Antibiotic treatment duration in diverticulitis, complicated urinary tract infection, and endocarditis: a retrospective, single-center study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the availability of international guidelines advocating shorter treatment durations, nonadherence to them is common. We assessed duration of antibiotic treatment for diverticulitis, complicated urinary tract infection (UTI), and endocarditis. METHODS: Medical records of patients hospitalized with the previously stated diseases in 2017 and 2018 were randomly selected at a Swiss tertiary care hospital. The appropriateness of antibiotic treatment duration was assessed according to international and local guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 243 patients were included in the study: 100 with diverticulitis, 200 with complicated UTI, and 43 with endocarditis. The dherence to local and international guidelines was 11% and 18% in diverticulitis, 39% and 40% in complicated UTI, and 84% and 86% in endocarditis, respectively. Nonadherence was primarily due to the prolonged treatment in diverticulitis and complicated UTI with a median duration of antibiotic treatment of 11 days (interquartile range 10-13) and 14 days (interquartile range 10-15), respectively. When pooling diverticulitis and complicated UTI cases, the identification of a pathogen in any microbiological sample was associated with an improved adherence to local guidelines in addition to hospitalization in a medical ward and infectious diseases consultation. CONCLUSION: Prolonged courses of antibiotic treatment were common and the treatment adherence to guidelines were poor in diverticulitis, moderate in complicated UTI, and excellent in endocarditis.

Bilateral proximal hamstring muscle avulsion after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and corticosteroids.

A 66-year-old man presented with 4 weeks of bilateral buttock pain without previous trauma or intense exercise. He had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors because of metastasising melanoma and experienced immune-related adverse events requiring treatment with corticosteroids. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis revealed bilateral avulsion of the proximal hamstring muscles. Treatment with physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs led to a slow but lasting relief. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of symptomatic non-traumatic bilateral hamstring muscle avulsion following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and corticosteroids.

Acute Longus Colli Calcific Tendinitis: A Rare Cause of Neck Pain.

A 48-year-old man presented to our emergency department with neck pain without sensorimotor deficit and with a sore throat without signs of infection. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed because the patient had not responded to regular treatment and a blood test had showed inflammation. The images revealed cervical prevertebral fluid collection and calcification, compatible with acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle. Prednisolone 50 mg with pantoprazol 40 mg was administered for 5 days with rapid resolution of symptoms. Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle is a rare and possibly underdiagnosed cause of atypical neck pain and sore throat. LEARNING POINTS: The signs and symptoms of acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle can easily be mistaken for serious disease such as spondylodiscitis or retropharyngeal abscess.Imaging with easily available modalities such as computed tomography can be used for diagnosis.Anti-inflammatory medication led to quick resolution of symptoms despite elevated signs of inflammation and delayed diagnosis in our patient.