A rare case of ecthyma gangrenosum associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Ecthyma gangrenosum (EG) is a well-recognized dermatological condition caused by gram-negative bacillary infection, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Association with gram-positive cocci is very rarely reported in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, we describe the third case of EG caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a patient with AIDS who presented with multiple typical necrotic lesions.

Pulmonary blastomycosis: a new endemic area in New York state.

We describe three cases of pulmonary blastomycosis in patients from central New York State (NYS). Two of these cases occurred in 2012, and in patients who resided in the same county. Moreover, two of these cases manifested with acute respiratory distress syndrome and survived. Interestingly, one of the two received corticosteroids and was extubated within 1 week. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first cases of human blastomycosis to be reported from NYS and we propose that corticosteroids administration might reduce hospitalisation time and ventilator-associated complications, even though it is not currently recommended in standard treatment.

Unveiling the hidden eagle: acute parotitis-induced eagle syndrome.

CONTEXT: A cervicofacial pain and foreign body sensation in pharynx associated with styloid process elongation is called Eagle syndrome. Typically, this syndrome is provoked by tonsillectomy or trauma. We report the first case of acute parotitis-induced Eagle syndrome. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old woman presented with right facial pain. CT scan of neck revealed asymmetric enhancement of the right parotid gland compatible with acute parotitis. All inflammation was resolved with antibiotics. However, the patient complained of pain in right mandibular region out of proportion to inflammation. Review CT found to have an asymmetrically long right styloid process measures. The diagnosis of acute parotitis-induced Eagle syndrome was established. CONCLUSION: Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for Eagle syndrome in patients with atypical neck pain and elongated styloid process since another significant manifestation of Eagle syndrome is carotid artery compression leading to recurrent syncope or stroke.

Bilateral putaminal hemorrhages: serious complication of methanol intoxication.

CONTEXT: Methanol intoxication is a life-threatening condition. Hallmark of clinical presentations include severe wide anion gap metabolic acidosis with very high serum osmolar gap and visual complication. CASE REPORT: We report a case of severe methanol intoxication with bilateral putaminal hemorrhage, an uncommon serious complication. A 56-year-old man presented with altered mental status. Fundus examination showed optic disc edema. Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) revealed severe anion gap metabolic acidosis with osmolal gap. Head computed tomography (CT) showed hypodense lesions in basal ganglia bilaterally. Hemodialysis and intravenous fomepizole were initiated. Serum methanol level was significantly elevated. Unfortunately, patient was lethargic 2 weeks after discharge. Repeated CT of head demonstrated new putaminal hemorrhages. CONCLUSION: Bilateral putaminal hemorrhage is an uncommon but serious complication in methanol intoxication. Clinicians should have high index of suspicion for putaminal hemorrhage when patients with recent methanol intoxication present with altered mental status.