Meningeal Sporotrichosis Due to Sporothrix brasiliensis: A 21-Year Cohort Study from a Brazilian Reference Center.

Meningeal sporotrichosis is rare and occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. This retrospective study explored clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with disseminated sporotrichosis who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a Brazilian reference center from 1999 to 2020. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to estimate overall survival and hazard ratios. Among 57 enrolled patients, 17 had meningitis. Fifteen (88.2%) had HIV infection, and in 6 of them, neurological manifestations occurred because of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The most frequent symptom was headache (88.2%). Meningeal symptoms at first LP were absent in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. Sporothrix was diagnosed in cerebrospinal fluid either by culture or by polymerase chain reaction in seven and four patients, respectively. All but one patient received prolonged courses of amphotericin B formulations, and seven received posaconazole, but relapses were frequent. Lethality among patients with meningitis was 64.7%, with a higher chance of death compared to those without meningitis (HR = 3.87; IC95% = 1.23;12.17). Meningeal sporotrichosis occurs mostly in people with HIV and can be associated with IRIS. Screening LP is indicated in patients with disseminated disease despite the absence of neurological complaints. Meningitis is associated with poor prognosis, and better treatment strategies are needed.

Systemic microvascular dysfunction in COVID-19.

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), while having lung injury as its most prominent feature, has been increasingly shown to affect endothelial cell function and the microvasculature. In this report, a woman with COVID-19, cardiac valve disease and spherocytosis was assessed with laser Doppler perfusion monitoring. Systemic microvascular reactivity was impaired during a worsening phase of COVID-19, but improved after clinical recovery; microcirculatory dysfunction paralleled systemic inflammation and pulmonary involvement. The assessment of systemic microcirculatory function may therefore provide insights on COVID-19 pathophysiology.

Acute cardiac injury in patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac complications of COVID-19 are potentially life-threatening. The occurrence of myocardial injury in the context of COVID-19 is multifactorial and has generated increasing interest. METHODS: A systematic review with a meta-analysis of the literature was performed. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched. Two independent reviewers evaluated the selected manuscripts for the outcome "myocardial injury", defined by troponin elevation above the 99th percentile. The study heterogeneity and risk of bias were evaluated. RESULTS: Eight studies, with a total of 1,229 patients, were included. The frequency of myocardial injury was 16% (95% CI: 9%-27%). The heterogeneity among the studies was high (93%). CONCLUSIONS: Myocardial injury may occur in patients with COVID-19, with a frequency of 16% according to current studies. Continuous research is needed to update these findings as the pandemic evolves and to define the implications of myocardial injury in the context of this infection.

Infectious complications following probiotic ingestion: a potentially underestimated problem? A systematic review of reports and case series.

BACKGROUND: Little is studied about complications related to probiotic ingestion. This study proposes to present a synthesis and critical evaluation of the reports and series of cases on the infectious complications related to the ingestion of probiotics, which can raise awareness for the prescribing and use of probiotics for certain groups of patients. METHODS: Systematic review of reports and series of cases researched in the PubMed, SciELO and Scopus databases published until August 2018. The references of the articles were investigated manually for the search of cross references. SPSS version 23.0 was used for descriptive statistics and univariate analysis. RESULTS: We found 60 case reports and 7 case series, making up a total of 93 patients. Fungemia was the most common infectious complications with 35 (37.6%) cases. The genus Saccharomyces was the most frequent with 47 (50.6%) cases, followed by Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Pedioccocus and Escherichia with 26 (27.9%), 12 (12.8%), 5 (5.4%), 2 (2.2%) and 1 (1.1%) case, respectively. Adults over 60 years of age, Clostridium difficile colitis, antibiotic use and Saccharomyces infections were associated with overall mortality. HIV infections, immunosuppressive drugs, solid organ transplantation, deep intravenous lines, enteral or parenteral nutrition were not associated with death. CONCLUSION: The use of probiotics cannot be considered risk-free and should be carefully evaluated for some patient groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42016042289.

Early Onset Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: Experience at a Cardiothoracic Surgical Hospital, 2006-2016.

BACKGROUND: Early onset prosthetic valve endocarditis (EO-PVE) is an serious complication associated with heart valve replacement surgery. OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory profile of patients with EO-PVE in a cardiac surgical hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of an endocarditis database, implemented prospectively, with a post hoc study driven by analysis of cases of adults with definite endocarditis occurring up to 12 months after heart valve surgery. RESULTS: We identified 26 cases in 2,496 surgeries in the period 2006-2016. The average annual incidence was 1.04%. The median time between valve replacement and the diagnosis of EO-PVE was 33 days (interquartile range [IQR] 19.25-118.75). Biologic and mechanical prostheses were affected in 53.8% and 46.2%, respectively. Rheumatic disease was present in 57.7% of patients. The most common causative pathogens were Staphylococcus epidermidis (23.1%). No Staphylococcus aureus infection was reported. Complications were present in 73.1% of cases, including embolism (65.4%), acute renal failure (38.5%), and heart failure (23.1%). The mortality rate at 30 days and 12 months was 3.8% and 34.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort EO-PVE was an serious complication of heart valve replacement with a high morbidity and mortality, despite its low frequency.

Community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy: predictors in a contemporary cohort study.

Community-acquired pneumonia represents the most frequent bacterial infection in patients with HIV/AIDS. PURPOSE: We aimed to assess variables associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) among HIV-infected adults using ART. METHODS: A cohort study of HIV-infected patients aged ≥18 years, enrolled from 2000 to 2015, on ART for at least 60 days, with primary outcome as the 1st episode of LRTI during follow-up. The independent variables included were sex at birth, age, race/skin color, educational level, tobacco smoking, alcohol use, cocaine use, diabetes mellitus, CD4 count, HIV viral load, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. Extended Cox proportional hazards models accounting for time-updated variables were fitted to assess LRTI predictors. RESULTS: 2669 patients were included; median follow-up was 3.9 years per patient. LRTI was diagnosed in 384 patients; incidence rate was 30.7/1000 PY. In the unadjusted Cox extended models, non-white race [crude hazard ratio (cHR) 1.28, p = 0.020], cocaine use (cHR 2.01, p < 0.001), tobacco smoking (cHR 1.34, p value 0.007), and HIV viral load ≥400 copies/mL (cHR 3.40, p < 0.001) increased the risk of LRTI. Lower risk of LRTI was seen with higher educational level (cHR 0.61, p < 0.001), rise in CD4 counts (cHR 0.81, p < 0.001, per 100 cells/mm3 increase), influenza (cHR 0.60, p = 0.002) and pneumococcal vaccination (cHR 0.57, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, aHR for CD4 count was 0.86, for cocaine use 1.47 and for viral load ≥400 copies 2.20. CONCLUSIONS: LRTI has a high incidence in HIV-infected adults using ART. Higher CD4 counts and undetectable viral loads were protective, as were pneumococcal and influenza vaccines.

Asymptomatic and symptomatic embolic events in infective endocarditis: associated factors and clinical impact

ABSTRACT Background: Embolic complications of infective endocarditis are common. The impact of asymptomatic embolism is uncertain. Objectives: To determine the frequency of emboli due to IE and to identify events associated with embolism. Methods: Retrospective analysis of an endocarditis database, prospectively implemented, with a post hoc study driven by analysis of data on embolic events. Data was obtained from the International Collaboration Endocarditis case report forms and additional information on embolic events and imaging reports were obtained from the medical records. Variables associated with embolism were analyzed by the statistical software R version 3.1.0. Results: In the study period, 2006-2011, 136 episodes of definite infective endocarditis were included. The most common complication was heart failure (55.1%), followed by embolism (50%). Among the 100 medical records analyzed for emboli in left-sided infective endocarditis, 36 (36%) were found to have had asymptomatic events, 11 (11%) to the central nervous system and 28 (28%) to the spleen. Cardiac surgery was performed in 98/136 (72%). In the multivariate analysis, splenomegaly was the only associated factor for embolism to any site (p < 0.01, OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.04-11). Factors associated with embolism to the spleen were positive blood cultures (p = 0.05, OR 8.9, 95% CI 1.45-177) and splenomegaly (p < 0.01, OR 9.28, 95% CI 3.32-29); those associated to the central nervous system were infective endocarditis of the mitral valve (p < 0.05, OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.23-10) and male gender (p < 0.05, OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.04-10). Splenectomy and cardiac surgery did not impact on in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Asymptomatic embolism to the central nervous system and to the spleen were frequent. Splenomegaly was consistently associated with embolic events.

Asymptomatic and symptomatic embolic events in infective endocarditis: associated factors and clinical impact.

BACKGROUND: Embolic complications of infective endocarditis are common. The impact of asymptomatic embolism is uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of emboli due to IE and to identify events associated with embolism. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of an endocarditis database, prospectively implemented, with a post hoc study driven by analysis of data on embolic events. Data was obtained from the International Collaboration Endocarditis case report forms and additional information on embolic events and imaging reports were obtained from the medical records. Variables associated with embolism were analyzed by the statistical software R version 3.1.0. RESULTS: In the study period, 2006-2011, 136 episodes of definite infective endocarditis were included. The most common complication was heart failure (55.1%), followed by embolism (50%). Among the 100 medical records analyzed for emboli in left-sided infective endocarditis, 36 (36%) were found to have had asymptomatic events, 11 (11%) to the central nervous system and 28 (28%) to the spleen. Cardiac surgery was performed in 98/136 (72%). In the multivariate analysis, splenomegaly was the only associated factor for embolism to any site (p<0.01, OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.04-11). Factors associated with embolism to the spleen were positive blood cultures (p=0.05, OR 8.9, 95% CI 1.45-177) and splenomegaly (p<0.01, OR 9.28, 95% CI 3.32-29); those associated to the central nervous system were infective endocarditis of the mitral valve (p<0.05, OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.23-10) and male gender (p<0.05, OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.04-10). Splenectomy and cardiac surgery did not impact on in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic embolism to the central nervous system and to the spleen were frequent. Splenomegaly was consistently associated with embolic events.

Histopathology of valves in infective endocarditis, diagnostic criteria and treatment considerations.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe disease. Pathogen isolation is fundamental so as to treat effectively and reduce morbidity and mortality. Blood and valve culture and histopathology (HP) are routinely employed for this purpose. Valve HP is the gold standard for diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of clinical criteria for IE (the modified Duke and the St Thomas' minor modifications, STH) of blood and valve culture compared to valve HP, and to evaluate antibiotic treatment duration. METHODS: Prospective case series of patients, from 2006 to 2014 with surgically treated IE. Statistical analysis was done by the R software. RESULTS: There were 136 clinically definite episodes of IE in 133 patients. Mean age ± SD was 43 ± 15.6 years and IE was left sided in 81.6 %. HP was definite in 96 valves examined, which were used as gold standard. Sensitivity of blood culture was 61 % (CI 0.51, 0.71) and of valve culture 15 % (CI 0.07, 0.26). The modified Duke criteria were 65 % (CI 0.55, 0.75) sensitive and 33 % specific, while the STH's sensitivity was 72 % (CI 0.61, 0.80) with similar specificity. In multivariate analysis and logistic regression, the only variable with statistical significance was duration of antibiotic therapy postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Valve HP had high sensitivity and valve culture low sensitivity in the diagnosis of IE. The STH's criteria were more sensitive than the modified Duke criteria. Valve HP should guide duration of postoperative antibiotic treatment.

Cutaneous mucormycosis in advanced HIV disease

ABSTRACT Angionvasive mucormycosis is an emerging fungal disease known to affect mainly diabetics or subjects with profound neutropenia. Infection usually occurs through the inhalation route, but cutaneous inoculation may occur after trauma or burns. However, mucormycosis remains unusual in HIV infection. We report a fatal case of cutaneous mucormycosis due to Rhizopus arrhizus involving the scalp following herpes zoster infection. The patient was a 42-year-old man with advanced AIDS failing on salvage antiretroviral therapy. The fungus was diagnosed on the basis of histopathology and culture. Our case emphasizes the need to consider mucormycosis in the differential diagnosis of necrotic cutaneous lesions in patients with late-stage HIV disease.

Cutaneous mucormycosis in advanced HIV disease.

Angionvasive mucormycosis is an emerging fungal disease known to affect mainly diabetics or subjects with profound neutropenia. Infection usually occurs through the inhalation route, but cutaneous inoculation may occur after trauma or burns. However, mucormycosis remains unusual in HIV infection. We report a fatal case of cutaneous mucormycosis due to Rhizopus arrhizus involving the scalp following herpes zoster infection. The patient was a 42-year-old man with advanced AIDS failing on salvage antiretroviral therapy. The fungus was diagnosed on the basis of histopathology and culture. Our case emphasizes the need to consider mucormycosis in the differential diagnosis of necrotic cutaneous lesions in patients with late-stage HIV disease.

The burden of mucormycosis in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection afflicting immunocompromised patients, causing a significant degree of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive analysis describing the epidemiology and outcome of mucormycosis in the scenario of HIV infection. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed for reports about mucormycosis associated with HIV. Eligible studies describe the predisposing factor, clinical form, treatment, and survival outcome. RESULTS: We included 61 articles from 212 reviewed abstracts, corresponding to 67 cases. Patients were mostly men (68.2%) with a median CD4(+) count of 47 [IQR 17-100] cells/mm(3). Intravenous drug use (50%), neutropenia (29.7%) and corticosteroid use (25%) were the predominant associated factors. The main clinical forms were disseminated (20.9%), renal (19.4%), and rhino-cerebral (17.9%). Rhizopus (45.5%) and Lichtheimia spp (30.3%) were the main fungal isolates. Treatment consisted of antifungal therapy and surgery in 38.8%. Overall mortality rate was 52.2%, and varied with the site of infection: 92.9% for disseminated disease, 62.5% for cerebral disease, 60% for pulmonary infection, and 36.4% for cutaneous infection. Survival was worse for those who did not initiate antifungals (p = .04), who were antiretroviral naïve (p = .01), who were admitted to ICU (p = .003) or had disseminated disease (p = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection in HIV patients and clinician should be aware of this co-infection in the differential diagnosis of HIV opportunistic infections.

Diagnosis of blood culture-negative endocarditis and clinical comparison between blood culture-negative and blood culture-positive cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) and how it compares to those of blood culture-positive endocarditis (BCPE) cases and show how molecular tools helped establish the etiology in BCNE. METHODS: Adult patients with definite infective endocarditis (IE) and having valve surgery were included. Valves were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis compared BCNE and BCPE. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients were included; 53 (40 %) had BCNE. The mean age was 45 ± 16 years; 33 (62 %) were male. BCNE was community-acquired in 41 (79 %). Most patients were referred from other hospitals (38, 73 %). Presentation was subacute in 34 (65 %), with fever in 47/53 (90 %) and a new regurgitant murmur in 34/42 (81 %). Native valves were affected in 74 %, mostly left-sided. All echocardiograms showed major criteria for IE. Antibiotics were used prior to BC collection in 31/42 (74 %). Definite histological diagnosis was established for 35/50 (70 %) valves. PCR showed oralis group streptococci in 21 (54 %), S. aureus in 3 (7.7 %), gallolyticus group streptococci in 2 (5.1 %), Coxiella burnetii in 1 (2.5 %) and Rhizobium sp. in 1 (2.5 %). In-hospital mortality was 9/53 (17 %). Fever (p = 0.06, OR 4.7, CI 0.91-24.38) and embolic complications (p = 0.003, OR 3.3, CI 1.55-6.82) were more frequent in BCPE cases, while new acute regurgitation (p = 0.05, OR 0.3, CI 0.098-0.996) and heart failure (p = 0.02, OR 0.3, CI 0.13-0.79) were less so. CONCLUSIONS: BCNE resulted mostly from prior antibiotics and was associated with severe hemodynamic compromise. Valve histopathology and PCR were useful in confirming the diagnosis and pointing to the etiology of BCNE.

The impact of sporotrichosis in HIV-infected patients: a systematic review.

Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection of man and animals caused by Sporothrix complex. It usually presents as a lymphocutaneous form, but disseminated disease may occur. Given the paucity of data about HIV/AIDS and sporotrichosis co-infection, a systematic review of reported cases of HIV-associated sporotrichosis found via Pubmed (1984-2013) was done. A total of 39 papers were included, and 58 patients' data analyzed. Thirty-three (56.9 %) cases were from Brazil and 18 (31 %) from the USA. Patients' mean age was 37.8 ± 10.4 years; males predominated (84.5 %). The median CD4(+) cell count was 97 cells/mm(3). The most common clinical forms were disseminated and disseminated cutaneous with 33 (56.9 %) and 10 (17.5 %) patients, respectively. There was a correlation between CD4(+) count and clinical categories (p = 0.002). Mortality was 30 % and there was a correlation between central nervous system involvement and death (p < 0.001).

Pacemaker endocarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes in an adult patient with Ebstein's anomaly: a report of a rare case.

We report a rare case of a Brazilian adult woman with Ebstein's Anomaly who presented with pacemaker endocarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes. Ebstein's Anomaly is a rare congenital malformation of the heart. Infective endocarditis is defined as an infection of heart valves, of the mural endocardium, of a septal defect, or of a cardiac electronic implantable device. Propionibacterium acnes is a skin commensal bacterium, that is usually considered as a contaminant, but can, on rare occasions, cause serious infections including endocarditis of prosthetic valves, native valves and cardiac electronic implantable devices. Diagnosis was made after nearly two years of investigation by identification of the organism by the MALDI-TOF technique and transoesophageal echocardiogram. The patient was successfully treated with daptomycin and device removal. She remains free of endocarditis after 32 months of follow-up.

Impact of improvement in preoperative oral health on nosocomial pneumonia in a group of cardiac surgery patients: a single arm prospective intervention study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of an oral health protocol on the incidence of postoperative pneumonia in patients submitted to coronary artery bypass grafting and to valve surgery. METHODS: All patients admitted to a public cardiac surgery hospital were examined by a dentist and had a thorough dentistry anamnesis and an intraoral exam focusing on teeth, gums, and tongue. Patients were taught how to brush their teeth and tongue and how to clean their jugal and palatal membranes. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CXG) 0.12% oral rinse twice a day was used until surgery. Data on age, sex, comorbidities, oral evaluation, type of surgery, and development of pneumonia were obtained. Statistical analysis was done on these variables to evaluate the impact of the study protocol. RESULTS: A total of 226 patients were enrolled, 136 male (60.2%). The median age was 59 years. There were 123 (54.4%) patients with coronary artery disease and 103 (45.6%) with valve disease. There were 18/226 (8%) postoperative pneumonias (PP), nine in each group. Ten occurred in dentate patients and eight in edentulous ones. Oral health optimization was achieved in 208/226 (92%) of patients in the preoperative period. The presence of tongue plaque (OR 17, P < 0.001) and of poor hygiene of the total superior dentures (OR 25, P < 0.001) in the preoperative period significantly increased the chance of PP. The use of CXG 0.12% in the preoperative period (OR 0.06, P < 0.001) and on the day of surgery (OR 0.002, P < 0.001) was protective against PP. Mortality in patients without pneumonia was 9/208 (4.32%) vs. 6/19 (33.3%) in those with pneumonia. The presence of pneumonia increased the chances of death by 11 times (P < 0.001). The mean pneumonia rate in ICU in the 6 months before the study protocol was 32 per 1,000 ventilator-days, 24 during the 6-month intervention period, and 10 during the next 6 months following the study. CONCLUSIONS: PP rates were reduced using a simple and efficient protocol of dental care that improved oral hygiene in the preoperative period of cardiac surgery patients.