Incidental isolated renal mucormycosis in immunocompetent patient: a rare and atypical presentation

Mucormycosis is a group of clinical syndromes resulting from infection by one of a group of related filamentous fungi. It is an opportunistic fungal infection that rarely occurs in immunocompetent individual. Isolated involvement of any organ is rare and only a few cases of renal mucormycosis have been reported. We present a case report of atypical presentation of a case of renal mucormycosis in a healthy adult with no predisposing factors. A 48 year non diabetic immunocompetent patient underwent right nephrectomy for painful non-functioning kidney. Biopsy showed chronic pyelonephritis with broad non-septate hyphae suggestive of mucormycosis. Post op followup of patient is normal. Mucormycosis of kidney causes extensive infarction and necrosis due to direct angioinvasion and vascular thrombosis leading to fulminant acute renal failure. The disease mimics pyogenic infection leading to delay in diagnosis and hence resulting in high mortality. High index of suspicion is needed for early diagnosis. Urine and blood cultures are usually sterile. Characteristic CT findings include diffuse enlargement of the kidney with absence of contrast excretion and multiple low-density areas in the renal parenchyma representing fungal abscess. Whenever suspected, FNAC or biopsy is strongly advocated as no imaging can confirm the diagnosis. Nephrectomy or debridement of necrotic tissue along with IV Amphotericin B consist the principal treatment. Renal mucormycosis presenting an indolent course and found incidentally after nephrectomy is extremely rare. In an incidentally found mucormycosis, the role of further investigations to find the source and the role of antifungals have to be further studied.

The anatomical site of perforation peritonitis and their microbiological profile: a cross-sectional study

Background: Initiation of early appropriate antibiotic therapy influences the outcome of perforation peritonitis, which otherwise is delayed till culture reports are available. The knowledge of microbial profile and sensitivity of peritoneal fluid culture with respect to the anatomical site of perforation peritonitis will help in initiation of early appropriate antibiotic therapy in the post-operative period.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from January 2017 to December 2017 where intraoperative peritoneal fluid sample in patients of perforation peritonitis was subjected to culture (aerobic and anaerobic) and sensitivity and results analysed with respect to anatomical site of perforation.Results: 50 patients were studied. The most common site of perforation was ileum (32%) followed by appendix (18%) and stomach (18%). In aerobic culture, the culture positivity rate was highest in colonic perforation (100%) and least in gastric perforation (44.4%). The most common organism isolated in all sites of perforation peritonitis was E. coli followed by Klebsiella spp. In anaerobic culture, although facultative anaerobes were isolated, no strict anaerobe was isolated. The most sensitive antibiotics covering all isolated organisms were gentamycin (p=0.006), colistin (p=0.018), piperacillin and tazobactum (p=0.022).Conclusions: The predominant differential normal flora according to site of gastrointestinal tract was not reflected in the peritoneal fluid culture of patients with perforation peritonitis and E. coli was the most common organism isolated in all sites of perforation peritonitis. The antibiotic sensitivity profile showed the increasing resistance against third generation cephalosporins. Aminoglycosides, piperacillin and tazobactum, meropenem and colistin showed a significant antimicrobial activity against organisms isolated from cases of perforation peritonitis.

Perforated isolated jejunal diverticulum: a rare cause of acute abdomen

A 45-year-old female presented with pain in peri-umbilical region for past one day along with history of non-bilious vomiting and non passage of stool and flatus for past one day. On physical examination, patient was afebrile, mild dehydration was present, tachycardia of 102 beats per minute with normal blood pressure. On clinical examination, the abdomen was diffusely tender with rebound tenderness. Bowel sounds were absent. Laboratory investigations revealed leucocytosis. An erect plain chest X-ray was done, didn’t reveal any gas under the diaphragm. Contrast enhanced computed tomography abdomen was done which showed a hollow viscus perforation with intra-abdominal free air and pelvic free fluid. Patient was resuscitated with IV fluid, broad-spectrum antibiotics were started and immediately taken up for exploratory laparotomy. Three jejunal diverticula identified at mesenteric border, with pin-head perforation in one of the diverticula. Small bowel resection including the three diverticula and primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Post-operative period was uneventful. Patient discharged on satisfactory conditions. This case stresses the importance to consider this entity in cases of unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms because any treatment delay may lead to unsuccessful clinical outcome.