Ruptura de músculo papilar antero lateral por endocarditis local: Presentación inusual de la endocarditis de válvula nativa / Rupture of the anterolateral papillary muscle due to focal infective endocarditis: An unusual presentation of native valve endocarditis

Se presenta en caso de un varón de 55 años con diagnóstico de insuficiencia mitral severa por ruptura de músculo papilar; los hallazgos operatorios mostraron vegetaciones múltiples en la cabeza del musculo papilar anterolateral con ruptura total del mismo y velos valvulares normales. La histopatología mostró infiltrado inflamatorio polimorfonuclear en el tejido endocárdico y miocárdico, además vegetaciones fibrinosas en la superficie del musculo papilar, el cultivo del tejido resultó positivo a K. pneumoniae, concluyéndose como endocarditis aislada por infección directa del músculo papilar. El paciente recibió tratamiento antibiótico por seis semanas y fue dado de alta a los 45 días del ingreso con grado funcional. (AU)

We report the case of a 55-year old male patient diagnosed of severe mitral valve insufficiency due to rupture of the papilar muscle. Surgical findings included multiple vegetations on the head of the antero-lateral papilar muscle with complete rupture of it and abnormal valve veils. Histoptahology revealed polymorphonuclear infiltrate on the endocardic and myocardic tissues, and fibrinous vegetations on the surface of the papilar muscle. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the papilar muscle. The patient received 6-weeks of treatment and was discharged after 45 days of being admitted with functional class. (AU)

Risk factors associated with diarrhea among international visitors to Cuzco, Peru.

The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for travelers' diarrhea (TD) reported by visitors to Cuzco, Peru. In this cross-sectional study, self-administered questionnaires looking at perceived occurrence of health problems and pre-travel health advice were obtained from departing travelers at Cuzco's International Airport between August and November 2002. A total of 5,988 travelers participated in the study. The mean age was 35 years, and 51% were women. The prevalence of TD was 24%. Factors associated with TD in the multivariable analysis were use of antibiotic prophylaxis (OR: 3.20), vaccination against cholera (OR: 1.44), history of advice for safe food and water consumption (OR: 1.46), being younger than 35 years of age (OR: 1.37), being a resident of the United States (OR: 1.28), not staying in hotels in Cuzco (OR: 1.13), and number of unsafe food or beverages consumed (OR: 1.04). Remaining in Cuzco < 1 week was a protective factor (OR: 0.58). TD is common among travelers to Cuzco. This study suggests that conventional recommendations are not invariably effective at decreasing TD.

Pretravel health advice among international travelers visiting Cuzco, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Cuzco, a Peruvian city of historical interest located 3,326 m above sea level, is a frequent destination for tourists. We conducted a descriptive study to assess the extent and sources of pretravel health advice received by international travelers before their arrival to Cuzco. METHODS: Data were collected as part of a health survey among travelers. Between August and November 2002, travelers between 15 and 65 years old were invited to fill out a questionnaire in the departing area of Cuzco's international airport. RESULTS: A total of 5,988 travelers participated. The mean age was 35.4 years (SD 11.4 yr); 50.6% were female and 50.8% were single. Tourism was the reason for traveling in 90.2% of the participants, and 89.3% of them were traveling with companions. Pretravel health information was received by 93.6%. The median number of information sources was two, with books (41.5%), travel medicine clinics (38.8%), the Internet (23.3%), and general practitioners (22.7%) as the main sources. Most frequently received recommendations were about safe food and water consumption (85%), use of insect repellents (66.0%), sunburn protection (64.4%), and condom use (22%). Only 16.5% took medication to prevent altitude sickness, and 14.2% took medication to prevent traveler's diarrhea. Variables independently associated with receiving pretravel health information from a health care professional were female gender, country of residence other than the United States, length of stay in Cuzco > 7 days, length of stay in other Peruvian cities > 7 days, tourism as the main reason for visiting Cuzco, traveling with companions, and consulting of more than one source of information. CONCLUSIONS: Most travelers arriving to Cuzco had received pretravel health information, and the majority obtained it from more than one source. Recommendations addressed for specific health risks, such as altitude sickness prophylaxis, were received by few travelers.