scholarly journals Severe pneumonia caused by Parvimonas micra: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Yu ◽  
Lingling Sun ◽  
Zuqing Xu ◽  
Lumei Fan ◽  
Yunbo Du

Abstract Background Parvimonas micra (P. micra) is a gram-positive anaerobic coccus that is detected widely on the skin, in the oral mucosa and in the gastrointestinal tract. In certain circumstances, P. micra can cause abdominal abscesses, bacteraemia and other infections. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no case reports describing the biological characteristics of P. micra-related pneumonia. These bacteria do not always multiply in an aerobic organ, such as the lung, and they could be easily overlooked because of the clinical mindset. Case presentation A 35-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to the emergency department 4 weeks prior to her due date who was exhibiting 5 points on the Glasgow coma scale. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a massive haemorrhage in her left basal ganglia. She underwent a caesarean section and brain surgery before being admitted to the ICU. She soon developed severe pneumonia and hypoxemia. Given that multiple sputum cultures were negative, the patient’s bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was submitted for next-generation sequencing (NGS) to determine the pathogen responsible for the pneumonia; as a result, P. micra was determined to be the causative pathogen. Accordingly the antibiotic therapy was altered and the pneumonia improved. Conclusion In this case, we demonstrated severe pneumonia caused by the anaerobic organism P. micra, and the patient benefited from receiving the correct antibiotic. NGS was used as a method of quick diagnosis when sputum culture failed to distinguish the pathogen.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Wu ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Yingying Feng ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Ye Tian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The presentation of psittacosis can vary from subclinical infection to fatal pneumonia with a high mortality rate. Chlamydia psittaci infection during pregnancy is rare and might result in placental involvement, premature delivery or miscarriage. Herein, we report a case of severe pneumonia in a pregnant woman caused by C. psittaci.Case presentation: A 27-year-old female with a pregnancy at 22 weeks was admitted with hyperpyrexia, dry cough and dyspnea. Laboratory tests showed increased white blood cell count and slightly-elevated procalcitonin. Chest computed tomography scan revealed consolidation in the lingual and inferior lobe of the left lung. She suffered rapidly progressing respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Her sample of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, from which C. psittaci was detected using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The pathogen was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the primers specific for the microorganism. Moreover, paired serum tests showed elevated C. psittaci group titer in both IgG and IgM. She was treated with azithromycin and tigecycline. After 24-day hospitalization, the patient was clinically well and discharged home.Conclusion: We report a case of severe pneumonia in a pregnant woman caused by C. psittaci, which diagnosed by NGS, and was cured without adverse effects on infant with tigecycline. The introduction of NGS and other effective assays might increase the detection rate. C. psittaci infection in pregnant women is very rare, but critical. Early diagnosis and correct treatment may save the mother and fetus. New tetracycline agent, tigecycline, may also be an effective alternative and should be further evaluated in psittacosis.


Author(s):  
Jinlian Chen ◽  
Yuxi Zhao ◽  
Yongpeng Shang ◽  
Zhiwei Lin ◽  
Guangjian Xu ◽  
...  

Introduction. Bloodstream infection is a common complication in patients with severe pneumonia and is regarded as an independent risk factor for prediction of poor outcome. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been widely applied for pathogen determination of various clinical specimens from patients with infectious diseases. However, the clinical significance of and necessity for simultaneous pathogen detection of both blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by mNGS in patients with severe pneumonia remains unclear. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Simultaneous detection of pathogens from both BALF and blood samples in patients with severe pneumonia helps to determine the complication of the bloodstream infection. Aims. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance and necessity of pathogen detection simultaneously in both blood samples and BALF samples with the application of mNGS in patients with severe pneumonia. Methods. In this study, 20 patients with severe pneumonia were enrolled and the potential pathogens in both BALF and blood samples were detected simultaneously by conventional microbial examination and mNGS tests. Moreover, multiple consecutive microbial detections were undertaken to investigate the dynamic variation of pathogens during the course of disease progression in two of the 20 patients. Results. In 85 % (17/20) of the patients with severe pneumonia, various pathogens were determined positively in the BALF by mNGS, including 10 cases with bacterial infection, five cases with viral infection and two cases with fungal infection. By contrast, pathogens in 50 % (10/20) of cases could be detected positively in the BALF by conventional microbial tests. Among 17 severe pneumonia patients with mNGS-positive BALF, pathogens were also identified in 10 cases with mNGS-positive blood samples. By contrast, only one patient complicated with a bloodstream infection could be found by conventional bacterial culture. Moreover, the pathogens from BALF were highly consistent with that from blood samples detected by mNGS in the early stage of the disease. With disease progression and after recurrent antibiotic treatment, significant dynamic changes of the microbial species from the BALF and blood samples could be clearly found by mNGS. Conclusions. This study emphasizes the utility of mNGS in the rapid simultaneous detection of pathogens from both BALF and blood samples in patients with severe pneumonia, and could allow determination of bloodstream infection and guide clinicians regarding antimicrobial treatments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haihong Chen ◽  
Yukun Kuang ◽  
Xinyan Huang ◽  
Ziyin Ye ◽  
Yangli Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) is a rare histologic interstitial pneumonia pattern characterized by the intra-alveolar fibrin deposition and organizing pneumonia. Its clinical characteristics are still not well known and there is no consensus on treatment yet. Case presentation We report two female cases in their fifties diagnosed with AFOP confirmed by a second lung biopsy. Case 1 was idiopathic AFOP with manifestation of 6-week fever, dyspnea, and cough, while case 2 was secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus and fever was the major symptom. Their chest CT scans revealed bilateral multiple consolidations, predominantly in the lower lobes. Both cases were initially diagnosed with pneumonia, but did not improve after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In both cases, transbronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid examination were inconclusive and the pathological diagnosis was confirmed by percutaneous lung biopsy. Both patients had a good clinical response to prednisone. Conclusions We report two rare AFOP cases to highlight the importance of awareness of this disease. We further perform the most comprehensive review to date in AFOP, including 150 patients since 2002. Consolidation was the most common imaging pattern, followed by ground-glass opacity and nodules. A lung biopsy is required for a definitive diagnosis. Corticosteroids is recommended as the most effective therapy, but treatment options should depend on the etiology and disease severity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhui Wu ◽  
Yuanzhen Ye ◽  
Yanlan Yang ◽  
Weiguo Yang ◽  
Jiayin Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Trichomonas tenax may appear in the oral cavity of humans due to poor dentition or oral hygiene. Pyopneumothorax is a serious complication of lower respiratory tract infections that very rarely can be caused by a trichomonad species in predisposed individuals. We report a rare case of pleurisy due to T. tenax with coinfection by a fungus. Case presentation We describe a 16-year-old patient with cerebral palsy who presented with severe pyopneumothorax. T. tenax was identified by microscopic examination of the pleural effusion and next-generation sequencing. We also identified Geotrichum capitatum in the pleural effusion and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cultures. Treatment with voriconazole and metronidazole successfully eliminated these pathogens and relieved the clinical symptoms. A literature review indicated this is the first reported case of pleurisy due to T. tenax with coinfection by a fungus. Conclusion The rarity of pyopneumothorax caused by T. tenax coinfection with a fungus should not be overlooked in the clinic. These patients should be and treated in a timely manner.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangqin Song ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Fuying Hu ◽  
Huashun Li ◽  
Youping Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundRecently, COVID-19 is still pandemic in worldwide. India has reported multiple cases of COVID-19 combined with mucormycosis(MM)(1). This paper reports a case during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei Province, China. Case PresentationA anesthesiology doctor was initially diagnosed as COVID-19 due to changes in lung imaging. Later Lichtheimia ramose was found by Metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) in the Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).After adjusting amphotericin B for anti-infective treatment, the patient's infection lesions were shranked and the symptoms were significantly relieved.ConclusionThe diagnosis of invasive fungal infections is very difficult, mNGS can make an accurate pathogenic diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases for the clinic and provide a basis for clinical treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Suzuki ◽  
Miwako Saitou ◽  
Yuriko Igarashi ◽  
Satoshi Mitarai ◽  
Katsunao Niitsuma

Abstract Background Mycobacterium (M) talmoniae isolated from a patient with cystic fibrosis was first described in 2017, and cases of M. talmoniae remain exceedingly rare. Case presentation A 51-year-old woman had respiratory symptoms for 10 years. Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) was detected at the first visit at our hospital. A cavity lesion in the apex of the left lung was found, and sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear- and culture-positive besides Pseudomonas aeruginosa. M. talmoniae was finally identified, and the standard combination therapy for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was administered for 2 y referring to the drug-susceptibility test. Thereafter, the AFB culture was negative, the wall thickness of the lung cavity was ameliorated, and oxygen saturation improved. Conclusions We encountered a rare case of M. talmoniae with DPB, for which standard combination therapy was effective. M. talmoniae may be considered a potential pathogen of lung disease, especially in patients with bronchiectatic lesions.


2022 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Li ◽  
Zinan Jiang

Objectives: To assess the association of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) α-SMA and ß-catenin levels and the severity of pneumonia. Methods: The records of patients with severe pneumonia treated in our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were selected. The clinical outcome was observed within 10 days. For the purpose of analysis, patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome, 47 cases in the improvement group and 39 cases in the deterioration group. The intubation time, mechanical ventilation time and APACHE II score 10 days after admission were compared between the two groups; We assessed pulmonary infections using the clinical pulmonary infection score(CPIS). The levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at different time points were compared and analyzed, to analyze the association between the levels and the CPIS. Results: The APACHE II score in the improvement group were lower than those in the deterioration group (P<0.05). The expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in the BALF of patients in the improvement group were significantly lower than those of patients in the deterioration group on day 1, 3, and 7 (P<0.05); and the expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in the BALF of patients in the improvement group decreased with time, while those of patients in the deterioration group increased gradually with time(P<0.05). The expressions of α-SMA and ß-catenin in patients with CPIS>6 was significantly higher than those in patients with CPI≤6(P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in BALF were positively correlated with the CPIS. Conclusion: The levels of α-SMA and ß-catenin in BALF are closely associated with the clinical condition of patients with severe pneumonia; the levels are positively associated with the severity of the disease and they increase with symptomatic worsening. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.3.5329 How to cite this:Li X, Jiang Z. Correlation between α-SMA and ß-catenin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and severity of pneumonia. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(3):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.3.5329 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Wang ◽  
G. Z. Chen ◽  
C. J. Zhou ◽  
Y. FU ◽  
L. N. YAO

Abstract Background Pulmonary hemorrhage is an important complication of leptospirosis. Once acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs as a secondary condition, treatment is extremely difficult and the mortality rate is very high. Case presentation The patient was a 49-year-old. He was admitted to the hospital because he had experienced a fever and cough for 4 days. Hemorrhage, respiratory failure, ARDS and other symptoms appeared soon after admission. Due to severe pulmonary hemorrhage secondary to ARDS, mechanical ventilation was performed through tracheal intubation. During intubation, the patient suffered cardiac arrest, and the patient’s condition worsened. He was confirmed to have leptospirosis through second-generation sequencing of the alveolar lavage fluid. Finally, we successfully treated the patient with penicillin as an anti-infective medication and venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (v-vECMO). To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the successful application of ECMO in mainland China. Conclusions Leptospirosis can induce serious but transient ARDS with a better prognosis than other causes of ARDS. Our patient was successfully treated with V-vECMO.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suguru Takeuchi ◽  
Jun-ichi Kawada ◽  
Kazuhiro Horiba ◽  
Yusuke Okuno ◽  
Toshihiko Okumura ◽  
...  

Abstract Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been applied in the field of infectious diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is considered a sterile type of specimen that is suitable for detecting pathogens of respiratory infections. The aim of this study was to comprehensively identify causative pathogens using NGS in BALF samples from immunocompetent pediatric patients with respiratory failure. Ten patients hospitalized with respiratory failure were included. BALF samples obtained in the acute phase were used to prepare DNA- and RNA-sequencing libraries. The libraries were sequenced on MiSeq, and the sequence data were analyzed using metagenome analysis tools. A mean of 2,041,216 total reads were sequenced for each library. Significant bacterial or viral sequencing reads were detected in eight of the 10 patients. Furthermore, candidate pathogens were detected in three patients in whom etiologic agents were not identified by conventional methods. The complete genome of enterovirus D68 was identified in two patients, and phylogenetic analysis suggested that both strains belong to subclade B3, which is an epidemic strain that has spread worldwide in recent years. Our results suggest that NGS can be applied for comprehensive molecular diagnostics as well as surveillance of pathogens in BALF from patients with respiratory infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 648-654
Author(s):  
Sai Hu Huang ◽  
Xiang Ying Meng ◽  
Zhen Jiang Bai ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Shui Yan Wu

Abstract We reported a Chinese boy with X-linked hyper IgM (XHIGM) syndrome, manifesting as recurrent and severe pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii. His parents were healthy and unrelated. In August 2018, the 5-month-old boy manifested as cough and dyspnea, and then in July 2019, he was admitted because of the same symptoms. Immunological results of the two admissions both showed low IgG, low IgA, normal IgM and high levels of 1,3-β-D-glucan (BDG). Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), great reading counts of P. jirovecii were identified from the deep sputum in both admissions. Caspofungin combined with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were used to anti-infection, and he recovered quickly. Whole-exome sequencing was performed for this family because of immune suppression, the disease-causing gene (exon 10–22 of CD40L) deletion for XHIGM syndrome was identified. NGS is beneficial for etiology diagnosis. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia as an opportunistic infection could be recurrent in patients with XHIGM syndrome.


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