Lung ultrasound findings in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia requiring surgical procedures: a two-center prospective study

BACKGROUND

Lung ultrasound (US) in the evaluation of suspected pediatric pneumonia is increasingly used and has a recognized role in evaluating pleural effusions, although there are no detailed studies specifically addressing its use in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVES

To define lung US findings of severe pediatric community-acquired pneumonia that required surgical procedures during admission.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Our prospective case-control study compared lung US findings in patients ages 1 month to 17 years admitted with community-acquired pneumonia that required surgical procedures from findings those who did not. Lung US was performed at admission and always before surgical procedures. Medical treatment, laboratory and microbiological findings, chest X-ray, computed tomography scan and surgical procedures are described.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one children with community-acquired pneumonia were included; of these, 23 underwent surgical intervention. Compared with the control group, children requiring a surgical procedure had a significantly higher rate of large consolidations (52.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.6% to 73.2%), larger and complicated pleural effusions (100%; 95% CI: 85.2% to 100%), and both liquid and air bronchograms (73.9%; 95% CI: 51.6% to 89.8%).

CONCLUSION

Larger consolidations, larger and more complicated pleural effusions, and liquid and air bronchograms were associated with surgical treatment.

A Community-acquired Lung Abscess Attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae which Extended Directly into the Chest Wall

We herein report the case of 75-year-old Japanese female with a community-acquired lung abscess attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. penumoniae) which extended into the chest wall. The patient was admitted to our hospital with a painful mass on the left anterior chest wall. A contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography scan showed a lung abscess in the left upper lobe which extended into the chest wall. Surgical debridement of the chest wall abscess and percutaneous transthoracic tube drainage of the lung abscess were performed. A culture of the drainage specimen yielded S. pneumoniae. The patient showed a remarkable improvement after the initiation of intravenous antibiotic therapy.

[Microbiological and resistance profiles of community acquired and nosocomial intra abdominal infections in surgery of National Hospital Guillermo Almenara, Lima, Peru]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the microbiological and resistance profiles of community acquired and nosocomial intra abdominal infections (IAIs) at the Surgery Service of Emergency and surgery critical care units from the Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From August 1st, 2013 till July 31st, 2014, patients undergoing surgery/interventional drainage for IAIs were included.

RESULTS

The suitable cultures for the analysis were 169 (74 bile and 95 no bile cultures; 142 community acquired and 27 nosocomials). The microorganims more frequently isolated were E. coli (63.3%), K. pneumoniae (12%) and Enterococcus spp. (10%). The 43.5% of E. coli and the 21.23% of Klebsiella were ESBL producers. The carbapenems were the most active agents in vitro (100%), while the quinolones showed high resistance (>50%).

CONCLUSIONS

E. coli was the most common microorganism in the IAIs. Because of the quinolone’s high “in vitro” resistance, they should not be recommended as initial empirical therapy.

An alternative to open incision and drainage for community-acquired soft tissue abscesses in children

BACKGROUND

The continually rising incidence of soft tissue abscesses in children has prompted us to seek an alternative to the traditional open incision and drainage (I&D) that would minimize the pain associated with packing during dressing changes and eliminate the need for home nursing care.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review of all patients with soft tissue abscesses from November 2007 to June 2008 was conducted after institutional review board approval. Patients who were treated with open I&D were compared to those treated with placement of subcutaneous drains through the abscess cavities. Both groups received equivalent antibiotic treatment, and all patients were followed in outpatient clinics until infection resolved. The demographics, presenting temperature, culture results, and outcomes were compared between these 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients were identified; 134 of them underwent open I&D, whereas 85 were treated with subcutaneous drains. The demographics, anatomical location of the abscesses, and bacteriology were comparable between the 2 groups. There were equal number of patients in each group who presented with fever initially. Of those treated with open I&D, 4 had metachronous recurring abscesses within the same anatomical region and 1 patient required an additional procedure because of incomplete drainage. There were no recurrences or incomplete drainages in the subcutaneous drain group. The cosmetic appearance of the healed wound from subcutaneous drain placement during the immediate follow-up period is better than that of an open I&D.

CONCLUSIONS

Placement of a subcutaneous drain for community-acquired soft tissue abscesses in children is a safe and equally effective alternative to the traditional I&D.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing fasciitis in a healthy adolescent male

Recently, the rate of severe, invasive community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection has been increasing in healthy children. The single most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis in children is group A Streptococcus. Empiric therapy is usually targeted at this organism, which is uniformly sensitive to penicillin. Necrotizing fasciitis caused by CA-MRSA is a potentially life-threatening infection that has not been extensively reported in the U.S. pediatric population. The limited literature includes reports of neonatal cases and reports of pediatric cases embedded in articles about adults with underlying risk factors. We present a case of CA-MRSA necrotizing fasciitis in a previously healthy 11-year-old male with no risk factors.

[Necrotizing pneumonia by community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Colombia]

The emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) as a cause of severe infections has been described in the recent years. In 2006, the first report of skin and soft tissue infection by CA-MRSA was published in Colombia. Herein, two additional cases of CA-MRSA are reported with a clinical course characterized by rapid progression, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit and complication of pneumonia with the onset of empyema. Both adult patients developed acute renal failure, and were treated with linezolide; the subsequent clinical response showed adequate treatment response. Molecular characterization of the isolates indicated the presence of the mecA gene carrying the cassette SCCmec type IV and the production of the toxin panton-valentine leukocidin.

Empyema necessitans and acute osteomyelitis associated with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an infant

Staphylococcus aureus is a well recognized pathogen with global distribution. In recent years community-associated, methicillin-resistant S. aureus has emerged as an increasing cause of severe infections among adults and children. Herein, a case is reported of a previously healthy, 19-month-old male, who presented with empyema necessitans and acute osteomyelitis due to a community-associated, methicillin-resistant, S. aureus strain. This report highlights the evolving epidemiology of S. aureus, as important pathogen in the community as well as the hospital setting, and the importance of establishing appropriate guidelines for diagnosis, management and surveillance of this public health problem.

Moxifloxacin is non-inferior to combination therapy with ceftriaxone plus metronidazole in patients with community-origin complicated intra-abdominal infections

Management of community-origin complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) requires surgical intervention and antimicrobial therapy. This multinational, randomised, double-blind clinical trial carried out in Asia compared the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin monotherapy and ceftriaxone/metronidazole combination therapy in adults with confirmed or suspected cIAI. Patients received surgical intervention and either intravenous (i.v.) moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily or i.v. ceftriaxone 2 g once daily plus i.v. metronidazole 500 mg twice daily. A total of 364 patients were randomised [intent-to-treat (ITT), moxifloxacin N=180, comparator N=181; per-protocol (PP), moxifloxacin N=174, comparator N=171]. The most common cIAI diagnosis was complicated appendicitis. Moxifloxacin was non-inferior to ceftriaxone/metronidazole in terms of clinical response at test-of-cure in the PP population [clinical cure, 90.2% for moxifloxacin vs. 96.5% for ceftriaxone/metronidazole; 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference -11.7 to -1.7] and in the ITT population (87.2% for moxifloxacin vs. 91.2% for ceftriaxone/metronidazole; 95% CI -10.7 to 1.9). Bacteriological cure rates in the microbiologically evaluable population support the clinical results (89.4% for moxifloxacin vs. 95.9% for ceftriaxone/metronidazole; 95% CI -13.3 to -0.6). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for both treatment groups (moxifloxacin 31.7% vs. comparator 24.3%). These results confirm previous findings that moxifloxacin plus adequate source control is an appropriate treatment of cIAI.

Early surgery for hospital-acquired and community-acquired active infective endocarditis

Active infective endocarditis (IE) is classified into two groups; hospital acquired IE (HIE) and IE other than HIE, which was defined as community-acquired IE (CIE). Eighty-two patients underwent surgical treatment for active IE. Seventy-one cases were CIE group and eleven were HIE. There were six patients with native valve endocarditis and five cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis in the HIE group. We compared the surgical outcome of both types of active IE retrospectively. The preoperative status of the patients in the HIE group was more critical than that in the CIE group. Streptococcus spp. were the major micro-organisms in the CIE group (39%), while 82% of the HIE cases were caused by Staphylococcus spp. All Staphylococcus organisms in the HIE group were methicillin resistant. There were 10 hospital deaths, three in the CIE group and seven in the HIE group. Operative mortality in the HIE group was significantly higher than in the CIE group (63.6% vs. 4.2%, P<0.001). The outcome of early operation was satisfactory for active CIE, but poor for HIE. These types of active IE should be considered separately.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in association with chronic dacryocystitis secondary to congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as an important pathogen responsible for serious ocular and systemic disease. MRSA has been reported to occur in dacryocystitis in the adult population. This is the first case report of community-acquired MRSA in the pediatric population in association with chronic dacryocystitis secondary to congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in an infant.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prostatic abscess

We present a 43-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug abuse who presented to the emergency department with a 5-week history of lower urinary tract symptoms. On digital rectal examination, a firm prostate with exquisite tenderness was noted. Computed tomography scan of the pelvis with contrast demonstrated a 4.4 by 2.7-cm prostatic abscess in the right lobe. Suppurative fluid was expressed from the right prostatic lobe during transurethral resection of the prostate. Cultures of blood and suppurative prostatic fluid grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Effect of inappropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapy on outcome of patients with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections requiring surgery

To assess the significance of initial empiric parenteral antibiotic therapy in patients requiring surgery for community-acquired secondary peritonitis, 425 patients hospitalized between January 1999 and September 2001 in 20 clinics across Germany were followed for a total of 6,521 patient days. Perforated appendix (38%), colon (27%), or gastroduodenum (22%) were the most common sites of infection. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen. A total of 54 (13%) patients received inappropriate initial parenteral therapy not covering all bacteria isolated, or not covering both aerobes and anaerobes in the absence of culture results. Clinical success, predefined as the infection resolving with initial or step-down therapy after primary surgery, was achieved in 322 patients (75.7%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 70.6-81.2). Patients were more likely to have clinical success if initial antibiotic therapy was appropriate (78.6%; 95% CI, 73.6-83.9) rather than inappropriate (53.4%; 95% CI, 41.1-69.3). Patients having clinical success were estimated to stay 13.9 days in hospital (95% CI, 13.1-14.7), while those who had clinical failure stayed 19.8 days (95% CI, 17.3-22.3). In conclusion, appropriateness of initial parenteral antibiotic therapy was a predictor of clinical success, which in turn was associated with length of stay.

[Surgical management of community-acquired peritonitis in children. Analysis of a survey]

The purpose of this work was to determine current practices of pediatric surgeons in the management of community peritonitis, excepting antibiotic use and resuscitation car. A questionnaire was sent to 63 French pediatric surgeons in France. Forty-six answers concerning appendicular peritonitis were analyzed. Laparoscopy was a good indication for 40 surgeons. A sample for bacteriological examination was never ordered. Conditions for washing and drainage were detailed. Treatment to prevent postoperative pain was used by all.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia. Assessment of severity criteria

The purpose of the study was to validate the criteria used in the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Severe pneumonia was defined as admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Overall 331 nonsevere (84%) and 64 severe cases (16%) of CAP were prospectively studied. Mortality was 19 of 395 (5%) and 19 of 64 (30%), respectively. Single severity criteria as well as the ATS definition of severe pneumonia were assessed calculating the operative indices. A modified prediction rule including minor (baseline) and major (baseline or evolutionary) criteria was derived. Single minor criteria at admission had a low sensitivity and positive predictive value. Defining severe pneumonia according to the ATS guidelines had a high sensitivity (98%). However, specificity and positive predictive value were low (32% and 24%, respectively). A modified prediction rule (presence of two or three minor criteria [systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, multilobar involvement, PaO2/FIO2 < 250] or one of two major criteria [requirement of mechanical ventilation, presence of septic shock]) had a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 94%, a positive predictive value of 75%, and a negative predictive value of 95%. The ATS definition of severe pneumonia was highly sensitive but insufficiently specific and had a low positive predictive value. Our suggested modified rule had a more balanced performance and, if validated in an independent population, may represent a more accurate definition of severe CAP.

Endocarditis due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis: report of 11 cases and review

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a recently described coagulase-negative staphylococcus that has been associated with human infections, including nine reported cases of infective endocarditis. The present study describes 11 other cases of infective endocarditis caused by this organism. The infection occurred in patients whose mean age was 61 years and was community-acquired in most cases. A preexisting cardiac abnormality was present in eight patients. Three of the 11 infections involved prosthetic valves. Ten strains were susceptible to penicillin. The destructive course of the infection, the need for valve replacement, and the high mortality suggest that S. lugdunensis causes a virulent form of endocarditis.