Corynebacterium diphtheriae-infective endocarditis in a patient with an atrial septal defect closure device.

An 18-year-old woman presented to our institution with fever, bilateral flank pain, headache and photophobia. She had a previous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device inserted at the age of 9 years. Blood cultures on admission were positive for Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) revealed an echodensity associated with the ASD closure device, most consistent with a vegetation. She was treated for infective endocarditis with 6 weeks of intravenous benzylpenicillin, and follow-up TOE showed resolution of the echodensity. To our knowledge, no cases of C. diphtheriaeendocarditis of an ASD closure device have previously been reported.

Gross Hematuria Is More Common in Male and Older Patients with Renal Tuberculosis in China: A Single-Center 15-Year Clinical Experience.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of renal tuberculosis and identify the age- and gender-related differences. METHODS: A total of 419 patients at the Peking University First Hospital from January 2000 to July 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, complications, laboratory results, radiologic imaging, surgical procedures, and pathology features were collected and compared between genders and 3 different age groups (under 40 years, 41-60, years and over 60 years). RESULTS: The most common local presentations were lower urinary tract symptoms (65.2%), flank pain (37.9%), and gross hematuria (26.3%). Constitutional symptoms were also observed in 38.9% of the patients. Gross hematuria was more common in male patients (32.2%) and older patients (45.5%). Flank pain was more common in female patients (43.6%). Patients younger than 40 years of age had lower frequencies of calcification of the urinary tract (22.2%) and kidney atrophy (4.2%) in CT. In the postoperative pathological reports, atrophy (35.9%) and fibrosis (38.5%) were found to be significantly more common in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: While gross hematuria is more prevalent in older patients and male patients, flank pain is more common in female patients. Radiological and pathological features including calcification of the urinary tract, fibrosis, and kidney atrophy are more common in older patients.

[The Great Imitator. Case report]. / A nagy imitátor.

Authors present two patients suffering from renal tuberculosis, which caused differential diagnostic problems. The first patient was examined because of fever and left flank pain. Computed tomography revealed renal shrinkage on the left side. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated ureteric stricture and dilated calices. Urine culture showed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two months after initiation of the antituberculotic therapy nephrectomy was performed. The second patient was referred to the department because of fever after unsuccessful antibiotic treatment. Ultrasound examination showed a staghorn stone, dilated renal pelvis and perirenal abscess on the left side. Double J catheter insertion and percutaneous puncture of the abscess were performed. Culture of the pus aspirated proved Proteus morganii. Fever and complaints of the patient relieved after antibiotic treatment. Two months later double J catheter was changed because of persistent pyelonephritis. One week later the patient returned to the hospital with fever, which could not be reduced with intravenous antibiotics. Computed tomography showed purulent fluid in the left kidney, and nephrectomy was performed. Histology revealed renal tuberculosis. The authors summarize the diagnosis and treatment of renal tuberculosis on the basis of these two cases.

A rare presentation of Legionnaires' disease.

We present an interesting case of Legionnaires' disease masquerading as acute pyelonephritis, with complete absence of respiratory symptoms on admission. A 45-year-old man was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease 2 days after presenting to hospital with dysuria and right loin pain. He became critically unwell during the hospital admission, with headache, uncontrolled fever, breathlessness, decreasing oxygen saturations and increasing oxygen requirements. A CT pulmonary angiography demonstrated right upper lobar consolidation and Legionella urinary antigen was positive. He was treated with ciprofloxacin and rifampicin and made a full recovery.

Psoas abscess in an immunocompetent host.

We present a case of iliopsoas abscess in an immunocompetent patient. She experienced three weeks of worsening right hip pain, which was initially misdiagnosed as degenerative joint disease. This led to admission to the Intensive Care Unit for severe sepsis. The patient improved with intravenous antibiotics and percutaneous abscess drainage.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of diabetic and non-diabetic women with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic women with community-acquired APN (CA-APN). METHODS: We prospectively collected and analyzed clinical data of women with CA-APN who attended 11 hospitals in South Korea from March 2010 to February 2012. RESULTS: Of a total of 775 patients, 246 (31.7%) were diabetic and 529 (68.3%) non-diabetic. Fewer of the diabetic patients had flank pain (27.6% vs. 37.2% P = 0.009), symptoms of lower urinary tract infection (57.3% vs. 69.6% P = 0.001) and costovertebral angle tenderness (54.9% vs. 72.2% P < 0.001). However, more of them had C-reactive protein ≥20 mg/dL (40.7% vs. 27.4% P < 0.001), azotemia (29.3% vs. 13.4% P < 0.001) and bacteremia (53.7% vs. 38.2% P < 0.001). Final clinical failure rates and deaths did not differ between the two groups: 6.9% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.169; 2.0% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.747. However, hospitalization was longer in the diabetics than the non-diabetics (median 9.0 days vs. 7.0 days, P < 0.001). In logistic regression, diabetes was independently associated with longer hospitalization (OR 1.7, CI 1.1-2.7, P = 0.011), together with nausea/vomiting, history of admission within 1 year, bacteremia, azotemia, and dementia, as well as extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-positivity and fluoroquinolone resistance of uropathogens. CONCLUSIONS: CA-APN patients with diabetes have more severe disease manifestations and require longer hospitalization than non-diabetic patients although their clinical findings are less clear than those of non-diabetic patients.

Isolated renal zygomycosis: novel diagnostic and prognostic criteria with experience of a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: Isolated renal zygomycosis is a life-threatening infection and difficult to diagnose ante mortem due to varied presentations. Most reports in the literature are case reports. We are presenting our experience of 10 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective data of 10 consecutive patients with primary renal zygomycosis, including 2 post-transplant patients, in our tertiary care center was analyzed. Epidemiological characteristics, predisposing conditions, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and treatment outcomes were recorded. Characteristic radiological findings were recorded. Localized disease was managed by supportive treatment or percutaneous drainage and extensive disease with unilateral or bilateral nephrectomy. Renal involvement was confirmed in all patients by histopathology. RESULTS: The mean age of presentation was 35 years. Five patients who had bilateral renal involvement presented with oliguric acute renal failure, hematuria and abdominal pain. Three had unilateral renal disease and presented with flank pain and fever. The two post-transplant patients presented with fever and graft dysfunction. Even after aggressive treatment 5 patients died, accounting for a mortality rate of 50%. CONCLUSION: Isolated renal zygomycosis can be diagnosed with typical radiological findings, combined with clinical, laboratory and histopathological features. This study describes the newer ante mortem radiological diagnostic criteria and prognostic predictors of the disease.