Rhinocerebral mucormycosis in a pregnant woman with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis (RCM) is a rare but often fatal condition characterized by aggressive necrotizing infection originating from nose and spreading to paranasal sinuses, orbit and central nervous system. Although Fungi and spores of mucorales show minimal intrinsic pathogenicity towards normal persons, they can initiate fulminant infections in patients with underlying debilitating conditions. A case of RCM in a pregnant woman with diabetic keto-acidosis successfully treated by supportive care, amphotericin B and surgery is reported.

Methanol poisoning in medical intensive care unit.

A series of eight cases of methyl alcohol poisoning resulting from consumption of adulterated alcohol is presented. Most of the patients had blurring of vision followed by coma, metabolic acidosis and hemodynamic unstability (SBP < 90 mmHg) on admission to medical ICU. Early recognition and prompt initiation of treatment lead to successful recovery in five of these patients. Analysis of correlation between clinical and biochemical indicators of severity and indication for various therapeutic interventions are discussed.

Nosocomial pneumonia in medical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine incidence, clinical features, microbiological flora and prognosis of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) in medical intensive care unit (ICU). Also to study impact of comorbid illnesses, intubation and mechanical ventilation on outcome. METHODS: In this prospective study over a period of one year 89 patients were detected to have nosocomial pneumonia amongst 948 total admissions in ICU. All these 89 patients were investigated radiologically, microbiologically and biochemically. Mortality in these patients was correlated with various factors using chi-square test. RESULTS: Incidence of NP was 9.38%. Enteric gram-negative organisms were commonest isolates (61.9%), followed by Staph aureus (29.8%). Sixty five (73%) patients had severe pneumonia, 47 (52.8%) required intubation and 42 (47.2%) mechanical ventilation. Total mortality was 19 out of 89 (21.3%). High mortality was associated with habits like smoking (33.3%), age group over 60 years (27.3%), presence of comorbid illness like DM and COAD (38.5%), complications like ARDS (61.3%, p < 0.001) or sepsis with end organ failure (73.7%, p < 0.001) and need of intubation (36.2%) or mechanical ventilation (40.5%, p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Nosocomial pneumonias constitute important problem in medical ICU and are associated with high mortality. Patients with advanced age, co-morbid illness, ARDS and end organ failure are at high risk for mortality. However with intensive supportive care and appropriate antibiotics many such lives can be saved.