scholarly journals Localized Cutaneous Infections in Immunocompetent Individuals Due to Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria

2014 ◽  
Vol 138 (8) ◽  
pp. 1106-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Fowler ◽  
Steven D. Mahlen

Rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) cause skin infections that are refractory to standard antibiotic regimens. Although typically associated with disseminated cutaneous or other systemic infections in immunocompromised patients, RGM sometimes cause localized cutaneous infections in immunocompetent hosts. These infections are almost always associated with precedent skin trauma and inoculation, and therefore have been implicated in outbreaks involving contaminated tattoo ink and inadequately sterilized acupuncture needles. Histologic features often include suppurative granulomatous inflammation, and microorganisms are rarely visualized with stains for acid-fast bacilli. The differential diagnosis includes granulomatous fungal and non-RGM bacterial infections as well as noninfectious suppurative or sarcoidlike conditions. Because no pathognomonic histologic features exist for cutaneous RGM infections, clinical suspicion and appropriate workup are essential to reach an accurate and timely diagnosis. Most localized cutaneous RGM infections in immunocompetent individuals respond well to either clarithromycin or amikacin, in combination with surgical debridement.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atikah Rozhan ◽  
Kahairi Abdullah ◽  
Zamzil Amin Asha'ari

Mycobacteria fortuitum and chelonae are a group of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria (RGM) that can cause skin infections, most commonly in immunocompromised patients. RGM can also infect immunocompetent patients, but the disease is usually localized. Immunocompetent patients infected by RGM usually had a predisposing condition leading to the skin infection. We present a case of an immunocompetent patient with no predisposing factors, who presented with a chronic lesion on his neck that disseminated to his axilla. Culture and species identification from the skin biopsy revealed Mycobacterium fortuitum-chelonae complex. The patient was treated with a combination of surgery and multi-drug therapy. This case report highlights the rarity of cutaneous RGM infections encountered in ENT setting and the diagnostic dilemma due to the non-typical characteristics of skin lesion in RGM infections.


Author(s):  
Roberta Battini ◽  
Enrico Bertini ◽  
Roberta Milone ◽  
Chiara Aiello ◽  
Rosa Pasquariello ◽  
...  

Abstract PRUNE1-related disorders manifest as severe neurodevelopmental conditions associated with neurodegeneration, implying a differential diagnosis at birth with static encephalopathies, and later with those manifesting progressive brain damage with the involvement of both the central and the peripheral nervous system.Here we report on another patient with PRUNE1 (p.Asp106Asn) recurrent mutation, whose leukodystrophy, inferior olives hyperintensity, and macrocephaly led to the misleading clinical suspicion of Alexander disease. Clinical features, together with other recent descriptions, suggest avoiding the term “microcephaly” in defining this disorder that could be renamed “neurodevelopmental disorder with progressive encephalopathy, hypotonia, and variable brain anomalies” (NPEHBA).


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Nurul Yaqeen Mohd Esa ◽  
Mohammad Hanafiah ◽  
Marymol Koshy ◽  
Hilmi Abdullah ◽  
Ahmad Izuanuddin Ismail ◽  
...  

Tuberculous prostatitis is an uncommon form of tuberculosis infection. It is commonly seen in immunocompromised patients and in those of middle or advanced age. The diagnosis is often not straight forward due to the nature of its presentation. We report a case of tuberculous prostatitis in a young, healthy and immunocompetent patient, who initially presented with respiratory features, followed by episodes of seizures and testicular swelling. He was finally diagnosed with tuberculous prostatitis after prostatic biopsy. This case illustrates that in a high TB prevalence environment, when symptoms warrant, there should be a high clinical suspicion coupled with a thorough approach in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis of TB prostatitis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Attabak Toofani Milani ◽  
Mahshid Mohammadian ◽  
Sadegh Rostaminasab ◽  
Roghayeh Paribananaem ◽  
Zohre Ahmadi ◽  
...  

Conventional diagnostic test have limitations to deferential diagnosis in clinical suspicion ofbacterial infection cases, that in some cases lead to inappropriate antibiotic therapy and increases antibiotic resistance. A new diagnostic insight is procalcitonin (PCT) test to improve diagnosis of bacterial infections and to guide antibiotic therapy. Serum PCT levels are of useful test as a biomarker in patients with bacterial infections for several reasons. Initial rise of PCT levels due to bacterial infection, subsequent sequential PCT levels can be used to assess the effectiveness and duration of antibiotic therapy. Based on clinical researches results, in bacterial infections, promising good results obtained when use of PCT used as differential diagnostic test. But further intervention studies are needed before use of PCT in clinical routine tests. The goal of this review is to study the PCT reliability as infections diagnostic biomarker.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 54-56
Author(s):  
Joice P Joseph ◽  
J Patel ◽  
P H Tank ◽  
D B Barad ◽  
B J Thakre

In the present study, twenty atopic dogs were investigated for secondary skin infections using different diagnostic techniques. The majority of dogs were suffering from bacterial infections, especially Staphylococcal infection (90 %). Different commensals on skin like Staphylococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. (50 %), Malassezia spp. (45 %), Demodex spp. (25 %) etc. caused secondary or concurrent infections in many atopic dogs indicating the importance of atopy in recurrent or non-responding dermatitis with those commensal organisms.


2021 ◽  
pp. 194187442199137
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
John R. Younce ◽  
Joel S. Perlmutter ◽  
Soe S. Mar

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare para-infectious encephalopathy that classically occurs in children. However, ANE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adults with symmetric brain lesions after a prodromal illness given recent reports of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) to presumably cause ANE in adults. We report a case of a 29-year-old male presenting with fever, malaise, and rapid deterioration into coma. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal symmetric areas of diffusion restriction and surrounding vasogenic edema involving bilateral thalami, pons and cerebellar hemispheres with a core of susceptibility artifact, and minimal thalamic contrast enhancement, most consistent with ANE. Extensive infectious workup revealed isolated Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in his urine. Despite the severe encephalopathy on initial presentation, the patient improved with intravenous antibiotics and supportive management with minimal residual deficits at 9 months follow-up. We aim to provide an overview of the radiological features, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of ANE. Becoming familiarized with this rare but devastating disease will improve detection, treatment, and ultimately prognosis, especially in the era of a new pandemic.


2021 ◽  
pp. 014556132110141
Author(s):  
Marios Stavrakas ◽  
Ioannis Koskinas ◽  
Jannis Constantinidis ◽  
Petros D Karkos

Mucormycosis is a type of fungal infection more prevalent among immunosuppressed patients, requires prompt identification and surgical treatment, as it can is associated with local and distant spread. This case is aiming to highlight the importance of early identification of subtle symptoms in immunocompromised patients. The clinician should be aware of fungal sinusitis, consider it in the differential diagnosis, and seek for an ear, nose, and throat opinion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina A. Rostad ◽  
Neena Kanwar ◽  
Jumi Yi ◽  
Claudia R. Morris ◽  
Jennifer Dien Bard ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Fever is a common symptom in children presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). We aimed to describe the epidemiology of systemic viral infections and their predictive values for excluding serious bacterial infections (SBIs), including bacteremia, meningitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children presenting to the ED with suspected systemic infections. Methods We enrolled children who presented to the ED with suspected systemic infections who had blood cultures obtained at seven healthcare facilities. Whole blood specimens were analyzed by an experimental multiplexed PCR test for 7 viruses. Demographic and laboratory results were abstracted. Results Of the 1114 subjects enrolled, 245 viruses were detected in 224 (20.1%) subjects. Bacteremia, meningitis and UTI frequency in viral bloodstream-positive patients was 1.3, 0 and 10.1% compared to 2.9, 1.3 and 9.7% in viral bloodstream-negative patients respectively. Although viral bloodstream detections had a high negative predictive value for bacteremia or meningitis (NPV = 98.7%), the frequency of UTIs among these subjects remained appreciable (9/89, 10.1%) (NPV = 89.9%). Screening urinalyses were positive for leukocyte esterase in 8/9 (88.9%) of these subjects, improving the ability to distinguish UTI. Conclusions Viral bloodstream detections were common in children presenting to the ED with suspected systemic infections. Although overall frequencies of SBIs among subjects with and without viral bloodstream detections did not differ significantly, combining whole blood viral testing with urinalysis provided high NPV for excluding SBI.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisha M. Fernandes ◽  
Maheshkumar M. Lakhe ◽  
Sanjay A. Pai

Toxoplasmosis is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, but it can be life-threatening in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a 62-year-old man with clinical features of acute appendicitis. Histology showed a transmural infiltrate of eosinophils. In addition, there were reactive lymphoid follicles with histiocytes in the submucosa and tachyzoites in the muscularis propria. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of toxoplasma appendicitis. Serological evaluation yielded negative results. Retrospective review of the history revealed that the patient was on long-term immunosuppressive therapy with methotrexate. The patient was treated with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and is asymptomatic at 7-month follow-up. Toxoplasma appendicitis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis in immunosuppressed patients.


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