1/22. A case of fatal food-borne septicemia: can family physicians provide prevention?BACKGROUND: vibrio vulnificus, a common bacteria found in undercooked seafood and seawater, is the leading cause of food-borne death in florida. Fatal cases of V vulnificus infection have also been reported in most states. methods: The literature was searched using the key words "vibrio vulnificus," "septicemia," "wound infections," "seafood," "immunocompromise," and "patient education." A case of fatal V vulnificus septicemia is described. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: V vulnificus, part of the natural flora of temperate coastal waters and one of the most abundant microorganisms found in seawater, has been isolated from waters off the Gulf, Pacific, and Atlantic coasts of the united states. Infections in noncoastal regions have been traced to consumption of seafood derived from Gulf Coast waters. seawater exposure and consumption of inadequately cooked seafood are routes most commonly associated with V vulnificus infection. Exposure to V vulnificus is life-threatening for chronically ill or immunocompromised patients, who are most likely to develop fatal septicemia. Currently a combination of doxycycline and intravenous ceftazidime is recommended treatment. mortality rates from V vulnificus continue to be high in immunocompromised patients. family physicians can help prevent this outcome by counseling high-risk patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/22. agrobacterium yellow group: bacteremia and possible septic arthritis following peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.A 47-year-old male patient developed sepsis and monoarticular arthritis following autologous stem cell transplantation for recurrent Hodgkin's disease. Blood cultures were positive for agrobacterium yellow group. The knee pain and swelling responded promptly to the institution of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics. Recurrent bacteremia developed necessitating Hickman line removal for eventual resolution of the infection. Transplant physicians should be aware of this unusual pathogen and the potential for both persistent line-related sepsis and possible septic arthritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/22. Fatal and non-fatal chromobacterial septicemia: report of two cases.chromobacterium violaceum is frequently found in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions. The organism rarely causes infection in humans, but is associated with a high mortality rate when it occurs. Septicemia associated with abscess in multiple organs such as the liver, skin, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, and brain has been reported. We report on 2 patients with systemic infections with chromobacterium violaceum. One presented with a fulminant course with multiple organ involvement and died 78 days later. The other presented with a milder course and survived after antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, infection with chromobacterium violaceum is rare but its course is usually fulminant with high mortality especially in patients with sepsis and multiple organ involvement. We hope this report will provide additional information to physicians in the treatment of this disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/22. Successful treatment of meningitis caused by highly-penicillin-resistant streptococcus mitis in a leukemic child.In recent years, viridans streptococci have been reported with increasing frequency to cause infections in neutropenic cancer patients. streptococcus mitis, one of the species included among viridans streptococci, is the most resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics in this group. Bacterial meningitis presenting without pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is rare, and this situation could be confusing to physicians. It is also an uncommon infectious complication in leukemic patients with neutropenia. In patients with leukopenia caused by myelosuppression after chemotherapy, bacterial meningitis must be considered a possibility when a patient develops meningeal signs, even if no pleocytosis is found in the CSF. We report on a 6-year-old boy with leukemia and neutropenia who developed sepsis and meningitis caused by S. mitis with high-level resistance to penicillin and cephalosporins (MIC of both, >2 mg/l); he was a long-term survivor receiving chronic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of vancomycin, ceftriaxone, and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/22. anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia in a young child.We report a case of anaerobiospirillum succiniciproducens bacteremia in a young child who had no underlying disease. The case should alert microbiologists and physicians to an uncommon organism that is very often resistant to antibiotics normally prescribed empirically for infections caused by organisms of similar morphology and characteristics such as campylobacter species.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/22. The sepsis workup for the febrile child.The sick infant or toddler who presents with a high fever or suspected sepsis must have all possible sources for bacterial infection excluded by clinical evaluation or laboratory studies as quickly and safely as possible. The process is frightening and often painful for the child. The process can be difficult for the physician because of the smallness of anatomic structures in children and the infrequent performance of pediatric procedures by many emergency physicians. This article uses a case report to illustrate features of the sepsis workup. methods and sites that have been used with the most frequent success are described and alternatives and pitfalls are listed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/22. streptococcus bovis septic shock due to contaminated transfused platelets.Although most physicians and the public are primarily concerned about the risk of transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) or hepatitis virus during a platelet transfusion, bacterial contamination is actually the most common infectious complication. Unlike red blood cells, platelets are stored at room temperature (20-24 degrees C), which raises the risk of bacterial proliferation. The risk of bacterial sepsis is 2.5-fold higher for each unit of transfused platelets compared to each unit of red blood cells. We report an unusual case of streptococcus bovis septic shock associated with a contaminated platelet transfusion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/22. Computed tomographic findings in lemierre syndrome.lemierre syndrome, also known as postanginal septicemia, has long been taken as an uncommon condition with life-threatening potential. It, resulting from acute oropharyngeal infection, could lead to septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV). Substantial decrease of mortality and morbidity with the introduction of antibiotics has made this syndrome into a status that is frequently forgotten or overlooked when it appears. The purpose of this article is to refresh awareness on the side of physicians of this syndrome by means of modern image tools. As such, even this dire neck infection is rare after the advent of sophisticated antibiotics, its unique computed tomography findings can facilitate the correct image diagnosis and pertinent treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/22. Suprachoroidal septic effusion leading to panophthalmitis following strabismus surgery.We describe a case of endophthalmitis following strabismus surgery. drainage of the suprachoroidal effusion with injection of antibiotics was unsuccessful in salvaging vision. endophthalmitis following strabismus surgery may present with findings simulating a choroidal effusion or hemorrhage. Treating physicians should be alert to signs and symptoms of this severe complication of strabismus surgery in preverbal children.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/22. Multiple spleen and liver abscesses due to yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in a child with congenital sideroblastic anemia.In patients with iron overload, opportunistic infections are an underestimated risk. yersinia enterocolitica is a rare organism to be isolated in this setting. The authors report a case of disseminated Y. enterocolitica sepsis in a 5-year-old boy with sideroblastic anemia. Ultrasound examination revealed massive ascites, a pseudo-appendicitis, and hypoechogenic lesions corresponding to abscess formations in the liver and spleen. The initial antibiotic therapy consisted of cefotaxime, gentamicin, and metronidazole, but only treatment with ciprofloxacin and meropenem led to defervescence and clinical stabilization. The risk of developing uncommon infections in patients with iron overload should be acknowledged by all physicians, and the relevance of ultrasound examination is emphasized. In this case, only a detailed history revealed that several days before the onset of diarrhea, the child was feeding a deer; this is how infection was probably acquired.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |