The importance of the bacterial spectrum in the clinical diagnostics and management of patients with spontaneous pyogenic spondylodiscitis and isolated spinal epidural empyema: a 20-year cohort study at a single spine center.

BACKGROUND: Personalized clinical management of spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) is challenging due to limited evidence of microbiologic findings and their clinical impact during the clinical course of the disease. We aimed to characterize clinico-microbiological and imaging phenotypes of SD and ISEE to provide useful insights that could improve outcomes and potentially modify guidelines. METHODS: We performed chart review and collected data on the following parameters: bacterial antibiogram-resistogram, type of primary spinal infection, location of spinal infection, source of infection, method of detection, clinical complications (sepsis, septic embolism, and endocarditis), length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, relapse rate, and disease-related mortality in patients with proven pyogenic SD and ISEE treated surgically in a university hospital in Germany between 2002 and 2022. RESULTS: We included data from 187 patients (125 SD, 66.8% and 62 ISEE, 33.2%). Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) were overall more frequently detected than gram-negative bacteria (GNB) (GPB: 162, 86.6% vs. GNB: 25, 13.4%, p < 0.001). Infective endocarditis was caused only by GPB (GPB: 23, 16.5% vs. GNB: 0, 0.0%, p = 0.046). Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated strain (MSSA: n = 100, 53.5%), occurred more frequently in the cervical spine compared to other bacteria (OB) (MSSA: 41, 41.0% vs. OB: 18, 20.7%, p = 0.004) and was most frequently detected in patients with skin infection as the primary source of infection (MSSA: 26, 40.6% vs. OB: 11, 16.7%, p = 0.002). Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. (SE: n = 31, 16.6%) were more often regarded as the cause of endocarditis (SE: 8, 27.6% vs. OB: 15, 11.4%, p = 0.037) and were less frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (SE: 19, 61.3% vs. OB: 138, 88.5%, p < 0.001). Enterobacterales (E: n = 20, 10.7%) were identified more frequently in urinary tract infections (E: 9, 50.0% vs. OB: 4, 3.6%, p < 0.001). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS: n = 20, 10.7%) were characterized by a lower prevalence of sepsis (CoNS: 4, 20.0% vs. OB: 90, 53.9%, p = 0.004) and were more frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (CoNS: 20, 100. 0% vs. OB: 137, 82.0%, p = 0.048). Moreover, CoNS-associated cases showed a shorter length of ICU stay (CoNS: 2 [1-18] days vs. OB: 6 [1-53] days, median [interquartile range], p = 0.037), and occurred more frequently due to foreign body-associated infections (CoNS: 8, 61.5% vs. OB: 15, 12.8%, p = 0.008). The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prolonged hospital stay by 56 [24-58] days and ICU stay by 16 [1-44] days, whereas patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa spent only 20 [18-29] days in the hospital and no day in the ICU 0 [0-5] days. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective cohort study identified distinct bacterial-specific manifestations in pyogenic SD and ISEE regarding clinical course, neuroanatomic targets, method of pathogen detection, and sources of infection. The clinico-microbiological patterns varied depending on the specific pathogens.

Value of preoperative evaluation of FEV1 in patients with destroyed lung undergoing pneumonectomy - a 20-year real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend a preoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of > 2 L as an indication for left or right pneumonectomy. This study compares the safety and long-term prognosis of pneumonectomy for destroyed lung (DL) patients with FEV1 ≤ 2 L or > 2 L. METHODS: A total of 123 DL patients who underwent pneumonectomy between November 2002 and February 2023 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chest Hospital were included. Patients were sorted into two groups: the FEV1 > 2 L group (n = 30) or the FEV1 ≤ 2 L group (n = 96). Clinical characteristics and rates of mortality, complications within 30 days after surgery, long-term mortality, occurrence of residual lung infection/tuberculosis (TB), bronchopleural fistula/empyema, readmission by last follow-up visit, and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scores were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 96.7% (119/123) of patients were successfully discharged, with 75.6% (93/123) in the FEV1 ≤ 2 L group. As compared to the FEV1 > 2 L group, the FEV1 ≤ 2 L group exhibited significantly lower proportions of males, patients with smoking histories, patients with lung cavities as revealed by chest imaging findings, and patients with lower forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted values (FVC%pred) (P values of 0.001, 0.027, and 0.023, 0.003, respectively). No significant intergroup differences were observed in rates of mortality within 30 days after surgery, incidence of postoperative complications, long-term mortality, occurrence of residual lung infection/TB, bronchopleural fistula/empyema, mMRC ≥ 1 at the last follow-up visit, and postoperative readmission (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As most DL patients planning to undergo left/right pneumonectomy have a preoperative FEV1 ≤ 2 L, the procedure is generally safe with favourable short- and long-term prognoses for these patients. Consequently, the results of this study suggest that DL patient preoperative FEV1 > 2 L should not be utilised as an exclusion criterion for pneumonectomy.

Intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease administered concurrently and once daily for complex parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema.

BACKGROUND: Pleural infection is life-threatening and increasingly prevalent. In addition to usual care, twice-daily, separate administration of tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease (tPA-DNase) reduces radiological pleural opacity with lower surgical referral rates. AIMS: This retrospective cohort study examines the use of once-daily, concurrent administration of tPA-DNase for complex parapneumonic pleural effusion and empyema. METHODS: Patients with pleural infection who received intrapleural tPA-DNase between October 2014 and July 2020 at Logan Hospital, where it is given concurrently and once-daily as salvage therapy, were retrospectively identified. Radiographic opacification, inflammatory markers, clinical response and complications were examined. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were identified. Mean age was 48.8 years (standard deviation [SD], 17.2). Median tPA-DNase administration was 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-3). Chest x-ray pleural opacity decreased significantly (P = 0.047) from a median of 39.6% (IQR, 28.8-65.7%) to 9.7% (IQR, 2.5-23.2%), a median relative reduction of 75.5% (IQR, 47.7-93.9%). White cell count and C-reactive protein improved significantly (P = 0.002 and P = 0.032, respectively) from a median of 16.3 × 109 /L (IQR, 11.8-20.6 × 109 /L) to 9.9 × 109 /L (IQR, 8.0-12.3 × 109 /L) and 311.0 mg/L (IQR, 218.8-374.0 mg/L) to 69.0 mg/L (IQR, 36.0-118.0 mg/L), respectively. No patients experienced significant bleeding or died. Five patients (16.1%) were referred for surgery. CONCLUSION: This is pilot evidence that a practical regimen of concurrent, once-daily intrapleural tPA-DNase improved pleural opacification and inflammatory markers without bleeding or mortality. The surgical referral rate was higher than in studies assessing twice-daily administration, though the validity of this outcome as a measure of treatment success is limited, and further studies are needed to assess the optimal dose and frequency of intrapleural therapy and indications for surgical referral.

[Radiofrequency Ablation for Pulmonary Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer Caused Iatrogenic Pneumothorax, Leading to Empyema].

A female patient in her 40s who underwent surgery for recurrent right lung metastasis from resected ovarian cancer was referred to our department because of the right pneumothorax due to radiofrequency ablation for multiple lung metastases. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis( MRSE) was detected from the tip of the drainage catheter indicated persistent pulmonary fistula with right empyema, and surgical treatment was performed. A white coat of the whole lung surface and air leakage were observed at radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treated lesion and partial resection of the right lung, debridement, and irrigation were performed. A pathological examination revealed residual viable ovarian cancer cells and pleural fistula.

[Postoperative Chylothorax Following Gastric Tube Cancer Surgery Cured after Pneumonia and Empyema-A Case Report].

A 74-year-old man was under follow-up after esophageal cancer surgery and CRT for hypopharyngeal cancer. Follow-up endoscopy revealed an ulcerative lesion in the lower gastric tube, and biopsy showed group 5(tub1). Endoscopic resection was difficult, and surgery was decided. Gastric tube resection and subcutaneous jejunum reconstruction were performed. Postoperatively, chylothorax was observed. Enteral nutrition was discontinued, and the patient was managed with TPN, and continuous subcutaneous octreotide and continuous intravenous etyrefrine were started. Even after conservative treatment was started, the pleural effusion of about 2,000 mL/day was observed from the right thoracic drain. On postoperative day 14, lymphangiography was performed with lipiodol from the left inguinal lymph node. The pleural fluid was temporarily decreased to less than 500 mL/day, but it began to drain again at a rate of 1,000 mL/day. On postoperative day 30, the patient developed fever and elevated inflammatory findings due to pneumonia and empyema, and drain drainage gradually decreased. The drain was removed on postoperative day 41. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 72.

Rapidly Growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Form of Empyema Necessitans: A Case Report.

We present a case of rapidly growing disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) that presented as an empyema necessitans (EN) in a 65-year-old woman with a single right lung transplant admitted for progressive dyspnea. While hospitalized, she had daily fevers and was found to have a right-sided chest wall abscess and pleural effusion. Acid-fast bacilli cultures from the abscess and pleural fluid grew MTB within 4 and 6 days, respectively. Blood cultures later grew MTB as well. Upon initiation of rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, she developed hemorrhagic pancreatitis and distributive shock secondary to antituberculosis medications and disseminated MTB. Noteworthy features of this case include the rapid rate of MTB culture growth in less than a week, the development of a likely donor-derived MTB EN, and the clinical challenges of MTB screening and MTB infection management in a solid organ transplant recipient.

[Effective Treatment for Empyema with Fistula by Negative Pressure Wound Therapy:Report of a Case].

A 54-year-old male with alcoholic cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus was referred to our hospital for the treatment of right pleural empyema with fistula. Despite performing a simple suture closure of the pulmonary fistula, air leakage occurred one week after surgery. Hence, we covered the fistula with a pediculed muscle flap associated with an open window thoracostomy. After 32 days of gauze drainage, negative pressure wound therapy( NPWT) was introduced for reducing the residual pleural space. A chest computed tomography( CT) scan showed almost the full expansion of the lung after undergoing 98 days of NPWT. The patient was discharged from the hospital four months after thoracostomy.

[Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis with Empyema Necessitated Two Performances of Surgical Drainage for Successful Treatment:Report of a Case].

The case was a 57-year-old woman. She visited a local doctor with a chief complaint of sore throat. A retropharyngeal abscess was suspected, and she was referred to our otolaryngology. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) scan revealed continuous fluid retention from the retropharyngeal space to the neck and the superior and posterior mediastinum with bilateral pleural effusion. The patient was diagnosed with descending necrotizing mediastinitis with empyema, and on the same day cervical drainage, thoracoscopic bilateral mediastinal drainage, empyema curettage and tracheostomy was performed. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed a widespread residual mediastinal abscess and thoracoscopic bilateral mediastinal drainage was performed again on the 11th postoperative day. After reoperation, the inflammation gradually subsided and she was discharged 47 days after reoperation.

[Lung Cancer Complicated with Empyema Due to Intratumoral Abscess;Report of a Case].

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 10-cm-sized irregular mass with air-fluid level in the left lower lobe, and sputum cytology revealed squamous cell carcinoma, which was diagnosed as a giant squamous cell carcinoma with intratumoral abscess. Later, the empyema developed and drainage was performed for empyema and intratumoral abscess. Two weeks later, left lower lobectomy and lymph node dissection were performed by posterolateral thoracotomy. After surgery, there were no serious complications or relapse of empyema.

[Empyema in Left Ureteral Stump Following Bilateral Nephrectomy and Living Renal Transplant-Case Report].

A 34-year-old male came to us with congenital spina bifida, vesicoureteral reflux and scoliosis. He had been on hemodialysis for chronic renal failure caused by reflux nephropathy since the age of 23 years. At the age of 24, he received bilateral nephrectomy and underwent living renal transplantation from his mother. Hemodialysis was started again at the age of 26, because the renal graft was not functioning. At the age of 34, the patient developed a fever that persisted for a few days. He received antibiotic medication from his physician, but since his condition did not improve he was refered to our hospital. A computed tomography scan examination revealed abscess formation in the left retroperitoneum. Magnetic resonance imaging findings also showed the abscess in the left retroperitoneum. The patient was diagnosed with empyema of the residual ureter and underwent a left ureterectomy procedure.

Successful non-surgical management of pleuroparenchymal fistula following cervical intraspinal empyema.

Pulmonary infections are life-threatening complications in patients with spinal cord injuries. In particular, paraplegic patients are at risk if they are ventilator-dependent. This case history refers to a spinal cord injury with a complete sensorimotor tetraplegia below C2 caused by a septic scattering of an intraspinal empyema at C2-C5 and T3-T4. A right-sided purulent pneumonia led to a complex lung infection with the formation of a pleuroparenchymal fistula. The manuscript describes successful, considerate, non-surgical management with shortterm separate lung ventilation. Treatment aimed to achieve the best possible result without additional harm. A variety of surgical and conservative strategies for the treatment of pleuroparenchymal fistula (PPF) have been described with different degrees of success. We detail the non-surgical management of a persistent PPF with temporary separate lung ventilation (SLV) via a double-lumen tube (DLT) in combination with talc pleurodesis as an approach in patients who are unable to undergo surgical treatment.

Dehiscence of the infraorbital canal with the maxillary antral empyema: a new cause of facial pain.

The infraorbital nerve is the largest cutaneous branch of the maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve. It may produce a bony ridge on the antral roof but usually goes through within the maxillary bone as a discrete canal. Rarely, it could be partially or completely dehiscent, lying submucosally on the antral roof as in this case. We describe a case of longstanding facial pain because of dehiscence of the infraorbital canal associated with the maxillary antral empyema. Endoscopic sinus surgery was successful in relieving the symptom.

Secondary brain abscess following simple renal cyst infection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common causative bacteria of neonatal meningitis, but hematogenous intracranial E. coli infection is rare in adults. Moreover, intracranial abscess formation owing to E. coli, including brain abscesses and subdural empyema formation, is extremely rare. We herein present a case involving a patient with a brain abscess owing to E. coli following a simple renal cyst infection. A review of the literature is also presented. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old Japanese woman with a history of polymyalgia rheumatica was admitted to our hospital because of persistent fever, right flank pain, and pyuria. Intravenous antibiotics were administered; however, her level of consciousness deteriorated 6 days after admission. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a brain abscess in the left occipital lobe and pyogenic ventriculitis. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography revealed a right renal cyst with heterogeneous content. Culture of urine, blood, and aspirated pus from the infected cyst revealed E. coli with identical antibiotic sensitivity in all sites, suggesting that the cyst infection and subsequent bacteremia might have caused the brain abscess. The patient recovered after a 6-week course of meropenem. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with E. coli-associated intracranial abscess is usually poor. Advanced age and immunosuppression may be potent risk factors for intracranial abscess formation owing to the hematogenous spread of E. coli.

[Successful treatment of chronic empyema by the omentopexy after aggressive nutritional support].

Since general thoracic surgery requires a short fasting period, the number of cases that require nutrition support after surgery is limited and few reports exist about nutrition in general thoracic surgery and chronic empyema. Here we report 2 cases of chronic empyema treated with nutritional support team (NST) followed by omentopexy. For chronic empyema, a long period is required to sterilize the thoracic cavity by closed or open drainage before radical treatment. During this period, improvement of the nutrition status is important to control local infection, and to increase the volume of the omentum or muscle flaps used for filling the empyema space effectively. In our 2 cases, radical surgeries using omental flap were successfully performed after the improvement of general condition by aggressive nutritional support.

Management of an Esophago-pleural Fistula after Emergent Endoscopic Variceal Injectional Sclerotherapy: A Case Report And Literature Review.

A 48-year-old man developed sudden-onset haematemesis and melena after decompensated posthepatitic cirrhosis. Endoscopic variceal injectional sclerotherapy was emergently performed. However, the patient developed esophago-pleural fistula, empyema, and liver failure. He thus received symptomatic treatments and nasojejunal feedings, which failed to restore the nutrition as the gastroesophageal reflux exacerbated the hydrothorax. Percutaneous endoscopic gastro-jejunal (PEG-J) was therefore carefully performed for enteral nutrition support. The patient had recovered from the fistula at a six-month follow-up, which allowed the resumption of an oral diet. Our literature review revealed that PEG-J is a feasible approach to treating esophago-pleural fistula, a rare but lethal complication of endoscopic sclerotherapy.

Pharyngo-cervicospinal fistula with destructive osteomyelitis after laryngopharyngectomy and radiotherapy, managed successfully with a vascularized fibula free flap.

Total laryngectomy is an operation mainly employed in recurrent laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma after previous radiotherapy. The most feared complication after this procedure is a pharyngocutaneous fistula. An extremely rare complication is the development of osteomyelitis of the cervical spine, which is associated with high rates of neurological impairment and epidural empyema, often requiring surgical treatment. This report describes the case of a patient with neck and shoulder pain and progressive motor weakness of the left deltoid and biceps muscle, caused by a pharyngo-cervicospinal fistula with spinal empyema. This condition resulted in destructive osteomyelitis of the cervical spine. A successful reconstruction of the cervical spine and neopharynx was performed using a free vascularized fibula bone and skin graft in a complex area because of previous treatments. It appears that no similar case has been described previously.

Case report of parapneumonic effusion and mesothelial subdiaphragmatic cyst: relationship or coincidence?

Parapneumonic pleural effusions are common in patients with pneumonia. When colonized by pathogenic bacteria or other microorganisms, these effusions can progress to empyema. Additionally, empyema formation may result in extension of the infection into the infradiaphragmatic region, further complicating the clinical scenario. Many subphrenic collections are found to be mesothelial cysts, which are congenital in origin. However, data regarding the potential association between mesothelial diaphragmatic cysts and parapneumonic effusions are limited. We herein describe a toddler with pneumonia complicated by parapneumonic effusion and a lung abscess with a subphrenic collection. After abscess drainage and a full course of antibiotics, imaging revealed clear lung parenchyma with an interval resolution of the effusion and a persistent unchanged subphrenic collection that was confirmed to be mesothelial diaphragmatic cyst. This case highlights the fact that not every subphrenic collection associated with parapneumonic effusion is a communicated collection formed by seeding. Such a collection can instead be an incidental cyst, which is congenital in origin and known as a mesothelial diaphragmatic cyst. A diaphragmatic mesothelial cyst is an uncommon benign congenital cyst that is unrelated to an adjacent parapneumonic effusion. It is usually incidental and can be monitored without invasive intervention.