[Fever in patients of a Service of Internal Medicine: prospective study in 204 cases]. / Fiebre en pacientes hospitalizados en un Servicio de Medicina Interna: análisis prospectivo de 204 casos.

OBJECTIVES: Fever in hospitalized patients (FHP) is a difficult problem. We study clinical characteristics and predictive parameters of infection, sepsis and outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 204 patients with fever > 38 degrees C admitted in an Internal Medicine ward. In each patient clinical evaluation, complete blood count (CBC) urinalysis (UA), C-reactive protein (CRP), chest X- ray (CXR), blood and urine cultures were performed. RESULTS: 115 patients suffered infection (75.9% nosocomial, 7.4% sepsis), 35 had a non-infectious etiology and 54 an unknown cause. CBC and CRP did not distinguish infection, bacteremia or sepsis. In UA, positive nitrites, leukocytes and bacteriuria were predictive of infection. 18.6% of the patients were diagnosed by CXR. 18% of urine cultures and 13% of blood cultures were positive. 71.6% received antibiotics (deemed unnecessary in 18%). Microbiological results modified 25% of initial treatments. Average hospital stay was 17 days; 16.7% died. Chronic lung disease, fever duration, dysphagia and urinary tract alterations predict infection. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver failure, immunocompromised host, central vascular access, fever duration and nosocomial infection predict bacteremia. Sepsis is more prevalent in males, with malignancy and vascular or nosocomial infection. Chronic liver disease, nosocomial infection, severe lung infection and sepsis increase mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical diagnosis of FHP is inaccurate. Infection is it s most frequent cause; UA, CXR, and blood and urine cultures are useful. FHP increases mortality and hospital stay. We have established predictable models of infection, bacteremia, sepsis and mortality. However, its sensibility and specificity are low.

Fiebre en pacientes hospitalizados en un Servicio de Medicina Interna: análisis prospectivo de 204 casos / Fever in patients of a service of internal medicine prospective study in 204 cases

Objetivos: La fiebre en pacientes hospitalizados (FI) es un problema complejo. Se pretenden establecer las características de estos pacientes y parámetros predictívos de infección, sepsis y evolución. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio prospectivo de 204 pacientes con temperatura > 38 ºC ingresados en Medicina Interna. En cada paciente se realizó evaluación clínica, hemograma, sistemático de orina (SO), proteína C reactiva (PCR), radiografía de tórax (RXT), hemocultivos y urocultivo. Resultados: Tuvieron infección 115 pacientes (nosocomial:75.9%, sepsis: 7.4%), causa no infecciosa 35 y no filiada 54. Hemograma y PCR no discriminaron infección, bacteriemia ni sepsis. En SO, la positividad de “nitritos + leucocituria + bacteriuria”, tiene valor predictívo para urocultivo positivo. La RXT diagnosticó 18,6% de pacientes. Fueron positivos 18% de urocultivos y 13% de hemocultivos. Se administraron antibióticos a 71,6% de pacientes (innecesarios en 18%). Los resultados microbiológicos modificaron 25% de tratamientos iniciales. Evolución: estancia: 17 días, mortalidad: 16,7%. Existieron variables asociadas a infección (enfermedad pulmonar crónica, duración de la fiebre, alteraciones en la deglución y en vías urinarias), bacteriemia (diabetes, obesidad, hepatopatía crónica, inmunodepresión, vía vascular central, duración de la fiebre e infección nosocomial), sepsis (varón, neoplasia, infecciones vascular y nosocomial) y mortalidad (hepatopatía crónica descompensada, infección nosocomial, infección respiratoria de vías bajas y sepsis). Conclusiones: El diagnóstico de sospecha de FI tiene baja fiabilidad. La causa más frecuente es la infección. Tienen utilidad diagnóstica: SO, RXT, hemocultivos y urocultivo. Nuestros modelos predictívos de infección, bacteriemia, sepsis y mortalidad, tuvieron baja sensibilidad y especificidad

Objectives: Fever in hospitalized patients (FHP) is a difficult problem. We study clinical characteristics and predictive parameters of infection, sepsis and outcome. Patients and methods: Prospective study of 204 patients with fever > 38 ºC admitted in an Internal Medicine ward. In each patient clinical evaluation, complete blood count (CBC) urinalysis (UA), C-reactive protein (CRP), chest X- ray (CXR), blood and urine cultures were performed. Results: 115 patients suffered infection (75.9% nosocomial, 7.4% sepsis), 35 had a non-infectious etiology and 54 an unknown cause. CBC and CRP did not distinguish infection, bacteremia or sepsis. In UA, positive nitrites, leukocytes and bacteriuria were predictive of infection. 18.6% of the patients were diagnosed by CXR. 18% of urine cultures and 13% of blood cultures were positive. 71.6% received antibiotics (deemed unnecessary in 18%). Microbiological results modified 25% of initial treatments. Average hospital stay was 17 days; 16.7% died. Chronic lung disease, fever duration, dysphagia and urinary tract alterations predict infection. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, liver failure, immunocompromised host, central vascular access, fever duration and nosocomial infection predict bacteremia. Sepsis is more prevalent in males, with malignancy and vascular or nosocomial infection. Chronic liver disease, nosocomial infection, severe lung infection and sepsis increase mortality. Conclusions: Clinical diagnosis of FHP is inaccurate. Infection is it’s most frequent cause; UA, CXR, and blood and urine cultures are useful. FHP increases mortality and hospital stay. We have established predictibles models of infection, bacteremia, sepsis and mortality. However, its sensibility and specificity are low

Aracnoiditis y lesión intramedular. Complicaciones de la meningitis tuberculosa en dos pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana / Arachnoiditis and intraspinal lesion

Escanear (AU)

[Arachnoiditis and intraspinal lesion. Complications of tuberculous meningitis in 2 patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection]. / Aracnoiditis y lesión intramedular. Complicaciones de la meningitis tuberculosa en dos pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

Radiculomyelitis (arachnoiditis) (RMA) is a severe complication of tuberculous meningitis (TM). Two patients with HIV infection and TM are here reported. These patients developed RMA. In Spain only four cases of RMA have previously been reported (only one of them was HIV-positive). Clinical manifestations (subacute paraplegia, radicular pain, sensitive level and neurogenic bladder) are reported. Cerebrospinal fluid had inflammatory features, wit predominance of mononuclear cells and remarkable increase in protein content. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most suitable diagnostic method. The therapeutic possibilities of this complication are discussed.