Fusobacterium nucleatum Multiple Liver Abscesses in an Adolescent With Hemoglobin SC Disease.

Liver abscesses are poorly known in sickle cell disease. We report here multiple liver abscesses occurring in a 17-year-old patient with hemoglobin SC disease. A Fusobacterium nucleatum was identified on cyst puncture. Such complications have been described in only 11 children and young adults with hemoglobin SS/Sß-thalassemia diseases. Fusobacterium species are the most frequent pathogens reported and require anaerobic culture to be identified.

[Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with sickle cell disease receiving prophylactic penicillin]. / Colonização nasofaríngea pelo Streptococcus pneumoniae em crianças com doença falciforme usando penicilina profilática.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization in children with sickle cell disease undergoing penicillin prophylaxis, to identify risk factors for colonization and to serotype and determine antibiotic resistance in pneumococci obtained from those children. METHODS: Between April 9, 2002 and February 28, 2003, 188 nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 98 children with sickle cell disease in follow-up at the Hospital São Paulo-Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Pneumococci were isolated and identified by standard methods. The minimal inhibitory concentration for penicillin was determined by the E-test method. Isolates were serotyped with the use of type-specific antisera for 46 different serotypes (Neufeld-Quellung reaction). RESULTS: The age of children ranged from 4 months to 17 years (median and standard deviation 6.8-/+4.7 years). Thirteen of the 98 children had nasopharyngeal pneumococcus colonization (13.3% prevalence). There was a significantly greater risk of colonization among children less than 2 years old (p = 0.02). Twenty-one percent of isolates had intermediate penicillin resistance. There were no isolates highly resistant to penicillin. All isolates were susceptible to erythromycin, ceftriaxone, or vancomycin. The most frequently identified serotypes were 18C and 23F. CONCLUSIONS: Penicillin prophylaxis reduced pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization and did not increase the prevalence of penicillin-resistant pneumococci in children with sickle cell disease. Penicillin can be used not only for prophylaxis, but also in the acute management of febrile states with these children.

Colonização nasofaríngea pelo Streptococcus pneumoniae em crianças com doença falciforme usando penicilina profilática / Nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children with sickle cell disease receiving prophylactic penicillin

OBJETIVOS: Determinar a prevalência de colonização nasofaríngea pelo pneumococo em crianças com doença falciforme, em uso de profilaxia com penicilina; identificar fatores de risco para colonização; sorotipar as cepas isoladas e avaliar a resistência antimicrobiana. METODOLOGIA: Foram colhidos 188 suabes de nasofaringe de 98 crianças com doença falciforme em acompanhamento no Hospital São Paulo, da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, no período de 09 de abril de 2002 a 28 de fevereiro de 2003. O isolamento e a identificação dos pneumococos seguiram procedimentos padronizados. A concentração inibitória mínima para penicilina foi determinada pelo método do E-test. A sorotipagem foi realizada pela reação de Neufeld-Quellung com anti-soros para 46 sorotipos. RESULTADOS: A idade variou de 4 meses a 17 anos (média e desvio padrão de 6,8±4,7 anos). Das 98 crianças do estudo, 13 apresentaram colonização pelo pneumococo (prevalência de 13,3 por cento). O maior risco de colonização ocorreu em menores de 2 anos de idade (p = 0,02). A prevalência de cepas com resistência intermediária à penicilina foi de 21,4 por cento, não sendo evidenciada resistência plena. Também não houve cepas resistentes à eritromicina, ceftriaxona e vancomicina. Os sorotipos isolados mais freqüentes foram o 18C e o 23F. CONCLUSÕES: O uso profilático de penicilina diminuiu a colonização nasofaríngea pelo pneumococo e não determinou aumento da resistência a esse antimicrobiano nas crianças com doença falciforme. A penicilina ainda pode ser usada na profilaxia e no tratamento dos episódios febris dessas crianças.

Infectious complications of implantable venous access devices in patients with sickle cell disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of implantable venous access device infection in patients with sickle cell disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective search of their hospital's information system from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2001 to identify hospital admissions with ICD-9 codes related to sickle cell anemia. This search yielded 2703 admissions in 293 patients. A search of the radiology information system identified 23 of these patients who had placement of an implantable venous access device. Excluding two patients who were lost to follow-up, the population of this study included eight men and 13 women aged 23 to 62 years old (mean, 37 years). A total of 30 implantable venous access devices (25 venous ports, five tunneled catheters) were placed by interventional radiologists. Cases of device infection were identified based on clinical data, microbiology, reports of device removal, and clinical follow-up. Infections were defined according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria for catheter-related bloodstream infection. The incidence of infection, organism, and time from device placement to infection was determined. RESULTS: In 21 patients with 30 devices, 18 device infections (60%) occurred in 12 patients (57%) involving 15 venous ports and three tunneled catheters. There were a total of 12389 days of catheter use and a rate of 1.5 infections per 1000 catheter days. Infections occurred from 16 to 1542 days (mean, 349 days) after device placement. Blood, wound, and catheter tip cultures yielded solitary organisms in 13 cases and mixed organisms in four cases. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen (59%). One patient was considered infected based on clinical signs and purulent discharge from the port site, despite negative cultures after partial antibiotic treatment. One patient died of sepsis resulting from an infected port. CONCLUSION: This study shows a high incidence of infection associated with placement of implantable venous access devices in patients with sickle cell disease. Therefore, the authors avoid placing these devices in this patient population.

Pneumococcal colonization in children with sickle cell disease [see comment].

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this prospective study were to define the Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization rate in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and to determine the serotype and antibiotic susceptibility of all isolates. METHODS: Children with SCD followed at the hospital were sampled for colonization with S. pneumoniae by means of a throat or nasopharyngeal swab on one or two occasions. Patient information was obtained when the specimen was collected. Specimens were isolated on gentamicin-blood agar plates and modified Avery broth. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by a commercially available test (E-test). Isolates were serotyped with the use of type-specific antisera. The relationship between the data noted above and certain clinical parameters was examined. RESULTS: A total of 490 specimens were obtained from 278 patients. Twenty-eight patients had a culture positive for S. pneumoniae, resulting in an overall colonization rate of 10%. Thirty-three percent (11/33) of all isolates were resistant to penicillin-seven intermediately resistant and four highly resistant. Twelve percent of isolates were also resistant to cefotaxime. Eight different serotypes were identified; all but one are included in the current 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine. Penicillin prophylaxis did not increase the rate of colonization with resistant strains of pneumococcus. CONCLUSION: Our results do not support a change in the current use of penicillin prophylaxis nor in the acute management of the febrile child with SCD.