A recalcitrant, erythematous, desquamating disorder associated with toxin-producing staphylococci in patients with AIDS.

Although staphylococcal infections are common in patients with AIDS, staphylococcal toxin-related disorders have rarely been described. Five cases of a staphylococcal toxin-associated syndrome characterized by prolonged erythema, extensive cutaneous desquamation, hypotension, tachycardia, and multiple organ involvement are described in patients with AIDS. These illnesses were recurrent and recalcitrant with a mean duration of 50 days. Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1-producing staphylococci were isolated from three and staphylococcal enterotoxins B and A from one patient each. Sources of organisms were blood, one patient, and soft tissues and nasal accessory sinuses, two patients each. Three of the five patients died of renal failure and central nervous system abnormalities. One survivor required intubation for respiratory failure. All individuals manifested a marked diminution of CD4+ cells. Other laboratory abnormalities included azotemia and prolongation of partial thromboplastin time. Oliguria occurred in three patients. Thus, this recalcitrant erythematous desquamative disorder appears to be a variant of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome in certain subsets of immunocompromised individuals.

Arterial infections due to Listeria monocytogenes: report of four cases and review of world literature.

Early diagnosis and successful antimicrobial therapy have diminished the frequency of embolomycotic aneurysms, but infected aortic and small vessel aneurysms, arteriosclerotic plaques, and prosthetic grafts are becoming more common. A broad spectrum of pathogens, including Staphylococcus, Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and some unusual organisms, are associated with this change. We treated four patients (three with abdominal aortic aneurysms and one with a prosthetic graft) with arterial infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Only seven other cases have previously been recorded in the world literature. Infection is suspected when a palpable or radiographically defined aneurysm is present with an otherwise obscure febrile illness. In about one-third of patients, blood cultures have yielded the pathogen. Newer imaging techniques have helped confirm the diagnosis. These infections are best managed by surgical resection in combination with long-term, appropriate antimicrobial therapy with ampicillin or sulfonamides. Unlike other adult listerial infection, except endocarditis, in arterial infection, immunosuppression and malignancy are not predisposing factors.

Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

It is apparent that the lung is frequently involved by a number of opportunistic pathogens and neoplasms in AIDS patients. What is even more disconcerting is the fact that often several infections or infection and neoplasm can coexist [236]. At this time, although effective therapy is at hand for most of the disorders mentioned, the patient's underlying immunodeficiency prevents any long-term survival and also usually leads to relapse when treatment is discontinued. Perhaps the use of newer antiviral compounds such as azidothymidine [237] or immunomodulating agents will help to reconstitute the waning immunocompetence and allow more durable responses in these currently fatal complications.

Treatment of scleroma with ceforanide.

Three patients with rhinoscleroma who presented with nasal and pharyngeal symptoms are described. Treatment with ceforanide, a new second-generation cephalosporin with high intrinsic activity against Klebsiella, and possessing a long half-life, was used as outpatient treatment. A total of 120 g of ceforanide was administered over a period of two months. All three patients showed signs of clinical improvement, but only two of three became bacteriologically sterile at the end of two months; one patient relapsed bacteriologically but not clinically, once the drug was discontinued. Second- and third-generation cephalosporins appear to have excellent activity against the causative pathogens of rhinoscleroma. Because of the impracticality of administering these agents parenterally over prolonged periods of time, there is a need for the development of an oral cephalosporin with similar intrinsic activity and beta-lactamase stability. Perhaps the novel beta-lactam antibiotics such as the penems and monobactams, some of which can be administered orally, will answer that need.

An update on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Associated disorders of the alimentary tract.

The pandemic, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been described in 40 nations throughout the world. This paper describes the wide spectrum of gastrointestinal tract manifestations seen in this syndrome, with particular attention to the epidemiology, etiology, and measurement of these problems. Discussion of candidiasis, herpes simplex, "hairy" leukoplakia, Kaposi's sarcoma, cytomegalovirus, anal warts and carcinoma, chlamydial proctitis (LGV), coccidiosis, and mycobacterial diarrhea, as well as "gay bowel syndrome," demonstrates the complex management problems associated with this condition.

Aztreonam therapy for serious gram-negative bacillary infections.

Fifty episodes of gram-negative bacillary infection, including episodes of bacteremia, pneumonia, and skin and soft tissue, complicated urinary tract, and abdominal infections, were treated with aztreonam. Eighty-eight percent of patients were cured of their infection, including all nine patients with bacteremia and 15 of 17 patients with pneumonia. Thirty percent of all infections were caused by Pseudomonas, and all of these responded to treatment with aztreonam. A low incidence of toxicity and a high rate of efficacy make treatment with aztreonam as a single agent feasible. When gram-positive or anaerobic organisms were encountered or their presence in the infection was suspected, additional agents effective against these organisms were necessary for cure.

Ceftazidime versus tobramycin-ticarcillin in the treatment of pneumonia and bacteremia.

A prospective, randomized study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of ceftazidime with those of a combination of ticarcillin and tobramycin in the treatment of 40 nonneutropenic patients with pneumonia or bacteremia. Altogether, 93% of the patients receiving ceftazidime for pneumonia were cured, and 87% of those with bacteremia responded favorably. Of the subjects who were treated with ticarcillin and tobramycin ceftazidime developed significant superinfection, and one individual treated with the aminoglycoside and carboxypenicillin developed reversible azotemia. Ceftazidime appears to be as efficacious as the ticarcillin-tobramycin combination and is probably safer with regard to oto-and nephrotoxicity; however, superinfections did occur more frequently in the group treated with ceftazidime.