Streptococcus bovis infection of the central nervous system in adults: Report of 4 cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features, history and association with intestinal disease in central nervous system (CNS) S. bovis infections. METHODS: Four cases of S. bovis CNS infections from our institution are presented. Additionally a systematic literature review of articles published between 1975 and 2021 in PubMed/MEDLINE was conducted. RESULTS: 52 studies with 65 cases were found; five were excluded because of incomplete data. In total 64 cases were analyzed including our four cases: 55 with meningitis and 9 with intracranial focal infections. Both infections were frequently associated with underlying conditions (70.3%) such as immunosuppression (32.8%) or cancer (10.9%). In 23 cases a biotype was identified, with biotype II being the most frequent (69.6%) and S. pasteurianus the most common within this subgroup. Intestinal diseases were found in 60.9% of cases, most commonly neoplasms (41.0%) and Strongyloides infestation (30.8%). Overall mortality was 17.1%, with a higher rate in focal infection (44.4% vs 12.7%; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: CNS infections due to S. bovis are infrequent and the most common clinical form is meningitis. Compared with focal infections, meningitis had a more acute course, was less associated with endocarditis and had a lower mortality. Immunosuppression and intestinal disease were frequent in both infections.

Enterococcus faecalis in blood cultures-a prospective study on the role of persistent bacteremia.

Enterococcus faecalis can cause infective endocarditis and other complicated infections. We prospectively investigate the incidence of persistent bacteremia with E. faecalis. Of 50 episodes with monomicrobial E. faecalis bacteremia the control blood culture after 48 to 72 hours was positive in 5 episodes (10%) of which 4 had a complicated focal infection.

First case report of Cryptococcus laurentii knee infection in a previously healthy patient.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this case report was to report a case of Cryptococcus laurentii infection in the left knee of a previously healthy 29 year old male patient. CASE PRESENTATION: After an initial misdiagnosis and 7 months of failed treatment, the patient received nearly a month of treatment with voriconazole (200 mg IV q12 h) and knee irrigation with amphotericin B until the infection was controlled. The treatment continued with fluconazole for nearly 7 months and approximately 5 weeks of antibiotic treatment for a skin bacterial coinfection. In the end, the patient's symptoms disappeared completely, the left knee recovered well, and there was no recurrence of infection. CONCLUSION: The key points of successful treatment in this case were the thorough debridement, the adequate course of knee irrigation with antifungal drugs and more than 6 months of oral antifungal drugs that were able to eradicate the infection.

Risk factors for focal involvement in brucellosis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the risk factors of focal involvement in brucellosis. METHODS: The data of brucellosis patients were analyzed retrospectively from 2010 through 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: focal involvement (-) and focal involvement (+). The clinical findings, complications and laboratory findings of patients were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty patients were included in the study. One hundred twenty-seven of the patients (55.2%) were male and mean age was 45.8 ±â€¯17.1 (16-86) years. Focal involvement was observed in 98 (42.6%) patients. The variables that differed significantly between groups were age (P < 0.001), fever (P = 0.016), back pain (P < 0.001), leukocyte (P = 0.012), neutrophil (P = 0.004), platelet (P = 0.002), mean platelet volume (MPV) (P = 0.043) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.001). Older age (>45 years) and back pain were found to be independent risk factors for predicting focal involvement (P = 0.036 and P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical findings and markers that are significant in determining focal involvement may be useful in identifying complicated brucellosis.

Infecciones en dispositivos de estimulación cardiaca: diagnóstico y tratamiento en un centro de referencia / Infections in cardiac implantable electronic devices: diagnosis and management in a referral center

Introducción y objetivos: Las infecciones en dispositivos de electroestimulación cardiaca son cada vez más frecuentes debido a las indicaciones cada vez más amplias de estos sistemas. Algunos aspectos sobre su tratamiento son controvertidos y aportamos aquí nuestra amplia experiencia. Métodos: Se atendieron 325 infecciones (196 locales y 129 sistémicas) durante los años 1985 a 2015, el 28,5% de ellas procedentes de otros centros: 229 marcapasos, 69 desfibriladores automáticos implantables y 27 pacientes con terapia de resincronización cardiaca, con un seguimiento mínimo de 1 año tras el alta hospitalaria. Resultados: La tracción percutánea (TPC) fue la técnica utilizada más frecuentemente (n = 280), en infecciones tanto locales (n = 166) como sistémicas (n = 114), con una tasas de extracción completa del sistema del 82,5% del total y de curación, del 89%; las complicaciones fueron escasas (2 muertes achacables a la técnica). La mortalidad total fue del 1% en infecciones locales y el 8% en las sistémicas. Tras 212 TPC completas, se reimplantó un nuevo sistema contralateral en 209: en 152 de ellas en el mismo acto (73%) y en 57 en un segundo tiempo; no se apreciaron diferencias en el número de recidivas en el nuevo sistema (2 en 1 tiempo y 1 en 2 tiempos). Conclusiones: La TPC en manos expertas arroja buenos resultados en términos de eficacia, con escasas complicaciones. Se puede realizar el reimplante de dispositivos en un solo tiempo sin que ello conlleve un mayor riesgo de recidiva (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Infections in cardiac implantable electronic devices are increasing due to the expansion of the indications of these devices. The management of some aspects is controversial. Here, we report our broad experience. Methods: Between 1985 and 2015, 325 infections (196 local and 129 systemic) were registered; 28.5% of them were referred from other centers: 229 pacemakers, 69 implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and 27 patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy. The follow-up was at least 1 year after hospital discharge. Results: Percutaneous traction (PCT) was the most frequent procedure (n = 280) in local (n = 166) and systemic infections (n = 114), with complete extraction of the system in 82.5% of the patients, clinical success in 89%, and few complications (2 deaths attributable to the technique). Overall mortality was 1% in local infections and 8% in systemic infections. After 212 complete PCT, a new device was placed in 209: of these, a contralateral system was implanted in the same procedure in 152 (73%) and in a second procedure in 57, with no differences in relapses (2 in the 1-stage procedure, and 1 in the 2-stage procedure). Conclusions: Percutaneous traction in experienced hands has good results with very few complications. It is possible to perform contralateral implantation of the new device on the same day without increasing the risk of relapse (AU)

Cerebral venous thrombosis: comparing characteristics of infective and non-infective aetiologies: a 12-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Most cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) have non-infective causes. Infective CVT, though less common, often results in a catastrophic outcome. The distinctive clinical characteristics of infection-associated CVT (IACVT) and non-infection-associated CVT (NIACVT) would facilitate early detection and proper management. OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics of IACVT and NIACVT. METHODS: All patients with CVT admitted to Songklanagarind Hospital between January 2002 and December 2013 with the ICD10 codes I636, I676, O225 and G08 were identified and recruited. We compared the clinical presentations, neuroimaging results and hospital outcomes for patients with IACVT and those with NIACVT. We analysed the differences using descriptive statistics. Additionally, for patients with IACVT, we described the primary sites of infection, associated CVT, host immune status and microbiological results. RESULTS: Twenty of the 83 patients with CVT (24.1%) had IACVT. Male gender (70.0% vs 34.9%) and pre-existing diabetes mellitus (35.0% vs 4.8%) were significantly more prevalent in the IACVT than the NIACVT group. Additionally, cavernous sinus thrombosis predominated in IACVT (80.0% vs 11.1%), whereas focal neurological syndrome was more common among patients with NIACVT (50.8% vs 15.0%). Paracranial infections, mostly sinusitis and orbital cellulitis, were common primary infections (80.0%) among patients with IACVT. Lastly, fungus was a devastating causative pathogen in IACVT-five of six patients with fungal infection had intracranial complications. CONCLUSIONS: Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a distinctive clinical presentation of IACVT, whereas focal neurological syndrome is a hallmark feature of NIACVT. Paracranial fungal infections are highly virulent and frequently associated with intracranial complications.

Focos de mosquitos Aedes aegypti adultos en las muestras tomadas en un área de salud de Santiago de Cuba / Foci of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in samples taken in an health area from Santiago de Cuba

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de tipo ecológico, en el área de salud del Policlínico Carlos Juan Finlay, durante el 2012, con vistas a determinar algunas variables de interés relacionadas con la positividad de mosquitos Aedes aegypti adultos, para lo cual se investigaron los 109 focos detectados, con la colecta de 159 ejemplares, de los cuales, 128 fueron hembras y 31, machos -- identificados según la técnica de Detinova --. En el análisis estadístico se agruparon las variables en frecuencias absolutas y relativas, índices y porcentajes; también se aplicó la prueba de la Χ2, con una significación de 0,05, para 95 por ciento de confiabilidad. La positividad de mosquitos Aedes Aegypti adultos capturados en dicha área de salud, en ese año, fue más elevada que la media municipal y la provincial, lo cual se relacionó con los focos en las manzanas, el mal tratamiento de los focos larvarios, la presencia de focos larvarios generadores y los riesgos ambientales identificados en la investigación; además de la búsqueda y colecta insuficientes de mosquitos adultos por los operarios A y la cadena de mando(AU)

A descriptive study, of ecological type was carried out in the health area of Carlos Juan Finlay Polyclinic during the 2012, with the objective of determining some variables of interest related to the positivity of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, for which the 109 detected foci were investigated, collecting 159 samples, from which 128 were female and 31 males -- identified according to Detinova technique --. In the statistical analysis the variables were grouped in absolute and relative frequencies, rates and percentages; the Χ2 test was also applied, with a significance of 0.05, for 95 percent of confiability. The positivity of adults Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes captured in this health area in that year was higher than the municipal mean and the provincial mean, which was related to the foci in the blocks, the poor treatment of the larvae foci, the presence of generating larvae foci and the environmental risks identified in the investigation; besides the search and scarce collection of mature mosquitoes by operators A and the control chain(AU)

Extracranial head and neck infections.

This article outlines infections in the submandibular, lateral pharyngeal, retropharyngeal, danger, and prevertebral spaces, in conjunction with infections of the sinuses and mediastinum. By understanding the anatomy and pathophysiology, the reader will gain insight into the rationale for various therapeutic options.

Reactive arthritis induced by tonsillitis: a type of 'focal infection'.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical manifestation of reactive arthritis (ReA ) induced by tonsillitis is demonstrated. METHODS: Medical records of 21 patients with ReA induced by tonsillitis were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine male and 12 female patients were recorded. The mean age was 31.7 years ranging from 20 to 51 years. The mean duration of arthritis was 29.8 months (2 weeks to 10 years). Acute or recurrent origoarthritis involved in ankle, knee and sternoclavicular joints associated with Achilles tendon enthesitis were demonstrated. Thirteen of 21 (62%) patients were demonstrated positive for ASO and/or ASK. Group A streptococcus was demonstrated in 12 of 21 (57.1%) patients and other bacteria were demonstrated by culture of tonsillar swab or from resected tonsillar microabscess. No bacteria was demonstrated in synovial fluid from 3 patients. Rheumatoid factor was demonstrated only in 2 of 21 patients. HLA-B39 and BW61 (B40) were significantly demonstrated in 5 and 7 patients (p=0.0004, 0.0006, respectively) compared with those of healthy controls. All patients were treated with antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Eight of 21 patients underwent tonsillectomy. Arthritis ceased after the treatments and no recurrence was found. DISCUSSION: Sterile inflammatory arthritis induced by tonsillitis was cured by resection of the microabscess in the tonsils. Therefore, ReA induced by tonsillitis is one form of 'focal infection'.

Impact of bacterial meningitis-associated conditions on pediatric inpatient resource utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To define the epidemiology of systemic complications and focal infections associated with bacterial meningitis and quantify how the presence of such complications affects in-hospital healthcare resource utilization. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using administrative data from 27 children's hospitals. Children <18 years of age diagnosed with bacterial meningitis from 2001 to 2006 were eligible. The primary exposure of interest was the presence of a bacterial meningitis-associated condition, classified as either systemic complications (eg, sepsis), associated focal infections (eg, pneumonia) or both. The primary outcomes were total in-hospital charges and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: A total of 574 of 2319 (25%) of children had a systemic complication or an associated focal infection. Compared with children without complications, in-hospital charges were significantly higher in children with systemic complications (136% increase), associated focal infections (118% increase), and both conditions (351% increase). LOS was also significantly increased in those with systemic complications (by 72%), associated focal infections (by 78%), or both conditions (by 211%). The presence of systemic complications was more common in younger children while the presence of an associated focal infection was more common in older children. CONCLUSIONS: Children with bacterial meningitis often have additional morbidity due to systemic complications or associated focal infections indicated by increase use of acute in-hospital resource utilization. The apparent increase in in-hospital morbidity related to these conditions should be considered in future evaluations of vaccine efficacy, novel therapeutics, and hospital resource allocation.

Determinación de microonganismos más frecuentes que aparecen en lesiones d epacientes que padecen pie diabético / Determination of frquent microorganisms in injuries of patients with diabetic food infections

Una de las complicaciones tardías de la Diabetes Mellitus es el pie diabético. El diagnóstico de la infección es fundamental. Conocer el comportamiento microbiológico de la enfermedad a nivel hospitalario, permite crear condiciones necesarias para el tratamiento adecuado. OBJETIVOS. Identificar los microorganismos más frecuentes y determinar la sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos. MÉTODO. Se revisaron 118 historias clínicas de pacientes ingresados con el diagnóstico de pie diabético neuro infeccioso de Enero-Diciembre 2006 en el Instituto Nacional de Angiología y Cirugía Vascular. RESULTADOS. El Staphylococcus aureus con un 35% resultó ser el microorganismo más frecuentemente encontrado, seguido de Escherichia coli 24%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16% y Proteus mirabilis 8%, otros cocos Gram positivos y bacilos Gram negativos aparecieron en cuantía menor en nuestro estudio. Las cefalosporinas de la 1ª y 3ª generación fueron sensibles “in vitro” entre un 60-80%, los carbepenémicos con un 100% de sensibilidad para todos los tipos de bacterias aisladas. CONCLUSIONES. Una vez establecido el diagnóstico de la infección en el paciente con pie diabético. En cada hospital debe optarse por una pauta antibiótica que tenga en consideración los distintos patrones de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos detectados localmente (AU)

One of the delayed complications of the Mellitus Diabetes is the Diabetic Foot. The diagnosis of the infection is fundamental. To know the microbiological behavior the disease hospitable level, allows to create necessary conditions for the suitable treatment. OBJECTIVES. To identify the most frequent microorganisms and to determine sensitivity to the antimicrobial ones. METHOD. 118 clinical histories of patients entered with the standing up Diabetic diagnosis were reviewed neural infectious of January to December 2006 in the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery. RESULTS. The Staphylococcus aureus with a 35% turned out to be more the frequently found microorganism, followed of Escherichia coli 24%, aeruginosus Pseudomonas 16% and Proteus mirabilis 8%, other positive Gram coconuts and negative Gram bacilli appeared in smaller quantity in our study. The cephalosporins of 1ª and 3ª sensible generation were “in vitro” between a 60-80%, the carbapenems with a 100% of sensitivity for all the types of isolated bacteria. CONCLUSIONS. Once established the diagnosis of the infection in the patient with Diabetic Foot. In each hospital it must be decided on an antibiotic guideline that has in consideration the different locally detected patterns from sensitivity from the antimicrobial ones (AU)

Acute focal bacterial nephritis in an 8-year-old .

Acute focal bacterial nephritis or acute lobar nephronia is an acute localized non-liquefactive bacterial kidney infection. Clinically, it may develop as an abscess and present as acute pyelonephritis but is distinguishable by the presence of a focal mass on imaging studies. The authors report the case of an 8-year-old girl with fever up to 39 degrees C and left flank pain of 6 days duration. On physical examination, she had nothing remarkable except tenderness and knocking pain over the left costovertebral angle. Post-contrast abdominal computed tomography revealed several wedge-shaped hypodense lesions in the left kidney. Urine culture grew Escherichia coli. Acute focal bacterial nephritis was diagnosed. The patient was treated with antibiotics and discharged on the 12th day of hospitalization.

Transvascular dissemination of Porphyromonas gingivalis from a sequestered site is dependent upon activation of the kallikrein/kinin pathway.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological evidence implicates a connection between human periodontitis and systemic diseases. One possible mechanism involves the direct dissemination of periodontopathogens to the target organs through the circulation. The aim of this work was to define the mechanism used by Porphyromonas gingivalis for dissemination from a sequestered infection site. MATERIAL AND METHODS: BALB/c mice were subcutaneously infected with P. gingivalis via use of a mouse chamber model. Tissue fluids from various sites were collected and cultured to determine the presence of P. gingivalis. Evans Blue dye was used to measure the dissemination ability of P. gingivalis. Kinin-associated molecules were introduced into mice, and their effects on bacterial dissemination and mouse pathology were monitored. RESULTS: P. gingivalis strain A7436 caused remote lesions and septicemia with severe cachexia, resulting in animal death. Intrachamber challenge with A7436 resulted in vascular permeability enhancement (VPE), as measured by the systemic infiltration of Evans Blue dye into chamber fluids. VPE was blocked by kininase and kinin receptor antagonist and enhanced by exogenous bradykinin and kininase inhibitor. Live bacteria were recovered from the subcutaneous perichamber and abdominal spaces (spreading), and from the blood (disseminating) of infected mice. Both kininase and kinin receptor antagonist reduced animal mortality as a result of infection with strain A7436 and decreased the number of bacteria recoverable from the blood, but they were not associated with bacterial spreading. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that activation of the kinin system is involved in the breach of the vascular barrier that permits dissemination of P. gingivalis.

Focal infection: a new perspective on an old theory.

In recent years, the controversial focal infection theory (originally presented in the early 1900s) has received a resurgence of support, as oral infections have been linked to several systemic conditions. This article reviews pertinent literature detailing both the historical basis of the focal infection theory and current viewpoints on the possible association between oral and systemic diseases. Dental professionals should be aware of the potential negative effects of oral infections on systemic health. While endodontically treated teeth have not been implicated in systemic disease, effective treatment regimens for periodontal disease may reduce the occurrence of systemic disease for certain individuals.

Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis infection in a medical center in northern Taiwan.

This retrospective study was conducted in order to determine the clinical and microbiologic features of infection with Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis. Between March 1999 and December 2002, 55 patients with 66 isolates were enrolled for analysis. The ratio of males to females was 2.2:1. Most patients were older than 60 years (56%) and had underlying diseases (78%), such as diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and peptic ulcer. Fever (85%) was the most common clinical manifestation, followed by abdominal pain/fullness (31%). The gastrointestinal manifestations, including nausea/vomiting or diarrhea, accounted for only 13% and 11% of patients, respectively. S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis was extremely invasive, with a high predilection to cause bacteremia (78% of the isolates were from blood). Various types of metastatic focal infections were found, including infected arterial aneurysm, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, urinary tract infection and wound infection. The crude mortality rate was 18% (10 deaths in 55 cases). Nearly all isolates were susceptible to the third-generation cephalosporins. A higher resistance rate to commonly used antimicrobial agents was found with ampicillin (85%, 56/66), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (81%, 40/49), chloramphenicol (96%, 47/49), and ciprofloxacin (49%, 30/61). In view of the emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance, the third-generation cephalosporins appear to be the best choice for treatment of invasive infections caused by this organism.

Immunizations with pneumococcal surface protein A and pneumolysin are protective against pneumonia in a murine model of pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Intranasal infection of mice with certain strains of capsular group 19 Streptococcus pneumoniae can result in focal pneumonia in the absence of bacteremia. Using this model of murine pneumonia, we demonstrated that immunization with recombinant forms of either pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) or PdB (a genetically detoxified derivative of pneumolysin) elicited significant protection against focal pulmonary infection. This may be the first demonstration that a proposed vaccine antigen can protect against pneumococcal pneumonia. The best protection was obtained by immunizing mice with a mixture of PspA and PdB, indicating that the protection elicited by these antigens can complement each other. This result is in agreement with previous studies that used pneumococcal sepsis and nasal colonization models and demonstrate that the best protein vaccines for prevention of infection may be those that include more than one protection-eliciting pneumococcal protein.

Microbiology and management of deep facial infections and Lemierre syndrome.

This review describes the microbiology, diagnosis and management of deep facial infections and Lemierre syndrome. The origins of most of these infections are odontogenic infections that spread to fascial spaces of the lower head and upper neck. Other sources include pharyngotonsillar, nasal, otologic, salivary gland and dermatologic infections, hematogenic spread, cervical adenitis and trauma. These space infections can be divided into those around the face (masticatory, buccal, canine and parotid), the suprahyoid area (submandibular, sublingual and lateral pharyngeal) and the infrahyoid region or lateral neck (retropharyngeal and pretracheal spaces). The organisms accounting for these infections are aerobic and anaerobic that arise from the oropharyngeal flora. Complications of these infections can be life threatening and can result from hematogenic or direct spread. Complications that arise following local extension include suppurative jugular thrombophlebitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, carotid erosion, maxillary sinusitis and osteomyelitis of the jaws. Management includes surgical drainage and antimicrobial therapy.

[The role of focal infections in the pathogenesis of diseases]. / A gócok szerepe a betegségek kialakulásában.

Focal infections have a definite role in various infectious complications. They may cause local propagation, systemic infection (sepsis) and metastatic infections. In such complications eradication of focal infections may have a curative and/or preventive effect. Such a role of focal infections in diseases of immunopathological origin cannot be proven. In these disorders the persistence of focal infection is not necessarily required for the progression of the disease, and eradication of focal infection(s) has no curative effect. There are no sufficient evidence favouring a connection between dental, tonsillar, and urogenital focal infections and allergic or autoimmune diseases. We also lack evidence that eradication of focal infections, apart from rare instances, might influence the prognosis of such patients.

Focal neurological disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Focal neurological disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome may be caused by various opportunistic pathogens and malignancies, including Toxoplasma gondii, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus-related primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Diagnosis may be difficult, because the findings of lumbar puncture, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging are relatively nonspecific. Newer techniques have led to improved diagnostic accuracy of these conditions. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of cerebrospinal fluid specimens is useful for diagnosis of PML, CNS lymphoma, and CMV encephalitis. Recent studies have indicated the diagnostic utility of new neuroimaging techniques, such as single-photon emission CT and positron emission tomography. The combination of PCR and neuroimaging techniques may obviate the need for brain biopsy in selected cases. However, stereotactic brain biopsy, which is associated with relatively low morbidity rates, remains the reference standard for diagnosis. Highly active antiretroviral therapy has improved the prognosis of several focal CNS processes, most notably toxoplasmosis, PML, and CMV encephalitis.