Primary pyomyositis and disseminated septic pulmonary emboli: a reactivated staphylococcal infection?

Staphylococcal pyomyositis is a severe invasive soft tissue infection with high mortality rate that is increasingly being recognized even in temperate climates. In most cases predisposing factors are identified that include either source of skin penetration or/and impaired host immunocompetence. A case of primary, community-acquired pyomyositis of the left iliopsoas muscle in a 59-year-old immunecompetent woman, which was complicated with septic pulmonary emboli within 24 h after hospital admission, is presented. The patient was subjected to abscess drainage under computed tomography guidance. Both pus aspiration and blood cultures revealed methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Given the absolute absence of predisposing factors and a remote history of staphylococcal osteomyelitis in the same anatomical region 53 years ago, reactivation of a staphylococcal soft tissue infection was postulated. Systematic review of the literature revealed a few interesting cases of reactivated staphylococcal infection after decades of latency, although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms still need to be elucidated.

Intraoperative Life Threatening Acute Lung Injury Due to Multiple Septic Pulmonary Emboli during Transpedicular Biopsy and Kyphoplasty

A 55-year-old gentleman was presented to our clinic two months after a trivial fall with persistent pain, gibbus at the thoraco-lumbar junction and intact neurology. Radiological and laboratory investigations suggested osteoporotic fracture or metastasis. Due to unremitting pain, a plan was made to do transpedicular biopsy and kyphoplasty. Biopsy needles were inserted into both pedicles and an attempt at aspiration was made. Since the aspirate was dry, 5 to 6 mL of saline was injected through one needle and an attempt at aspiration was made through the other. Three-millilitres of sero-sanguineous material mixed with pus came out and kyphoplasty was deferred. After extubation, the patient developed severe bronchospasm and was transferred to the intensive care unit. Investigations confirmed multiple septic pulmonary emboli and the patient recovered completely after treatment. This report highlights that confirmation of the diagnosis is essential before performing any procedure that increases the intravertebral pressure and the place should have appropriate facilities to manage complications.

A Case of Valve Repair for Active Infective Endocarditis Located in the Tricuspid Valve / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We report surgically treated case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non-drug addict. A 35-year-old man with no history of cardiac disease was admitted to our institution for persistent fever. His blood culture was positive for methicillin-sensitive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MSSA). Echocardiography showed friable vegetations attached to the tricuspid valve with moderate tricuspid regurgitation. No other valves were affected. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple septic pulmonary emboli in both lungs. The infection was uncontrollable, so despite 6 weeks' of appropriate intravenous antibiotics therapy, he required surgery. Infected lesions had extended to parts of the septal leaflet and the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Valve repair with the resection-suture technique was performed. Half of the septal leaflet and a part of the posterior leaflet were excised with the vegetations, and the remaining septal leaflet was sutured to the posterior leaflet after annular plication without implanting an artificial ring. The postoperative course was uneventful, without further tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis. He was discharged after additional antibiotic administration for 4 weeks postoperatively, and he has remained free from endocarditis for over 1 year.

A Case of Lemierre Syndrome Associated with Septic Pulmonary Emboli / 결핵및호흡기질환

Lemierre syndrome is characterized by an acute oropharyngeal infection with secondary septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and frequent metastatic infections such as septic pulmonary emboli and suppurative arthritis. In the preantibiotic era, this condition generally had a fatal outcome. The presentation is so distinctive that a clinical diagnosis is possible in most cases, and a cure is expected with the appropriate therapy in the majority of patients. We present a case report of Lemierre syndrome with a review of the relevant literature.

A Case of Infective Endocarditis with Septic Pulmonary Emboli / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 37-year-old woman had a permanent transvenous cardiac pacemaker inserted previously in the left subclavian region to treat complete atrioventricular heart block. As infection occurred in the left subclavian subcutaneous pacemaker pocket after generator replacement, the generator was removed and a new permanent transvenous cardiac pacemaker was inserted in the right subclavian region. After two months, she developed fever and productive cough, and was admitted to our hospital. Echocardiography showed vegetation on the pacemaker electrodes and the tricuspid valve. Chest-computed tomography showed scattered bilateral peripheral nodules with various degrees of cavitation. We diagnosed right-sided infective endocarditis (IE) with septic pulmonary emboli (SPE) and performed cardiac surgery. We observed vegetation on the pacemaker electrodes and the tricuspid valve. The vegetation, the electrodes, and the generator were all removed and a permanent epicardial pacemaker was inserted subcutaneously in the left subcostal region. Methicillin sensitive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MSSA) was isolated from cultures of vegetation. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was performed and SPE was completely cured. We removed the pacemaker and the electrodes, and performed postoperative antibiotic therapy.

A Case of Septic Pulmonary Emboli in Ventricular Septal Defect

Septic pulmonary emboli(SPE) is derived from a variety of sources, including infected heart valves, peripheral sites of septic thrombophlebitis and infected venous catheters or pacemaker wires. In adult intravenous drug users, the most common cause of septic emboli is tricuspid valve endocarditis, but infective endocarditis in the non-complicated ventricular septal defect is a relatively rare condition in infants and children. Early detection, along with prompt administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics, is an important factor in the prognosis of patients with SPE. Unfortunately, initial clinical diagnosis is often difficult; a heart murmur may or may not be present and blood cultures may remain negative early in the course of infection. And so characteristic chest CT and chest radiographic findings are helpful in non-invasive diagnostic method for early detection. We experienced a case of pulmonary septic emboli associated with ventricular septal defect in a 6-year-old girl. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical features, echocardiography, chest x-ray and chest CT. We report this case with brief review related literatures.