[Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome associated with long-term catherter related infection in an adult].

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an extensive desquamative erythmatous condition caused by the Staphylococcus aureus exfoliative toxin. Although adult cases of SSSS are rare, the mortality rate is high. We report herein on a case of SSSS due to long-term catheter-related bloodstream infection caused by exfoliative toxin B, which produced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a high fever and generalized exfoliative dermatitis. He had an implanted port vascular access device in his left arm. The port was removed because it was thought to be the focus of infection. A Gram stain of the pus from the incision site revealed Gram positive coccus in clusters, and we administered intravenous vancomycin. MRSA was isolated from blood cultures and the pus, and histiology of a skin biopsy specimen from the exfoliation dermatitis showed epidermal detachment in the uppermost layer, which was consistent with SSSS. Although the patient developed infective endocarditis and septic embolisms, he eventually recovered. PCR of the MRSA was positive for exfoliative toxin B, and we finally diagnosed an adult case of SSSS due to exfoliative toxin B producing MRSA.

Infective endocarditis caused by Enterococcus faecalis treated with continuous infusion of ampicillin without adjunctive aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides are useful antimicrobial agents for treating infective endocarditis; however, they occasionally cause troublesome side effects, such as nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. We herein report a case of infective endocarditis caused by Enterococcus faecalis that was treated successfully with continuous infusion of ampicillin without adjunctive aminoglycosides. The serum ampicillin concentrations were higher than the minimal inhibitory concentration for the target strain. Although the use of ampicillin monotherapy is currently avoided because double ß-lactam therapy is reportedly more effective, continuous penicillin administration remains an effective therapeutic choice for treating infective endocarditis.

Nocardia beijingensis pulmonary infection successfully treated with intravenous beta-lactam antibiotics and oral minocycline.

We report a case of pulmonary infection caused by a rare Nocardia species, Nocardia beijingensis, in a 48-year-old man who received multiple immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation. This pathogen was isolated from a bronchoscopic protected specimen brush and was identified as N. beijingensis by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The patient was initially treated with imipenem/cilastatin followed by ceftriaxone and oral minocycline. Traditionally, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) has been one of the first-line antibiotics chosen as an initial therapy for pulmonary nocardiosis, but this case was successfully treated without SXT. Considering recent reports about failures of both prophylaxis and treatment for nocardial infections with SXT and its various side effects, treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics and minocycline for pulmonary nocardiosis can be chosen in mild to moderate cases with confirmed susceptibility to these antibiotics in vitro.

Purulent pericarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae diagnosed by pneumococcal urinary antigen assay and 16S rDNA sequence of the pericardial fluid.

A 57-year old woman was admitted to our hospital with massive pericardial fluid. Culture of the pericardial fluid was negative, however, Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen test was positive in pericardial fluid. 16S rDNA sequencing and PCR for lyt(A) gene of the pericardial fluid sample confirmed the microbiological diagnosis of S. pneumoniae. The patient was treated with surgical drainage and continuous intravenous infusion of penicillin G and its concentration in the serum and pericardial effusion was monitored. Incorporation of molecular methods such as antigen testing and nucleic acid sequencing would benefit the management of infectious diseases especially in culture negative cases.

Rare complication after stripping operation: a case report of mycobacterium abscessus infection.

Mycobacterium abscessus is an acid-fast nontuberculous mycobacterium that grows rapidly in culture. The organism is found in dust, soil, and water and after trauma, it may infect skin and soft tissue. The organism is rarely found in humans, and infections occurring after cardiovascular surgery are rare clinical events. To our knowledge, only a few cases of hemodialysis arteriovenous graft infection and endocarditis caused by M. abscessus have been described. We reported a first case of patient with M. abscessus graft infection after a stripping operation and skin grafting to a left lower leg ulcer.

[A case of acute renal failure involving high amounts of tenofovir after HAART start].

A 58-year-old man admitted for fever, nausea, vomiting, and anuria after the start of HAART, including tenofovir, had a viral load of 1.1 x 10(5) copies/mL, a CD4-positive lymphocyte count of 81/microL, and serum creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL before HAART. He underwent renal biopsy and temporary dialysis. We concluded that the patient had acute tubular necrosis because of potentially impaired renal function and the high amount of medication, and judging from the renal biopsy specimen and clinical course. When implementing HAART, physicians should be aware of and monitor potential patient misunderstanding of instructions on dosage and administration and for possible complications in medicinal combinations and potential side effects. TDF taken together with lopinavir may increase the plasma concentration of TDF or other medications that could worsen renal function. It should also be noted that renal dysfunction is a potential complication in the elderly.

[Case of Scedosporium apiospermum cutaneous soft tissue infection treated with voriconazole].

A 69-year-old man treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents for acutely exacerbated interstitial pneumonia was found to have an ingrown nail in the left big toe and that suppurated despite treatment by dermatologists. Culture of the pus expressed from the toe yielded Scedosporium apiospermum. The patient suffered liver dysfunction a few days later when treated with intravenous voriconazole (VRCZ), which was discontinued due to the high plasma VRCZ concentration. Discrete erythema and subcutaneous nodules developed in left leg 2 or 3 weeks later. Ultrasonography showed tubular structures with substantial echoes that were not connected to veins in the subcutaneous tissue of the left leg. These findings suggested a nodular lymphangitic pattern of spreading of S. apiospermum soft tissue infection. Oral VRCZ at 100 mg/day was started, and increased to 200 mg/day after the plasma VRCZ concentration was measured. VRCZ was stopped after about 2 months, by which time the man had fully recovered. Because VRCZ-induced liver dysfunction was reported significantly associated with plasma level, we treated this case safely by administering VRCZ while measuring the plasma concentration.