A Case Report: Ruptured Popliteal Aneurysm Caused by Haemophilus Influenzae Infection.

Mycotic aneurysms arise from infection of an arterial wall secondary to septic emboli from endocarditis. Although rare, most mycotic aneurysms involve the abdominal aorta, with Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp being the most common causative organisms. We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with a ruptured mycotic popliteal aneurysm from Haemophilus influenzae infection.

Haemophilus Parainfluenzae Septic Arthritis Following Primary All-Inside Meniscus Repair: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background: Haemophilus parainfluenzae (H. parainfluenzae) is a gram-negative rod that inhabits the oral cavity. It is a common cause of respiratory tract infections and rarely is responsible for musculoskeletal infections in immunocompetent hosts. We present a case of a 17-year-old male whose postoperative course following arthroscopic all-inside meniscus repair was complicated with H. parainfluenzae septic arthritis. The infection was successfully cleared with two arthroscopic irrigation and debridements and antibiotic therapy. The patient successfully returned to full-contact high school football at five months postoperatively. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of H. parainfluenzae infection following an orthopaedic procedure in an adolescent. Level of Evidence: IV.

Kicking off a Retropharyngeal Abscess

Aim Retropharyngeal abscesses (RPA) are deep neck space infections that can pose an immediate life-threatening emergency, such as airway obstruction. [1] Methods We describe an atypical presentation of RPA in a three year old girl who attended with a history of post-traumatic Neck pain. Results MB presented to the Emergency department with neck pain and reduced range of motion following a kick to the neck by a sibling. Examination was unremarkable. Cervical spine x-ray showed psuedosubluxation of C2/C3 with a concern regarding facet joint injury. Ultimately, MRI revealed a RPA, which was incised and drained, and the patient treated with antibiotics. MB did not have any classic symptoms and signs of RPA. The history was misleading the treating physicians, and hence a delay in diagnosis. Conclusion This case highlights an unusual presentation of a retropharyngeal abscess and reminds us that trauma can often be a red herring in a patient's presentation.

Brain Abscess of Basal Ganglia Presenting with Persistent Hiccups.

BACKGROUND: Brain abscesses are well-known to neurologic surgeons with well-recognized presentations, which include seizures, neurologic deficit, and headache. Rare symptoms may lead to a delay in diagnosis, which can be life threatening in the setting of a brain abscess. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a 46-year-old male with intractable hiccups found to have an abscess of the right basal ganglia. The brain abscess was treated by frameless stereotactic-guided aspiration. The patient's hiccups improved after surgical aspiration and medical management. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive literature review confirmed brain abscess as a rare cause of intractable hiccups. In addition, there are few reports of lesions of the basal ganglia causing intractable hiccups. Aspiration and medical therapy resulted in resolution of the hiccups. Knowledge of the hiccup reflex arc and unusual presentation of basal ganglia lesions may shorten time to diagnosis.

Lung transplantation for diffuse panbronchiolitis: 5 cases from a single centre.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis is a rare complex genetic disease predominantly affecting East Asians, and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory bronchioles and sinobronchial infection. Although long-term macrolide therapy has been shown to significantly improve the survival in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis, some patients continue to deteriorate, eventually requiring lung transplantation. However, lung transplantation for diffuse panbronchiolitis has rarely been reported and the outcome in these patients remains unknown. We describe our experience of lung transplantation for diffuse panbronchiolitis. A total of 5 patients received long-term macrolide therapy and had airway colonization by Pseudomonas aeruginosa preoperatively. Three patients had undergone sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis before the transplantation. Bilateral cadaveric lung transplantation was performed in 4 patients, and living-donor lung transplantation in 1. After the lung transplantation, 1 patient developed an A3 acute rejection episode; however, none of the recipients developed severe pneumonia or any fatal infections. One recipient developed chronic lung allograft dysfunction 3 years after the transplantation; however, none developed recurrence of diffuse panbronchiolitis. All of the 5 patients were still surviving after a median follow-up period of 4.9 years (3.7-12.3 years). Lung transplantation is a viable option for the treatment of progressive diffuse panbronchiolitis resistant to long-term macrolide therapy.

A case of diffuse panbronchiolitis, associated with severe pulmonary hypertension, managed with bilateral lung transplantation from a brain-dead donor.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a chronic respiratory disease that mainly involves the respiratory bronchioles, and has historically been associated with a very poor prognosis. The development of long-term low dose macrolide therapy in the 1980s has dramatically improved the prognosis of DPB. Nevertheless, some cases are resistant to macrolide therapy, and ultimately develop severe respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension; in such cases lung transplantation is a viable treatment option. Here we report the case of a 40-year-old patient with a 20-year history of DPB, who underwent bilateral lung transplantation due to severe respiratory failure with pulmonary hypertension.

Nasopharyngeal and Adenoid Colonization by Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae in Children Undergoing Adenoidectomy and the Ability of Bacterial Isolates to Biofilm Production.

Haemophili are pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria often colonizing the upper respiratory tract mucosa. The prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae (with serotypes distribution), and H. parainfluenzae in the nasopharynx and/or the adenoid core in children with recurrent pharyngotonsillitis undergoing adenoidectomy was assessed. Haemophili isolates were investigated for their ability to biofilm production.Nasopharyngeal swabs and the adenoid core were collected from 164 children who underwent adenoidectomy (2-5 years old). Bacteria were identified by the standard methods. Serotyping of H. influenzae was performed using polyclonal and monoclonal antisera. Biofilm formation was detected spectrophotometrically using 96-well microplates and 0.1% crystal violet.Ninety seven percent (159/164) children who underwent adenoidectomy were colonized by Haemophilus spp. The adenoid core was colonized in 99.4% (158/159) children, whereas the nasopharynx in 47.2% (75/159) children (P < 0.0001). In 32% (51/159) children only encapsulated (typeable) isolates of H. influenzae were identified, in 22.6% (36/159) children only (nonencapsulated) H. influenzae NTHi (nonencapsulated) isolates were present, whereas 7.5% (12/159) children were colonized by both types. 14.5% (23/159) children were colonized by untypeable (rough) H. influenzae. In 22% (35/159) children H. influenzae serotype d was isolated. Totally, 192 isolates of H. influenzae, 96 isolates of H. parainfluenzae and 14 isolates of other Haemophilus spp. were selected. In 20.1% (32/159) children 2 or 3 phenotypically different isolates of the same species (H. influenzae or H. parainfluenzae) or serotypes (H. influenzae) were identified in 1 child. 67.2% (129/192) isolates of H. influenzae, 56.3% (54/96) isolates of H. parainfluenzae and 85.7% (12/14) isolates of other Haemophilus spp. were positive for biofilm production. Statistically significant differences (P = 0.0029) among H. parainfluenzae biofilm producers and nonproducers in the adenoid core and the nasopharynx were detected.H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae carriage rate was comparatively higher in the adenoid core than that in the nasopharynx in children undergoing adenoidectomy, suggesting that their involvement in chronic adenoiditis. The growth in the biofilm seems to be an important feature of haemophili colonizing the upper respiratory tract responsible for their persistence.

Pediatric orbital cellulitis in the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine era.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the microbiology of pediatric orbital cellulitis in blood cultures and abscess drainage cultures following the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) vaccine. METHODS: The medical records of all pediatrics patients (aged <18 years) at a tertiary pediatric hospital during the period January 2000 to July 2011 with a computed tomography orbital imaging querying "orbital cellulitis," "periorbital cellulitis," "preseptal cellulitis," or "post-septal cellulitis" were retrospectively reviewed. The records, microbiology, and radiology of these patients were reviewed to assess the rates and complications of H. influenzae orbital cellulitis, including bacteremia and meningitis. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients were diagnosed with preseptal or orbital cellulitis, of whom 101 (mean age, 7.2 ± 4.0) had true orbital cellulitis. No patients grew H. influenzae from blood cultures. Of the 101 patients, 30 (29.7%) required surgical drainage and had abscess drainage fluid sent for microbiology. Of these, 18 (64.3%) had a positive culture: 4 (13.3%) grew H. influenzae from their abscess drainage fluid samples; 1 grew H. influenzae alone; and 3 had mixed growth that included H. influenzae. The patients positive for H. influenzae were significantly older and had significantly larger abscesses. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were no cases of H. influenzae bacteremia or meningitis in our cases of orbital cellulitis, abscess drainage fluid microbiology indicated that H. influenzae remains a cause of orbital cellulitis. H. influenzae abscess volume was significantly larger than other bacterial abscesses and was associated with abscesses of mixed bacterial growth in older children.

Parotid abscess: a retrospective study of 14 cases at a regional hospital in Taiwan.

PROBLEM/OBJECTIVE: Acute suppurative sialadenitis commonly affects the parotid gland. However, acute suppurative parotitis with abscess formation is less common and possibly complicated by deep neck space infection and sepsis. Our aim was to analyze the clinical features, radiological findings, treatment modalities, and microbiology of parotid abscesses treated at a regional hospital in Taiwan over a 15-year period. METHODS: Records from patients diagnosed with acute suppurative parotitis or parotid abscesses between January 1998 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Parotid abscesses were confirmed by computed tomography (CT) examinations. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (9 males; mean age+standard deviation, 49.6 +/- 14.4 [range, 22-75] years) with parotid abscesses were included. Painful swelling at the angle of the jaw was the most common symptom. All patients sustained unilateral parotid abscesses, with left-sided lesions in 10 patients, and right-sided ones in 4 patients. Radiographically, 13 of 14 abscess lesions were located in the superficial lobe, and 1 was in the deep lobe of the parotid gland. Besides sufficient fluid hydration, maintenance of good oral hygiene, and administration of parenteral antibiotics, all patients were treated with surgical incision and drainage. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the organism most commonly isolated from abscess cultures. CONCLUSIONS: Parotid abscesses were found in about one fifth of patients with acute infectious parotid disease. Parenteral antibiotics plus surgical incision and drainage was the treatment of choice.

Mycotic aortic aneurysm caused by haemophilus influenzae group F.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus influenzae is a rare cause of mycotic aortic aneurysm. We present a case of H. influenzae mycotic aortic aneurysm, which was complicated by prior endovascular stent-graft placement at another facility. METHODS: A 58 year-old man was treated by endograft placement for a presumed penetrating aortic ulcer after having symptoms of abdominal pain and malaise for one month. He presented to our institution 11 days after endograft placement with septic physiology. Repeat computed tomography angiogram demonstrated an inflammatory mass around the distal aorta and right common iliac artery, which had an associated contained rupture. RESULTS: The patient was treated using intravenous antibiotics, axillo-bifemoral bypass followed by endograft explantation and aortic and iliac ligation. Intraoperative cultures grew Haemophilus influenzae, serotype f. CONCLUSIONS: Aortic endografts have been successfully used for treatment of selected mycotic aneurysms, generally after adequate treatment of the primary infection with intravenous antibiotics. This case demonstrates the unfavorable natural history of endograft placement in an unsuspected mycotic aneurysm. A high index of suspicion for possible aortic infection should be maintained for patients with systemic symptoms and unusual aortic pathology prior to choosing endovascular repair.

Fever and limp: thinking outside the box.

Fever and limp is a common presentation in the pediatric emergency department. We describe a case of a 21-month-old female patient with prolonged fever and difficulty bearing weight, ultimately diagnosed with a large intracranial abscess. Intracranial abscesses are a rare cause of limp and an uncommon diagnosis in pediatric patients without underlying congenital heart disease. This case highlights the importance of differentiating the features of limp secondary to pain from limp secondary to weakness, which is particularly difficult in the preschool-aged group. It is imperative for practitioners to consider disease of the central nervous system when evaluating acutely nonambulatory children with fevers.

Brainstem abscess caused by Haemophilus influenza and Peptostreptococcus species.

We present a patient with a solitary brainstem abscess caused by Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and Peptostreptococcus species. This is the first report of a Hib brainstem abscess in the English literature. Hib has been mainly associated with respiratory or nasal infections, and a few cases of intracerebral abscesses, but no brainstem abscesses have been described. The literature on solitary brainstem abscesses was reviewed and an overview of the literature between January 1984 and May 2009 is presented.

[Brain abscess as the first clinical manifestation of isolated pulmonary arteriovenous malformation without Rendu-Osler disease]. / Abcès cérébelleux révélant une malformation artérioveineuse pulmonaire isolée en dehors de la maladie de Rendu-Osler.

INTRODUCTION: Brain abscesses occur in 5 to 13 % of patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM), more often present in Rendu-Osler-Weber disease or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). CASE REPORT: A 51-year-old man with a history of transient Parinaud syndrome at 37 years complained of headache for 2 months before acute onset of a left cerebellar syndrome without fever. CT-scan and MRI of the head revealed a heterogeneous left cerebellar lesion. A brain abscess was drained and all signs resolved. CT-scan of the chest revealed a left lingual PAVM; occlusion was incomplete after coil embolization. He had no feature of HHT and no mutation in ENG and ACVRL1 genes. A second embolization was performed 5 months later, but the malformation was not occluded at 6 months. DISCUSSION: We report the seventh case of PAVM complicated by a cerebellar abscess. The right to left shunt in PAVM results in hypoxemia, secondary polycythemia and paradoxical embolization of infective organisms bypassing the pulmonary filter. CONCLUSION: Combining different MRI techniques (in particular diffusion and proton MR spectroscopy) provides invaluable data for the diagnosis of brain abscess. Careful search for PAVM must be undertaken, particularly in adults with cryptogenic abscess, to avoid further abscess formation or stroke.

Acromioclavicular septic arthritis: a case report of a novel pathogen.

In immunocompetent patients, septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a rare entity. It can be difficult to discern from glenohumeral septic arthritis and AC joint impingement syndrome. The usual symptoms are fever, erythema, swelling, palpable pain over the AC joint, and pain with shoulder motion. The most commonly reported causative organism is a Staphylococcus or Streptococcus species. Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a rare cause of septic arthritis in any joint. Although limited to case reports in the literature, most H parainfluenzae skeletal infections occur after surgical intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of AC septic arthritis with H parainfluenzae.

Haemophilus influenzae abscess: inclusion in the differential diagnosis of a large pelvic mass?

BACKGROUND: This report describes an unusual first case in which an abscess containing Haemophilus influenzae incorporates the entire uterine cavity without overt signs of infection. CASE: A 39-year-old woman presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a large abdominal pelvic mass. Evaluation with computed tomography and ultrasonography showed a 20- x 14- x 10-cm cystic mass arising from the uterus. Tumor markers were negative. The patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy. Intraoperative findings included a 20-cm intramyometrial uterine abscess, completely replacing the uterine cavity. The abscess was densely adhered to the sigmoid colon. The mass was ruptured during the surgical procedure when mobilizing it off the colon, and cultures were obtained. Microbiologic culture illustrated H. influenzae. Pathologic diagnosis confirmed an intramyometrial abscess, originating from the wall of the uterus occupying the entire uterine cavity, lined with granulation tissue, foamy macrophages, and chronic inflammation. CONCLUSION: Intramyometrial abscesses can masquerade as degenerating fibroids and, even with microorganisms, can exist without overt signs or symptoms of an active infection.

Mycotic aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

A 59-year-old man presented with a three-month history of back pain, and enhanced computed tomography demonstrated an acutely expanding aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta with slight erosion of the corresponding vertebrae. Because of suspected infectious or inflammatory etiology, he was managed with a combination of emergency aortic repair using prosthetic graft with omental flap and antibiotic chemotherapy. Haemophilus influenzae was identified from perioperative specimens and the postoperative course was uneventful.

Plicated patch repair for acquired Gerbode defect involving the tricuspid valve.

Gerbode's defect, a left ventricular-to-right atrial communication, with involvement of the tricuspid valve acquired after bacterial endocarditis can be challenging to repair. We report a modified technique for a shunt closure and reconstruction of the tricuspid valve using a plicated bovine pericardial patch. Combining such a repair with a left ventricular patch resulted in a complete defect closure and competent tricuspid valve without regurgitation.

Increased TLR7 expression in the adenoids among children with otitis media with effusion.

CONCLUSION: Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) is present in the adenoids in young children and might play a role in the immunological response behind the development of otitis media with effusion (OME). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of the TLRs TLR4 and TLR7 in adenoids from children with OME and to compare the results with data obtained from healthy controls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a controlled, prospective study. Eleven young children with long-standing OME and 10 controls with healthy middle ears were recruited consecutively when scheduled for adenoidectomy. mRNA was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the localization of the corresponding proteins was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: mRNA for TLR4 and TLR7 could be obtained from all samples tested along with their corresponding proteins. The mRNA levels for TLR7 were increased among the children with a history of OME. No such increase was found for TLR4.