Tuberculous Meningitis: Impact of Timing of Treatment Initiation on Mortality.

We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of adult hospitalized patients with confirmed tuberculous meningitis to determine the impact of the timing of treatment initiation on mortality. The mortality of tuberculous meningitis patients was high and was associated with delay in initiation of treatment, older age, HIV infection, and higher disease severity at admission.

Listeria bacteremia in patients from a peruvian oncologic institute, 2005-2015. / Bacteriemia por listeria en pacientes de un instituto oncológico peruano, 2005-2015.

Listeriosis infection is a severe disease, with high morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised patient, especially with disseminated and fatal presentations in cancer patients. A descriptive study was developed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in oncologic patients with listeriosis in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between the years 2005-2015. A total of 29 patients were included; 23 (79.3%) of the listeriosis cases showed up in patients with hematological neoplasia, of which 52.1% was acute lymphatic leukemia and 39.1% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The 72.4% of the isolated species correspond to Listeria monocytogenes. Twenty-seven (93.1%) patients met sepsis criteria and twenty-four (82.7%) had neurologic affection. Bacteremia was the most common presentation, followed by meningoencephalitis (20.6%). Global mortality was 75.8%. In conclusion in cancer patients, listeriosis implies high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the suspicion of this entity is mandatory in onco-hematologic patients with sepsis and acute neurologic symptoms.

La listeriosis es una infección severa de elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente inmunocomprometido, existen formas diseminadas y fatales en el paciente oncológico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes oncológicos con listeriosis atendidos en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre 2005 y 2015. Se incluyeron 29 pacientes, 23 (79,3%) casos de listeriosis se presentaron en pacientes con neoplasia hematológica, de los cuales el 52,3% fueron leucemia linfática aguda y 39,1% linfoma no Hodgkin. Listeria monocytogenes representó el 72,4% de las especies aisladas. Veintisiete (93,1%) tuvieron criterios de sepsis y veinticuatro (82,7%) compromiso neurológico al ingreso. La presentación más común fue la bacteriemia, seguida de la meningoencefalitis (20,6%). La mortalidad global fue del 75,8%. Se concluye que la listeriosis conlleva elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente oncohematológico, por lo que debe sospecharse en el paciente admitido con sepsis y/o compromiso neurológico agudo.

Bacteriemia por listeria en pacientes de un instituto oncológico peruano, 2005-2015 / Listeria bacteremia in patients from a peruvian oncologic institute, 2005-2015

RESUMEN La listeriosis es una infección severa de elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente inmunocomprometido, existen formas diseminadas y fatales en el paciente oncológico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes oncológicos con listeriosis atendidos en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre 2005 y 2015. Se incluyeron 29 pacientes, 23 (79,3%) casos de listeriosis se presentaron en pacientes con neoplasia hematológica, de los cuales el 52,3% fueron leucemia linfática aguda y 39,1% linfoma no Hodgkin. Listeria monocytogenes representó el 72,4% de las especies aisladas. Veintisiete (93,1%) tuvieron criterios de sepsis y veinticuatro (82,7%) compromiso neurológico al ingreso. La presentación más común fue la bacteriemia, seguida de la meningoencefalitis (20,6%). La mortalidad global fue del 75,8%. Se concluye que la listeriosis conlleva elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente oncohematológico, por lo que debe sospecharse en el paciente admitido con sepsis y/o compromiso neurológico agudo.

ABSTRACT Listeriosis infection is a severe disease, with high morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised patient, especially with disseminated and fatal presentations in cancer patients. A descriptive study was developed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in oncologic patients with listeriosis in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between the years 2005-2015. A total of 29 patients were included; 23 (79.3%) of the listeriosis cases showed up in patients with hematological neoplasia, of which 52.1% was acute lymphatic leukemia and 39.1% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The 72.4% of the isolated species correspond to Listeria monocytogenes. Twenty-seven (93.1%) patients met sepsis criteria and twenty-four (82.7%) had neurologic affection. Bacteremia was the most common presentation, followed by meningoencephalitis (20.6%). Global mortality was 75.8%. In conclusion in cancer patients, listeriosis implies high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the suspicion of this entity is mandatory in onco-hematologic patients with sepsis and acute neurologic symptoms.

Bacteriemia por listeria en pacientes de un instituto oncológico peruano, 2005-2015 / Listeria bacteremia in patients from a peruvian oncologic institute, 2005-2015

RESUMEN La listeriosis es una infección severa de elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente inmunocomprometido, existen formas diseminadas y fatales en el paciente oncológico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes oncológicos con listeriosis atendidos en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre 2005 y 2015. Se incluyeron 29 pacientes, 23 (79,3%) casos de listeriosis se presentaron en pacientes con neoplasia hematológica, de los cuales el 52,3% fueron leucemia linfática aguda y 39,1% linfoma no Hodgkin. Listeria monocytogenes representó el 72,4% de las especies aisladas. Veintisiete (93,1%) tuvieron criterios de sepsis y veinticuatro (82,7%) compromiso neurológico al ingreso. La presentación más común fue la bacteriemia, seguida de la meningoencefalitis (20,6%). La mortalidad global fue del 75,8%. Se concluye que la listeriosis conlleva elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente oncohematológico, por lo que debe sospecharse en el paciente admitido con sepsis y/o compromiso neurológico agudo.

ABSTRACT Listeriosis infection is a severe disease, with high morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised patient, especially with disseminated and fatal presentations in cancer patients. A descriptive study was developed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in oncologic patients with listeriosis in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between the years 2005-2015. A total of 29 patients were included; 23 (79.3%) of the listeriosis cases showed up in patients with hematological neoplasia, of which 52.1% was acute lymphatic leukemia and 39.1% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The 72.4% of the isolated species correspond to Listeria monocytogenes. Twenty-seven (93.1%) patients met sepsis criteria and twenty-four (82.7%) had neurologic affection. Bacteremia was the most common presentation, followed by meningoencephalitis (20.6%). Global mortality was 75.8%. In conclusion in cancer patients, listeriosis implies high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the suspicion of this entity is mandatory in onco-hematologic patients with sepsis and acute neurologic symptoms.

Infected Cavitations, Bullae and Interstitial Lung Disease in a COVID-19 Patient in Lima, Peru.

A 48-year-old Peruvian man was diagnosed with COVID-19 in December 2020. His infection resolved and he was discharged from hospital after 14 days. However, 1 week later he presented with haemoptysis, malaise, pleuritic pain, infected cavitations, bullae, extensive interstitial lung disease and pneumomediastinum. He recovered after antibiotic treatment and was discharged after 8 days. His symptoms may have been due alveolar rupture due to persistent cough during and after diffuse inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by COVID-19 infection. LEARNING POINTS: SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with lung bullae and cavitations as COVID-19 sequelae.Patients with respiratory problems after COVID-19 should be monitored closely and undergo pulmonary tests.COVID-19 patients may experience complications for several months due to bacterial infections.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with secondary syphilis: dermatologic, neurologic and ophthalmologic compromise in an HIV patient.

The presentation of syphilis as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is rare and can be associated with the varied clinical expression of unusual syphilitic manifestations. We report a case of immune reconstitution syndrome with dermatologic, ophthalmologic and neurologic compromise of secondary syphilis in a patient with HIV infection.

Obstrucción intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides en un adulto mayor / Intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a geriatric patient

Ascaris lumbricoides is considered the largest intestinal nematode with a higher incidence in the childhood, representing a truly medical and public health problem, principally in undeveloped countries. We present the case of an 83 year old man, born and coming from the amazon region, without any relevant previous history of disease, admitted in the emergency department of our hospital for presenting intestinal obstruction and also presumptive biliary obstruction due to multiple balls of parasites, requiring immediate surgical intervention. We emphasize the need of consider this etiologic possibility in the differential diagnosis, that in this particular case, wasn't suspected in the first place.

Ascaris lumbricoides es considerado el nemátodo intestinal de mayor tamaño. Se presenta con mayor frecuencia en la infancia, representando un verdadero problema médico y de salud pública, especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 83 años, natural y procedente de la región amazónica del Perú, sin antecedentes médicos de relevancia, que ingresa a Servicio de urgencias de nuestro hospital por un cuadro de obstrucción intestinal y presunta obstrucción biliar, requiriendo una intervención quirúrgica inmediata. El diagnóstico final de obstrucción intestinal por la presencia de múltiples ovillos de Ascaris lumbricoides, no fue considerado dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales previo al acto quirúrgico.

Otitis externa maligna con ectima gangrenoso en un paciente con infección por VIH / Malignant otitis externa with ecthyma gangrenosum in an hiv-positive patient

La otitis externa maligna es considerada una infección invasiva del conducto auditivo externo, infrecuente y sumamente agresiva, que llega, en ocasiones, a comprometer la base del cráneo. Se presenta habitualmente en inmunocomprometidos, incluidos aquellos con infección por VIH. El ectima gangrenoso es una infección cutánea localizada, inusual, causada, en la mayoría de los casos por Pseudomonas aeruginosa, con compromiso multisistémico y evolución tórpida. La asociación entre ambas entidades es aún más rara. A continuación, presentamos el caso de una mujer de 37 años, con el antecedente principal de infección por VIH desde hace 10 años, adherente al tratamiento antirretroviral y, a pesar de mantener una adecuada respuesta inmunológica y virológica, se presenta a la urgencia de nuestro hospital en shock séptico por otitis externa maligna, con ectima gangrenoso y posible síndrome hemofagocítico como complicación, aislándose Pseudomonas aeruginosa como agente causal.

Malignant otitis externa is an aggressive, infrequent and invasive infection of the external auditory canal. In some cases it leads to skull base compromise, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, including HIV-positive patients. Ecthyma gangrenosum is an unusual, localized cutaneous infection, caused mostly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with systemic compromise and a torpid evolution. An association between these 2 entities is even more rare. We present the case of a 37-year old woman with a history of 10 years’ HIV infection and good adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Although she had an adequate immunological and virological response, she presented at our emergency department in septic shock due to malignant otitis externa with ecthyma gangrenosum and possible haemophagocytic syndrome as a complication, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa determined to be the causative agent.

[Intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides infection in a geriatric patient]. / Obstrucción intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides en un adulto mayor.

Ascaris lumbricoides is considered the largest intestinal nematode with a higher incidence in the childhood, representing a truly medical and public health problem, principally in undeveloped countries. We present the case of an 83 year old man, born and coming from the amazon region, without any relevant previous history of disease, admitted in the emergency department of our hospital for presenting intestinal obstruction and also presumptive biliary obstruction due to multiple balls of parasites, requiring immediate surgical intervention. We emphasize the need of consider this etiologic possibility in the differential diagnosis, that in this particular case, wasn't suspected in the first place.