[Two cases of severe sepsis successfully treated with activated protein C]. / Dos casos de sepsis grave tratados eficazmente con proteína C activada.

A 64-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman in shock with multiple organ failure and worsening of sepsis related organ failure assessment SOFA scores in the early days of care were treated with recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC). In the woman sepsis was associated with reversible heart failure, with decreased ejection fraction, biventricular dilatation, and a sharp increase of troponin I, observations that have been linked to a higher rate of multiorgan failure and higher mortality. The man began to improve after 24 hours and the woman after 48 hours of rhAPC treatment, with both continuing to improve after withdrawal of treatment. Severe sepsis remains a therapeutic challenge. Among the many treatments based on the physiopathology of the disease, so far only rhAPC seems to improve outcome and reduce mortality.

[Malignant neuroleptic syndrome associated with myocardial infarction, acute renal insufficiency and rhabdomyolysis]. / Síndrome neuroléptico maligno asociado a infarto de miocardio, insuficiencia renal aguda y rabdomiólisis.

We present a case of malignant neuroleptic syndrome in a 55 years old male diagnosed 3 years ago of alcoholic paranoid psychosis who was chronically treated with haloperidol, clothiapine, and phenobarbital. Twenty one days after neuroleptic drug withdrawal the patient was admitted to the recovery room because of hyperthermia (40.2 degrees C), left basal pneumonia, acute respiratory insufficiency, extrapyramidal rigidity, mutism, dysarthria, deep coma, hypotension, and tachycardia. Two days after he presented massive rhabdomyolysis, atrial flutter with hemodynamic deterioration which reverted to sinus rhythm and acute anterolateral and inferior myocardial infarction documented by enzyme rise and electrocardiographic alterations. Rhabdomyolysis and myocardial infarction were the precipitating factors of the renal insufficiency. A malignant neuroleptic syndrome was suspected and intravenous treatment with dantrolene sodium 1.5 mg/kg every 24 hours was initiated. Bromocriptine was not administered. The patient died 14 days after in the course of a sepsis and cardiogenic shock.

Evaluation of lamoxactam in the treatment of severe bacterial infections.

We investigated the clinical efficiency and safety of lamoxactam for treatment of 28 episodes of infection in 26 adult patients (15 males and 11 females) whose ages ranged from 17 to 83 years (mean 48.7). 4 patients had 'ultimately fatal diseases' and the remaining 22 had 'nonfatal diseases'. The clinical condition at the beginning of treatment was 'critical' or 'poor' in 15 cases. Episodes of infection treated were: 14 intraabdominal, 9 bacteremia, 5 nephro-urinary, 3 osteomyelitis, and a miscellaneous group including pneumonia, soft tissue, parameningeal focus and infected V-P shunt. A total of 34 microorganisms were responsible for 25 episodes of infection. 15 and 10 episodes were mono- and polymicrobial, respectively. Isolated microorganisms included 13 aerobic facultative gram-negative bacillus, 5 facultative gram-positive cocci, and 16 anaerobes. Total dosage of lamoxactam administered by patient ranged from 24 to 234 g (mean 57.6 g), and mean duration of therapy was 15.2 days (range 8-42 days). The overall rate of clinical response to lamoxactam was excellent, amounting to 84% of episodes and 91% of patients. Local and general tolerance was good, and lamoxactam had to be discontinued only once during therapy due to an episode of neutropenia. Enterococcal colonization (5 of 26 patients, 19%) and superinfections (3 of 26 cases, 11.5%) were undesirably frequent in our patients. Lamoxactam seems to be an effective and safe single-agent therapy for many bacterial infections. The possibility of enterococcal colonization and superinfections should be monitored, specially in patients with urinary or intraabdominal infections.