scholarly journals A Mosquito Bite with Devastating Complications in an Immunocompromised Patient

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen J. Frietsch ◽  
Nils Winkelmann ◽  
Friederike Hunstig ◽  
Ulf Schnetzke ◽  
Friedrich J. Hammersen ◽  
...  

Infectious complications such as invasive aspergillosis or infection with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SM) in immunocompromised patients are associated with a high mortality rate. Our report concerns a 40-year-old male newly diagnosed very severe aplastic anemia (vSAA) who in consequence of a mosquito bite was suffering from skin lesion and consecutive soft tissue phlegmon subsequent to the administration of antithymocyte globulin; a full-thickness autologous meshed skin graft successfully performed to cover skin ulcera after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). This unusual case illustrates the importance of appropriate diagnosis, anti-infective therapy and close interdisciplinary diagnostic algorithms to minimalize side effects and the selection of resistant strains and to improve patients’ outcome.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wissam Zam

Probiotics are viable microorganisms widely used for their claimed beneficial effects on the host health. A wide number of researchers proved that the intake of probiotic bacteria has numerous health benefits which created a big market of probiotic foods worldwide. The biggest challenge in the development of these products is to maintain the viability of bacterial cells during the storage of the product as well as throughout the gastrointestinal tract transit after consumption, so that the claimed health benefits can be delivered to the consumer. Different approaches have been proposed for increasing the resistance of these sensitive microorganisms, including the selection of resistant strains, incorporation of micronutrients, and most recently the use of microencapsulation techniques. Microencapsulation has resulted in enhancing the viability of these microorganisms which allows its wide use in the food industry. In this review, the most common techniques used for microencapsulation of probiotics will be presented, as well as the most usual microcapsule shell materials.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina S. Chen-Milhone ◽  
Kalyan Chakravarthy Potu ◽  
Sudhir Mungee

Aspergillus can cause devastating opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. Rarely does this fungus invade the heart, and when it does, survival is especially poor despite optimal medical and surgical treatment. We report a case of cardiac aspergilloma with involvement of the tricuspid valve and both the right atrium and ventricle found on a transthoracic echocardiogram in an immunocompromised patient after developing atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate. The findings from this case suggest that early clinical suspicion is critical in early diagnosis and thus early treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 148-153
Author(s):  
Tetsuko Sato ◽  
Takenobu Yamamoto ◽  
Yumi Aoyama

Varicella zoster virus (VZV)-associated meningitis is usually progressive and can be fatal, and early diagnosis and aggressive treatment with intravenous antivirals such as acyclovir (ACV) are required in immunocompromised patients. Patients receiving corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy have a significantly higher risk of VZV-associated meningitis. In this report, we describe an unusual case of herpes zoster (HZ) in a young woman who was first diagnosed during tapering of prednisone for dermatomyositis. The skin lesions affected the left L2 and L3 dermatomes, which is unusual in VZV-associated meningitis. Despite showing a good rapid response to antivirals, she developed VZV-associated meningitis immediately after discontinuation of ACV. This phenomenon is often called rebound VZV reactivation disease and occurs after discontinuation of antivirals. This case was notable in that the affected dermatomes were distant from the cranial nerves. Thus, progression of HZ to VZV reactivation-associated meningitis can occur even in appropriately treated HZ patients. Continuation of antivirals beyond 1 week in patients on immunosuppressive therapy may be associated with a decreased risk of severe rebound VZV disease, such as VZV-associated meningitis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Daria Marley Kemp ◽  
Anusha G. Govind ◽  
Jun Kang ◽  
Caroline C. Brugger ◽  
Young C. Kauh

Mycobacterium chelonae is a rapidly growing mycobacterium found in water and soil that can cause local cutaneous infections in immunocompetent hosts but more frequently affects immunocompromised patients. Typically, patients will present with painful subcutaneous nodules of the joints or soft tissues from traumatic inoculation. However, exhibiting a sporotrichoid-like pattern of these nodules is uncommon. Herein, we report a case of sporotrichoid-like distribution of cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus on significant immunosuppressive medications. Clinicians treating immunocompromised patients should be cognizant of their propensity to develop unusual infections and atypical presentations.


1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 2732-2736 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Marchisio ◽  
N Principi ◽  
E Sala ◽  
L Lanzoni ◽  
S Sorella ◽  
...  

Continuous chemoprophylaxis is effective in the prevention of new episodes of acute otitis media (AOM) in otitis-prone children, but compliance can be a problem and thus efficacy can be decreased. Intermittent chemoprophylaxis has so far shown conflicting results. Azithromycin, which has a peculiar pharmacokinetics, resulting, even after a single dose, in persistently elevated concentrations in respiratory tissues, could permit a periodic administration with higher compliance. We compared a 6-month course of once-weekly azithromycin (5 or 10 mg/kg of body weight) with that of once-daily amoxicillin (20 mg/kg) in a single-blind, randomized study of prophylaxis for recurrent AOM in 159 children aged 6 months to 5 years with at least three episodes of AOM in the preceding 6 months. In the amoxicillin group, 23 (31.1%) of 74 children developed 29 episodes of AOM, while in the 10-mg/kg azithromycin group, 11 (14.9%) of 74 children experienced 15 episodes. The 5-mg/kg/week azithromycin trial was prematurely interrupted after nine cases, due to the high occurrence rate of AOM (55.5%). During the 6-month prophylaxis period, the proportion of children with middle ear effusion declined similarly in both groups. No substantial modification of the nasopharyngeal flora was noted at the end of prophylaxis in both antimicrobial groups. In the 6-month-postprophylaxis follow-up period, about 40% of children in both groups again developed AOM. Azithromycin at 10 mg/kg once weekly can be regarded as a valid alternative to once-daily low-dose amoxicillin for the prophylaxis of AOM. Although in the present study no microbiological drawback was noted, accurate selection of children eligible for prophylaxis is mandatory to avoid the risk of emergence of resistant strains.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Kotton ◽  
Soboh Soboh ◽  
Naiel Bisharat

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe life-threatening infection of the deep subcutaneous tissues and fascia. Infection with <em>Vibrio vulnificus</em>, a halophilic Gram-negative bacillus found worldwide in warm coastal waters, can lead to severe complications, particularly among patients with chronic liver diseases. We herein present an unusual case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by <em>V</em>. <em>vulnificus</em> triggered by acupuncture needle insertion. The patient, who suffered from diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and worked at a fish hatchery, denied any injury prior to acupuncture. This is the first ever reported case of <em>V. vulnificus</em> infection triggered by acupuncture needle insertion, clearly emphasizing the potential hazards of the prolonged survival of <em>V. vulnificus</em> on the skin. The potential infectious complications of acupuncture needle insertion are discussed.


Author(s):  
Rui Seixas ◽  
Adelaide Alves ◽  
Aurelia Selaru ◽  
Manuela Vanzeller ◽  
Teresa Shiang ◽  
...  

Raoultella ornithinolytica is a bacterium that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The most frequently reported infections are gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary. Urinary tract infections are very rarely reported and bloodstream infections are usually reported without an identified source. This bacterium is responsible for an increasing number of infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. The authors describe the first case ever reported of an immunocompromised patient due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma MALT type and corticotherapy, who developed urinary tract infection and subsequently bacteriemia due to this pathogen.


Author(s):  
Dominika Smolec ◽  
Alicja Ekiel ◽  
Piotr Kłuciński ◽  
Jan Kawecki

Abstract Many serious and fatal infections with urogenital mycoplasmas in immunocompromised patients have been reported. M. genitalium is recognized as a cause of male urethritis and other common genitourinary diseases. The aim of the study was to estimate prevalence of urogenital mycoplasmas which can cause complications in men with common genitourinary diseases. Study included 85 men with genitourinary tract carcinoma (n = 35), urolithiasis (n = 36), and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) (n = 14). The control group consisted of 50 healthy men. FVU (first void urine) samples were examined by PCR for the presence of urogenital mycoplasmas DNA. Occurrence of urogenital mycoplasmas was significantly more common in study group compared with control 24/85 (28.2%) and 7/50 (14%), respectively (p = 0.05). In men with urolithiasis, positive results for mycoplasmas DNA were significantly more frequent than in control: 33.3% vs. 14% (p < 0.05). In patients with urolithiasis DNA of U. urealyticum was most often found, while in the genitourinary carcinoma and BPH groups, U. parvum was more frequent. Incidence of M. fermentans was also significantly higher in the urolithiasis group vs. control (p = 0.03). A higher percentage of positive results for urogenital mycoplasma DNA in study group has been found. Further studies are required to confirm the role of urogenital mycoplasmas in the development of infectious complications among patients with urolithiasis, genitourinary carcinoma, and BPH.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-38
Author(s):  
R Khunjeli ◽  
U R Mohsin ◽  
S K Shrestha ◽  
S Adhikari ◽  
B Srivastava ◽  
...  

 Background & objectives: Tuberculosis is a transmissible disease mainly due to inhalation of infected droplet nuclei. The burden of drug resistant tuberculosis is very high in our neighboring countries India and China. Prevalence of primary drug resistant disease is difficult to estimate in our country because culture and sensitivity is not done routinely. This study was an attempt to find out the prevalence of drug resistant in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients serving in the Nepalese Armed Forces. Methodology: Medical records of patients serving in the Nepalese Armed Forces who had the provisional diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for the first time from July 2012 to June 2014 were analyzed. They had their sputum subjected for both smear and culture with sensitivity testing. Out of 134 patients, 62 had culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and drug sensitivity was done for the first line 4 antitubercular drugs. Results: Drug resistant strains were found in 5 cases (8.1%) of which 2 (3.2%) were resistant to 4 first line drugs - rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin. Prevalence of isoniazid resistance was the highest, found in 3 cases (4.8%). Conclusion: Primary drug resistant tuberculosis in newly diagnosed cases was high even in young healthy adults, and isoniazid resistant strains were the commonest.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v4i4.11970


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2110400
Author(s):  
Bilal Chaudhry ◽  
Lidiya Didenko ◽  
Maaria Chaudhry ◽  
Andrew Malek ◽  
Kirill Alekseyev

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia was first noted in Wuhan, China. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been millions of cases diagnosed. The average time from onset of symptoms to testing negative SARS-CoV-2 via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction is roughly 25 days. In patients who continually test positive for COVID-19, it is essential to determine precisely which risk factors contribute to the increase in viral shedding duration. We present a case about a 62-year-old man who has persistently tested positive for COVID-19 for more than 230 days. We followed his treatment course, in which he had been hospitalized multiple times since the onset of symptoms back in April 2020. We have determined that patients with immunosuppression, especially those taking corticosteroids, are at increased risk of prolonged viral shedding. It is essential to continually monitor these immunocompromised patients as they required a greater time period in order to have an appropriate immune response in which antibodies are created.


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