Actinomicosis pulmonar: Diagnóstico por punción-aspiración con aguja fina / Pulmonary actinomycosis: Fine needle aspiration diagnostic

Se presentan 4 casos de actinomicosis pulmonar en pacientes mayores de 40 años, 2 de ellos con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), que mostraron un aumento de la tos productiva, episodios de disnea, hemoptisis y fiebre de larga evolución. En las radiografías de tórax de rutina se observaban imágenes segmentarias de consolidación aérea, sugestivas de cuadros neumónicos no resueltos o neoplasia. La tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) mostró hallazgos similares a los anteriores. Los cultivos de esputo y las pruebas de Mantoux fueron repetidamente negativos. Debido a la mala evolución de los pacientes y a los hallazgos radiológicos, se practicó una punción-aspiración con aguja fina (PAAF) para descartar neoplasia. En la citología se observaron conglomerados tridimensionales, de bordes filamentosos y aspecto algodonoso compatibles con Actinomyces. El tratamiento antibiótico produjo la mejoría del cuadro clínico y el seguimiento demostró la desaparición de las opacidades radiológicas. Actualmente, la actinomicosis pulmonar es infrecuente y la sintomatología inespecífica, por lo que puede confundirse con procesos neoplásicos. Por tanto, en pacientes con factores de riesgo, síntomas de neumonía subaguda e imágenes radiológicas de consolidación del parénquima es aconsejable considerar la posibilidad de actinomicosis pulmonar. Es una enfermedad tratable y su correcto diagnóstico mediante la PAAF evita al paciente pruebas diagnósticas más agresivas, retrasos en el diagnóstico y le permite una cura completa con tratamiento antibiótico.

We present four cases of pulmonary actinomycosis in patients over 40 years of age, two of them with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), showing an increase in productive cough, episodes of dyspnea, hemoptysis and long-term fever. Routine chest radiographs revealed segmental air-space consolidation, suggestive of unresolved pneumonia or neoplasm. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed similar findings to the ones previously described. Sputum cultures for mycobacteriae and Mantoux tests were constantly negative. Due to the poor clinical and radiodological outcome of the patients, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) was made to rule out a neoplasm. Tridimensional filamentous colonies of Actinomyces were observed in cytology. Antibiotic treatment resulted in an improvement of symptoms. The follow-up showed a decrease of the consolidation areas. Pulmonary actinomycosis is rare nowadays and clinical symptoms are unspecific and can be confused with a neoplasm process. Therefore, in patients with risk factors, symptoms of subacute pneumonia and radiologic findings of consolidation, it is advisable to consider pulmonary actinomycosis as a diagnostic possibility. It is a treatable disease and its correct diagnosis by FNA, avoids performing invasive diagnostic tests, delays in the diagnosis and allows for a complete cure by antibiotic therapy.

Tratamento cirúrgico de crianças com pneumonia necrosante / Surgical treatment of children with necrotizing pneumonia

OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados do tratamento cirúrgico de crianças com pneumonia necrosante. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva dos prontuários de 20 crianças diagnosticadas com pneumonia necrosante e submetidas ao tratamento cirúrgico nos serviços de cirurgia torácica de dois hospitais na cidade de Manaus (AM) entre março de 1997 e setembro de 2008. Dados referentes a idade, sexo, agente etiológico, motivos da indicação cirúrgica, tipo de ressecção cirúrgica realizada e complicações pós-operatórias foram compilados. RESULTADOS: Dos 20 pacientes analisados, 12 (60 por cento) eram do sexo feminino. A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 30 meses. Os agentes etiológicos mais encontrados foram Staphylococcus aureus, em 5 pacientes (25 por cento), e Klebsiella sp., em 2 (10 por cento). Os motivos de indicação cirúrgica foram sepse, em 16 pacientes (80 por cento), e fístula broncopleural, em 4 (20 por cento). Os tipos de procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados foram lobectomia, em 12 pacientes (60 por cento), segmentectomia, em 7 (35 por cento), e bilobectomia, em 1 (5 por cento). Além desses procedimentos, 8 pacientes (40 por cento) foram submetidos à descorticação pulmonar. As complicações pós-operatórias foram as seguintes: fístula broncopleural, em 4 pacientes (20 por cento); empiema, em 1 (5 por cento); pneumatocele, em 1 (5 por cento); e flebite em membro superior esquerdo, em 1 (5 por cento). Quatro pacientes (20 por cento) morreram. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com evidências de necrose pulmonar devem ser considerados para a ressecção cirúrgica, que está indicada em casos graves de sepse, fístula broncopleural de alto débito ou insuficiência respiratória aguda que não respondem ao tratamento clínico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of the surgical treatment of children with necrotizing pneumonia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical charts of 20 children diagnosed with necrotizing pneumonia and submitted to surgical treatment between March of 1997 and September of 2008 in the thoracic surgery departments of two hospitals in the city of Manaus, Brazil. We compiled data regarding age, gender, etiologic agent, indications for surgery, type of surgical resection performed, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 30 months. Of the 20 patients studied, 12 (60 percent) were female. The most common etiologic agents were Staphylococcus aureus, in 5 patients (25 percent), and Klebsiella sp., in 2 (10 percent). The indications for surgery were sepsis, in 16 patients (80 percent), and bronchopleural fistula, in 4 (20 percent). The types of surgical procedures performed were lobectomy, in 12 patients (60 percent), segmentectomy, in 7 (35 percent), and bilobectomy, in 1 (5 percent). There were 8 patients (40 percent) who also underwent decortication. The postoperative complications were as follows: bronchopleural fistula, in 4 patients (20 percent); empyema, in 1 (5 percent); pneumatocele, in 1 (5 percent); and phlebitis of the left arm, in 1 (5 percent). Four (20 percent) of the patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection should be considered in patients with evidence of pulmonary necrosis. Resection is indicated in cases of severe sepsis, high output bronchopleural fistula, or acute respiratory failure that are refractory to clinical treatment.

Bacteriemia por Streptococcus pyogenes: Presentación de un caso clínico con aparición tardía de neumonía / Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pyogenes: Report of one case

We report a 58-year-old female presenting with fever and vomiting. The initial laboratory examination disclosed two blood cultures that were positive for Streptococcus Pyogenes. An abdominal CAT scan showed a right basal pneumonia. The patient was treated with antimicrobials and discharged with oral cefadroxil for 21 days. One month after discharge she was asymptomatic and with a normal C reactive protein. Pneumonia is an important differential diagnosis in unknown origin bacteremia caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes. It may have a fulminant evolution and may complicate with abscess and empyema.

Bacterial pneumonia following bone marrow transplantation: HRCT findings / Achados de TCAR nas pneumonias bacterianas após transplante de medula óssea

Objective: To describe HRCT findings in patients with bacterial pneumonia following bone marrow transplantation(BMT). Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 30 patients diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia in whom HRCT of the chest was performed within 24 h after the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis was confirmed, based on a positive culture of sputum or bronchial aspirate, together with a positive pleural fluid or blood culture, within one week after symptom onset. There were 20 male patients and 10 female patients. The median age was 21 years (range, 1-41 years). The BMT had been performed for the treatment of the following: chronic myeloid leukemia, in 14 cases; severe aplastic anemia, in 6; acute myeloid leukemia, in 4; Fanconi’s anemia, in 3; and acute lymphocytic leukemia, in 3. Two radiologists analyzed the HRCT scans and reached their final decisions by consensus. Results: The most common HRCT findings were air-space consolidation (in 60%), small centrilobular nodules (in 50%), ground-glass opacities (in 40%), bronchial wall thickening (in 20%), large nodules (in 20%), pleural lesions (in 16.7%) and tree-in-bud opacities (in 10%). The pulmonary lesions were distributed in the central and peripheral areas in 15 patients, whereas they were exclusively peripheral in 11. Lesions were locatedin the lower and middle lobes of the lung in 22 and 20 patients, respectively. Conclusions: The most common HRCT findings in our patient sample were air-space consolidation, small centrilobular nodules and ground-glass opacities, most often in the central and peripheral regions of the middle and lower lung zones.

Objetivo: Descrever os achados de TCAR em pacientes com pneumonia bacteriana após transplante de medulaóssea (TMO). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo com 30 pacientes diagnosticados com pneumonia bacteriana, documentada com TCAR do tórax realizada em até 24 h do início dos sintomas, e com diagnóstico comprovado com base em cultura positiva de escarro ou de aspirado brônquico associada à cultura positiva de líquido pleural ou de sangue dentro de uma semana após o início dos sintomas. Foram avaliados 20 pacientes masculinos e 10 femininos, com mediana de idade de 21 anos (variação, 1-41 anos). O TMO foi realizado para o tratamento de leucemia mieloide crônica (n = 14), anemia aplástica severa (n = 6), leucemia mieloide aguda (n = 4), anemia de Fanconi (n = 3) e leucemia linfoide aguda (n = 3). Dois radiologistas analisaram os exames de TCAR, chegando a decisões finais por consenso. Resultados: Os achados de TCAR mais frequentes foram consolidação do espaço aéreo (60%),pequenos nódulos centrolobulares (50%), opacidade em vidro fosco (40%), espessamento de parede brônquica (20%), nódulos grandes (20%), lesões pleurais (16,7%) e opacidades em padrão de árvore em brotamento (10%). As alterações pulmonares estavam distribuídas nas regiões centrais e periféricas dos pulmões em 15 pacientes e somente na periferia em 11 pacientes. As lesões estavam localizadas no terço inferior e no terço médio dos pulmões em 22 e 20 pacientes, respectivamente. Conclusões: Os achados de TCAR mais comuns na nossa amostra foram consolidações do espaço aéreo, pequenos nódulos centrolobulares e opacidades em vidro-fosco, distribuídos nas regiões centrais e periféricas dos terços médio e inferior dos pulmões.

Pulmonary gangrene complicating bacterial pneumonia.

Two cases of pulmonary gangrene involving left lower lobe in an 18-month and 4-year-old female children are reported. The patients looked like having empyema following Klebsiella pneumonia. The diagnosis was made following computerized tomography scan and during decortication respectively.

Diagnostic investigation of ventilator-associated pneumonia using bronchoalveolar lavage: comparative study with a postmortem lung biopsy

The purpose of the present study was to validate the quantitative culture and cellularity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). A prospective validation test trial was carried out between 1992 and 1997 in a general adult intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. Thirty-seven patients on mechanical ventilation with suspected VAP who died at most three days after a BAL diagnostic procedure were submitted to a postmortem lung biopsy. BAL effluent was submitted to Gram staining, quantitative culture and cellularity count. Postmortem lung tissue quantitative culture and histopathological findings were considered to be the gold standard exams for VAP diagnosis. According to these criteria, 20 patients (54 percent) were diagnosed as having VAP and 17 (46 percent) as not having the condition. Quantitative culture of BAL effluent showed 90 percent sensitivity (18/20), 94.1 percent specificity (16/17), 94.7 percent positive predictive value and 88.8 percent negative predictive value. Fever and leukocytosis were useless for VAP diagnosis. Gram staining of BAL effluent was negative in 94.1 percent of the patients without VAP (16/17). Regarding the total cellularity of BAL, a cut-off point of 400,000 cells/ml showed a specificity of 94.1 percent (16/17), and a cut-off point of 50 percent of BAL neutrophils showed a sensitivity of 90 percent (19/20). In conclusion, BAL quantitative culture, Gram staining and cellularity might be useful in the diagnostic investigation of VAP

Neumonía extrahospitalaria por Klebsiella oxytoca / Extra-hospital pneumonia by Klebsiella oxytoca

La neumonía es un síndrome clínico de etiología infecciosa, producido por la inflamación aguda del parénquima pulmonar distal a los bronquíolos terminales, que se acompaña de un cuadro radiológico característico. De acuerdo al ámbito en que se origine, puede ser extra o intranosocomial. La incidencia de neumonía extrahospitalaria por Gram negativos, se calcula en un 7-18 por ciento, de los cuales un 3 por ciento, sería producido por la Klebsiella pneumoniae. No hemos hallado en la literatura médica reportes de Klebsiella oxytoca como agente etiológico de neumonía de la comunidad. Se presenta un paciente de sexo masculino de 45 años de edad, que ingresa al servicio con diagnóstico de neumonía extrahospitalaria con hipoxemia, por lo que se inició tratamiento con la combinación ampicilina/sulbactam. El paciente evolucionó en forma desfavorable, con atelectasia de lóbulo inferior derecho y derrame pleural. Un cultivo de esputo fue positivo para Klebsiella oxytoca. Se rotó el esquema antibiótico a ceftazidime con mejoría clínica y resolución radiológica. Se concluye que debería tenerse presente a este agente etiológico, en especial en aquellos pacientes con neumonía de la comunidad que no responden al tratamiento empírico convencional