An Unusual Case of Suspected Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Complicated by Streptococcus Intermedius Pyogenic Liver Disease.

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract often known to express c-KIT or platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα). Among all GI tract cancers, they account for less than 1% of cases. Most patients become symptomatic in the later stages of the tumor's course, often presenting with insidious anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding and metastasis. The recommended management of solitary GIST is surgery, while larger or metastatic tumors that express c-KIT are managed with imatinib as either neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. Due to the progression of these tumors, they are at times associated with systemic anaerobic infection, which is an indication of malignancy workup. In this case report, we discuss a 35-year-old woman who was discovered to have GIST with possible hepatic metastasis complicated by pyogenic liver disease due to Streptococcus intermedius and the diagnostic challenge of differentiating between infection and tumor.

Factors affecting development of Clostridium difficile infection in hospitalized pediatric patients in the country Georgia.

OBJECTIVE: Main aims of our study were to investigate occurrence of Clostridium difficile among hospitalized pediatric patients in Georgia and examine risk factors for the development of C. difficile infection. During our study we tested and piloted the real-time PCR diagnostic systems for rapid and simultaneous identification of C. difficile and number of other pathogens in our facility settings. A cross-sectional study has been performed in children less than 18 years of age in two pediatric hospitals in Georgia, between May 2016 and December 2017. Stool specimens negative by the conventional bacteriology analysis were analyzed for the presence of C. difficile and several viral and protozoa pathogens using enzyme immune assay and polymerase chain reaction. In total samples from 220 hospitalized children with gastroenteritis symptoms were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: The average age of the study participants was 4.7 years. Overall 23 children were identified positive for C. difficile (10.5%). Antibiotic exposure within 2 months preceding the onset of diarrhea was associated with an increased risk of C. difficile infections. The risk was greatest with cephalosporins, followed by penicillins, carbapenems and macrolides. Clostridium difficile is an important cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in pediatric population of Georgia.