Assessing the clinical utility of abdominal computed tomography in sepsis patients with unknown origin: A retrospective cohort study.

Early identification of the sources of infection in emergency department (ED) patients of sepsis remains challenging. Computed tomography (CT) has the potential to identify sources of infection. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the role of CT in identifying sources of infection in patients with sepsis without obvious infection foci in the ED. A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with fever and sepsis visiting the ED of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. Data on patient demographics, vital signs, clinical symptoms, underlying medical conditions, laboratory results, administered interventions, length of hospital stay, and mortality outcomes were collected and analyzed. Of 218 patients included in the study, 139 (63.8%) had positive CT findings. The most common sources of infection detected by CT included liver abscesses, acute pyelonephritis, and cholangitis. Laboratory results showed that patients with positive CT findings had higher white blood cell and absolute neutrophil counts and lower hemoglobin levels. Positive blood culture results were more common in patients with positive CT findings. Additionally, the length of hospital stay was longer in the group with positive CT findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hemoglobin levels and positive blood culture results independently predicted positive CT findings in patients with fever or sepsis without an obvious source of infection. In patients with sepsis with an undetermined infection focus, those presenting with leukocytosis, anemia, and elevated absolute neutrophil counts tended to have positive findings on abdominal CT scans. These patients had high rates of bacteremia and longer lengths of stay. Abdominal CT remains a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying infection sources in carefully selected patients with sepsis of undetermined infection origins.

Omphalitis as a presentation of multiple liver abscesses in a term neonate.

We report a case of term neonate presenting with purulent and foul-smelling discharge from the umbilicus, later investigated to have multiple non-drainable, sterile liver micro-abscesses. Conservative management was continued with intravenous antibiotics, after completion of a total of six weeks of antibiotics, all liver abscesses resolved and the baby was discharged.

[A case of liver abscess with meningitis and endophthalmitis: invasive liver abscess syndrome].

A woman in her 70s was hospitalized and was diagnosed with liver abscess and managed with antibiotics in a previous hospital. However, she experienced altered consciousness and neck stiffness during treatment. She was then referred to our hospital. On investigation, we found that she had meningitis and right endophthalmitis concurrent with a liver abscess. Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected from both cultures of the liver abscess and effusion from the cornea. A string test showed a positive result. Therefore, she was diagnosed with invasive liver abscess syndrome. Although she recovered from the liver abscess and meningitis through empiric antibiotic treatment, her right eye required ophthalmectomy. In cases where a liver abscess presents with extrahepatic complications, such as meningitis and endophthalmitis, the possibility of invasive liver abscess syndrome should be considered, which is caused by a hypervirulent K. pneumoniae.

Pasteurella multocida bacteraemia with liver abscess.

A previously healthy woman in her mid-70s presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, fever, intermittent chills and malaise for 1 week. She was clinically septic with raised inflammatory markers. Her blood culture revealed Pasteurella multocida, which was susceptible to penicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. CT of liver revealed an abscess of 8.0×7.9×8.5 cm at the left lobe of the liver. However, the abscess was not amenable for surgical or radiological drainage. She was a farmer and had close contact with her pet cats. She was occasionally scratched by her cats when caring for them. The liver abscess resolved completely without drainage after prolonged antimicrobial therapy of 109 days. She commenced on 63 days of intravenous antimicrobials and 46 days of oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. This case illustrated P. multocida bacteraemia with a large liver abscess in an immunocompetent adult after non-bite exposure.

Multifocal hepatic abscess post-ERCP.

A woman in her 40s presented to hospital with cholangitis. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed a moderately dilated common bile duct and mild intrahepatic duct dilatation with sludge. She underwent a successful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and sphincteroplasty. She subsequently developed recurrence of fevers and abdominal pain with rising inflammatory markers. Initial investigations and imaging were unremarkable. A positron emission tomography scan demonstrated multiple fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid hepatic lesions, and subsequent imaging confirmed multifocal liver abscesses without a drainable collection. The patient was managed with intravenous co-amoxiclav initially before switching to oral antibiotics, however, represented 1 week later with similar symptoms. Her antibiotic coverage was broadened to intravenous pipercillin-tazobactam, and she was discharged on this with follow-up in clinic. This case report highlights the rare complication of hepatic abscesses following ERCP and the importance of considering this as a differential in patients who present with sepsis following the procedure.

[A case of irreversible metronidazole encephalopathy during liver abscess treatment].

Metronidazole (MNZ) is a widely used drug for protozoan and anaerobic infections. The continuous use of MNZ causes various neurological symptoms, such as cerebellar ataxia, visual disturbance, vestibulocochlear symptoms, gait disturbance, dysarthria, and epileptic seizures of unknown cause, named MNZ-induced encephalopathy (MIE), in rare cases. MIE is a reversible disease that often improves within a few days of MNZ discontinuation, but irreversible neurological symptoms rarely remain. Herein, we report a case of MIE that developed during MNZ administration for a liver abscess, causing prolonged unconsciousness and death even after drug discontinuation. An 85-year-old female patient complained of fever, elevated liver enzymes, and a multifocal abscess in the right hepatic lobe, as seen on computed tomography. Percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy were initiated. The causative agent of the liver abscess could not be identified, thus meropenem was started, which demonstrated no inflammation improvement, thus oral MNZ was added. The inflammation recurred when MNZ was discontinued, and the patient continued taking MNZ. Vomiting, upper limb tremors, consciousness disturbance, and convulsions appeared on day 46 (total dose of MNZ 73.5mg), and the patient was hospitalized. T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and FLAIR head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed symmetrical abnormal high-signal areas in the cerebellar dentate nucleus, corpus callosum, cerebral white matter, and periventricular areas. MIE was diagnosed based on the patient's course and MRI images, and MNZ was discontinued. The patient continued to suffer from impaired consciousness and convulsions after MNZ discontinuation and died due to aspiration pneumonia. Suggestively, MIE development is related to long-term MNZ administration, poor nutrition, liver disease, underlying diseases (such as advanced cancer), and serious complications. A systematic review of MIE cases revealed that 4.8-5.9% of the patients demonstrated little improvement of symptoms after MNZ discontinuation, and some deaths were reported. Patients with poor prognosis were often suffering from impaired consciousness and convulsions. Furthermore, impaired consciousness was the most common residual symptom. Abnormal signals in characteristic areas, such as the dentate nucleus cerebri and corpus callosum, on head MRI are useful for MIE diagnosis, especially in patients with abnormal findings in the cerebral white matter, which is associated with a poor prognosis. We should pay close attention to the onset of MIE when MNZ is administered.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-guided Drainage of Caudate Lobe Abscess: A Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Liver abscess is usually treated with medical therapy. Few patients require drainage of the collection due to large size, certain high-risk location or rupture of the collection. Percutaneous drainage is most commonly used modality for the drainage of such collection. However, caudate lobe poses a unique difficulty in percutaneous drainage due to its deep location. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of all patients with caudate lobe abscess who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage at our center. We reviewed their indications, technical and clinical success rates of the procedure from 2020 to 2023. We also performed systemic review of published literature till June 12, 2023 showing use of EUS-guided drainage of caudate lobe abscess. RESULTS: Total of 8 patients (age: 37.33 ± 12.8 y; Males 62.5%) underwent EUS-guided drainage of caudate lobe collection at our center. Six patients underwent drainage using plastic stents, 1 patient underwent using metal stent, and 1 patient had aspiration of the abscess. Technical success was achieved in all patients. One patient succumbed to background illness and clinical success could be achieved in rest of the patients. In systemic review of literature on EUS-guided drainage of caudate lobe, a total of 10 studies (17 patients) were included. All patients achieved technical success. Majority studies reported use of plastic stents or naso-cystic drains whereas only 1 case reported use of metal stents. One procedure related complication (localized para-esophageal abscess) was reported requiring endoscopic intervention for management. CONCLUSION: EUS-guided drainage of caudate lobe abscess is safe and effective. It should be used as a first-line intervention after a failed medical management.

Ultrasound-guided aspiration in addition to antibiotics for treatment of liver abscess in children: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The criteria for aspiration for pediatric liver abscess are unclear. In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle aspiration in addition to antibiotics in children with uncomplicated liver abscess. METHODS: We enrolled 110 children aged 1-18 years (mean [SD] = 7.7 [3.7] years) with uncomplicated liver abscess. The primary outcome was clinical cure at 6 weeks (absence of fever and abdominal pain in the preceding 14 days with reduction in abscess size on ultrasonography). The secondary outcomes were clinical response at 4 weeks, fever resolution time, time to abdominal pain reduction and abdominal tenderness, duration of hospitalization, and treatment failure. RESULTS: Clinical cure at 6 weeks was not significantly different (48/50 [96%] vs 39/46 [85%]; P = 0.082) between aspiration plus antibiotics group and antibiotics only group. The clinical response at 4 weeks was also comparable (49/50 [98%] vs 43/46 [93.5%]; P = 0.347). The mean (SD) of fever resolution time was significantly less in the aspiration plus antibiotics group (198 [90.8] h vs 248.2 [104.6] h; P = 0.014). Time to achieve reduction in abdominal pain (8.32 [3.1] vs 9.46 [3.1] days; P = 0.077) and abdominal tenderness (5.7 [2.4] vs 6.3 [2.3] days; P = 0.242), duration of hospitalization (16.6 [3.9] vs 18.2 [4.4] days; P = 0.07), and adverse event profile (9/50 [18%] vs 14/46 [30%]; P = 0.217) were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Majority of children with uncomplicated liver abscess achieved clinical cure at 6 weeks with intravenous antibiotics, irrespective of aspiration. However, needle aspiration may slightly reduce the duration of fever and abdominal pain/abdominal tenderness.

Multiple liver abscesses secondary to Listeria monocytogenes complicated by hepatic artery mycotic aneurysm.

A woman in her 50s presented to the emergency department with 5 days of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. CT imaging of her liver demonstrated three enhancing, cystic lesions in her hepatic parenchyma and a large enhancing lesion in her porta hepatis concerning for a hepatic artery aneurysm. Radiographic-guided drainage was performed on two accessible liver abscesses, and cultures from this drainage grew Listeria monocytogenes Serial imaging of the aneurysm demonstrated that the aneurysm spontaneously thrombosed and did not require further intervention. She was subsequently discharged on intravenous ampicillin with a plan to continue until radiographic resolution of the abscesses.

Leverabscess utløst av et fiskeben.

BACKGROUND: Liver abscess caused by foreign bodies constitutes a rare medical problem that few of us will encounter in a clinical setting. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case where a woman presented with sepsis and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) of her abdomen revealed a large hepatic abscess containing a foreign body. Based on the size, shape and density of the object, a fishbone was suspected. INTERPRETATION: We hypothesise that she swallowed a fishbone, which then perforated the gastrointestinal tract and lodged in the liver. After interdisciplinary discussion it was decided to proceed with conservative management, and the patient was treated successfully with antibiotics for a total of 31 days.

[A case of invasive liver abscess syndrome caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae causing endophthalmitis-induced blindness].

An 82-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital for visual acuity loss in both eyes. The patient was diagnosed with invasive liver abscess syndrome and bilateral endophthalmitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae 4 days after the onset of ocular symptoms. The liver abscess improved by broad-spectrum antibiotics and intravitreal injection, but bilateral blindness occurred. Most literature reported fever as the first symptom of invasive abscess syndrome, but this case had no fever at the onset of ocular symptoms. Delayed invasive liver abscess syndrome diagnosis might cause poor visual acuity prognosis.

Lactococcus lactis endocarditis and liver abscess in an immunocompetent patient: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades, several cases of infections caused by Lactococcus lactis have been reported. This Gram-positive coccus is considered non-pathogenic for humans. However, in some rare cases, it can cause serious infections such as endocarditis, peritonitis, and intra-abdominal infections. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old Moroccan patient was admitted to the hospital because of diffuse abdominal pain and fever. The patient had no past medical history. Five days before his admission, he developed abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant along with chills and feverish sensations. Investigations showed a liver abscess, which was drained, and the microbiological study of the pus revealed Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris. Three days after admission, control computed tomography objectified splenic infarctions. Cardiac explorations were performed and showed a floating vegetation on the ventricle side of the aortic valve. We retained the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis according to the modified Duke criteria. The patient was declared afebrile on day 5 and the evolution was clinically and biologically favorable. Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, formerly known as Streptococcus cremoris, is a rare cause of human infections. The first case of Lactococcus lactis cremoris endocarditis was reported in 1955. This organism includes three subspecies: lactis, cremoris, and hordniae. A MEDLINE and Scopus search showed only 13 cases of infectious endocarditis due to Lactococcus lactis, with subsp. cremoris identified in four of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the co-occurrence of Lactococcus lactis endocarditis and liver abscess. Despite its reported low virulence and good response to antibiotic treatment, Lactococcus lactis endocarditis must be considered a serious disease. It is imperative for a clinician to suspect this microorganism of causing endocarditis when they notice signs of infectious endocarditis in a patient with a history of consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or contact with farm animals. The finding of a liver abscess should lead to an investigation of endocarditis, even in previously healthy patients without obvious clinical signs of endocarditis.