A rare case of Acute Motor and Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN) and Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) related to Hemophilus influenzae

We describe a rare case presenting with both signs of acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) possibly triggered by Hemophilus influenzae. Guillain-Barre is an autoimmune disorder purported to be due to molecular mimicry, often with a preceding infection, leading to myelin sheath or even axonal damage, AMSAN, in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Rarely, there have been case reports of concurrent acute autoimmune disorders leading to a more complex presentation and additional comorbidities. A 42-year-old man presented with 2 days of progressive lower and upper extremity paresthesia’s, ataxia preceded by an upper respiratory infection. Examination showed areflexia and purpura, recent oral mucosal hemorrhage. Lab results showed severe thrombocytopenia suspicious for ITP. Over the ensuing weeks while inpatient, his condition quickly deteriorated to requiring an intubation for respiratory failure and not immediately responsive to IVIG. Recovery, both for AMSAN confirmed by EMG and ITP, was eventually achieved with time and five treatments of plasmapheresis and eventually was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. A thorough infectious workup revealed a possible trigger being Haemophilus influenzae. There have been rare occasions of concurrent GBS and ITP, but even more rare is the presence of both AMSAN and ITP which requires quick recognition and evaluation. This case highlights the need for a thorough initial history taking and a general physical exam, in addition to unique management decisions and strategies in patients with suspected GBS as there may be signs of other associated disorders that require immediate attention.

An Observational Prospective Cohort Study of Incidence and Outcome of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae Infections in Adult Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) and Hemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) are among the main vaccine-preventable bacterial infections in immunocompromised individuals including solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. There is a lack of information about incidence and outcomes of these infections in SOT recipients. Methods: We determined the incidence of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, the related hospitalization, and 30- and 180-days mortality in a large cohort of 1182 adult SOT recipients. We calculated 95% confidence intervals (CI) of incidence rate (IR) using Byar’s approximation to the Poisson distribution. Results: The overall IR of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were 1086 (95% CI, 796–1448) and 1293 (95% CI, 974–1687) per 100,000 person-years of follow-up (PYFU), respectively. The IR of invasive infections were 76 (95% CI, 21–202) and 25 (95% CI, 2.3–118) per 100,000 PYFU, respectively. Hospital admission was required in >50%, 30-days mortality was 0, and 180-days mortality was 8.8% and 4.5% after S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae infections, respectively. Conclusions: The IR of invasive S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae infections in SOT recipients were much higher than reports from the general population in Denmark. Furthermore, a large proportion of infected SOT recipients were hospitalized. These findings highlight the need for further studies to assess uptake and immunogenicity of vaccines against S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in SOT recipients.

In Vitro Activity of Nafithromycin (WCK 4873) against Chlamydia pneumoniae

Nafithromycin (13 WCK 4873) is a novel lactone ketolide under clinical development as an orally administrated antibiotic for treatment of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis , and methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus .…

Respiratory pathogens in patients with acute exacerbation of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis from a developing country

Bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis (non-CF bronchiectasis) has become a major respiratory disease in developing nations. The dilated mucus filled airways promote bacterial overgrowth followed by chronic infection, bronchial inflammation, lung injury and re-infection Accurate pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility allowing appropriate treatment, in turn, may break this vicious cycle. To study the spectrum and antimicrobial spectrum of pathogen yielded from respiratory specimens in adult patients with acute exacerbation of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis. This cross-sectional study was performed at the pulmonology clinics of the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan from 2016-2019. Respiratory specimens were collected from adult patients with acute exacerbation of non-CF bronchiectasis presenting in pulmonology clinics. Microbial cultures were performed using standard methodology. Susceptibility testing was performed and interpreted using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute criteria. A total of 345 positive cultures from 160 patients presenting with acute exacerbation were evaluated. The most frequent organisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=209) followed by Hemophilus influenzae (n=40) and Staphylococcus aureus (n=24). High rates of antimicrobial resistance were found in all these pathogens. Proportion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, ceftazidime and piperacillin-tazobactam were 27.1%, 16.8%, 14.8% and 13.1% respectively. 65% of Hemophilus influenzae strains were resistant to cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin and 66.7% of Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to methicillin. High antimicrobial resistance in non-CF bronchiectasis patients against commonly used antimicrobials is a concern and highlight need for urgent community level interventions to improve clinical outcome in these patients.

Acute epiglottitis: still relevant in adult patients?

L’épiglottite aigüe est une urgence infectieuse et respiratoire pouvant mettre en jeu rapidement le pronostic vital par obstruction des voies respiratoires supérieures. Nous rapportons le cas de trois adultes reçus dans un tableau d’épiglottite aigüe. La trachéotomie a été nécessaire chez un patient. Les deux autres ont reçu un traitement médical ayant permis de lever la dyspnée et de juguler l’infection. L’épiglottite aiguë infectieuse, pathologie autrefois très fréquente en pédiatrie, a tendance à disparaître du fait de la vaccination contre Hemophilus influenzae de type b. Mais, elle ne doit pas être méconnue chez l’adulte. Le traitement est, en général, médical. Cependant, la trachéotomie peut s’imposer ; elle demeure un geste à haut risque dans ce contexte, responsable d’une forte morbi-mortalité.