Molecular characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive serotype 19A isolates from adults in two Spanish regions (1994-2009).

From 1994 to 2009, the incidence of invasive serotype 19A pneumococci isolated from adults in Barcelona and San Sebastian almost doubled every 4 years. Genotyping of the 167 invasive isolates studied showed serotype 19A to be highly heterogeneous, with 35 different sequence types (STs) and a different clonal structure in each region and time period. Multiresistance, defined as non-susceptibility to three or more antimicrobials, was found in 86 (51.5%) isolates. The most frequent ST was the multidrug-resistant ST276 (n = 28), which is a single-locus variant of the Denmark(14)-ST230 global clone. The ST276 clone, only present in San Sebastian before 2001, was successfully disseminated from 2002 in both cities and was the main contributor to the overall increase of serotype 19A infections.

Description of macrolide-resistant and potential virulent clones of Streptococcus pyogenes causing asymptomatic colonization during 2000-2006 in the Lisbon area.

The asymptomatic oropharyngeal colonization rate by Streptococcus pyogenes was 10.7% in children (901 among 8,405 children 0-16 years old) and 3.3% in adults (37 among 1,126 households of children) in the Lisbon area during 2000-2006. Macrolide-resistant S. pyogenes from children (n = 149) was variable with time: 9.8-10.7% in 2000-2002, 28.1% in 2003, 19.6-2.7% in 2004-2005 and 14.6% in 2006. Eight lineages (97.3% of isolates) were identified based on at least 80% similarity of PFGE patterns, T types, emm types and multilocus sequence types (ST). The elevated frequency of macrolide resistance was associated with M phenotype lineages I (emm12/ST36) and V (emm4, emm75/ST39 and a novel emmstMrp6 type) and with one cMLS(B) lineage IV (emm28/ST52) known to be associated with upper respiratory tract and invasive infections. Significant associations (p < 0.05) between emm type/virulence genotype were found, such as emm1/speA (+) ssa (-), emm4/ssa (+) prtF1 (+), emm12/speA (-) ssa (-). The high prevalence (>20%) of speC, prtF1 or ssa was probably caused either by clonal dissemination (speC), or to horizontal gene transfer events (prtF1 and ssa). This report contributes to a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolution of macrolide-resistant S. pyogenes causing symptom-free oropharyngeal colonization. These colonizing strains carry macrolide resistance and virulence genes capable of being transferred to other bacterial species sharing the same niche.

Spontaneous rupture of giant hepatic hemangioma: a rare source of hemoperitoneum. Case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemoperitoneum due to spontaneous rupture of a hepatic hemangioma is a rare and serious clinical event with a high mortality rate. CASE REPORT: 25-year-old woman under hormonal treatment for pregnancy with abdominal pain with distension followed by vomits, palpable epigastric mass and paleness of the skin and mucosas. Computed tomography of the abdomen without oral and venous contrast showed a heterogeneous and capsulated tumor of the liver. Exploratory laparotomy was carried out that revealed a large tumor occupying the gastro-hepatic site with partial rupture of the tumor's capsule with bleeding. Because of the close relationship between the tumor and the retro-hepatic inferior vena cava, the partial resection of the tumor was realized. The patient had a good post-operative evolution. The study of the tumor revealed hepatic hemangioma. CONCLUSION: Hepatic Hemangiomas may evolve to spontaneous rupture leading to hemorrhagic acute abdomen. Surgery is mandatory and the resection of the Hemangioma will depend on the clinical condition of the patient and on the relationship of the tumor with the vascular structures of the liver. Partial resection is a safe choice that saves lives in urgency situations, as the one described herein.

Subcapsular hematoma of the liver due to intercostal anesthesic blockage after cholecystectomy: case report.

The subcapsular hematoma of the liver (SHL) are the results of injuries such as liver needle biopsy, liver trauma, pregnancy illnesses, parasitic diseases and others. The approach of these lesions depends on the various clinical presentations of subcapsular hematoma of the liver because it may be small with minimal clinical repercussion, managed only by ultrasound observation. In some situations the SHL may present large dimensions with hemodinamic instability. A case of subcapsular hematoma of the liver secondary to anesthetic intercostal blockade to control the postoperative pain after cholecystectomy is reported. A 34-year-old woman was submitted to intercostal anesthetic blockade after cholecystectomy for treatment of cholelithiasis. The blockade evolved with pain in right flank followed of mucocutaneous pallor and fall of the haematocrit and hemoglobin levels. At relaparotomy, subcapsular hematoma of the liver was proven and tamponed with compresses. The patient had good postoperative evolution being discharged from hospital, after removing the compresses. In conclusion, the intercostal anesthesic blockade, as any other medical procedure, is not exempt of complications. Therefore, it must be carried through in well selected cases; Anyway nowadays, there are efficient drugs for the control of postoperative pain.

Perforation of Meckel's diverticulum by a chicken bone mimicking acute appendicitis. Case report.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a congenital disorder that results from an incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct. MD may give rise to bleeding, intestinal obstruction and inflammation; however its perforation by a foreign body is an extremely rare life-threatening complication. We report on a 52 years-old Brazilian Amazon man presenting symptoms and signs of acute abdomen with an initial suspicion of acute appendicitis. However, the right diagnosis was made only during exploratory laparotomy when the appendix was found to be normal, whereas MD was found to be inflamed and perforated by a chicken bone. The patient was treated successfully with resection of a segment of the ileum, including the perforated diverticulum, and had an uncomplicated postoperative course.

Group A Streptococci from carriage and disease in Portugal: evolution of antimicrobial resistance and T antigenic types during 2000-2002.

In this study, we analyzed the antimicrobial resistance properties and T antigenic types of 511 isolates collected in Lisbon district, Portugal, from throat swabs of healthy subjects (n=341), during 2000-2002 and from diverse infection sites (n=170) of outpatients and inpatients, during 1999-2002. Erythromycin resistance was higher in tonsillitis/pharyngitis (27.4%) and skin infection isolates (21.1%), than in carriage and invasive isolates (