Recent updates in diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis with emphasis on nucleic acid amplification tests.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a common epitome of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), wherein peritoneal and intestinal TB are the most prevalent forms. Diagnosis of abdominal TB is a daunting challenge owing to variable anatomical locations, paucibacillary nature of specimens and atypical clinical presentations that mimic other abdominal diseases, such as Crohn's disease and malignancies. In this review, we made a comprehensive study on the diagnosis of abdominal TB. AREA COVERED: Various modalities employed for abdominal TB diagnosis include clinical features, imaging, bacteriological tests (smear/culture), histopathological/cytological observations, interferon-gamma release assays and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Among NAATs, loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay, PCR, multiplex-PCR, nested PCR, real-time PCR and GeneXpert® MTB/RIF were discussed. Identification of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell-free DNA by real-time PCR within ascitic fluids is another useful approach. EXPERT OPINION: Several novel molecular/immunological methods, such as GeneXpert Ultra, aptamer-linked immobilized sorbent assay, immuno-PCR (I-PCR) and nanoparticle-based I-PCR have recently been developed for detecting pulmonary TB and several EPTB types, which may also be explored for abdominal TB diagnosis. Precise and prompt diagnosis of abdominal TB may initiate an early therapy so as to reduce the complications, i.e. abdominal pain, ascites, abdominal distension, intestinal obstruction/perforation, etc., and avoid surgical involvement.Plain Language SummaryAbdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a manifestation of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), where peritoneal and intestinal TB are two major forms. Diagnosis of abdominal TB is difficult owing to low bacterial load present in clinical samples and non-specific clinical presentations as it mimics other diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, abdominal malignancies, etc. Bacteriological tests (smear/culture) almost fail owing to poor sensitivities and it is not always possible to get representative tissue samples for histopathological and cytological observations. In recent years, molecular tests i.e. nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), such as PCR/multiplex-PCR (M-PCR), nested PCR and GeneXpert are widely employed. Markedly, PCR/M-PCR and nested PCR exhibited reasonable good sensitivities/specificities, while GeneXpert revealed low sensitivity in most of the studies but high specificity, thus it could assist in differential diagnosis of intestinal TB and Crohn's disease. Further, novel molecular/immunological tests employed for pulmonary TB and other EPTB types were described and those tests can also be utilized to diagnose abdominal TB. Reliable and rapid diagnosis of abdominal TB would initiate an early start of anti-tubercular therapy and reduce the severe complications.

Ectopic ovary presenting as mesenteric abscess.

Ectopic ovary is a rare gynaecological condition that results in problems with menstruation and pregnancy and may develop into a malignant tumour. However, as the condition is often asymptomatic, diagnosis is difficult and frequently delayed. We report a case of a 42-year-old female who presented with a 10-day history of abdominal pain. The patient underwent surgery that confirmed the diagnosis of an ectopic ovary with an internal abscess. The findings of our study indicate that ectopic ovaries can present with an abscess. Ectopic ovaries should be included in the differential diagnosis of masses with internal abscesses.

[Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of ESKAPE Pathogens Bloodstream Infection in Cancer Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors of ESKAPE pathogens infection and related death in cancer patients, and to supply evidence for clinical precaution and diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective study of clinical and experimental data of cancer patients with bloodstream infection were carried out in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from 2013 to 2018. The clinical feature, predisposing factors and risk factors of death in ESKAPE group and non-ESKAPE group were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 753 patients were enrolled in the study. Totally 795 pathogenic bacteria strains were isolated from blood culture and there were 278 ESKAPE strains, which took up 34.97% of isolated strains. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender of male, multiple pathogens, history of exposure to enzyme inhibitors and agranulocytosis were independent risk factors of ESKAPE pathogens bloodstream infection. Peritoneal infection and combined fungal infection were independent risk factors of ESKAPE bloodstream infection related death. CONCLUSION: The bloodstream infection of ESKAPE pathogens is a problem worthy of clinical attention for cancer patients with neutrophil deficiency, previous antibiotic exposure, and fungal infection and peritoneal infection.

Hypothetical roadmap towards endometriosis: prenatal endocrine-disrupting chemical pollutant exposure, anogenital distance, gut-genital microbiota and subclinical infections.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a gynaecological hormone-dependent disorder that is defined by histological lesions generated by the growth of endometrial-like tissue out of the uterus cavity, most commonly engrafted within the peritoneal cavity, although these lesions can also be located in distant organs. Endometriosis affects ~10% of women of reproductive age, frequently producing severe and, sometimes, incapacitating symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia, among others. Furthermore, endometriosis causes infertility in ~30% of affected women. Despite intense research on the mechanisms involved in the initial development and later progression of endometriosis, many questions remain unanswered and its aetiology remains unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated the critical role played by the relationship between the microbiome and mucosal immunology in preventing sexually transmitted diseases (HIV), infertility and several gynaecologic diseases. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: In this review, we sought to respond to the main research question related to the aetiology of endometriosis. We provide a model pointing out several risk factors that could explain the development of endometriosis. The hypothesis arises from bringing together current findings from large distinct areas, linking high prenatal exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals with a short anogenital distance, female genital tract contamination with the faecal microbiota and the active role of genital subclinical microbial infections in the development and clinical progression of endometriosis. SEARCH METHODS: We performed a search of the scientific literature published until 2019 in the PubMed database. The search strategy included the following keywords in various combinations: endometriosis, anogenital distance, chemical pollutants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, the microbiome of the female reproductive tract, microbiota and genital tract, bacterial vaginosis, endometritis, oestrogens and microbiota and microbiota-immune system interactions. OUTCOMES: On searching the corresponding bibliography, we found frequent associations between environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals and endometriosis risk. Likewise, recent evidence and hypotheses have suggested the active role of genital subclinical microbial infections in the development and clinical progression of endometriosis. Hence, we can envisage a direct relationship between higher prenatal exposure to oestrogens or estrogenic endocrine-disrupting compounds (phthalates, bisphenols, organochlorine pesticides and others) and a shorter anogenital distance, which could favour frequent postnatal episodes of faecal microbiota contamination of the vulva and vagina, producing cervicovaginal microbiota dysbiosis. This relationship would disrupt local antimicrobial defences, subverting the homeostasis state and inducing a subclinical inflammatory response that could evolve into a sustained immune dysregulation, closing the vicious cycle responsible for the development of endometriosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Determining the aetiology of endometriosis is a challenging issue. Posing a new hypothesis on this subject provides the initial tool necessary to design future experimental, clinical and epidemiological research that could allow for a better understanding of the origin of this disease. Furthermore, advances in the understanding of its aetiology would allow the identification of new therapeutics and preventive actions.

Antibiotic therapy with metronidazole reduces endometriosis disease progression in mice: a potential role for gut microbiota.

STUDY QUESTION: Does altering gut microbiota with antibiotic treatment have any impact on endometriosis progression? SUMMARY ANSWER: Antibiotic therapy reduces endometriosis progression in mice, possibly by reducing specific gut bacteria. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Endometriosis, a chronic condition causing abdominal pain and infertility, afflicts up to 10% of women between the ages of 25 and 40, ~5 million women in the USA. Current treatment strategies, including hormone therapy and surgery, have significant side effects and do not prevent recurrences. We have little understanding of why some women develop endometriosis and others do not. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Mice were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics or metronidazole, subjected to surgically-induced endometriosis and assayed after 21 days. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The volumes and weights of endometriotic lesions and histological signatures were analysed. Proliferation and inflammation in lesions were assessed by counting cells that were positive for the proliferation marker Ki-67 and the macrophage marker Iba1, respectively. Differences in faecal bacterial composition were assessed in mice with and without endometriosis, and faecal microbiota transfer studies were performed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In mice treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (vancomycin, neomycin, metronidazole and ampicillin), endometriotic lesions were significantly smaller (~ 5-fold; P < 0.01) with fewer proliferating cells (P < 0.001) than those in mice treated with vehicle. Additionally, inflammatory responses, as measured by the macrophage marker Iba1 in lesions and IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and TGF-ß1 in peritoneal fluid, were significantly reduced in mice treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (P < 0.05). In mice treated with metronidazole only, but not in those treated with neomycin, ectopic lesions were significantly (P < 0.001) smaller in volume than those from vehicle-treated mice. Finally, oral gavage of faeces from mice with endometriosis restored the endometriotic lesion growth and inflammation (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) in metronidazole-treated mice. LARGE-SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: These findings are from a mouse model of surgically-induced endometriosis. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism by which gut bacteria promote inflammation, identify bacterial genera or species that promote disease progression and assess the translatability of these findings to humans. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our findings suggest that gut bacteria promote endometriosis progression in mice. This finding if translated to humans, could aid in the development of improved diagnostic tools and personalised treatment strategies. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was funded, in part, by: a National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) grant (R00HD080742) to RK; Washington University School of Medicine start-up funds to RK; an Endometriosis Foundation of America Research Award to R.K.; and an NIH/NICHD grant (R01HD091218) to IUM. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Clinical profile of tuberculosis in patients with chronic kidney disease: A report from an endemic Country.

The objective is to study the clinical profile of tuberculosis (TB) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is retrospective study of CKD patients who were diagnosed to have TB over a period of seven years at a tertiary care hospital. TB was diagnosed in 115 patients with an incidence of 4200/100,000. Mean age of the patients was 46.9 ± 16 years. Sixty-two patients (53.9%) were male. Causes of CKD were diabetic nephropathy and hypertension in 11.3% each, chronic glomerulonephritis in 31.3%, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis in 39.1%, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, and post-renal transplant CKD in 3.5% each. About 68.7% of patients with TB had advanced CKD stage of 4-5D, whereas 31.3% of patients had early CKD stage 1-3. Twenty percent of patients were on dialysis. Three-fourths of the patients had extrapulmonary TB. Pleuropulmonary (41.8%), kidney and urinary tract (20%), and abdomen and lymph node (13% each) were the most common sites for TB. The main clinical presentation of TB was: fever/pyrexia of unknown origin in 24.3%, constitutional symptoms of anorexia, fever, night sweats, and weight loss in 27.8%, abnormal chest radiograph in 31.2%, ascites/peritonitis in 13.9%, pleural effusion in 25.2%, lymphadenopathy in 20%, and sterile pyuria/hematuria/chronic pyelonephritis in 13%. Microbiological and/or histopathological diagnoses were made in 45.2% and in the other 54.8%, diagnosis of TB was made on clinical grounds. Adverse effects of anti-TB drugs were seen in 9.6% of patients. Ninety-three percent completed the treatment and survived. Eight patients (7%), all in CKD stage 5D, died. The incidence of TB was high among CKD stages 4 and 5 and in those receiving dialysis. Extrapulmonary disease such as pleuropulmonary, renal, peritoneal, and lymph node were the common forms of TB.

Actinomycosis of the omentum with invasion of the abdominal wall, small bowel and transverse colon mimicking malignancy.

We report the case of a 59-year-old Russian man who presented with a painless, slow-growing, epigastric mass. CT revealed a large heterogeneous mass within the omentum infiltrating into adjacent tissues. During diagnostic laparoscopy, the omental mass was noted to be firm, raising the suspicion of malignancy. Surgical en-bloc resection of the mass, including the posterior rectus sheath, transverse colon and small bowel, was performed with primary anastomoses at laparotomy. Histological examination was inconsistent with malignancy and revealed the mass to be actinomycosis, confirmed by microscopy and gram staining. Surgical resection was followed by an 8-week course of penicillin and doxycycline antibiotic therapy. This treatment resulted in full clinical and radiological recovery with no complications. Although the clinical and radiological findings, in this case, were highly suspicious of malignancy, abdominal actinomycosis should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with infiltrative abdominal masses and mild constitutional symptoms.

Endometriosis induces gut microbiota alterations in mice.

STUDY QUESTION: What happens to the gut microbiota during development of murine endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: Mice with the persistence of endometrial lesions for 42 days develop a distinct composition of gut microbiota. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Disorders in the immune system play fundamental roles in changing the intestinal microbiota. No study has used high-throughput DNA sequencing to show how endometriosis changes the gut microbiota, although endometriosis is accompanied by abnormal cytokine expression and immune cell dysfunction. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This study includes a prospective and randomized experiment on an animal endometriosis model induced via the intraperitoneal injection of endometrial tissues. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The mice were divided into endometriosis and mock groups and were sacrificed at four different time points for model confirmation and fecal sample collection. To detect gut microbiota, 16S ribosomal-RNA gene sequencing was performed. Alpha diversity was used to analyze the complexity and species diversity of the samples through six indices. Beta diversity analysis was utilized to evaluate the differences in species complexity. Principal coordinate analysis and unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means clustering were performed to determine the clustering features. The microbial features differentiating the fecal microbiota were characterized by linear discriminant analysis effect size method. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The endometriosis and mock mice shared similar diversity and richness of gut microbiota. However, different compositions of gut microbiota were detected 42 days after the modeling. Among the discriminative concrete features, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was elevated in mice with endometriosis, indicating that endometriosis may induce dysbiosis. Bifidobacterium, which is known as a commonly used probiotic, was also increased in mice with endometriosis. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: More control groups should be further studied to clarify the specificity of the dysbiosis induced by endometriosis. This study was performed only on mice. Thus, additional data acquired from patients with endometriosis are needed in future research. We only detected the changes of gut microbiota at 42 days after the modeling, while the long-term effect of endometriosis on gut microbiota remains poorly understood. Moreover, we only revealed a single effect of endometriosis on gut microbiota. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study provided the first comprehensive data on the association of endometriosis and gut microbiota from high-throughput sequencing technology. The gut microbiota changed with the development of endometriosis in a murine model. The communication between the host and the gut microbiota is bidirectional, and further studies should be performed to clarify their relationship. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This research was supported by Grant (81571417) from the National Science Foundation of China and Grant (2015GSF118092) from the Technology Development Plan of Shandong Province. The authors report no conflict of interest.

Disseminated tuberculosis - diagnostic challenges of atrial tuberculoma masquerading as atrial myxoma.

A 47-year-old female, with multiple comorbidities, presented with a cough of two months, loss of weight and appetite. She was treated for pneumonia. A chest X-ray showed bilateral reticulonodular opacities. She was noted to have a vague central abdominal mass and a systolic murmur over the mitral region. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed an omental mass and loculated ascites. Oesophagoduedenoscopy showed antral gastritis and during colonoscopy the surgical team was unable to advance the scope beyond 40 cm due to external compression. An echocardiogram showed a right atrial mass and a pericardial effusion over the posterior wall. A possible diagnosis of atrial myxoma was made. Sputum acid-fast bacillus was negative. The patient was treated empirically for disseminated tuberculosis and scheduled for bronchoscopy by the pulmonology team. The patient showed remarkable improvement after day 7 of anti-tuberculosis medication. GeneXpert study came back as positive. CT abdomen and echocardiogram repeated after 2 weeks of treatment showed reduction in the mass.

[Primary omental actinomycosis]. / Primær aktinomykose i omentum majus.

We report a case of omental actinomycosis in a female patient with an intrauterine device. A computed tomography had shown an inflammatory tumour in the abdomen. The patient was treated with laparoscopic resection of the tumour and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Abdominal actinomycosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with abdominal symptoms and unspecific clinical, radiological and laboratory findings. Definitive diagnosis of actinomycosis requires histological examination of affected tissue. Laparoscopic resection seems feasible as an alternative to open surgery.

Peritoneal blastomycosis: a hidden mystery unfolds itself.

Blastomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. Pulmonary blastomycosis is the most common form of blastomycosis. Disseminated blastomycosis is the fulminant form of the disease, with rare reports of peritoneal cavity involvement. We report a case of extensive form of the disease presenting initially as abdominal pain and mimicking peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Prevention of lipopolysaccharide-induced peritoneal damage by eplerenone in rats undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a major cause of therapy interruption due to peritoneal insufficiency. Here we studied the effect of a selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blocker, eplerenone, on the prevention of peritoneal damage.
 METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a daily infusion of human use PD solution (100 mL/kg i.p., PD group, n = 5), or with PD solution and intermittent intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS group, n = 5) or with LPS and eplerenone (100 mg/kg/d, po, Ep group, n = 5) for 4 weeks. Peritoneal samples were subjected to assessment following the peritoneal equilibration test (PET). RESULTS: Histological observations revealed that LPS treatment resulted in significant peritoneal thickening associated with increased ED-1-positive cell infiltration and the number of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1-positive cells, and that eplerenone reduced these changes. LPS administration also evoked significant upregulation of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and TGF-ß1, which were inhibited by eplerenone. PET revealed that ultrafiltration and transperitoneal osmotic diffusion were significantly impaired by LPS and restored by eplerenone. Increased value of the mass transfer area coefficients for creatinine values was also recovered by Ep (0.10 ± 0.01 in the PD, 0.14 ± 0.02 in the LPS and 0.08 ± 0.0 in the Ep groups). Immunostaining for von Willebrand factor showed a significant increase by LPS and its restoration by Ep.
 CONCLUSIONS: Ep effectively diminished LPS-induced peritoneal insufficiency. A selective blockade of MR might prevent peritoneal insufficiency associated with bacterial peritonitis.

A research agenda on the management of intra-abdominal candidiasis: results from a consensus of multinational experts.

INTRODUCTION: intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) may include Candida involvement of peritoneum or intra-abdominal abscess and is burdened by high morbidity and mortality rates in surgical patients. Unfortunately, international guidelines do not specifically address this particular clinical setting due to heterogeneity of definitions and scant direct evidence. In order to cover this unmet clinical need, the Italian Society of Intensive Care and the International Society of Chemotherapy endorsed a project aimed at producing practice recommendations for the management of immune-competent adult patients with IAC. METHODS: A multidisciplinary expert panel of 22 members (surgeons, infectious disease and intensive care physicians) was convened and assisted by a methodologist between April 2012 and May 2013. Evidence supporting each statement was graded according to the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Diseases (ESCMID) grading system. RESULTS: Only a few of the numerous recommendations can be summarized in the Abstract. Direct microscopy examination for yeast detection from purulent and necrotic intra-abdominal specimens during surgery or by percutaneous aspiration is recommended in all patients with nonappendicular abdominal infections including secondary and tertiary peritonitis. Samples obtained from drainage tubes are not valuable except for evaluation of colonization. Prophylactic usage of fluconazole should be adopted in patients with recent abdominal surgery and recurrent gastrointestinal perforation or anastomotic leakage. Empirical antifungal treatment with echinocandins or lipid formulations of amphotericin B should be strongly considered in critically ill patients or those with previous exposure to azoles and suspected intra-abdominal infection with at least one specific risk factor for Candida infection. In patients with nonspecific risk factors, a positive mannan/antimannan or (1→3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result should be present to start empirical therapy. Fluconazole can be adopted for the empirical and targeted therapy of non-critically ill patients without previous exposure to azoles unless they are known to be colonized with a Candida strain with reduced susceptibility to azoles. Treatment can be simplified by stepping down to an azole (fluconazole or voriconazole) after at least 5-7 days of treatment with echinocandins or lipid formulations of amphotericin B, if the species is susceptible and the patient has clinically improved. CONCLUSIONS: Specific recommendations were elaborated on IAC management based on the best direct and indirect evidence and on the expertise of a multinational panel.

Candidiasis peritoneal: prevalencia y factores de riesgo / Candida peritonitis: prevalence and risk factors

Antecedentes. La obtención de un cultivo positivo de líquido peritoneal para Candida en pacientes con clínica asociada permite establecer el diagnóstico de candidiasis peritoneal (CP), etiología relacionada con mal pronóstico. Es importante conocer sus factores de riesgo y así comenzar un tratamiento empírico precoz. Los pacientes que reciben tratamiento antibiótico prolongado, la infección nosocomial, el género femenino, la afectación del tracto gastrointestinal superior (TGIS) y la existencia de fallo cardiovascular intraoperatorio (FCVI) son los factores de riesgo que se han relacionado con dicha peritonitis. Objetivos. El objetivo principal fue conocer la prevalencia de CP en nuestro hospital y, como objetivos secundarios, relacionar los posibles factores de riesgo asociados. Métodos. Se recoge una muestra de 74 pacientes con diagnóstico de peritonitis, de manera consecutiva, entre 2007 y 2010. Durante el acto quirúrgico se aspira líquido peritoneal libre y se procede a su cultivo. Resultados. La prevalencia de CP obtenida en nuestro hospital es del 17,6%, de la cual el 46,15% de los casos corresponden a Candida albicans. Podemos considerar factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de dicha enfermedad la afectación del TGIS y la aparición de FCVI. La edad, el sexo, la infección nosocomial y el tratamiento antibiótico previo no parecen considerarse factores de riesgo para la misma. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de CP es del 17,6%. Los factores de riesgo que predispondrían son la afectación del TGIS como origen de la peritonitis y el FCVI durante el acto quirúrgico (AU)

Background: A peritoneal fluid with a positive culture for Candida in patients with associated clinical symptoms enables peritoneal candidiasis (PC) to be diagnosed. This etiology is related to a poor prognosis, thus, it is important to know all the risk factors and to start early an empirical treatment. The risk factors associated with this kind of peritonitis are to receive prolonged antibiotic treatment, nosocomial infection, female gender, involvement of the upper gastro-intestinal (UGI) tract, and the ocurrence of an intraoperative cardiovascular failure (CVF). Aims: The principal aim was to determine the prevalence of PC in our hospital, and the secondary aims to determine the associated risk factors. Methods: We obtained samples from 74 patients diagnosed with peritonitis, consecutively from 2007 to 2010. Cultures were performed with the free peritoneal fluid aspirated during surgery. Results: The prevalence of PC obtained in our hospital was 17.6%, from which 46.15% corresponded to Candida albicans. The involvement of the UGI tract and the onset of CVF can be considered risk factors for the development of this pathology. Age, gender, nosocomial infection and previous antibiotic treatment were not related to this pathology. Conclusions: Our prevalence of PC is 17.6%. The risk factors that could predispose are the involvement of the UGI tract as the cause of peritonitis, and CVF during surgical procedure (AU)

CCR9+ macrophages are required for eradication of peritoneal bacterial infections and prevention of polymicrobial sepsis.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response to infection associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and a high mortality rate. In septic shock induced by severe peritonitis, early response of peritoneal macrophages against infected microbes is vital in preventing the spread of infection. We found that the mucosal homing receptor CCR9, is induced in peritoneal macrophages in response to inflammatory stimulation. We used a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis to determine the role of CCR9 with respect to peritoneal macrophages, and controlling peritoneal infection and systemic inflammation. CCR9(-/-) mice showed aggravated septic shock with higher mortality rates compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Six hours after CLP, CCR9(-/-) mice demonstrated a greater inflammatory response. This was associated with higher production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF and IP-10 in peritoneal lavage compared with WT mice. Although the numbers of peritoneal bacteria were elevated in CCR9(-/-) mice subjected to CLP compared with WT mice, this was normalized in CCR9(-/-) mice subjected to CLP through the adoptive transfer of WT peritoneal macrophages. We conclude that CCR9 is required for recruitment of peritoneal macrophages in the steady state to control systemic sepsis during early phases of peritoneal infection.

Transvaginal access for NOTES: a cohort study of microbiological colonization and contamination.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Animal data and limited clinical evidence suggest a low incidence of infection following transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). However, a systematic microbiological evaluation has not yet been carried out. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the extent of microbiological contamination of the peritoneal cavity caused by the transvaginal access for NOTES and the impact of preoperative vaginal disinfection on vaginal colonization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive female patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis were offered either transvaginal rigid-hybrid cholecystectomy (tvCCE) or conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients who opted for tvCCE were prospectively evaluated between February and June 2010. Disinfection in patients undergoing tvCCE included hexetidine tablets and octenidine applied vaginally. All patients received a single dose of perioperative cefuroxime. Swabs were obtained from the posterior fornix and the peritoneal cavity at different intervals. RESULTS: Of 32 patients, 27 (84 %) opted to undergo tvCCE. One patient (4 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.7 % - 18.3 %) had a positive bacterial culture in the Douglas pouch prior to transvaginal access compared with two patients (7 %; 95 %CI 2.1 % - 23.4 %) following colpotomy closure (P = 1.000). Vaginal disinfection significantly decreased vaginal bacterial load (P = 0.001) and bacterial growth in routine cultures (P < 0.001); in 16 patients (59 %; 95 %CI 40.7 % - 75.5 %) vaginal swabs were sterile after disinfection. No postoperative surgical site infections occurred (95 %CI 0 % - 12.5 %). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients and following vaginal antisepsis, transvaginal access for NOTES is associated with microbiological contamination of the peritoneal cavity in a minority of patients, indicating a low risk of peritoneal contamination caused by the transvaginal access.

Laparoscopic resection of omental actinomycosis forming fistula with transverse colon and jejunum: a case report and review of literature.

Omental actinomycosis without any predisposing factors is rare, and there are few reports on it invading the contiguous bowels to form fistulae. We describe the case of a 55-year-old male patient with omental actinomycosis that presented as an inflammatory tumor that formed fistulae with the transverse colon and upper jejunum. On admission, he had complaints of a palpable, tender mass on the left mid-abdomen without gastrointestinal symptoms. After 7 days of conservative treatments (NPO and intravenous antibiotics), the size of the mass was decreased and tenderness was more improved. Laparoscopic resected omental mass revealed fistulae to the colon and jejunum. There was no evidence of Crohn disease. After 1-week use of antibiotics owing to the concern about actinomycosis, the mass was decreased and it was more amenable to dissect laparoscopically.