Hematoma subperiosteal orbitário secundário a barotrauma em aviação civil / Orbital subperiosteal hematoma secondary to barotrauma in civil aviation

RESUMO Os diagnósticos diferenciais que compõem as proptoses agudas são, muitas vezes, desafiadores. A anamnese e o exame clínico exigem do oftalmologista atenção especial aos detalhes que permitem diferenciar quadros relativamente benignos e autolimitados de quadros que evoluirão com incapacidades permanentes. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente de 49 anos que, durante viagem de avião, apresentou dor ocular, hematoma periorbitário e proptose do olho esquerdo súbitos. Referia diplopia aguda incapacitante. Exames de tomografia e angiorressonância magnética confirmaram diagnóstico de sinusopatia do seio etmoidal esquerdo e hematoma subperiosteal da órbita esquerda, associado ao barotrauma. Apesar de raro, o diagnóstico de hematoma subperiosteal não traumático deve ser considerado diferencial em relação a proptoses agudas, sendo a anamnese fundamental para essa elucidação diagnóstica.

ABSTRACT Differential diagnoses of acute proptosis are often challenging. History and clinical examination require from ophthalmologists special attention to details, which make it possible to differentiate relatively benign and self-limited conditions from those that will progress to permanent disabilities. We report a 49-year-old female patient who had sudden eye pain, periorbital hematoma and proptosis of the left eye during a commercial flight. She also complained of disabling acute diplopia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography imaging confirmed the diagnosis of subperiosteal hematoma of the left orbit, associated with left ethmoid sinus disease. Although rare, non-traumatic subperiosteal hematoma should be considered in differential diagnoses of acute proptosis, and history taking is fundamental to elucidate the picture.

Zigomicosis y síndrome hemofagocítico en un paciente inmunocompetente: informe de caso / Zygomycosis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report

Introducción: la zigomicosis es una infección fúngica poco frecuente, con alta tasa de mortalidad y de mal pronóstico. Afecta principalmente a pacientes inmunocomprometidos. La asociación con el síndrome hemofagocítico es extremadamente inusual, más aún en pacientes inmunocompetentes, con pocos ejemplos registrados en la literatura. Caso clínico: se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino inmunocompetente de 40 años con diagnóstico de mucormicosis y síndrome hemofagocítico que evoluciona desfavorablemente, con fallo multiorgánico, a pesar de los esfuerzos médicos. Conclusión: la asociación de mucormicosis con síndrome hemofagocítico en un paciente inmunocompetente es extremadamente rara; existen pocos casos informados en Latinoamérica. Debemos tener presente esta asociación, ya que requiere un tratamiento agresivo y soporte vital avanzado. (AU)

Introduction: zygomycosis is a rare fungal infection that carries with high mortality rates. This poor prognosis, rapidly progressive infection mainly affects immunocompromised patients. The association with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is extremely unusual, even more in immunocompetent patients, with few cases reported. Case: we present the case of an immunocompetent male patient who was diagnosed with zygomycosis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Despite medical efforts he developed multiorganic failure. Conclusion: the association of mucormycosis with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an immunocompetent patient is exceptional with few cases reported in Latin America. We must always suspect this association considering they require aggressive treatment and advanced life support. (AU)

Osteonecrosis por bifosfonatos: presentación de un caso clínico / Osteonecrosis of the jaws: report of a clinical case

La osteonecrosis de los maxilares asociada a bifosfonatosfuedefinida como «Área de hueso expuesto en la región máxilo facial que permanece expuesta al menos por 8 semanas, siempre que los pacientes hayan sido prescriptos con bifosfonatos, y en ausencia de terapia radiante¼. (1) En la actualidad se agregó "hueso expuesto o hueso que se puede sondear a través de una fistula intra o extra oral" (2). Presentamos un caso clínico de una paciente femenina de 70 años de edad, diagnosticada con cáncer de hueso (osteosarcoma) con foco en la pelvis, historia de consumo de bifosfonatosvía endovenosa durante tres años, zolendronato 70mg, semanalmente. Al momento de la consulta, se encontraba en periodo de remisión de la enfermedad de base y sin consumo de medicación antiresortiva desde hace un año (AU)

Osteonecrosis of the jaws associated with bisphosphonates was defined as «Area of exposed bone in the maxillofacial region that remains exposed for at least 8 weeks, provided that patients have been prescribed with bisphosphonates, and in the absence of radiant therapy¼. (1) At present, "exposed bone or bone that can be probed through an intra or extra oral fistula" was added (2). We present a clinical case of a 70-year-old female patient, diagnosed with bone cancer (osteosarcoma) with a focus on the pelvis, history of consumption of bisphosphonates intravenously for three years, zolendronate 70 mg, weekly. At the time of the consultation, he was in the period of remission of the underlying disease and without consumption of antiresortive medication for a year (AU)

Infecciones en pie diabético: Elección del tratamiento antibiótico empírico / Infections in diabetic foot. Choice of empirical antibiotic regimen

Las infecciones del pie diabético se asocian a complicaciones graves y constituyen la principal causa de hospitalización relacionada con diabetes y amputación de miembros inferiores. Para evitar su progresión, se requiere una conducta inicial rápida y adecuada que incluye toma de muestras para cultivos e inicio inmediato de tratamiento antibiótico empírico, según las características de las lesiones y la prevalencia local de microorganismos. Por ello, es necesario conocer y vigilar la microbiología local y la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la frecuencia de gérmenes en infecciones de pie diabético en pacientes ambulatorios asistidos en nuestro hospital en 2018 e identificar el esquema antibiótico con mayor cobertura, en comparación con los resultados de un estudio similar realizado en 2015. Fueron analizadas 72 muestras tomadas mediante punción por piel sana de partes blandas. Entre los 68 gérmenes aislados, los Gram negativos fueron los más frecuentes (47.1%), lo que representa un aumento significativo en relación a la frecuencia observada en 2015 (24.6%) p = 0.01 y un aumento de la sensibilidad a ciprofloxacina de 25% a 62.5% (p=0.03). El esquema con mayor cobertura fue amoxicilina-clavulánico con ciprofloxacina (77.9%) mientras que en 2015 fue amoxicilina-clavulánico con trimetoprima sulfametoxazol. La vigilancia de la microbiología local es fundamental para la elección del antibiótico empírico en las infecciones de pie diabético. En nuestro hospital, cuando la infección es de partes blandas, se recomienda la combinación amoxicilina-clavulánico más ciprofloxacina como esquema antibiótico empírico según los hallazgos de este estudio.

Diabetic foot infections are related to severe complications and constitute the main reason for diabetes-related hospitalization and lower limb amputations. A diabetic foot infection requires prompt actions to avoid progression of the infected wound; a soft tissue sample has to be taken for microbiological culture and empiric antibiotic therapy must be started immediately. Empiric antibiotic schemes should be chosen based on the severity of the infection and the local prevalence of microbial causal agents. Therefore, it is important to monitor these indicators. The aim of this study was to determine which microorganisms were more prevalent in cultures of diabetic foot infections during 2018 and what antibiotic combination was better to cover local microbiology, compared with data available from 2015 for a similar cohort. A total of 68 positive cultures were obtained of 72 soft tissue specimens analyzed. The most frequent microorganisms were Gram negative (47.1%), and resulted significantly more frequent than in 2015 (24.6%) p = 0.01. These Gram negative germs also resulted more sensitive to ciprofloxacin than in 2015 (62.5% vs. 25.0%) p = 0.03. Amoxicillin-clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin was the optimal combination therapy in 2018, while in 2015 it was amoxicillin-clavulanate plus trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. In agreement with these results, we recommend amoxicillin-clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin as the empiric antibiotic regimen of choice for soft tissue infections in diabetic foot. We consider surveillance of local microbiology to be an important tool in the management of diabetic foot infections.

Tuberculosis cerebral sin meningitis en un niño inmunocompetente / Cerebral tuberculosis without meningitis in a immunocompetent child

Resumen La tuberculosis (TBC) cerebral o tuberculoma(s) sin meningitis es una enfermedad poco frecuente y de alta morbimortalidad. Presentamos el caso clínico de un lactante de 11 meses, previamente sano, que consultó por fiebre prolongada y síntomas neurológicos. La RM de encéfalo mostró múltiples imágenes micronodulares e hidrocefalia. El estudio de LCR para bacterias, hongos y micobacterias fue negativo. Se prescribió terapia empírica como una meningoencefalitis subaguda y tratamiento antituberculoso tetraconjugado y corticoesteroides. La confirmación del diagnóstico de TBC cerebral se realizó por biopsia de la lesión, con presencia de inflamación granulomatosa crónica necrosante y bacilos ácido-alcohol resistentes. Se enfatiza la importancia de considerar esta presentación de TBC en niños, y la necesidad de la búsqueda exhaustiva del agente etiológico en diferentes líquidos y tejidos, aun por métodos invasores.

Cerebral tuberculosis TB (tuberculomas) without meningitis is an uncommon disease with a high morbidity and mortality. We report on a case that illustrates the complexity of this clinical presentation. An 11 month old, previously healthy male infant was brought to the clinic due to fever present during the last 1.5 months, associated with loss of neurodevelopmental goals and signs of endocranial hypertension. CT scan of the skull revealed dilatation of the ventricular system with transependimary edema; MRI showed multiple intra- and extra-axial micronodular images and hydrocephalus. Studies of CSF (cyto-chemical analysis, staining, culture for aerobes, fungi, mycobacteria, and molecular tests for TB were negative). Empirical management for subacute meningoencephalitis was prescribed complemented with tetraconjugated treatment for TB and steroids. As there was no microbiological isolation, biopsy of a cerebellar lesion was performed, which revealed chronic necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and acid-alcohol resistant bacilli. The diagnosis of cerebral TB without meningeal involvement was confirmed. The objective of the present report is to emphasize the importance of considering this presentation of TB in children, to remark the need of exhaustive search for the etiologic agent by obtaining samples of the different fluids and tissues even if it implies recurring to invasive methods.

Incidência de flebite e flebite pós-infusional em adultos hospitalizados / Incidencia de flebitis y flebitis después de la infusión en adultos hospitalizados / Incidence of phlebitis and post-infusion phlebitis in hospitalised adults

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a incidência de flebite durante o uso de cateter intravenoso periférico (CIP) e pós-infusional e analisar a associação com fatores de risco em pacientes hospitalizados. Método Estudo de coorte com 165 pacientes adultos internados em hospital universitário de Porto Alegre que totalizaram 447 acessos no período de dezembro 2014 a fevereiro 2015. A coleta dos dados foi diária, e a análise dos dados ocorreu pela estatística descritiva e analítica. Resultados A incidência de flebite durante o uso do CIP foi de 7,15% e de flebite pós-infusional, 22,9%. A flebite durante o uso do cateter associou-se com a Amoxicilina + Ácido Clavulânico. A flebite pós-infusional apresentou associação do grau de gravidade com a idade e com o uso de Amoxacilina + Ácido Clavulânico, Cloridrato de Tramadol e Anfotericina. Conclusão A incidência de flebite pós-infusional mostrou-se um indicador importante para a análise do cenário da qualidade da assistência em saúde.

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar la incidencia de flebitis en el uso de catéter periférico intravenoso (CIP) y posinfusional y analizar la asociación con los factores de riesgo en pacientes hospitalizados. Método Estudio de cohorte con 165 pacientes adultos ingresados en un hospital universitario de Porto Alegre, que ascendió a 447 accesos de diciembre 2014 a febrero de 2015. La recolección de datos fue diaria y el análisis de datos fue mediante estadística descriptiva y analítica. Resultados La incidencia de flebitis durante el uso de catéter periférico intravenoso fue del 7,15% y de la flebitis posinfusional fue del 22,9%. La flebitis durante el uso del catéter se asoció con el uso de Amoxicilina + Ácido clavulánico. La flebitis posinfusional presentó una asociación del grado de gravedad con la edad, y con el uso de Amoxicilina + Ácido clavulánico, Clorhidrato de tramadol y Anfotericina. Conclusión La incidencia de flebitis posinfuncional mostró ser un indicador importante para el análisis del escenario de la calidad de atención en salud.

ABSTRACT Objective to determine the incidence of phlebitis during and after the use of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIC), and analyse the association of this complication with risk factors. Methods cohort study with 165 adult patients admitted to a university hospital in Porto Alegre, totalling 447 accesses, from December 2014 to February 2015. Data were collected on a daily basis and analysed by means of descriptive and analytical statistics. Results The incidence of phlebitis during PIC was 7.15% and the incidence of post-infusion phlebitis was 22.9%. Phlebitis during catheter use was associated with the use of Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid. The grade of post-infusion phlebitis was associated with age and use of Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid, Tramadol Hydrochloride, and Amphotericin. Conclusion The incidence of post-infusion phlebitis proved to be an important indicator to analyse the quality of the healthcare setting.

Heridas por mordedura animal en la región maxilofacial: revisión de literatura y presentación de casos / Animal bite wounds in the maxillofacial region: a review of the literature and case reports

Las heridas por mordida en la región maxilofacial son relativamentecomunes y se consideran de tratamiento complejo; son contaminadas con una flora oral bacteriana única y, en ocasiones, tienen resultados estéticos devastadores. Las heridas pueden ser ocasionadas por animales domésticos, salvajes y humanos. El clínico debe tener una comprensión multidisciplinaria del manejo de las mismas, incluyendo el abordaje médico, quirúrgico, viral, bacteriológico y la secuencia propia del tratamiento. Se presenta una revisión de la literatura, así como casos clínicos para el tratamiento integral de este tipo de trauma.

Bite wounds in the maxillofacial region are relatively common and are regarded as diffi cult to treat given the associated contamination with what is a unique polymicrobial inoculum. The aesthetic consequences can occasionally prove devastating. The wounds can be caused by both domestic and wild animals, as well as by humans. Clinicians need to have a multidisciplinary understanding of how to manage such wounds, including surgical, medical, virological, and bacteriological aspects, and the proper sequence of treatment. We present a review of the literature and a number of clinical cases for the comprehensive management of this type of trauma.

Burkholderia pseudomallei infection in a healthy adult from a rural area of South India.

Melioidosis is an emerging disease producing protean manifestations, and is more common in alcoholics and diabetics. The disease can be a trivial localized lesion or a fatal septicemia. Early diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial treatment greatly reduces the mortality rate. We report a case of localized form of the disease in an elderly male with no known predisposing medical disease who responded well to oral amoxycillin-clavulanic acid and cotrimoxazole treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Fixed Dose Combination of Cefpodoxime Proxetil and Potassium Clavulanate (Cefchamp) in Comparison with Cefuroxime Axetil in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Fixed Dose Combination of Cefpodoxime Proxetil and Potassium Clavulanate (Cefchamp) in comparison with Cefuroxime Axetil in patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections.Methods:In this open, randomized, and controlled, parallel-group study of 7 days, 57 patients of both gender above 18 years of age with diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection were randomized to receive Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) of Cefpodoxime Proxetil plus Potassium Clavulanate (Cefchamp), or Cefuroxime Axetil (CA) for a period of 7 days. Efficacy was assessed by symptoms of cough, dyspnoea, wheezing, Rhonchi, and chest pain based on 4-point scale as 0=none,1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe. Fever was recorded as the patient’s actual temperature. Safety assessment included adverse events and adverse drug reactions during the study period.Results: Three patients lost to follow up with CA.The improvement in all symptoms except cough was greater with CC as compared to CA group(p, >0.05). Fever improved from 37.18°C at baseline to 37.01 on day 3 with CC, whereas with CA the fever improved from 37.l5 at baseline to 37.05 on day 3 with CA. Fever subsided in all the patients in both treatments by day 5 of study therapy. Clinical cure was seen in 57.14% (16/28) patients on CC, whereas 42.3% patients (11/26) on CA had clinical cure.Conclusions:The fixed dose combination of Cefpodoxime Proxetil 200 mg and Potassium Clavulanate 125mg (Cefchamp) in comparison with Cefuroxime Axetil 500 mg showed improvement in the cure of respiratory tract infections in terms of decreasing the patient’s LRTI symptoms, improving the patient’s general health and with few adverse events and adverse drug reactions. However, further studies of greater sample size and blinded nature are needed to further substantiate this effect.

C-reactive protein as an indicator of inflammatory responses to experimentally induced cystitis in dogs

The aim of this study was to demonstrate and assess C-reactive protein (CRP) changes in dogs with induced bacterial cystitis with or without antibiotics. We also evaluated availability of CRP levels to serve as an indicator for monitoring or diagnosing bacterial cystitis. Serial CRP concentrations in dogs with induced bacterial cystitis were higher than those of controls (p < 0.001). CRP concentrations peaked on day 7 and gradually decreased thereafter. In the treatment group, CRP concentrations decreased after medication compared to the untreated group (p = 0.032). CRP levels had a linear correlation with urine white blood cell counts among all groups (r = 0.837, p < 0.001, n = 140). Compared to the negative urine culture group, dogs with positive urine culture results had higher CRP concentrations (median 43.8 mg/L vs. 5.9 mg/L; p < 0.001). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.955; when cut-off value was 12.2 mg/L, CRP measurements were found to have a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 86.4%. This result indicates that rapid increases of CRP occurred after inducing bacterial cystitis and CRP may be a useful indicator for monitoring or diagnosing canine bacterial cystitis together with sediment urinalysis and urine bacterial culture.

Antibiotic treatment schemes for very severe community-acquired pneumonia in children: a randomized clinical study / Esquemas de tratamiento antibiótico para la neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en niños: estudio clínico aleatorizado

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical response to initial empiric treatment with oxacillin plus ceftriaxone and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in hospitalized children diagnosed with very severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted among children 2 months to 5 years old with a diagnosis of very severe CAP in the pediatric ward of São Paulo State University Hospital in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from April 2007 to May 2008. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by type of treatment: an oxacillin/ceftriaxone group (OCG, n = 48) and an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid group (ACG, n = 56). Analyzed outcomes were: time to clinical improvement (fever and tachypnea), time on oxygen therapy, length of stay in hospital, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, and complications (including pleural effusion). RESULTS: The two groups did not differ statistically for age, sex, symptom duration before admission, or previous antibiotic treatment. Time to improve tachypnea was less among ACG patients than OCG patients (4.8 ± 2.2 versus 5.8 ± 2.4 days respectively; P = 0.028), as was length of hospital stay (11.0 ± 6.2 versus 14.4 ± 4.5 days respectively; P = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for fever improvement time, time on oxygen therapy, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, or frequency of pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment plans are effective in treating very severe CAP in 2-month-to 5-year-old hospitalized children. The only analyzed outcome that favored amoxicillin/clavulanic acid treatment was time required to improve tachypnea.

OBJETIVO: Comparar la respuesta clínica al tratamiento empírico inicial con oxacilina más ceftriaxona frente a amoxicilina más ácido clavulánico en niños hospitalizados con diagnóstico de neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio clínico prospectivo aleatorizado en niños de 2 meses a 5 años de edad con diagnóstico de neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en la sala de pediatría del Hospital Universitario del Estado de São Paulo en Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil, entre abril del 2007 y mayo del 2008. Los pacientes se dividieron aleatoriamente en dos grupos según el tratamiento administrado: un grupo recibió oxacilina/ceftriaxona (n = 48) y otro amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico (n = 56). Los criterios de valoración analizados fueron el tiempo hasta la mejoría clínica (de la fiebre y la taquipnea), el tiempo de administración de oxigenoterapia, la duración de la internación, la necesidad de ampliar el espectro antibiótico y las complicaciones (como el derrame pleural). RESULTADOS: Los dos grupos no presentaban diferencias estadísticas con respecto a la edad, el sexo, la duración de los síntomas antes de la internación o el tratamiento previo con antibióticos. El tiempo hasta la mejoría de la taquipnea fue menor en los pacientes tratados con amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico que en los que recibieron oxacilina/ceftriaxona (4,8 ± 2,2 días frente a 5,8 ±2,4 días, respectivamente; P = 0,028), y también fue menor la duración de la internación (11,0 ± 6,2 días frente a 14,4 ± 4,5 días, respectivamente; P = 0,002). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en relación con el tiempo hasta la mejoría de la fiebre, el tiempo de administración de oxigenoterapia, la necesidad de ampliar el espectro antibiótico ni la frecuencia de derrame pleural. CONCLUSIONES: Ambos esquemas de tratamiento son eficaces para tratar la neumonía extrahospitalaria muy grave en niños de 2 meses a 5 años de edad hospitalizados. El único criterio de valoración analizado que favoreció el tratamiento con amoxicilina/ ácido clavulánico fue el tiempo hasta la mejoría de la taquipnea.

Agranulocitose induzida por dapsona em paciente com hanseníase: relato de caso / Dapsone-mediated agranulocytosis in a patient with leprosy: case report

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dapsona é um medicamentode uso amplo, entre os quais se inclui o tratamento da hanseníase. A agranulocitose é descrita como uma reação adversa desse medicamento, embora seja rara e imprevisível. O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar um caso de agranulocitose induzida por dapsona em paciente com hanseníase.RELATO DO CASO: Paciente do sexo feminino, 56 anos, admitida no pronto-atendimento, com história e exame físico compatíveis com amigdalite com início há quatro dias, bem como dor torácica e dispneia. Estava em tratamento de hanseníase com clofazimina e dapsona havia dois meses. O hemograma revelava anemia (hemoglobina = 9,3 g%), leucopenia (800/mm3 - 1% segmentados, 98% linfócitos e 1% monócitos) plaquetopenia (144.000/mm3), e reticulocitose (2,5% ou 87.750/mm3). Os exames de imagem não demonstraram alterações. Diante do quadro, foi suspenso o tratamento com dapsona e realizado antibioticoterapia por via venosa e terapia com fator estimulador de colônia de granulócitos. A paciente teve melhora clínica significativa,recebendo alta no 20° dia de internação hospitalar para acompanhamento ambulatorial.CONCLUSÃO: Considerando que o risco de desenvolvimento da agranulocitose é muito pequeno, ele não deve, em geral, ser um fator importante na decisão sobre o uso da dapsona em pacientes com hanseníase. Entretanto, devem-se conhecer suas manifestações e logo que identificada realizar a terapêutica adequada.(AU)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dapsone is a drug with many uses, including the treatment of leprosy. Agranulocytosisis described as an adverse reaction of this drug, in spite of being rare and unpredictable. This study has the objective of reporting a case of agranulocytosis mediated by dapsone in a patient with leprosy.CASE REPORT: Female patient, 56-year-old, who presented to the emergency department with clinical history and examination suggestive of tonsillitis within 4 days of onset as well as chestpain and dyspnea. She was in treatment of leprosy with clofazimine and dapsone for 2 months. The complete blood count showed anemia (hemoglobin = 9.3 g%), leukopenia (800/mm3 - 1% neutrophil granulocytes, 98% lymphocytes and 1% monocytes) thrombocytopenia (144.000/mm3), and reticulocytosis(2,5% or 87.750/mm3). The imaging studies have not shown anyabnormalities. The treatment with dapsone was withdrawn and it was started therapy with intravenous antibiotics and granulocytecolony-stimulating factor. The patient had significant clinical improvement,and was discharged for outpatient treatment in the 20th day of hospital admission.CONCLUSION: Considering that the risk of developing agranulocytosisis very low, it should not be, usually, an importantfactor for the decision of using dapsone in patients with leprosy.Nonetheless, its manifestations must be known and, as soon as this complication is identified, the adequate therapy must be provided.(AU)

Infección de pseudoquiste pancreático por Haemophilus parainfluenzae: Caso clínico / Pancreatic pseudocyst infection caused by Haemophilus parainfluenzae: Report of one case

We report a 48-year-old male admitted to hospital due to a severe alcoholic pancreatitis. At four weeks of evolution of the acute episode, an abdominal CAT scan showed a fluid collection of 20 cm diameter located in the pancreatic tail and 2 small collections in the head. The patient received several antimicrobials and during the seventh week of evolution, while receiving vancomycin, presented fever. A fine needle aspiration of the cyst revealed the presence of Haemophilus parainfluenzae biotype VIII. The patient was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and a laparoscopic cysto-gastrostomy, with a good clinical response.

Antibioticoterapia oral versus endovenosa em crianças neutropênicas febris recebendo quimioterapia / Oral vs. intravenous empirical antimicrobial therapy in febrile neutropenic patients receiving childhood cancer chemotherapy

OBJETIVO: Comparar o uso de antibioticoterapia endovenosa versus oral. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionadas todas as crianças e adolescentes neutropênicos com idade inferior a 18 anos classificados como baixo risco para complicações e recebendo quimioterapia. O estudo ocorreu entre 2002 e 2005 na Unidade de Oncologia Pediátrica, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre (RS). Os pacientes, divididos em grupo A e grupo B, eram randomizados para receber terapia oral ou endovenosa. O tratamento utilizado para o grupo A foi ciprofloxacina e amoxicilina/clavulanato via oral e placebo endovenoso e, para o grupo B, cefepime e placebo oral. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados 91 episódios consecutivos de neutropenia febril em 58 crianças. Para os pacientes do grupo A, a taxa de falência foi de 51,2 por cento e a média de tempo de hospitalização foi de 8 dias (variação de 2-10). Para os pacientes tratados com antibioticoterapia endovenosa, a taxa de falência foi de 45,8 por cento e a média de tempo de hospitalização foi de 7 dias (variação de 3-10). CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo não houve diferenças entre a antibioticoterapia oral versus a terapia endovenosa. Estudos randomizados com maior número de pacientes são necessários antes de padronizar a terapêutica oral como tratamento para esta população de pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of intravenous vs. oral antibiotic therapy. METHODS: All febrile neutropenic patients younger than 18 years old with low risk of complications and receiving chemotherapy were selected. The study was conducted from 2002 to 2005 at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Patients were divided into group A and group B and were randomly assigned to receive oral or intravenous therapy. The empirical antimicrobial treatment used for group A consisted in oral ciprofloxacin plus amoxicillin-clavulanate and intravenous placebo, and group B received cefepime and oral placebo. RESULTS: A total of 91 consecutive episodes of febrile neutropenia in 58 children were included in the study. For patients of group A, treatment failure rate was 51.2 percent; the mean length of hospital stay was 8 days (range 2-10 days). For patients treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy, treatment failure rate was 45.8 percent; the mean length of hospital stay was 7 days (range 3-10 days). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the outcome in oral vs. intravenous therapy. There is need of larger randomized trials before oral empirical therapy administered to this population should be considered the new standard of treatment.

False-positive widal in melioidosis.

Enteric fever is endemic in this part of the world, and Widal test is one of the time-honored laboratory tests that are being used for years to diagnose the disease. On the other hand, melioidosis is a newly emerging disease from this region, which is most often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed by clinicians. It is well accepted that false-positive Widal reactions following certain non-typhoid Salmonella infections may occur commonly. Three cases of high titers of Widal test are described, where melioidosis was the actual diagnosis in every occasion and was never suspected until diagnosed microbiologically. All the patients had shown a partial response to ceftriaxone. Blood and pus cultures grew Burkholderia pseudomallei, whereas Salmonella typhi was not isolated from blood in any patient. With appropriate antibiotics, the patients showed clinical and microbiological improvement with lowering of Widal titers. These 3 cases show that high Widal titer in any patient may mislead the diagnosis of melioidosis, and further laboratory workup should always be done to rule out melioidosis, especially in cases with nonresponsiveness to treatment.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for orthognathic surgery: a prospective, comparative, randomized study between amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and penicillin.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic efficacy after the correction of dentofacial deformities between short- and long-term penicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was prospective, randomized, and double blinded. Patients were separated into four groups randomly: short-term and long-term (5 days) penicillin and short-term and long-term (5 days) amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. RESULTS: One hundred twenty two patients were assigned randomly into the four groups. Infection developed in a patient in the short-term amoxicillin-clavulanic acid group and in a patient in the long-term penicillin group. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in infection between the two groups of antibiotics. Based on the present study, short-term penicillin is still the most appropriate choice for prophylactic antibiotic in orthognathic surgery.

Combinación de antibióticos en pediatría: [revisión] / Combination of antibiotics in pediatrics: [review]

La mayoría de las infecciones bacterianas en el paciente pediátrico pueden ser tratadas con un solo antibiótico, especialmente en el caso de infecciones susceptibles de tratamiento ambulatorio. Sin embargo, en pacientes hospitalizados con infecciones potencialmente severas, existen situaciones especiales en las cuales es necesario combinar antibióticos, ya que con ello se obtienen ventajas destacadas. En esta breve revisión describiremos las indicaciones generales de combinaciones de antibióticos y ejemplos particulares para cada indicación.

Most bacterial infections can be treated with a single antibiotic, especially in cases of infections susceptible of ambulatory treatment. However, in hospitalized patients with potentially serious infections, there are special situations, in which it is necessary to combine antibiotics because it has outstanding advantages. In this brief review, we will describe the general indications and particular examples of each indication.