Staphylococcus lugdunensis: A Rare Pathogen for Osteomyelitis of the Foot.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is an aggressive gram-positive bacteria that can lead to devastating infections in humans. S. lugdunensis has been associated with rare cases of osteomyelitis of the vertebra, prosthetic implants, and endocarditis. Reports of this organism associated with osteomyelitis of the foot or ankle have been infrequent. We present a unique case of acute osteomyelitis of a foot caused by S. lugdunensis after a patient stepped on a thorn. Our case is unique, because the radiographic changes were noted within 4 days, despite normal plain films and magnetic resonance images on the day of admission. This finding suggests the aggressiveness and virulence of S. lugdunensis. In addition, we report the first case of foot osteomyelitis as a result of isolated S. lugdunensis that involved 2 distinct specimens with 2 different antibiotic sensitivity reports.

Cellulomonas, an emerging pathogen: a case report and review of the literature.

Cellulomonas is a rare but emerging human pathogen, causing infection in only 4 reported cases in the literature. We present the first case of ascending cholangitis with Cellulomonas bacteremia and sepsis, as well as a brief review of the literature. We summarize every case of Cellulomonas reported in the medical literature, including treatments and outcomes.

Bacterial meningitis in older adults.

OPINION STATEMENT: The burden of disease due to bacterial meningitis is shifting toward older adults. Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion of meningitis in older adults, since they may present without classic signs and symptoms. Clinicians should remember that more older patients are at risk of healthcare-associated meningitis and may be at risk of more resistant organisms. A lumbar puncture should be performed as quickly as possible. If a CT scan is required before the lumbar puncture, blood cultures should be drawn and appropriate empiric antibiotics should be started before sending the patient to the CT scanner. Empiric antibiotics should be chosen based on patient history, review of patient's known illnesses and risk factors, results of CSF Gram stain, and local institution antibiotic resistance patterns. Clinicians should remember that Streptococcus pneumoniae may be resistant to penicillin and cephalosporins, so vancomycin is usually also administered until the bacterial resistance pattern is known. Adjunctive dexamethasone may be started before or at the time of antibiotic therapy based on risk versus benefit analysis, and may be discontinued if patient is found to not have Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.

Lactococcus garvieae multi-valve infective endocarditis in a traveler returning from South Korea.

Lactococcus garvieae is a rare but emerging human pathogen causing a variety of infections with only ten cases of infective endocarditis reported in the literature. We present the only case of Lactococcus garvieae infective endocarditis affecting both a native and a bioprosthetic valve in a traveler returning from rural South Korea.

A case of person-to-person transmission of Q fever from an active duty serviceman to his spouse.

Coxiella burnetii has recently gained military relevance given its potential as a bioterrorism agent, and the multiple cases reported among U.S. military personnel deployed to the Middle East. Sexual transmission of Q fever is rare but has been reported in the literature. We describe the possible sexual transmission of Q fever from a returning serviceman from Iraq to his wife. In a recent editorial commentary, Dr. Raoult wrote about the reemergence of Q fever after September 11, 2001 (Raoult 2009). Indeed, C. burnetii has gained military relevance given its potential as a bioterrorism agent and the multiple cases reported among military personnel deployed in Southwest/Central Asia and North Africa (Botros et al. 1995 , Meskini et al. 1995 , Leung-Shea and Danaher 2006 ). Human serosurveys in these geographic areas have reported prevalence rates for Q fever ranging from 10% to 37% in contrast to the United States, which has an estimated Q fever seroprevalence of 3.1% (Botros et al. 1995, Meskini et al. 1995, Anderson et al. 2009). There is no data available for Q fever seroprevalence in Iraq. As a consequence, native populations in these regions may be more likely to possess immunity, and newcomers, such as U.S. military personnel, would be vulnerable to acute infection (Derrick 1973). We report on the possible sexual transmission of C. burnetii from a serviceman in the late recovery of acute Q fever to his wife.

Tularemic meningitis in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Tularemia presents with various clinical illnesses, but meningitis is rare. OBJECTIVES: To describe a patient who developed typhoidal tularemia with atypical acute meningitis and to review the pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory features, and antibiotic drug treatment of reported cases of tularemic meningitis. DESIGN: Case study and literature review. SETTING: University hospital, tertiary care center. PATIENT: A 21-year-old healthy man who had recently worked as a professional landscaper in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area developed fever, malaise, headache, and a stiff neck. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Francisella tularensis cerebrospinal fluid culture, antibiotic sensitivity, transmission source, and outcome. RESULTS: The cerebrospinal fluid contained a lymphocytic pleocytosis, negative Gram stain, and F tularensis isolation with chloramphenicol and streptomycin antibiotic sensitivities. CONCLUSIONS: Although tularemia is uncommon and tularemic meningitis is rare in the United States, attention is drawn to the increasing number of cases in professional landscapers, the atypical cerebrospinal fluid picture, and unusual antibiotic sensitivities.

Glomerulonephritis causing acute renal failure during the course of bacterial infections. Histological varieties, potential pathogenetic pathways and treatment.

To illustrate diagnostic approaches, potential pathogenetic differences, epidemiological implications and therapeutic dilemmas posed by glomerulonephritis (GN) with acute renal failure (ARF) complicating bacterial infections, we analyzed the course of four male patients, aged 53-71 years, who developed GN and ARF following bacterial infections. The first two patients developed GN with immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits after infections with hospital-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Clinical, serologic and histological features, classification of GN and treatment differed between the two patients. In the first patient, serological features (transient hypocomplementemia, normal serum protein electrophoresis) and histological findings were consistent with typical post-infectious GN. Treatment with antibiotics alone resulted in normalization of the renal function despite the severity of ARF, which required temporary hemodialysis. In the second patient, serological features (normal serum complement, polyclonal elevation of gamma globulins) and histological picture of the kidneys were characteristic of IgA nephropathy with fibrocellular crescents, and skin histology was consistent with vasculitis. Cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids were added to the antibiotics, with partial improvement of the renal failure. The third patient developed simultaneous acute rheumatic fever and post-streptococcal GN causing severe ARF requiring hemodialysis. Complete recovery of ARF and migratory polyarthritis followed initiation of corticosteroids. The fourth patient developed ARF and cerebral vasculitis following a prolonged course of Streptococcus mutans endocarditis with delayed diagnosis. He also developed multiple serological abnormalities including elevated titers of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-phospholipid antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and modest hypocomplementemia. Kidney biopsy revealed ANCA-mediated focal GN with 10% crescents and acute interstitial nephritis. Treatment with cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids, but not with antibiotics alone, resulted in resolution of both the ARF and the features of cerebral vasculitis. GN following bacterial infections may have various pathogenetic mechanisms, presents complex diagnostic challenges, may be preventable in the case of hospital-acquired MRSA, and, in addition to antibiotics, may require immunosuppressive therapy in carefully selected and monitored cases.