Septic arthritis by Sphingobacterium multivorum in immunocompromised pediatric patient / Artrite séptica por Sphingobacterium multivorum em paciente pediátrico imunossuprimido

Abstract Objective: To report a case septic arthritis with a rare pathogen in a immunosuppressed child. Case description: Male patient, 6 years old, had liver transplant five and half years ago due to biliary atresia. Patient was using tacrolimus 1mg q.12h. This patient started to have pain in left foot and ankle and had one episode of fever 3 days before hospital admission. Physical examination showed weight 17kg, height 109cm, temperature 36.4°C, with pain, swelling and heat in the left ankle, without other clinical signs. Initial tests: hemoglobin 11.7g/dL hematocrit 36.4%, leukocyte count 17,600µL-1 (7% banded neutrophils, 70% segmented neutrophils, 2% eosinophils, basophils 1%, 13% lymphocytes, 7% monocytes) C-reactive protein 170.88mg/L. Joint ultrasound showed moderate effusion in the site. Patient was submitted to surgical procedure and Sphingobacterium multivorum was isolated from the effusion. The germ was susceptible to broad spectrum cephalosporins (ceftriaxone and cefepime) and fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin), and it was resistant to carbapenemic antibiotics and aminoglycosides. He was treated intravenously with oxacillin for 15 days and ceftriaxone for 13 days, and orally with ciprofloxacin for 15 days, with good outcome. Comments: The S. multivorum is a gram negative bacillus that belongs to Flavobacteriaceae family and it is considered non-pathogenic. It has rarely been described as a cause of infections in humans, especially in hospital environment and in immunosuppressed patients. This case report is relevant for its unusual etiology and for the site affected, which may be the first case of septic arthritis described.

Resumo Objetivo: Relatar um caso de artrite séptica de etiologia rara em uma criança imunossuprimida. Descrição do caso: Paciente masculino, seis anos, transplantado hepático havia cinco anos e meio devido à atresia de vias biliares, em uso de tacrolimus 1 mg de 12/12 horas, iniciou dor em pé e tornozelo esquerdo e um episódio de febre três dias antes da internação. Ao exame físico, peso 17kg, estatura 109cm, temperatura de 36,4°C, com dor, edema e calor no tornozelo esquerdo e sem outras alterações. Exames da entrada: hemoglobina 11,7g/dL, hematócrito 36,4%, leucócitos, 17.600/uL (7% bastões, 70% segmentados, 2% eosinófilos, 1% basófilo, 13% linfócitos, 7% monócitos), proteína C reativa 170,88mg/L. Ultrassonografia articular evidenciou moderado derrame no recesso tíbio talar anterior esquerdo. Feita limpeza cirúrgica com o isolamento do S. multivorum na cultura do líquido articular, suscetível a um amplo espectro de cefalosporinas (cefepime e ceftriaxone) e fluoroquinolonas (ciprofloxacino e levofloxacino), esistente a carbapenêmicos e aminoglicosídeos. Tratado com oxacilina por 15 dias e ceftriaxone 13 dias intravenoso e ciprofloxacina via oral por mais 15 dias com boa evolução. Comentários: O Sphingobacterium multivorum é um bacilo gram negativo, pertencente à família Flavobacteriaceae, considerado não patogênico, tem sido raramente descrito como etiologia de infecções em seres humanos principalmente em ambientes hospitalares e em imunossuprimidos. O relato deste caso é relevante por sua etiologia incomum e pelo sítio acometido, pode ser este o primeiro caso de artrite séptica descrito.

Tissue immunostaining for factor XIIIa in dermal dendrocytes of pityriasis alba skin lesions

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis alba affects 1% of the world population and about 9.9% of the children in Brazil. However, its etiology remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of factor XIIIa in dermal dendrocytes of skin lesions of pityriasis alba. METHOD: Twenty patients with pityriasis alba and 20 patients with atopic dermatitis underwent biopsy. The dermal dendrocytes marked by factor XIIIa were counted by means of immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The mean amount of dermal dendrocytes found in the patients with pityriasis alba was 2, whereas in the patients with atopic dermatitis it was 4, with a statistically significant difference between them. A cutoff point of 3 cells/square inch was established to differentiate pityriasis alba from atopic dermatitis, with 80% sensibility and 90% specificity. CONCLUSION: We believe that pityriasis alba and atopic dermatitis should be considered different clinical forms within the spectrum of atopic disease, in which sun radiation plays an important role by modulating the progression of the disease. .