Acute Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Encephalitis in an Adult

@#Mycoplasma pneumonia is an atypical bacterium that causes mild respiratory tract infections, especially in the upper respiratory system. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is infrequently associated with various CNS manifestations such as encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, myelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Here we report a rare case of mycoplasma encephalitis in an adult who presented with a first episode of seizure following fever and neck stiffness for one week. Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody titer was markedly elevated at >1:320 and MRI brain revealed encephalitic changes with a lesion in the splenium. Interestingly, there was no associated respiratory infection and his stay in the hospital was also complicated by SIADH. The patient improved after treatment with a macrolide antibiotic.

Tissue Window versus Time Window? A Review of Patients Receiving Extended Hours Thrombolysis Guided By DWI-FLAIR Mismatch : Case Series

@#Introduction: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is the gold standard for the treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) presenting within four and a half hours of onset. However, development of new thrombolytic agents and advanced imaging has led to extended time for thrombolysis based on advanced imaging. Here we describe four patients who presented in the extended hours; that benefitted from thrombolysis. Case series: We advocate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for AIS, that includes diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). We included four patients who were more than 18 years old, with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of six or more, presenting between four and a half to nine hours after stroke onset with no contraindications for intravenous thrombolysis. The imaging criteria used to determine eligibility for IVT is evidence of DWI-FLAIR mismatch on MRI. If FLAIR detects no signal change in the area of stroke on DWI, it is then termed DWIFLAIR mismatch, or FLAIR-negative – indicating high probability that the brain tissue is still viable, and that patients are good candidates for IVT. Conclusion: For patients with AIS who present within nine hours, DWI-FLAIR mismatch serves as an excellent surrogate marker of salvageable brain tissue, allowing a greater proportion of patients benefiting from this life-saving therapy. Our experience also shows that with careful patient selection, treatment with IVT can safely be given without an increased risk of bleeding or mortality.

Coronavirus Disease-2019: Knowledge and Practices Behaviour of Healthcare Workers at a University Teaching Hospital in Malaysia

@#Introduction: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, with 15 million people have been infected worldwide, and this number is increasing. Our study sought to assess the knowledge and practice of healthcare workers (HCWs) in a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken using online Google form links among HCWs. Knowledge and practice were assessed using a validated questionnaire. The analysis was performed with SPSS version 26. Factors associated with poor knowledge were analysed using multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 193 HCW responded to our online survey. Majority of our HCWs were female (74.1%) with a mean age of 32.5 years. We found 53 (27.5%) and 134 (69.4%) of our HCWs had good knowledge and good practice on COVID-19, respectively. Knowledge gap was identified in the symptomatology, investigation methods and management. Based on multiple logistic regression, determinants of poor knowledge scores were those work as medical attendants (aOR = 3.626; 95% CI = 1.489, 8.834) and nurses (aOR = 4.107; 95% CI = 1.175, 14.358). Conclusion: Around one-third and 70% of our HCWs have good knowledge and practice of COVID-19 infection respectively. Continuous, specifically targeted and updated medical education, need to be carried out to improve the knowledge and practice among our HCWs in order to keep abreast of the fast-moving pace of COVID-19 knowledge development.

Longitudinal Extensive Transverse Myelitis as a Neurological Sequelae post-Sea Urchin Stings: A Case Report

@#Puncture injury from sea-urchin stings may lead to a local and systemic inflammatory reaction. We are reporting a case of longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), which occurred ten days post-sea-urchin stings, where the patient presented with bilateral lower limb weakness. MRI showed multilevel segment spinal cord T2-weighted hyperintensity. Prompt intravenous methylprednisolone was administered, and the patient had a full recovery. To date, there is no case report of LETM associated with sea-urchin stings. Possible mechanism due to delayed immunological hypersensitivity to sea-urchin venom. This case demonstrates the potential serious neurological sequelae that may be associated with post-sea-urchin sting and the importance of prompt recognition and management in aiding recovery.

Safety and Efficacy of Dabigatran Versus Warfarin in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

@#Introduction: Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is a common cause of cardioembolic stroke which accounts around 50% of all cardioembolic emboli. Oral anticoagulants remain the main choice of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Our study is aimed to determine the safety (absence or presence of bleeding events) and efficacy (absence or presence of ischemic stroke occurrence) of dabigatran versus warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Methods: A retrospective audit study was conducted based on past data obtained from Electronic Hospital Information System (EHIS) records in Serdang Hospital. Our sample was 150 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who were at risk of getting stroke and being prescribed with oral anticoagulants either warfarin or dabigatran from the year 2013 until 2019. Results: Our study showed that there was lesser occurrence of ischemic stroke in patients from dabigatran group (1.3%) as compared to those in warfarin group (2.7%). There were also almost 2 times lesser bleeding events in dabigatran group (6.7%) as compared to those in warfarin group (14.7%). The median of CHA2DS2-VASc Score in warfarin sampled patients (median=3+/-1) was lower than dabigatran sampled patients (median=4+/-1). Conclusion: Both warfarin and dabigatran are effective in preventing stroke for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. However, dabigatran is associated with lesser bleeding events with lower incidence of major bleeds compared to warfarin.

Regional Emergency Stroke Quick-Response (RESQ) Network: A Proposed Paradigm of Malaysia Stroke Care Services

@#Stroke care service in Malaysia is suboptimal despite the fact that it is one of the commonest cause of death. This is due to several limitations, including lack of resources and funding for the stroke care establishment and the management itself. Alternatively, other regions have come up with numerous ways to combat the difficulties in order to provide better stroke care services. We have identified the overwhelming benefits of creating stroke care units, thrombolysis services, and endovascular thrombectomy. For this reason, we designed a Regional Emergency Stroke Quick Response Network (RESQ) based on the needs of the current situation in Malaysia. With a standardised RESQ training, we hope to achieve close-knitted cooperation in between the emergency medical services, emergency department team and the RESQ, which subsequently will create an ideal improvised stroke care units.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) presenting with bilateral optic neuritis

A 43-year old lady presented with progressive loss of vision in both eyes followed by rapid deterioration of consciousness within the next few days. This was preceded by a viral infection one week before her presentation. At presentation she had evidence of meningism and signs of bilateral upper motor neuron lesions and was managed initially as acute meningoencephalitis with antibiotics. The brain CT was within normal limits but subsequent MRI of the brain revealed multiple foci of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. The cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed lymphocytosis, and normal protein and glucose levels. Cultures of the CSF were negative. She was managed as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with high-dose of intravenous methlyprednisolone one gram/day for three consecutive days followed by oral prednisolone 60 mg/day. Despite the management she lapsed into coma and succumbed to her illness nine days after admission.