Infectious Disease Commons^™

A Novel Case Of Bacterial Meningitis In A Patient With Loeys-Dietz, Lacey D. Colvin Do, Christy Fagg

Infectious Disease

No abstract provided.

A Decerebrating Female: A Rare Presentation Of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis Due To Measles, Natasha Del Rio, Yordan Orive, Andres Sobrado, Ruben Cabrera, Ilde Manuel Lee, Troy Hoang, Sherard Lacaille, Ricardo Garcia-Rivera, Robert Hernandez

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Severe Malaria Due To Plasmodium Falciparum, Hamid Hussaini, Rage Geringer Md, Gregory Hicks Md, Oliwier Dziadkowiec

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Probiotics To Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia In Adults, Michael Roper, Paige Douthett

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of preventing the acquisition of ventilator- associated pneumonia with the use of probiotic supplementation, as compared to a placebo, among hospitalized adult men and women receiving more than 24 hours of mechanical ventilation. Design: Systematic Literature Review. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted through PubMed and Scopus using the search terms “ventilator”, “probiotics”, and “prevention”. Records were excluded from the analysis if they were published before 2015, full text was not available, studies other than randomized control trial or cohort studies, and if the study population was less than 18 years old. Results: Of …

Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease: Progressive Neurological Decline, Christine Fayad Md, Scott J. Anderson, H. Alex Akhondi Md

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Cavitary Lesion In An Immunocompromised Adult, Syed Talha Qasmi, Turuvekere Jayaram, Enrique Rincon

Internal Medicine

No abstract provided.

Nocardia Beijingensis: A Rare And Unusual Cause Of Intracranial Abscess, Lakshpaul Chauhan Md, Nirali Vassa Md, Elizabeth Henderson Md, Ateeq Mubarik Md, Danish M. Siddiq Md, Abdulmagid Eddib Md

Infectious Disease

Background : Nocardia species are thin, aerobic, filamentous, gram-positive bacilli that are ubiquitous in soil worldwide. Nocardia infections are divided into three main categories: pulmonary nocardiosis, disseminated nocardiosis, and cutaneous nocardiosis.

Methods : We present a case of cerebral nocardiosis in an immunocompetent patient caused by Nocardia beijingensis (NB).

Results : A 60-year-old Caucasian lady from Florida with type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, presented to the emergency room with complaints of altered mentation. Per husband, she was having episodes of emesis and diarrhea three days prior to admission that resolved however, her mentation significantly deteriorated to where she was …

When An Infected Meniscus Portends A Perforated Viscus, Michelle Hannon, Stephen Zachariah, Neha Bansal Etherington, Anusha Govind, Devin Weber, Bryan Hess

Division of Infectious Diseases and Environmental Medicine Faculty Papers

A 59-year-old woman with a status of post–renal transplant 7 years prior for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease on tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil presented with subacute left knee and right wrist pain. She received local steroid injections to both areas as an outpatient without improvement in her symptoms. She had recently traveled to India, her home country, to visit relatives. Aspiration of the knee revealed 4+ acid fast bacilli on smear, and she was taken for surgical debridement. She was started on empiric antibiotics for presumed infection with rapidly growing mycobacteria. Her course was complicated by acute onset abdominal pain …

Signs Of Psychosis Leading To A Diagnosis Of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report, Bryan L. Walker, Christina Holt Md, Msc

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating process of the central nervous system that occurs in in the setting of severe immunocompromise. Patients with PML develop varying focal neurological deficits and mental status changes that have not been well-described previously.

Clinical findings: We present a patient who was found by security wandering the lobby of this hospital. He was oriented only to self and unable to state a reason for presentation. Medical records were limited and included a visit to an outside hospital that documented a past medical history of HIV infection. He exhibited multiple signs of psychosis …

Clinical Spectrum And Factors Impacting Outcome Of Candida Auris: A Single Center Study From Pakistan, Muneeba Ahsan Sayeed, Joveria Farooqi, Kauser Jabeen, Safia Awan, S Mahmood

Section of Internal Medicine

Background: An outbreak of Candida auris began globally in 2014 including Pakistan and since then it has emerged as a nosocomial multi-drug resistant pathogen. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients, from a single center in Pakistan, in whom C. auris was isolated.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 92 patients; ≥16 years with at least one culture positive for C. auris, at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan from Sept 2014-Mar 2017.Demographics, clinical history, management and outcome were studied. A logistic regression model was used to identify the risk …

An Incidental Diagnosis Of Aids-Related Disseminated Kaposi’S Sarcoma, Kathryn Kass Md, Amy Slenker Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Dengue Fever Presenting As Quadriparesis Due To Hypokalaemia: A Rare Presentation, Syed Muhammad Zubair, Syed Ahsan Ali, Saira Furqan

Section of Internal Medicine

Dengue is one of the leading causes of arthropod borne viral haemorrhagic fever. Majority of the times, it clinically manifests as fever, arthralgia and rash; however, we present a case of a young man who presented with progressively increasing weakness of all four limbs. Initial investigations showed low potassium, hence he was managed as hypokalaemic periodic paralysis. With initial history of fever and low platelets, dengue was suspected. Dengue antibody was checked which came out to be positive. Potassium was replaced which led to improvement in power of his limbs. He was discharged in a stable condition with a diagnosis …

Clostridium Sporogenes Bacteremia In An Immunocompetent Patient, Waiel Abusnina, Mena Shehata, Emhemmid S. Karem, Zeynep C. Koc, Elie Khalil

Internal Medicine

Of the 200 Clostridium spp. known to exist, approximately 30 have been associated with human disease. Commonly found in soil, marine sediment and mammalian intestinal tracts, these gram-positive bacilli are known to cause infections ranging from cellulitis to septicemia. Isolates that are identified by clinical microbiology laboratories include Clostridium perfrigens species in 20–40% of cases. However, when Clostridium sporogenes is identified, is rarely considered to be pathogenic. We present a case of Clostridium sporogenes bacteremia secondary to lower limb cellulitis and osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient.

An Atypical Presentation Of Mycobacterium Abscessus Soft Tissue Infection Leading To A Protracted Disease Course, Joseph Moran Do, Joseph Scurozo Do, Brian Friel Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Anidulafungin: A Noninferior Alternative To Fluconazole For Treatment Of Esophageal Candidiasis, Blake S. Sanford

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Krause DS, Simjee AE, van Rensburg C, et al. A randomized, double-blind trial of anidulafungin versus fluconazole for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;39(6):770-775. doi: 10.1086/423378.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation May Have Clinical Utility In Reducing Incidence Of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection, Jeremy A. Grekin

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Tariq R, Pardi DS, Tosh PK, Walker RC, Razonable RR, Khanna S. Fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection reduces recurrent urinary tract infection frequency. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2017 Oct 30;65(10):1745–1747. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix618

Limiting Antibiotic Use In Acute Sinusitis: Partly A Matter Of Vocabulary?, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In his issue introduction, the editor-in-chief of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews comments on an included article that describes the successful use of an electronic medical record best practice alert to reduce the rate of antibiotic prescription for acute sinusitis. Various methods previously tried to improve antibiotic stewardship in this illness are briefly reviewed. Borrowing on the model of acute bronchitis, it is suggested that a change in conveyed diagnostic vocabulary to “sinus cold” when describing acute sinusitis may help limit antibiotics for this predominantly viral infection.

Herpes Zoster Patient Education: A Coloring Book Approach, Sophia Charuhas

Senior Honors Theses

Shingles, the disease caused by the herpes zoster virus, is a widespread and widely misunderstood illness in the United States. It is preventable, but many at-risk patients do not know what measures they may take to prevent it. Clear communication from physician to patient is crucial for patient understanding of diseases. Many patient education materials on herpes zoster currently available are often unused. It is therefore beneficial to public health to disseminate new mediums of medical communication, and one way of accomplishing this is through adult coloring books. The pathophysiology of herpes zoster virus is here explored and the idea …

A Rare Case Of Complicated Cutaneous Leishmaniasis., Sandhya Venkataraman Do, Lalita Shastry Md, Luther Rhodes Iii Md, Facp, Jarrod W. Kile Rphd

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Infection Of A Ventricular Septal Defect Patch With Acremonium Species, Nosheen Nasir, Kauser Jabeen, Joveria Farooqi, Binish Arif Sultan, Afia Zafar, Aamir Hameed Khan, Muneer Amanullah, Farheen Ali

Section of Internal Medicine

A ventricular septal defect (VSD) patch infection with Acremonium species isolated from vegetation and blood culture is described. Antifungal treatment was discontinued after 3 months and patient developed relapse. Surgery with prolonged oral voriconazole was instituted with recovery. We emphasize importance of surgery and prolonged therapy to treat such infections.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection In The Setting Of Interstitial Lung Disease: Coincidence Or Bad Luck?, Christian Wong, Sonu Sahni, Muhammad Azaz I. Cheema, Asma Iftikhar

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York) Publications and Research

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, with many individuals with undiagnosed active or latent disease. The presence of parenchymal lung disease, such as interstitial lung disease (ILD), has been suggested to increase the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). In the clinical setting of ILD, the diagnosis of an underlying MTB infection may be challenging due to the interstitial process and underlying fibrosis, which may mask the infection. An atypical presentation and misleading radiological patterns may delay the diagnosis of the underlying MTB infection. Herein, we describe a unique case of ILD complicated by active …

Nephrocutaneous Fistula Due To Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis, Simcha Weissman, Madeeha Ghaffar, Dana Safavian, Sharma Rubal, Anthony Khabut, Mohammad G. Maruf, Michael Krzyzak

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York) Publications and Research

While the development of a fistulous tract from the kidney to the proximal adjacent organs is relatively common, a tract leading to the skin is a rare occurrence. The primary cause of a fistula is prior surgical intervention or malignancy leading to abscess formation. Our case involves Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) causing a longstanding lobulated abscess, ultimately leading to the formation of a fistulous tract.

Evaluation Outcomes Of A Modified Early Warning System For Early Identification Of Sepsis In The Adult Population Requiring Acute Care, Gavin M. Turpin

DNP Projects

Objectives: To examine the use of a Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) for sepsis identification and evaluate its effects on treatment and outcomes for those patients diagnosed with sepsis after admission, during their stay at an acute care facility.

Design: A retrospective chart audit was conducted on the electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients who developed, and were diagnosed with, sepsis post admission. Specifically, a retrospective separate sample pretest posttest design was used to examine the accuracy of the MEWS, differences in outcomes (ICU days, length of hospital stay, qSOFA Score and mortality rates), and treatment initiation time (fluid resuscitation, …

A Rare Presentation Of Hsv Type 2 Hepatitis., Jahangir Khan Md, Anam Malik Md, Sandhya Venkataraman Do, Hina A. Sheikh, Amy Slenker Md

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Persistence Of Macrocytosis After Discontinuation Of Zidovudine In Hiv-Infected Patients, Inski Yu, Richard N. Greenberg, Timothy N. Crawford, Alice C. Thornton, Thein Myint

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

The duration of macrocytosis after stopping zidovudine (ZDV) is unknown. Among 104 HIV-infected patients treated with ZDV for more than 1 year, 84 patients had macrocytosis at ZDV discontinuation. The median mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 114.6 fL (range 100-128 fL). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who did (resolved macrocytosis, n = 36) and did not (persistent macrocytosis, n = 48) normalize MCV at 3 to 6 months after ZDV discontinuation. Alcohol use (P = .02), smoking (P = .03), and lower (but within normal range) folic acid levels (P = .05) were related to …

Frequency Of Worsening Liver Function In Severe Dengue Hepatitis Patients Receiving Paracetamol: A Retrospective Analysis Of Hospital Data., Ahsan Ali Syed, Faisal Aslam, Haris Hakeem, Faraz Siddiqui, Noreen Nasir

Department of Medicine

Objective: To determine the frequency of worsening liver function among hospital in-patients with severe dengue hepatitis receiving paracetamol.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised records of dengue patients with severe hepatitis who received paracetamol for control of fever between June 2007 and December 2014. Alanine aminotransferase at baseline and following paracetamol administration was noted, as well as dosage and duration of paracetamol, along with participants' demographic details. Frequency of patients who developed worsening or improvement of alanine aminotransferase was also noted. SPSS 19 was used for data analysis. …

Retention In Continuous Care And Sustained Viral Suppression: Examining The Association Among Individuals Living With Hiv, Timothy N. Crawford, Alice C. Thornton

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objectives: To examine the relationship between retention in continuous care and sustained viral suppression.

Methods: The authors retrospectively followed 653 persons who were virally suppressed and seeking care at an infectious disease clinic in Kentucky for an average of 6 years to determine the rates of retention in medical care (≥2 visits separated by ≥3 months within a 12-month period) and sustained viral suppression (<400 copies/mL). A generalized linear mixed model was used to determine an association between retention and suppression over time.

Results: Approximately 61% of the study population were retained in continuous care and 75% had sustained viral suppression for all patient-years. Persons retained in care were 3 times the odds of sustaining viral suppression over …

Proceedings Of 2016 Aurora Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

This supplement includes select abstracts presented at the 42nd annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held May 25, 2016, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aurora Scientific Day provides a forum for original research conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, students and other allied health professionals affiliated with Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit health system comprised of integrated hospitals and clinics across eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.

An Unusual Case Of Escherichia Coli Meningitis And Bacteremia In An Elderly Woman Presenting With Intractable Low Back Pain, Andrea M. Lauffer, Mahmoud Shorman, Carl Mccomas

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction:

We report an unusual case of E. coli meningitis in an elderly woman who presented to the emergency room with a chief complaint of intractable low back pain.

Case Description:

A 67 year old woman presented to the emergency room for a chief complaint of intractable low back pain. After admission, the patient developed delirium. Blood cultures were drawn. Patient underwent a lumbar puncture which revealed purulent cerebrospinal fluid. Results of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures revealed pan-sensitive E. coli.

Conclusion:

In the geriatric population, delayed presentation of meningitis can occur for various reasons. With the older …

Two Cases Of Vibrio Infection And Sepsis In The Delaware Estuary, René Daniel, Md, Joseph Yoo, Md, Roberto Fratamico, Md, Robert Measley, Md

The Medicine Forum

INTRODUCTION

Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative motile rods. Several species are pathogenic, including Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The interest in this genus is due to its extreme virulence and often fatal outcomes. In healthy patients, these infections are typically self-limited; however, in immunocompromised and cirrhotic patients, infections can result in bacteremia, which has a high fatality rate1. Both pathogens may cause acute gastroenteritis, necrotizing wound infections, and if severe, subsequent bacteremia. In this report, we present two cases of Vibrio infections recently identified in the Delaware River Estuary that resulted in severe sepsis and, in one case, death.