The safety of dental extractions in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Dental disorders have been recognized as major sources of infection in patients with hematologic malignancies (HM). Management of severe dental infections usually includes dental extractions (DE), but the safety of extractions in patients with HM who are at risk for bleeding, sepsis, and poor wound healing has not been well established. In conjunction with an aggressive program of dental care, 142 DE were performed in 26 patients with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders. Granulocytopenia (less than 1,000 granulocytes/microL) was present during or within ten days following surgery in 14 patients. In these 14 patients (101 DE), the mean granulocyte count was less than 450/microL, with a median duration of granulocytopenia following surgery of 32 days (range, four to 169 days). Thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000 platelets/microL) occurred during or within two days following surgery in 13 patients (80 DE), with a mean platelet count of 63,500/microL. Transfusions were given for platelet counts less than 50,000/microL. All DE were performed without significant complications. Bleeding was minor to moderate and easily controlled with local measures; no patient required transfusion due to hemorrhage. Average maximum temperature 24 hours after DE was 37.7 degrees C. No episodes of bacteremia were documented within ten days of DE. Minor delay in wound healing was observed in two patients. We conclude that DE can be safely performed in patients with HM in combination with aggressive supportive care.

Aseptic peritonitis secondary to myocardial infarction.

Three percent to 30% of the episodes of peritonitis occurring in patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis are culture-negative or aseptic. The etiology of these episodes remains poorly defined, though endotoxin-contaminated dialysates and fastidious anaerobic organisms occasionally have been implicated. We treated a patient who had fever, epigastric pain, and peritoneal fluid neutrophilic leukocytosis while undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. Despite multiple negative pretherapy aerobic, anaerobic, fungal, and mycobacterial cultures, bacterial peritonitis was the presumptive diagnosis. At postmortem examination, there were no findings to suggest infectious peritonitis; however, myocardial infarction with pericarditis was noted. We conclude that myocardial infarction should be included in the differential diagnosis of aseptic peritonitis in the patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Toxoplasma gondii and the compromised host. Antibody response in the absence of clinical manifestations of disease.

Toxoplasmosis is a well-described opportunistic infection in immunocompromised hosts. Meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, and pneumonitis are the most frequent clinical manifestations of disease. Because of difficulties both with isolation of the organism and with its identification in tissue, most laboratories rely on serological techniques for diagnosis of acute disease. The most widely available and commonly employed serological method is the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA). We recently encountered an immunocompromised patient with an undefined hematologic malignant neoplasm who had an IFA titer greater than 1:100,000 without clinical evidence of active toxoplasmosis. Although his dye test titer and direct agglutination titer were also elevated, he had negative double-sandwich-IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers. Immunoperoxidase staining of the tissues failed to demonstrate trophozoites. This case demonstrates that elevated toxoplasma IFA titers may occur in patients at high risk for opportunistic infection but who do not manifest overt clinical toxoplasmosis.

Therapeutic approaches in patients with candidemia. Evaluation in a multicenter, prospective, observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the morbidity and mortality of Candida fungemia and to assess the efficacy of low- vs high-dose amphotericin B and fluconazole vs amphotericin B in patients with candidemia. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, observational study of 427 consecutive patients with candidemia. RESULTS: The mortality rate for patients with candidemia was 34%. The mortality rate for patients with catheter-related candidemia in whom the catheters were retained was significantly higher than that of patients in whom the catheters were removed (41% vs 21%, P < .001). We found no overall difference in mortality in patients treated with low-dose (total amphotericin B dose of < or = 500 mg) (13%) vs high-dose amphotericin B (total amphotericin B dose of > 500 mg) (15%), but the group treated with a low dose had fewer side effects (40%) than those treated with a high dose (55%) (P = .03). Fluconazole was as efficacious as amphotericin B in the therapy of candidemia, even when stratified by risk factors for mortality. Fewer side effects were seen with fluconazole (12%) compared with amphotericin B (44%) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with candidemia, low-dose amphotericin B was as efficacious as high-dose amphotericin B. Based on other studies and ours, fluconazole seems to be an alternative therapeutic option to amphotericin B in selected patients.

Disseminated infection with Bartonella henselae as a cause of spontaneous splenic rupture.

A 65-year-old man developed massive hemoperitoneum secondary to spontaneous splenic rupture. Histopathological analysis of the spleen demonstrated necrotizing granulomas. Results of serological tests indicated infection with a species of Bartonella, and immunohistochemical staining established Bartonella henselae as the cause of splenitis. To our knowledge, this represents the first reported case of spontaneous splenic rupture caused by infection with a species of Bartonella.

Persistent neutrophilic meningitis. Report of four cases and review of the literature.

Persistent neutrophilic meningitis is a poorly described variant of chronic meningitis characterized by the persistence of neutrophils in the CSF over extended periods of time (greater than 1 wk) in association with ongoing signs of meningeal inflammation and negative CSF cultures for bacteria and other pathogens. Although the incidence of persistent neutrophilic meningitis is difficult to ascertain, a review of available literature on CNS infections suggests that this entity is not rare. Etiologies of this syndrome are both infectious and noninfectious. Among infectious causes, bacteria such as Nocardia and Actinomyces and systemic mycoses such as Aspergillus and the zygomycetes are the predominant pathogens. The pathogenesis of the persistent neutrophilic CSF response is unknown; with some infectious etiologies, there may be a correlation between neutrophil response and the morphology of the invading organism. Mycelial-like pathogens appear to be the primary stimulus for an ongoing neutrophilic inflammatory response. In cases of persistent neutrophilic meningitis, epidemiologic features and clinical setting frequently offer clues to the etiologic agent, especially in the immunocompromised host. Evaluation should include repetitive cultural and serologic studies of the CSF with special emphasis upon special cultural methods, antigen detection and detection of characteristic metabolic byproducts. Biopsy of extraneural sites of disease should be pursued whenever possible to provide data for an inferential diagnosis of CNS disease. CNS biopsies should be selectively performed in those patients undergoing craniotomy for evaluation of mass lesions. Therapy must be individualized. However, in the immunocompromised host, consideration should be given to the empiric use of amphotericin B with or without a sulfonamide in undiagnosed cases that manifest progressive clinical deterioration.

Cryptococcal pneumonia complicating pregnancy.

In the present report we describe 4 previously healthy women who developed cryptococcal pneumonia during pregnancy, and 1 pregnant woman with cryptococcal meningitis. These cases illustrate a previously uncharacterized spectrum of cryptococcal disease. We also discuss 24 patients previously reported who had cryptococcal meningitis during pregnancy. Finally, we review the available data for each therapeutic option and present an algorithm for management based on appraisals of disease severity and risk to the unborn fetus. This report emphasizes the need for heightened awareness of cryptococcosis in the differential diagnosis of pneumonia, chest pain, and hypoxemia in the pregnant patient, but at present, there are insufficient epidemiologic data to determine whether incidences of pulmonary or disseminated cryptococcosis actually increase during pregnancy. The risk of congenital cryptococcosis to the unborn fetus is low, and the most likely mechanism whereby neonates acquire invasive fungal pulmonary infection is through aspiration. While it is unclear whether there is any real increased risk of spontaneous abortion or premature labor, the data indicate that overall fetal outcome depends on effective treatment of maternal infection. For patients with dense air-space consolidation, progressive pulmonary disease, or dissemination, antifungal therapy is necessary. Optimal treatment is determined by the acuity and severity of the clinical presentation. Amphotericin B (approximately 1 g) with or without flucytosine represents the choice for initial treatment of the more acutely ill patient with disseminated or progressive pulmonary cryptococcosis who requires hospitalization (whether during or after pregnancy). Oral fluconazole appears to be safe and effective alternative therapy after delivery for the less severely ill patient who can be managed on an outpatient basis. While the use of fluconazole during pregnancy generally appears safe in terms of fetal outcome (49, 58), the class C status and single report of fetal malformation (62) preclude confident recommendation for its use during pregnancy. The risks and benefits of this effective and generally less toxic drug should be discussed with the parents and weighed against the use of amphotericin B. For pregnant women with limited pulmonary cryptococcosis (segmental or nodular infiltrates) and no evidence of dissemination, we recommend close follow-up without antifungal therapy similar to the recommendation for normal hosts with minimal disease. However, it is important to note that there is no extensive experience upon which to base this recommendation for pregnant individuals (45, 55, 103, 108). It is prudent to use frequent physical examinations (for example, every 1-2 months), combined with chest roentgenograms and serum cryptococcal antigens to monitor progression and/or development of disease in both the mother and child for approximately 6 months postpartum. In conclusion, cryptococcosis during pregnancy presents a special challenge to the clinician. A balanced therapeutic approach holds great promise for successful maternal and fetal outcomes.

Amphotericin B revisited: reassessment of toxicity.

PURPOSE: Although amphotericin B remains the mainstay of therapy for serious fungal infections, numerous acute and chronic toxicities make clinical usage difficult. Nevertheless, utilization of amphotericin B has increased dramatically in recent years. Accordingly, a study to reassess toxicity associated with the use of amphotericin in the modern era and to determine the aggregate impact toxicities have on the overall therapeutic course of patients was undertaken. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The charts of 50 patients at our institution who had received amphotericin B were retrospectively reviewed for the occurrence of drug-related acute and chronic toxicities and their impact on therapy. Patients evaluated were at least 21 years of age, had received at least 100 mg of amphotericin B, and were treated for at least 3 days. An analysis to investigate associations between drug administration variables and toxicities was also undertaken. RESULTS: The mean age of study subjects were 54 years, the average duration of therapy was 19 days, and the mean cumulative dose of amphotericin B was 582 mg. Acute toxicities accompanying infusion occurred in 66% of all patients. Fever was experienced by 34% of study subjects and chills by 56%, with rates of 2.6 and 3.5 mean episodes per patient per treatment course, respectively. Other acute toxicities including hypotension were rare, and no patients exhibited bronchospasm or anaphylaxis. Nephrotoxicity occurred in 30 patients (60%). Baseline creatinine values in these patients rose by a mean of 1.55 mg/dL (137 mumol/L), with increases in creatinine ranging from 0.2 to 5.2 mg/dL (18 to 460 mumol/L). Analysis of six drug administration parameters by stepwise multiple linear regression failed to reveal any significant associations with nephrotoxicity. The mean nadir potassium value was 3.1 mEq/L (3.1 mmol/L) (range: 2.3 to 4.8 mEq/L [2.3 mmol/L]), with 45 of 50 patients (90%) receiving potassium supplementation (average daily supplement = 69 mEq). Only increasing amphotericin B concentration was correlated with an increased requirement for potassium supplementation (p less than 0.01, stepwise multiple linear regression). CONCLUSION: Although clinically important toxicities continue to occur with usage of amphotericin B despite current methods of infusion and premedication, these are usually manageable and rarely limit the course of therapy.

Prospective, randomized comparison of sequential intravenous followed by oral ciprofloxacin with intravenous ceftazidime in the treatment of serious infections.

In a prospective, comparative trial, 47 hospitalized patients with serious infections that required parenteral antibiotic therapy were randomly assigned to receive either ciprofloxacin (200 mg every 12 hours intravenously followed by 500 mg every 12 hours orally at a time dependent on the patients' clinical and bacteriologic responses) or ceftazidime (2 g every eight to 12 hours intravenously). All evaluable subjects (39 patients) had documented infections, 23 percent of which were associated with bacteremia. The mean/median duration of intravenous antibiotic use for ciprofloxacin was 7.37/five days and for ceftazidime 9.95/seven days; 63 percent of the ciprofloxacin patients received an additional 17 days of oral therapy with ciprofloxacin, whereas intravenous therapy with ceftazidime was followed by an average of 12 days of an oral regimen in 55 percent of patients. Overall response rates for patients receiving ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime were 76 percent (16 of 21) and 82 percent (18 of 22), respectively. Four out of five bacteremias in each group were successfully treated. Overall, 69 percent of the pathogens were gram-negative aerobes, and 47 percent of the infections involved the urinary tract. Failure of therapy was most often associated with pneumonia (two of five failures with ciprofloxacin and three of four failures with ceftazidime). Adverse effects occurred in approximately 20 percent of patients in each group and were mild and reversible. Superinfections occurred in five of 19 (26 percent) ciprofloxacin recipients and seven of 20 (35 percent) ceftazidime recipients. All fungal superinfections involved the genitourinary tract and occurred most often in association with chronic indwelling catheters. Enterococcal superinfections occurred in both groups (a bacteremic urinary tract infection in a ceftazidime patient and osteomyelitis in a ciprofloxacin patient). Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea was documented in a ceftazidime recipient. The mean duration of hospitalization following the onset of antibiotic treatment was 10.45 days in the ciprofloxacin group and 12.95 days in the ceftazidime group. Sequential intravenous/oral ciprofloxacin was as safe and effective as intravenous ceftazidime in the treatment of infections due to susceptible gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.

Rapid intravenous infusion of amphotericin B: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The administration of amphotericin B in the conventional prolonged infusion over 4 to 6 hours is complicated by the acute toxicities of fevers and chills in 50% to 90% of patients and the chronic toxicities of increased creatinine levels and hypokalemia in 60% to 80% of patients. To determine the safety and toxicity of rapid infusions, we conducted a prospective, nonrandomized study in patients with clinical indications for antifungal therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five granulocytopenic adults with acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes were enrolled in a phase I trial using four sequentially shorter infusion durations: a standard infusion over 4 hours (n = 3) and shortened infusion durations at 3 hours (n = 3), 2 hours (n = 4), and 1 hour (n = 15). Toxicity was assessed by daily examinations of study subjects by one of the study investigators, by documentation of all infusion-related fevers and chills, and by daily monitoring of serum levels of creatinine, potassium, magnesium, and aspartate aminotransferase. RESULTS: Temperatures greater than 38 degrees C occurred in 16 of 25 (64%) patients, but only two had temperatures exceeding 40 degrees C. Chills were observed in 13 of 25 (56%) patients, but only one had severe symptoms. Serum creatinine increased more than 0.5 mg/dL (44.20 mumol/L) above the pretreatment baseline in 17 of 25 (68%) patients, and the absolute creatinine level was greater than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL (176.8 mumol/L) in 10 of 25 (40%) patients. Serum potassium levels dropped below the normal limit of 3.5 mEq/L (3.5 mmol/L) in all patients, but no patient had potassium levels below 2.5 mEq/L (2.5 mmol/L). Intravenous potassium supplementation was administered to all patients and exceeded 100 mEq/d in 12 of 25 (48%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid infusions of amphotericin B are safe, are associated with similar toxicity as prolonged infusions, and facilitate inpatient care by decreasing nursing time needed for administration and minimizing scheduling conflicts with other necessary intravenous medications. Shorter infusions also facilitate outpatient and home administration of amphotericin B.

Intravenous acyclovir therapy of first episodes of genital herpes: a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PURPOSE: A collaborative multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous acyclovir treatment of first-episode genital herpes was performed in order to substantiate previous findings on the efficacy and safety of this drug, to evaluate the influence of parenteral therapy on recurrence frequency, and to obtain further data on the natural history of genital herpes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients with first episodes of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to treatment with intravenous acyclovir (5 mg/kg every eight hours) or placebo for five days. Before therapy, all lesions in the genital/perineal area and in extragenital sites were cultured. New lesions appearing in both areas after the onset of therapy were cultured separately. Lesions in all groups were cultured until completely healed. Sera were collected from all patients on entry to the study and on Day 21 to determine presence or absence of antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2. Time to healing, time to crusting, time to cessation of viral shedding, and appearance of new lesions during therapy were compared for each treatment group. RESULTS: Patients receiving acyclovir experienced a significant reduction in the median duration of pain (4.3 versus 4.8 days, p = 0.019), viral shedding (1.9 versus 8.4 days, p less than 0.001), and time to healing (8.4 versus 11.5 days, p = 0.02) compared with placebo recipients. These differences were largely attributable to the effect of therapy in the subset of patients with primary disease in whom acyclovir reduced the median duration of pain from 10.6 days to 4.2 days, the median duration of viral shedding from 17.1 days to 1.9 days, and the median time to healing from 14.2 days to 8.3 days. The rate of subsequent recurrence of genital herpes was not altered by acyclovir treatment: 24 of 32 acyclovir recipients (75 percent) experienced one or more recurrences during a mean follow-up of 14 months compared with 19 of 27 placebo recipients (70 percent). Among patients experiencing recurrences, the mean number of recurrences per month among acyclovir recipients was 0.25 compared with 0.19 for patients given placebo. CONCLUSION: This multicenter trial confirms the efficacy of intravenous acyclovir in the management of first-episode genital herpes, especially in patients with primary infection. However, therapy did not alter the frequency of recurrences.

The changing face of candidemia: emergence of non-Candida albicans species and antifungal resistance.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the changing epidemiology of candidemia in the 1990s, to evaluate the clinical implications for the presence of non-Candida albicans in blood, and to evaluate the presence of antifungal resistance in relation to prior antifungal administration. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective observational study of patients with positive blood cultures for Candida species or Torulopsis glabrata. SETTING: Four tertiary care medical centers. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-seven consecutive patients were enrolled. The frequency of candidemia due to non-C. albicans species significantly increased in each hospital throughout the 3.5-year study period (P = 0.01). Thirteen percent of candidemias occurred in patients who were already receiving systemic antifungal agents. Candidemias developing while receiving antifungal therapy were more likely caused by non-C. albicans species than by C. albicans species (P = 0.0005). C. parapsilosis and C. krusei were more commonly seen with prior fluconazole therapy, whereas T. glabrata was more commonly seen with prior amphotericin B therapy. Candida species isolated during episodes of breakthrough candidemia exhibited a significantly higher MIC to the antifungal agent being administered (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this large scale study, the non-C. albicans species, especially T. glabrata, emerged as important and frequent pathogens causing fungemia. This finding has major clinical implications given the higher complication and mortality rate associated with the non-C. albicans species. The change in the pattern of candidemia might be partly attributed to the increase in number of immunocompromised hosts and the widespread use of prophylactic or empiric antifungal therapy. This is an ominous sign given the in vitro resistance of the non-C. albicans species to currently available antifungal agents.

Gallium-67-citrate scanning of renal parenchymal malacoplakia.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this article is to review the potential role of nuclear medicine scanning, especially with 67Ga, in the presumptive diagnosis and clinical management of patients with renal parenchymal malacoplakia (RPMP), a rare disease associated with coliform bacterial infection of the kidney and characterized by chronic unresolving inflammatory infiltrates containing von Hansemann macrophages in the renal parenchyma. METHODS: Published cases of RPMP were collected from the archival literature by searching the MEDLINE database and by reviewing bibliographic references contained in articles on malacoplakia. Data on the clinical features and radiographic evaluation of patients with RPMP were extracted from the clinical case reports. RESULTS: Forty-three cases of RPMP published over the past 20 yr were identified. Ten of the 43 patients (23%) had 67Ga scanning as a component of their diagnostic evaluation. In all 10 patients, renal uptake of 67Ga was classified as intense. Two of those 10 patients had serial 67Ga scanning performed to assess response to antibiotic treatment; both patients exhibited decreased uptake or complete resolution of abnormal renal uptake over time, a finding also exhibited by our patient. CONCLUSION: Intense renal uptake of 67Ga, typically in the clinical setting of fever, progressive renal failure and nephromegaly, strongly supports a diagnosis of RPMP. In those patients receiving prolonged antimicrobial therapy for RPMP, resolution of abnormal 67Ga uptake over time may provide an objective endpoint for treatment.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis in the immunocompetent host. Therapy with oral fluconazole: a report of four cases and a review of the literature.

Isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis (IPC) is an infrequently diagnosed infection, the management of which is not well defined. In past years, IPC traditionally has not been treated in the immunocompetent host, given its perceived benign and self-limited course and the toxicity associated with amphotericin B. However, some patients manifest prominent and disabling symptoms, and infection occasionally may disseminate. Fluconazole is active against Cryptococcus neoformans, is easily administered, and has an excellent safety profile. We present four healthy hosts with IPC who were treated with oral fluconazole for 6 to 8 weeks. A review of the literature was conducted to identify other cases of IPC in healthy hosts who were also treated with fluconazole. Our results and the limited experience reported in the literature suggest that fluconazole may be an appropriate choice for the treatment of IPC in the immunocompetent host. Indications for treatment are not defined, but symptomatic patients, those with multiple nodules or extensive infiltrates on chest radiographs, and/or those testing positive for serum cryptococcal antigen might be potential candidates for therapy.

Reactivation toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: is there a role for chemoprophylaxis?

The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of reactivation ocular toxoplasmosis in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients and to propose guidelines for identification and chemoprophylaxis of high-risk patients. The study design was a series of cases from the tertiary care university hospital which has an active BMT program. The patients were two recipients of autologous BMTs with past histories of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis who developed symptomatic reactivation of ocular toxoplasmosis as documented by formal opthalmologic examination in the early post-transplant period. Opthalmoscopic examinations in the two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who received autologous transplants and then developed decreased visual acuity in the first week after transplant revealed recurrent retinochoroiditis adjacent to old toxoplasma lesions. Pre-transplant eye examinations in both patients had demonstrated only inactive chorioretinal scars. Therapy with sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine and prednisone ultimately led to resolution of retinitis in both patients. BMT recipients who are seropositive for antibody to T. gondii and have findings consistent with previous toxoplasma retinochoroiditis on pre-transplant ophthalmologic examination appear to be at risk for reactivation of ocular toxoplasmosis in the early post-transplant period and may warrant preventive chemoprophylaxis for toxoplasmosis.

Nosocomial respiratory tract colonization and infection with aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus: epidemiologic characteristics and clinical significance.

During the period July 1983 through December 1984, aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var anitratus (ACA) were isolated from 98 patients in a university hospital. Eighty-seven percent of patients (85/98) acquired aminoglycoside-resistant ACA in the intensive care unit (ICU) and 92% (90/98) of all initial isolates were from sputum. ICU patients with respiratory colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA were compared with matched ICU controls with other gram-negative rods in sputum. Compared with controls, the duration of ICU stay prior to colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA was significantly longer for cases (14.7 days v 5.9 days, P = 0.002). Although exposures to devices and procedures were not significantly different for the two groups, cases received respiratory therapy significantly longer than did controls (14.7 days v 6.6 days, P = 0.006). Prior to isolation of aminoglycoside-resistant ACA in sputum, cases received more cephalosporins than did controls (1.9 v 1.2, P = 0.018); aminoglycoside usage in the two groups was comparable but cases tended to have received aminoglycoside for longer durations before colonization/infection than had controls (9.0 days v 6.1 days, P = 0.08). Following sputum isolation of ACA, 6 of 22 cases developed ACA bacteremia compared with bacteremia in 2 of 22 controls. We conclude that factors predisposing to colonization/infection with aminoglycoside-resistant ACA were extended ICU care, prolonged respiratory therapy, and prior therapy with cephalosporins and aminoglycoside. In addition, ACA may be a more common cause of secondary bacteremia than previously appreciated.

Interaction of granulocytopenia and construction activity as risk factors for nosocomial invasive filamentous fungal disease in patients with hematologic disorders.

A clinicoepidemiologic study was undertaken to investigate an apparent increase in frequency of nosocomial invasive filamentous fungal disease (NIFFD) in adult patients with acute leukemia hospitalized during a period of hospital construction, and to determine if a relationship existed between the construction activity and the acquisition of NIFFD. The first study goal, to determine the incidence of NIFFD before and during construction, was approached by calculation of incidence rates of NIFFD in patients with acute leukemia, comparing 1982 and 1983 (a baseline period free of construction) to 1986 (a year when construction activity was at its peak). The second study goal, to identify risk factors for the development of NIFFD, was accomplished by reviewing the autopsy records of all patients with underlying hematologic disorders accompanied by granulocytopenia who died in our hospital from 1982 through 1986. Patients with and without autopsy evidence of NIFFD were then compared by univariate and multivariate (logistic regression) analysis to identify potential risk factors for the acquisition of NIFFD. The incidence of NIFFD in patients with acute leukemia hospitalized during the period of hospital construction was significantly increased when compared to a baseline period without construction (11 per 139 versus 4 per 333, p less than .001). Review of all granulocytopenic patients autopsied over the five-year interval 1982 through 1986 revealed duration of granulocytopenia and hospitalization during construction to be risk factors for NIFFD by univariate analysis (p less than .005). Logistic regression showed duration of granulocytopenia to be highly significant independent risk factor (p less than .01) and construction activity to be a probable independent risk factor (p = .09).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Automated cytochemical staining and inflammation. Further assessment of the "left shift".

Automated differential leukocyte counting devices identify neutrophils on the basis of size and peroxidase staining. Since no analysis of neutrophil subpopulations is provided, detection of the "left shift" as reflected by increased numbers of band neutrophils is not possible. It has been suggested that samples with increased numbers of high peroxidase neutrophils (HPX) correspond to conventional samples with increased band neutrophils. Using blood samples enriched by 700% in their band neutrophil concentration, no significant change in the number of HPX cells or mean peroxidase content was detected. Examination of Wright-stained smears with increased concentrations of HPX cells invariably revealed toxic neutrophils not seen in controls. The authors concluded that increases in HPX cells do reflect inflammation but that such increases correlate with the presence of toxic neutrophils and not band neutrophils.

Disseminated infection by Aspergillus terreus.

A patient with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia who received chemotherapy developed lung nodules and later central nervous system symptoms consistent with disseminated aspergillosis. The diagnosis was made at open lung biopsy by culturing the organism and observing in tissue sections conidia borne laterally along the hyphae, a characteristic of the Aspergillus terreus-flavipes group. This is the first reported case of disseminated A. terreus infection in an immunocompromised host.

A randomized, prospective, blinded comparison of postoperative pain, metabolic response, and perceived health after laparoscopic and small incision cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that in a randomized comparison of laparoscopic (LC) versus small incision (SC) cholecystectomy, postoperative hospital stay is comparable. This randomized prospective study compares the postoperative pain, analgesic and antiemetic consumption, perceived health, and metabolic and respiratory responses after these two procedures. METHODS: Two hundred patients were recruited; postoperative stay, pain scores, analgesic and antiemetic consumption were recorded. Nottingham Health Profile questionnaires were completed by a subgroup of 100 patients, and the metabolic and respiratory responses were also compared in a further subgroup of 20 patients. RESULTS: Pain scores in both groups were low. LC, however, was associated with lower postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements compared with SC, but the antiemetic requirements were greater after LC. The duration of hospital stay and the perceived health after operation were the same in both groups, and both procedures were associated with a similar reduction of respiratory function. Twenty-four hours after operation the inflammatory (C-reactive protein, CRP) response to LC (22 +/- 20 mg/L) was significantly lower than after SC (68 +/- 30 mg/L), but the neuroendocrine (cortisol) response was similar (LC, 475 +/- 335 nmol/L, compared with SC, 710 +/- 410 nmol/L). Independent of the technique used, the duration of postoperative hospital stay correlated significantly with the magnitude of both the 24-hour postoperative cortisol and CRP responses (cortisol: rs = 0.678, p < 0.001; CRP: rs = 0.566, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: LC appears to be associated with less tissue destruction and pain than SC, but this did not confer any advantage in the degree of postoperative respiratory impairment, length of hospital stay, or postoperative perceived health. The neuroendocrine component of the metabolic response evoked by each procedure was similar and had a significant correlation to patient's postoperative hospital stay. This finding may explain the similar postoperative recovery after LC and SC.