC y el ajuste del dímero D por edad para el diagnóstico de embolia pulmonar aguda. Se hizo una revisión estructurada de la bibliografía médica en las bases de datos PubMed, TripDatabase y Epistemonikos. La búsqueda se limitó a metanálisis, estudios aleatorios, estudios de cohorte y guías de manejo, sin límites en idioma o fecha de publicación, utilizando los términos MESH d-dimer, pulmonary embolism, diagnosis y Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria. Se hizo la lectura del título y el resumen de 1512 referencias de las que se seleccionaron 50 que fueron representativas para el tema de esta revisión; después de una clasificación y extracción de los datos se procedió a la redacción del texto. La escala PERC y el dímero D ajustado por edad son estrategias recomendadas en el abordaje diagnóstico del paciente con embolia pulmonar.

Abstract: Pulmonary embolism is a high incidence disease despite underdiagnosis and carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. The current pre-test tools (clinical, probability scales and D-dimer) have allowed to optimize the diagnostic accuracy, since it is problematic to select the subgroup of patients who will obtain a greater benefit from the practice of an angiotomography to establish the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This paper reviews critically the published evidence on the PERC scale and the adjusting of the D-dimer with age for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism. As structured review of the medical literature on PubMed, Tripdatabase and Epistemonikos databases was made. Search was limited to meta-analysis, randomized studies, cohort studies, review articles and treatment guidelines without limits on language or date of publication, using MESH terms: d-dimer, pulmonary embolism, diagnosis. It was performed the reading of the title and abstract of 1512 references of which 50 were selected as representative for the subject of this review. We wrote the manuscript after classification and data extraction. The use of the PERC scale and age-adjusted D-dimer are recommended in the diagnostic approach of the patient with pulmonary embolism.

Derrame pericárdico y pericarditis purulenta por Salmonella: un caso excepcional / Pericardial effusion and purulent pericarditis caused by Salmonella: an exceptional case

Resumen Las complicaciones cardiovasculares asociadas a las infecciones por la Salmonella son raras y suceden entre el 1 a 5% de los pacientes. Las enfermedades del pericardio son extremadamente inusuales con pocos casos reportados en la literatura. Presentamos el caso de un adulto mayor con síntomas de derrame pericárdico y hallazgos de pericarditis purulenta en quien la etiología corresponde a infección por la Salmonella spp. confirmada por hallazgos clínicos, de imágenes diagnósticas, microbiológicos, quirúrgicos e histopatológicos.

Abstract Cardiovascular complications associated to Salmonella infections are rare and happen in around 1 to 5% of patients. Pericardium diseases are extremely unusual with few cases reported in literature. We report the case of an old adult with symptoms of pleural effusion and findings of purulent pericarditis where the etiology corresponded to an infection of Salmonella spp confirmed with clinical findings and imaging, microbiological, surgical and histopathological results.

Conversión de tuberculina en trabajadores del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio y asociación con características demográficas y laborales / Tuberculin skin test conversion and association with occupation and demographic characteristics in workers at San Ignacio University Hospital

Objetivos: Establecer la prevalencia de positividad, la tasa de conversión de la tuberculina en trabajadores de nuestro hospital y describir las características demográficas y laborales asociadas a esto. Materiales y Métodos Estudio observacional descriptivo en una cohorte de trabajadores del hospital a los que se les realizó la prueba de tuberculina. Se definió la positividad de la prueba de tuberculina como un resultado mayor o igual a 10 mm y la conversión como un aumento de 6 o 10 mm con respecto a la prueba inicial. Resultados Se encontró una prevalencia de 23,7 % y una incidencia de conversión de 13,6 % para el punto de corte mayor de 10 mm y 23 % para el punto de corte de 6 mm. La edad de los sujetos estuvo relacionada a conversión, mientras que no se encontró relación con la ocupación. Conclusión La probabilidad de transmisión de la tuberculosis en trabajadores del hospital es mayor al de la población general. Deben ser implementadas medidas de promoción y prevención para disminuir la transmisión e incrementar el conocimiento de la tuberculosis asociada al cuidado de la salud en los trabajadores.(AU)

Objectives To establish the prevalence of positivity and conversion rate of the tuberculin skin test in workers of our hospital, and to describe the related demographic and occupational characteristics. Materials and Methods An observational, descriptive study was conducted in a cohort of hospital workers who underwent the tuberculin skin test. The positivity of the test was defined as a result of greater than or equal to 10 mm, and conversion was defined as an increase of 6 or 10 mm with respect to the initial test. Results Prevalence of 23.7 % and incidence of conversion of 13.6 % for the major cut-off point of 10 mm, and 23 % for the lesser cut-off point of 6 mm, was found. The age of the subjects was related to the conversion, but there was no relation with occupation. Conclusions The probability of tuberculosis transmission in health-care workers is higher than in the general population. Promotion and prevention measures must be implemented to decrease the transmission and to increase awareness of tuberculosis related to occupational activities.(AU)