A case of herpes simplex 2 encephalitis with an unusual radiographic manifestation.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) continues to be an important pathogen inflicting encephalitis in adults and children globally that entails high morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are the keys to minimize potential sequelae of the disease. Although HSV encephalitis-1(HSVE-1) is well recognized for its radiographic manifestation of temporal lobe involvement owing to its pathogenesis, radiographic features of HSVE-2 are less uniform. Lumbar puncture with HSV PCR testing is the gold standard for diagnosis. However, when lumbar puncture is not immediately obtainable, consideration of HSVE should be entertained in compatible clinical setting even in the absence of characteristic radiographic finding. We report a case of type 2 HSVE with atypical radiographic manifestation involving bilateral basal ganglia.

Microbial Identification Using DNA Target Amplification and Sequencing: Clinical Utility and Impact on Patient Management.

Broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is increasingly used in patients with culture-negative infections; however, few studies have assessed the diagnostic utility of this test in this context. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who had clinical specimens sent for broad-range PCR, aiming to evaluate performance and determine impact on patient management. Organisms were identified in 21/71 samples. High numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on Gram stain (odds ratio [OR], 4.17; P = .04) and acute inflammation on histopathology (OR, 5.69; P = .02) were significantly associated with a positive result. Management was altered in 18 patients, 11 with positive and 7 with negative results. Overall, broad-range PCR assay had the highest impact in patients with microscopic evidence of inflammation. Physicians ordering this complex, difficult to interpret, and expensive test should carefully consider all available clinical information on an individualized basis to optimize its performance.

A hemodialysis cohort study of protocol-based anticoagulation management.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hemodialysis patients frequently require anticoagulation treatment with warfarin for a variety of co-morbidities. The optimal method for monitoring and dose adjustment of warfarin-based anticoagulation in this population, however, remains unclear. To examine this more closely, we reviewed all hemodialysis patients at a single institution on chronic warfarin therapy for a 10-month period prior to and after the institution of a standardized protocol for warfarin dose adjustment and monitoring. Anticoagulation efficacy was assessed by time within the therapeutic INR range (TTR), and resource utilization was assessed by the number of weekly INR measurements required for monitoring. RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed 4481 patient-days of warfarin therapy data (from 25 hemodialysis patients) in the pre-protocol timeframe, and 3308 patient-days of warfarin therapy data (from 21 hemodialysis patients) in the on-protocol timeframe. Time within the therapeutic INR range (TTR) did not improve with institution of the dosing protocol-51.18% using non protocol-based management, and 51.57% using protocol-based management (p 0.73). However, overall resource utilization was reduced with institution of protocolized warfarin monitoring-from 1.71 INR measurements per patient-week pre-protocol, to 1.20 INR measurements per patient-week (p < 0.0001) post-protocol. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center study, institution of a standardized dosing protocol in a hemodialysis population on chronic warfarin therapy did not improve the rate of on-target anticoagulation, but did result in significantly lower resource utilization. We support protocol-based warfarin management in the hemodialysis population, but future work should examine the rate of on-target anticoagulation typically achieved in this group.