1/143. Rapid and definitive diagnosis of infectious diseases using peripheral blood smears.A timely diagnosis is essential in the management of septicemia and septic shock. Three patients are described, all of whom presented with fever and one of whom was hypotensive at the time of admission. In each patient, rapid diagnosis of the cause of fever was possible because microorganisms were identified on a peripheral blood smear obtained at the time of admission. This identification permitted prompt initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. In addition, a literature review of use of peripheral blood smears in the diagnosis of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections is provided.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = septic shock, shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/143. abdominal pain as an atypical presentation of meningococcaemia.An atypical presentation of meningococcaemia without purpura poses diagnostic problems. The importance of the identification of shock manifest as delayed capillary refill in two children with meningococcal septicaemia presenting with fever and abdominal pain is discussed. abdominal pain is an unusual presentation of meningococcal disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.42142932623265keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/143. Extensive late-onset primary subarachnoid hemorrhage in a preterm infant.Primary subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rare event in the preterm infant and is most often diagnosed at the postmortem examination. An extremely preterm infant who developed septicemia from staphylococcus aureus infection in the second postnatal week and presented with hypotension, metabolic acidosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and seizures is reported. Cranial ultrasound revealed a large extra-axial fluid collection involving the left parietal cortex that at postmortem examination was observed to be a large left-sided primary subarachnoid hemorrhage. The subarachnoid hemorrhage is most likely secondary to events associated with septic shock and probable disseminated vascular coagulopathy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = septic shock, shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/143. Procalcitonin may help differentiate disseminated herpes simplex viral infection from bacterial sepsis in neonates.Disseminated herpes simplex virus infection is a potentially fatal condition which may be difficult to differentiate from bacterial sepsis. We report the case of a neonate with overwhelming herpes simplex (type 2) viraemia who presented with 'septic shock'. CONCLUSION: A low procalcitonin level (1.6 ng/ml), inconsistent with bacteraemia, suggests an alternative aetiology and may strengthen the case for antiviral therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = septic shock, shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/143. Transfusion-related sepsis due to serratia liquefaciens in the united states.BACKGROUND: Severe, often fatal, transfusion reactions due to bacterial contamination of blood components continue to occur. serratia liquefaciens, an unusual human pathogen, is a recently recognized potential cause of transfusion-related sepsis. case reports: Five episodes of transfusion-related sepsis and endotoxic shock due to S. liquefaciens were reported to the CDC from July 1992 through January 1999. One episode has been described. The remaining four, all fatal, are described here: three associated with RBC transfusion and one associated with transfusion of platelets. In each instance, the source of contamination could not be found. The implicated units tended to be older (mean RBC age 28 days), and visual discoloration was noted in each RBC unit, although usually in retrospect. CONCLUSION: S. liquefaciens is an increasingly recognized cause of transfusion-related sepsis and is associated with a high mortality rate. S. liquefaciens can contaminate both RBCs and platelets, but the mechanism(s) of contamination remain unknown. Increased attention to pretransfusion visual inspection may avert the transfusion of some S. liquefaciens-contaminated RBC units. However, more sensitive rapid diagnostic tests are needed to further reduce the risk of transfusion-related sepsis and endotoxic shock.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.8428586524653keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/143. rhabdomyolysis and aggravation of arthritis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient as a result of sepsis due to staphylococcus aureus infection of a rheumatoid nodule; a catastrophic outcome.A 63-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis presented with rhabdomyolysis and intractable arthritis of acute onset. He was diagnosed to have sepsis due to staphylococcus aureus infection through of an ulcerated rheumatoid nodule. staphylococcus aureus isolated from pus in the ulcerated rheumatoid nodule and a blood sample obtained from the heart post-mortem produced the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). The TSST-1 and/or unmethylated CpG motifs in the oligonucleotides present in a bacterium, staphylococcus aureus in this case, might be implicated in the induction of rhabdomyolysis and intractable arthritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.42142932623265keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/143. Complications of transrectal aspiration biopsy of the prostate.Four cases of coli-sepsis, one with a fatal outcome have been observed after more than 14 000 transrectal aspiration biopsies (TAB) of the prostate performed at Karolinska Sjukhuset with Franzen's apparatus. A few cases of transient febrile reaction and urinary contamination after TAB of the prostate have also been recognised. One of the patients with sepsis and two with febrile reactions belonged to a relatively small group of patients referred from the Department of rheumatology. These observations prompted the present study. The records of all the patients referred for TAB of the prostate from the Department of rheumatology were reviewed. Four complications (three patients with febrile reaction and growth of E. coli in the urine and one case of sepsis) were observed after 63 biopsies in 51 patients (6.3%). The patient with sepsis and two other patients with complications belonged to a group of 32 patients with proven rheumatic disease (chronic polyarthritis): 42 biopsies had been performed in this particular group of patients, bringing the incidence of complication to 7.1%. For comparison the records of 294 patients from the Department of urology submitted to TAB of the prostate were also reviewed. Complications in the form of transient febrile reactions were found in five cases after 508 biopsies (1.0%). In addition, three cases of coli-sepsis not belonging to the above-mentioned groups are briefly described as case reports. patients with rheumatic disease (chronic polyarthritis) seem to run a higher risk of complications after TAB of the prostate. sepsis from E. coli is a rare but serious complication which can develop into, often fatal, endotoxin shock. TAB of the prostate should therefore be restricted to cases with clinical suspicion of prostatic malignancy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.42142932623265keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/143. Early sepsis, obstructive jaundice and right-sided diaphragmatic hernia in the newborn.A male newborn was admitted to our Unit because of early sepsis and shock. He required antimicrobial therapy and mechanical ventilation and initially did well, although he exhibited jaundice and cholestasis. During the second week he deteriorated, with radiological opacification of the right hemithorax and pleural effusion, and did poorly in spite of antibiotical therapy and drainage of the effusion. In the third week, the X-ray suggested some bowel loops in the right hemithorax. A right-sided diaphragmatic hernia was confirmed by a CT-scan, and surgery was performed with good outcome. The association of delayed-onset right-sided CDH following early sepsis and obstructive jaundice has not been published before, and illustrates a scarcely known form of presentation of this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.42142932623265keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/143. Congenital neuroblastoma mimicking early onset sepsis.A newborn girl presented with symptoms of severe early onset sepsis but also with systemic hypertension (SH) at age 3 h. plasma catecholamine (CAT) levels were extremely elevated, reflecting increased release of CAT from a congenital neuroblastoma (NB). Clinical symptoms at time of admission were: prolonged capillary refill (5 s), tachycardia, tachydyspnoea, metabolic acidosis (pH 7.17, lactate 11.8 mmol/l), fever (38.4 degrees C) and SH: 90/50/65 mmHg (systolic/diastolic/mean). The infant experienced organ failure (lung, heart, liver). A retroperitoneal dumbbell tumour was detected. plasma CAT levels at age 15 h were: noradrenaline 219 nmol/l; adrenaline 13 nmol/l; and dopamine 65.3 nmol/l. SH responded to intermittent alpha-adrenergic blockage. CAT-related symptoms ceased within 1 week. The intraspinal NB was surgically removed when cord compression became symptomatic. The neurological and developmental state is normal at age 17 months. The abdominal NB regressed spontaneously. CONCLUSION: A neuroblastoma should be considered in newborn infants presenting with a shock-like condition together with systemic hypertension.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.42142932623265keywords = shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/143. Group A streptococcal sepsis and ovarian vein thrombosis after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery.BACKGROUND: Group A streptococcal puerperal sepsis is an uncommon peripartum infection that can quickly progress to a fulminant, multisystemic infection and life-threatening toxin-mediated shock. This infection can be asymptomatic during a short hospital stay after a routine delivery. Early treatment with antibiotics might not alter the course of tissue destruction caused by the exotoxin A. methods: literature searches were performed using the key words "puerperal infections," "streptococcal infections," "septic sacroiliitis," "postpartum septic arthritis," and "postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis." After patient consent was obtained, a report was prepared documenting the disease course, diagnosis, and treatment of a case of puerperal sepsis with multiple serious complications. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Puerperal sepsis occurs when streptococci colonizing the genital tract or acquired nosocomially invade the endometrium, adjacent structures, lymphatics, and bloodstream. A lack of symptoms early in the course of infection is common; later, minor somatic complaints can quickly progress to septic shock as effects of the exotoxin A are manifest. women who complain of fever, pelvic pain, or unexplained systemic symptoms in the early postpartum period should have a detailed history and physical examination. All sites of suspected infection should be cultured. If sepsis is suspected, diagnostic imaging includes chest radiographs, contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scans, or magnetic resonance imaging to rule out ovarian vein thrombosis, pelvic abscess, or sacroiliac septic arthritis. Broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage must be initiated immediately after collection of cultures. clindamycin plus a beta-lactam antibiotic is preferred for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.8428586524653keywords = septic shock, shock (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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