Acalculous cholecystitis in a patient with Plasmodium falciparum infection after a trip to the Dominican Republic.

Acalculous cholecystitis has been associated with several infectious agents, but its relation with Plasmodium falciparum infection has not been clearly defined. This is the first case of acalculous cholecystitis produced by Plasmodium falciparum infection that is directly documented and should be included among the differential diagnoses of acalculous cholecystitis.

[Nephropathia caused by hantavirus puumala: a case report]. / Nefropatía por hantavirus puumala: a propósito de un caso.

We present a patient from Germany with Hantavirus infection, admitted in the Emergency room of our hospital, with fever, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, oliguria, mild proteinuria and hematuria. Percutaneous renal biopsy revealed an acute interstitial nephritis without medulla haemorrhages. The virus infection confirmation was made by detection of IgM against Hantavirus Puumala. This infection should be considered in patients with thrombocytopenia, fever and acute renal failure, over all if they are from North and Central Europe.

Corynebacterium striatum first reported case of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

We describe the case of a prosthetic valve endocarditis in a 72-year-old woman. Corynebacterium striatum was isolated in the blood samples. This organism has been described in a few cases of native valve endocarditis, but this is the first case reported of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

[Evaluation of 2 tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis regimens in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The GECMEI Group]. / Evaluación de dos pautas de quimioprofilaxis tuberculosa en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana. Grupo GECMEI.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the compliance, tolerance and efficacy of a short chemoprophylaxis regimen (IR) for tuberculosis using isoniazid (INH) plus rifampin (RIF) during 3 months versus a standard regimen (I) of isoniazid during 12 months in HIV positive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, comparative, randomized and open clinical trial in four general hospitals and one prison hospital of Castilla-La Mancha. Prophylaxis was administered to PPD-positive patients and to anergic patients according to the CDC recommendations (1991). Patients were randomized in two treatment groups: regimen IR, isoniazid 300 mg daily and rifampin 600 mg daily; regimen I, isoniazid 300 mg during 12 months. RESULTS: 133 patients were included, 64 to regimen I and 69 to regimen IR. Regimen IR had a better tolerance with a 28% of adverse effects versus 55% in regimen I. Hepatotoxicity was more frequent in regimen I with a RR = 2.2 (CI 95% 1.23-4.01). Severe hepatotoxicity leading to treatment withdrawal was related to drug administration time and was more frequent in the 12 months regimen group. Short regimen showed a better compliance, without significant differences. Tuberculosis incidence rate was a 4.23 cases/100 persons--year for regimen I and 2.08 in regimen IR, with a relative risk for developing tuberculosis with regimen IR group of 0.51 (CI 95% 0.09-2.8) versus regimen I group, without statistical significance. Prison stay was associated to a significant risk for tuberculosis, regardless of both regimens (RR = 9.2 CI 95%, 1.06-80.2). CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected patients with PPD(+) or anergic, regimen with IR is at least as effective as regimen I for preventing the development of tuberculous disease, and has less adverse effects.

Evaluación de dos pautas de quimioprofilaxis tuberculosa en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana / Assessment of two chemoprophylaxis regimens for tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients

Objetivo: Evaluar la cumplimentación, tolerancia y eficacia de una pauta corta de quimioprofilaxis para tuberculosis con isoniacida y rifampicina durante 3 meses frente a una pauta estándar de isoniacida durante 12 meses en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Pacientes y métodos: Ensayo clínico prospectivo, comparativo, aleatorizado y abierto realizado en cuatro hospitales generales y un centro penitenciario de Castilla-La Mancha. La profilaxis se administró en pacientes PPD positivos y pacientes anérgicos de acuerdo con las normas de los Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) de 1991. Los pacientes se distribuyeron de forma aleatoria en dos pautas: pauta de rifampicina a los que se les administraron 300 mg/día de isoniacida y 600 mg/día de rifampicina durante 3 meses, y pauta de isoniacida a los que se les administraron 300 mg/día de isoniacida durante 12 meses. Resultados: Se incluyeron 133 pacientes: 64 en la pauta isoniacida y 69 en la pauta rifampicina. Se toleró mejor la pauta de rifampicina, con un 28 por ciento de efectos adversos frente a un 55 por ciento en la pauta de isoniacida. La hepatotoxicidad fue más frecuente en la pauta de isoniacida, con un riesgo relativo (RR) de 2,2 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95 por ciento, 1,23-4,01). La hepatotoxicidad grave, que obligó a suspender el tratamiento, se relacionó con el tiempo de administración del fármaco, siendo más frecuente en la pauta de 12 meses. Se cumplimentó mejor la pauta corta, pero sin diferencias valorables. La incidencia de tuberculosis fue de 4,23 casos por 100 personas-año para la pauta de isoniacida y 2,08 para la pauta de rifampicina, con un riesgo relativo para desarrollar tuberculosis con la pauta de rifampicina de 0,51 (IC del 95 por ciento, 0,09-2,8) frente a la pauta de isoniacida, no estadísticamente significativo. La estancia en prisión se asoció con un riesgo significativo de tuberculosis, independientemente de la pauta de tratamiento (RR = 9,2; IC del 95 por ciento; 1,06-80,2). Conclusiones: En pacientes con infección por el VIH con PPD positivo o anérgicos, la pauta de rifampicina es al menos igual de eficaz para prevenir el desarrollo de tuberculosis que la pauta de isoniacida, y presenta menos efectos adversos (AU)