Individualized management of bacteraemia in patients with a permanent endocardial pacemaker.

Fifty-five episodes of bacteraemia arising in patients with a permanent endocardial pacemaker (PEP), from May 1987 to March 2006, were reviewed to determine whether clinical and microbiological data might assist in individual clinical management. Episodes of PEP-related bacteraemia were divided into early-onset bacteraemia, occurring within 6 months after device implantation or manipulation, and late-onset bacteraemia, occurring thereafter. Episodes with a source different from the PEP were classified as out-of-system bacteraemia. The PEP was the source of infection in 27 (49%) patients. Among patients with early-onset PEP-related bacteraemia (n = 16), Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 87.5% (14/16) of cases; 81% of them (13/16) had local signs of infection at the PEP pocket and 25% (4/16) died. Conversely, patients with late-onset PEP-related bacteraemia (n = 11) had a protracted clinical course; local signs of infection were infrequently observed (18%); a coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated in 91% of cases, and no death-related infection was registered. In patients with out-of-system bacteraemia (n = 28), the device became colonized and required explantation in 56% (5/9) of patients with S. aureus infection; the remaining 19 patients with out-of system bacteraemia caused by a microorganism other than S. aureus were successfully managed with medical treatment. Early-onset and late-onset PEP-related bacteraemia differ regarding the microorganism involved, the clinical presentation, and the prognosis. When the pacing system is involved, a complete explantation of the device is necessary to cure the infection. However, most episodes of bacteraemia arising outside the PEP, mainly those not caused by S. aureus, can be conservatively managed.

[Complications related with cocaine abuse that required hospital admission]. / Complicaciones relacionadas con el consumo de cocaína que precisaron ingreso hospitalario.

INTRODUCTION: Although cocaine abuse is an increasingly important medical problem, many manifestations of its toxicity are not well understood. The aim of this study is to review the most serious clinical manifestations related to cocaine abuse. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of all patients over 16 years of age admitted to the hospital from January 1994 to December 2005 where cocaine abuse was recorded in their clinical history. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients, with 188 episodes and 268 pathologic manifestations related to cocaine abuse were included. Thirty two out of the 170 patients (18.8%) were females. Mean age was 33 +/- 11 years, with no significant difference between males and females. A total of 88.8% were smokers, 70% had alcohol abuse and 67.3% had other illegal drug abuses. The more frequent reason for their hospitalization was: pulmonary infection (29.6%), bronchial hyperreactivity (14%), acute psychotic attack related to drugs (12%), ischemic heart disease (10%), infectious endocarditis (7.8%), cerebrovascular disease (8.6%), seizures (6.2%) and severe abdominal complications (2.3%). Eight patients died (6.25%). The association with cocaine was only suspected in 46% of the toxic manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Several clinical manifestations are associated to cocaine abuse and its consumption causes potentially fatal complications. The integral treatment of these patients could be improved if these complications are kept in mind.

Complicaciones relacionadas con el consumo de cocaína que precisaron ingreso hospitalario / Complications related with cocaine abuse that required hospital admission

Introducción. Aunque la cocaína supone un problema sanitario de importancia creciente, muchos síntomas de su toxicidad no son bien conocidos. El objetivo de este estudio es dar una visión global de las manifestaciones clínicas más graves relacionadas con la cocaína. Pacientes y método. Se revisaron los historiales clínicos de todos los pacientes mayores de 16 años de edad ingresados en nuestro hospital desde el 1 de enero de 1994 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2005, entre cuyos códigos diagnósticos al alta figuraba el consumo de cocaína. Resultados. Se incluyeron 170 pacientes que sumaron un total de 188 episodios y 268 manifestaciones patológicas relacionadas con la cocaína. De los 170 pacientes, 32 (18,8%) eran mujeres. La edad media fue de 33 ± 11 años y no difirió significativamente entre hombres y mujeres. El 88,8% era fumador, el 70% ingería alcohol en exceso y el 67,3% consumía otras drogas ilegales. El motivo de ingreso más frecuente fue: infección pulmonar (29,6%), hiperreactividad bronquial grave (14%), trastorno psicótico agudo (12%), cardiopatía isquémica (10%), enfermedad cerebrovascular (8,6%), endocarditis bacteriana (7,8%), convulsiones (6,2%) y complicaciones abdominales graves (2,3%). Ocho pacientes fallecieron (6,25%). La asociación con la cocaína sólo se sospechó en un 46% de las manifestaciones clínicas. Conclusiones. El espectro de manifestaciones clínicas asociadas al consumo de cocaína es amplio y causa complicaciones potencialmente fatales. Mejorar su conocimiento por parte de los clínicos puede facilitar el tratamiento integral de estos enfermos (AU)

Introduction. Although cocaine abuse is an increasingly important medical problem, many manifestations of its toxicity are not well understood. The aim of this study is to review the most serious clinical manifestations related to cocaine abuse. Patients and method. We reviewed the medical records of all patients over 16 years of age admitted to the hospital from January 1994 to December 2005 where cocaine abuse was recorded in their clinical history. Results. A total of 170 patients, with 188 episodes and 268 pathologic manifestations related to cocaine abuse were included. Thirty two out of the 170 patients (18.8%) were females. Mean age was 33 ± 11 years, with no significant difference between males and females. A total of 88.8% were smokers, 70% had alcohol abuse and 67.3% had other illegal drug abuses. The more frequent reason for their hospitalization was: pulmonary infection (29.6%), bronchial hyperreactivity (14%), acute psychotic attack related to drugs (12%), ischemic heart disease (10%), infectious endocarditis (7.8%), cerebrovascular disease (8.6%), seizures (6.2%) and severe abdominal complications (2.3%). Eight patients died (6.25%). The association with cocaine was only suspected in 46% of the toxic manifestations. Conclusions. Several clinical manifestations are associated to cocaine abuse and its consumption causes potentially fatal complications. The integral treatment of these patients could be improved if these complications are kept in mind (AU)

Dolor torácico y eosinofilia periférica / Chest pain and peripheral eosinophilia

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Strongyloides stercoralis en el sur de Galicia / Strongyloides Stercoralis in the South of Galicia (Spain)

Strongyloides stercoralis es el único parásito que puede producir enfermedad crónica en el ser humano perpetuándose por autoinfección. Este nematodo, además, puede condicionar la muerte cuando se deteriora el estado inmunológico de paciente produciendo una hiperinfección masiva. Se describe el primer paciente afecto de strongiloidiasis siempre residente en el área sur de Galicia. El cuadro clínico cursó con lesiones cutáneas inespecíficas y dolor abdominal con intensa eosinofilia periférica (>20.000/ml). El diagnóstico se realizó mediante la objetivación de larvas en heces, confirmada mediante cultivo. El tratamiento con albendazol fracasó, consiguiéndose la curación mediante ivermectina. Debemos aumentar nuestro índice de sospecha sobre todo por la posibilidad de diagnosticar a estos pacientes como gastroenteritis eosinofílica, con el riesgo de "hiperinfección" que conllevaría el tratamiento con cortisona (AU)

Strongyloides stercoralis is the only parasite which can produce a chronic illness in humans, being through autoinfection. This nematode can also provoke death when patient’s immunologic state deteriorates producing a massive hyper infection. The first patient with strongyloidiasis who has always lived in the Galician South area is described. The clinical picture consisted of unspecific cutaneous lesions and abdominal pain with severe peripheral eosinophilia (>20.000/ml. The diagnosis was carried out observing the larvae in the fecal examination and was confirmed with a culture. Treatment with albendazole failed and the healing was reached with ivermectin. We must consider the possibility of strongyloidiasis because misdiagnosing these patients as eosinophilic gastroenteritis there would be a higher risk of hyperinfection if they are treated with corticosteroids (AU)

[Strongyloides stercoralis in the south of Galicia]. / Strongyloides stercoralis en el sur de Galicia.

Strongyloides stercoralis is the only parasite which can produce a chronic illness in humans, being through autoinfection. This nematode can also provoke death when patient's immunologic state deteriorates producing a massive hyper infection. The first patient with strongyloidiasis who has always lived in the Galician South area is described. The clinical picture consisted of unspecific cutaneous lesions and abdominal pain with severe peripheral eosinophilia (> 20,000/ml. The diagnosis was carried out observing the larvae in the fecal examination and was confirmed with a culture. Treatment with albendazole failed and the healing was reached with ivermectin. We must consider the possibility of strongyloidiasis because misdiagnosing these patients as eosinophilic gastroenteritis there would be a higher risk of hyperinfection if they are treated with corticosteroids.