Coccidioidomycosis: an unusual cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome

A male farmer, 20 years old, from the countryside of the State of Piauí, developed acute respiratory infection. Despite adequate antimicrobial therapy, his conditions worsened, requiring mechanical ventilation. His X-rays showed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. His PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 58. Direct microscopy and culture of tracheal aspirates showed the presence of Coccidioides immitis. Autochthonous cases of coccidioidomycosis have only recently been described in Brazil, most of them from the State of Piauí. C. immitis has been isolated from humans, dogs and armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), and also from soil samples of armadillo's burrows. Failure to respond to antimicrobial therapy and a patient's origin from recognized endemic areas should alert to the possibility of acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis.

Defeito do septo interventricular adquirido no curso de endocardite infecciosa / Acquired ventricular septal defect during infective endocarditis

We studied five patients with acquired ventricular septal defect during the course of an infective endocarditis. All patients were male and had a previous aortic valve disease associated with an aortic ring abscess. Clinical examination was useful for the diagnosis of 4 cases, emphasizing the following findings: systolic murmur and/or left paraesternal thrill and right-heart failure. Incidence of congestive heart failure was 60//, while 40//of all patients died during the in-hospital course. No specific etiologic agent was detected. Therefore, acquired ventricular septal defect should be suspected in patients with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve that evolve with a systolic murmur and/or paraesternal thrill and right-heart failure. Immediate surgical treatment is mandatory in these cases