Safety and efficacy of intravenous tigecycline in treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: results from a double-blind randomized phase 3 comparison study with levofloxacin.

Tigecycline exhibits potent in vitro activity against many community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant ones. Its spectrum of activity and ability to penetrate lung tissue suggest it may be effective for hospitalized CAP patients. Hospitalized CAP patients (n=418) were randomized to receive intravenous (i.v.) tigecycline or levofloxacin. Patients could be switched to oral levofloxacin after receiving 6 or more doses of i.v. study medication. Therapy duration was 7 to 14 days. Coprimary efficacy end points were clinical responses in the clinically evaluable (CE: tigecycline, n=138; levofloxacin, n=156) and clinical modified intent-to-treat (c-mITT: tigecycline, n=191; levofloxacin, n=203) populations at test-of-cure (TOC). Safety was assessed in the mITT population (tigecycline, n=208; levofloxacin, n=210). Cure rates in tigecycline and levofloxacin groups were comparable in CE (90.6% versus 87.2%, respectively) and c-mITT (78% versus 77.8%, respectively) populations at TOC. Nausea and vomiting occurred in significantly more tigecycline-treated patients; elevated alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were reported in significantly more levofloxacin-treated patients. There were no significant differences in hospital length of stay, median duration of i.v. or oral antibiotic treatments, hospital readmissions, or number of patients switched to oral levofloxacin. Tigecycline was safe, effective, and noninferior to levofloxacin in hospitalized patients with CAP.

Using polymerase chain reaction in early diagnosis of re-activated Trypanosoma cruzi infection after heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with end-stage Chagas' heart disease. Re-activation of Chagas' disease in transplant recipients is frequent, triggered by immunosuppression level. Therefore, highly sensitive methods for early diagnosis of Chagas' disease relapse are necessary to initiate appropriate therapy. We analyzed the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the clinical follow-up of heart transplant recipients. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 4 heart transplant recipients at the Hospital Privado, Cordoba, Argentina, who had terminal Chagas' disease. The parameters analyzed were presence of parasites in the blood (blood culture, Strout) and in endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) samples, and PCR was performed with oligonucleotides directed to a nuclear repetitive sequence of Trypanosoma cruzi. We evaluated these parameters weekly from the day of transplantation until results were negative and then during regular follow-up visits. RESULTS: In 2 patients, we detected T cruzi using PCR in peripheral blood 30 days before clinical evidence of re-activation. In the 3rd case, PCR results in peripheral blood were positive from the day before transplantation, followed by positive results in EMB and sub-cutaneous chagomas biopsy specimens. Only 1 patient had positive Strout results for parasites in skin lesions, and none showed amastigotes in the biopsy specimens. After clinical diagnosis, all patients received 5 mg/kg/day benzimidazole for 6 months, with acceptable tolerance and good clinical outcome. All patients had negative peripheral blood PRC results after 30 days of treatment. One patient had intermittent positive PCR results during follow-up, with no evidence of clinical re-activation. CONCLUSION: Polymerase chain reaction detection of T Cruzi in heart transplant recipients is a more sensitive and specific procedure in diagnosing Chagas' disease re-activation.

Cytomegalovirus-induced haemorrhagic cystitis in a patient with neurogenic bladder.

We report a case of severe cytomegalovirus induced haemorrhagic cystitis associated with neurogenic urinary bladder in a patient suffering from anaplastic spinal ependymoma. The diagnosis was established by bladder biopsy and immunohistochemical study. Haematuria resolved after ganciclovir therapy. Previous reports are reviewed.

[Severe polyarthritis and tenosynovitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with functional hyposplenia]. / Poliartritis y tenosinovitis grave por Streptococcus agalactiae en un paciente con hipoesplenia funcional.

Cases of arthritis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae are infrequent and in our knowledge there are no case reports of tenosynovitis caused by S. agalactiae. A 46-year-old woman presented with fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, diarrhea and vomiting. She had a history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and functional hyposplenia. She was febrile, with arthritis in hands, wrists, elbows, right shoulder and left ankle joints, and presented tenosynovitis in both feet and left hand. Blood and right olecranon bursa sample cultures were positive for S. agalactiae. An ultrasound scan made at the musculus tibialis anterior of left foot revealed signs of tenosynovitis. She was treated with intravenous cefazolin for 20 days and oral cefuroxime for 12 days. The joint involvement completely subsided in 60 days. Streptococcus agalactiae can cause, infrequently, a polyarthritis and tenosynovitis syndrome similar to disseminated gonococcal infection.

Poliartritis y tenosinovitis grave por Streptococcus agalactiae en un paciente con hipoesplenia funcional / Severe polyarthritis and tenosynovitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with functional hyposplenia

Cases of arthritis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae are infrequent and in our knowledge there are no case reports of tenosynovitis caused by S. agalactiae. A 46-year-old woman presented with fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, diarrhea and vomiting. She had a history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and functional hyposplenia. She was febrile, with arthritis in hands, wrists, elbows, right shoulder and left ankle joints, and presented tenosynovitis in both feet and left hand. Blood and right olecranon bursa sample cultures were positive for S. agalactiae. An ultrasound scan made at the musculus tibialis anterior of left foot revealed signs of tenosynovitis. She was treated with intravenous cefazolin for 20 days and oral cefuroxime for 12 days. The joint involvement completely subsided in 60 days. Streptococcus agalactiae can cause, infrequently, a polyarthritis and tenosynovitis syndrome similar to disseminated gonococcal infection

Poliartritis y tenosinovitis grave por Streptococcus agalactiae en un paciente con hipoesplenia funcional. / [Severe polyarthritis and tenosynovitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with functional hyposplenia]

Cases of arthritis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae are infrequent and in our knowledge there are no case reports of tenosynovitis caused by S. agalactiae. A 46-year-old woman presented with fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, diarrhea and vomiting. She had a history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and functional hyposplenia. She was febrile, with arthritis in hands, wrists, elbows, right shoulder and left ankle joints, and presented tenosynovitis in both feet and left hand. Blood and right olecranon bursa sample cultures were positive for S. agalactiae. An ultrasound scan made at the musculus tibialis anterior of left foot revealed signs of tenosynovitis. She was treated with intravenous cefazolin for 20 days and oral cefuroxime for 12 days. The joint involvement completely subsided in 60 days. Streptococcus agalactiae can cause, infrequently, a polyarthritis and tenosynovitis syndrome similar to disseminated gonococcal infection.

Poliartritis y tenosinovitis grave por Streptococcus agalactiae en un paciente con hipoesplenia funcional / Severe polyarthritis and tenosynovitis due to Streptococcus agalactiae in a patient with functional hyposplenia

Cases of arthritis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae are infrequent and in our knowledge there are no case reports of tenosynovitis caused by S. agalactiae. A 46-year-old woman presented with fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia, diarrhea and vomiting. She had a history of papillary thyroid carcinoma and functional hyposplenia. She was febrile, with arthritis in hands, wrists, elbows, right shoulder and left ankle joints, and presented tenosynovitis in both feet and left hand. Blood and right olecranon bursa sample cultures were positive for S. agalactiae. An ultrasound scan made at the musculus tibialis anterior of left foot revealed signs of tenosynovitis. She was treated with intravenous cefazolin for 20 days and oral cefuroxime for 12 days. The joint involvement completely subsided in 60 days. Streptococcus agalactiae can cause, infrequently, a polyarthritis and tenosynovitis syndrome similar to disseminated gonococcal infection (AU)

Absceso cerebral por nocardia en pacientes con HIV-SIDA / Brain abscesso by nocardia in patients with HIV-AIDS

RESUMEN:Se presenta un paciente de 32 años de edad con diagnóstico de HIV-SIDA en 1989 y enfermedad marcadora por PCP en 1997, con recuento de CD4 de 63 mm3 y carga viral de 14.400. Presentando a la consulta crisis convulsivas asociadas a lesión parietal izquioerda con captación de contraste en la tomografía axial computada (TAC) y serología positiva para toxoplasmosis, sin repuesta inicial a tratamiento específico con pirimetamina más sulfadiazina.Frente a la persistencia de la clínica inicial y la aparición de toxidermia madicamentosa, se realiza estudio de resonancia nuclear magnética (RNM) y posterior biopsia estereotáxica, donde se identifica al examen directo bacilos gram positivos-ácido alcohol resistentes, con cultivo posterior negativo. Se comienza tratamiento con sulfadiazina, ceftriaxona, amikacina y continua con drogas antiretroviral (3TC-D4T-IP), presentando buena evolución clínica y resolución de las lesiones tomográficas luego del año de tratamiento. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura sobre nocardia del sistema nervioso central en paciente HIV-SIDA y la metodología en los procedimientos diagnósticos para los pacientes con enfermedad neurológica asociada al SIDA.

Análisis de la experiencia en la terapia antibiotica endovenosa domiciliaria (AED) en infecciones severas

RESUMEN: OBJETIVOS: Investigar la experiencia global y comparar los gastos del tratamiento antibiótico endovenoso domiciliario (AED) en pacientes con infecciones severas en el servicio de atención domiciliaria (SAD) del Hospital Privado de Córdoba. DISEÑO: se analizó retrospectivamente la experiencia del SAD en el tratamiento AED en 40 pacientes. MATERIAL y METODOS: se evaluaron todas las historias clínicas de los pacientes que recibieron EAD en el SAD del Hospital Privado de Córdoba desde Diciembre 1996 hasta Abril 1998. Se analizaron las caracteristivas generales de la población, eficacia clínica y bacteriológica de los pacientes evaluables, la incidencia de los eventos adversos y se comparó los costos del tratamiento del mismo grupo con las mismas patologías como si hubieran estados internados. RESULTADOS: los costos del tratamiento AED en el SAD tuvieron un diferencia significativa comparando los costos calculados de los internados con las mismas patologías. se logró un 95 por ciento de curación o mejoria clínica de los tratados y un 88 por ciento de erradicación bacterilógica. Se registro un 95 por ciento de finalización de ciclos de tratamiento. Se registró una diferencia significativa entre los costos del tratamiento AED comparando los costos calculados de los mismos tratamientos en internados por día por paciente($ 45 para AED y $ 143 para internados, p=<0,0001, con una diferencia de $ 98 por paciente por día) con un ahorro global durante 16 meses de $ 58.160 por 40 pacientes tratados. CONCLUSION: El tratamiento AED es una alternativa segura, eficaz y significtivamente más económica para pacientes con infecciones graves que se encuentran clinicamente estabilizados.

Absceso cerebral por nocardia en pacientes con HIV-SIDA / Brain abscesso by nocardia in patients with HIV-AIDS

RESUMEN:Se presenta un paciente de 32 años de edad con diagnóstico de HIV-SIDA en 1989 y enfermedad marcadora por PCP en 1997, con recuento de CD4 de 63 mm3 y carga viral de 14.400. Presentando a la consulta crisis convulsivas asociadas a lesión parietal izquioerda con captación de contraste en la tomografía axial computada (TAC) y serología positiva para toxoplasmosis, sin repuesta inicial a tratamiento específico con pirimetamina más sulfadiazina.Frente a la persistencia de la clínica inicial y la aparición de toxidermia madicamentosa, se realiza estudio de resonancia nuclear magnética (RNM) y posterior biopsia estereotáxica, donde se identifica al examen directo bacilos gram positivos-ácido alcohol resistentes, con cultivo posterior negativo. Se comienza tratamiento con sulfadiazina, ceftriaxona, amikacina y continua con drogas antiretroviral (3TC-D4T-IP), presentando buena evolución clínica y resolución de las lesiones tomográficas luego del año de tratamiento. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura sobre nocardia del sistema nervioso central en paciente HIV-SIDA y la metodología en los procedimientos diagnósticos para los pacientes con enfermedad neurológica asociada al SIDA.(AU)

Análisis de la experiencia en la terapia antibiotica endovenosa domiciliaria (AED) en infecciones severas

RESUMEN: OBJETIVOS: Investigar la experiencia global y comparar los gastos del tratamiento antibiótico endovenoso domiciliario (AED) en pacientes con infecciones severas en el servicio de atención domiciliaria (SAD) del Hospital Privado de Córdoba. DISEÑO: se analizó retrospectivamente la experiencia del SAD en el tratamiento AED en 40 pacientes. MATERIAL y METODOS: se evaluaron todas las historias clínicas de los pacientes que recibieron EAD en el SAD del Hospital Privado de Córdoba desde Diciembre 1996 hasta Abril 1998. Se analizaron las caracteristivas generales de la población, eficacia clínica y bacteriológica de los pacientes evaluables, la incidencia de los eventos adversos y se comparó los costos del tratamiento del mismo grupo con las mismas patologías como si hubieran estados internados. RESULTADOS: los costos del tratamiento AED en el SAD tuvieron un diferencia significativa comparando los costos calculados de los internados con las mismas patologías. se logró un 95 por ciento de curación o mejoria clínica de los tratados y un 88 por ciento de erradicación bacterilógica. Se registro un 95 por ciento de finalización de ciclos de tratamiento. Se registró una diferencia significativa entre los costos del tratamiento AED comparando los costos calculados de los mismos tratamientos en internados por día por paciente($ 45 para AED y $ 143 para internados, p=<0,0001, con una diferencia de $ 98 por paciente por día) con un ahorro global durante 16 meses de $ 58.160 por 40 pacientes tratados. CONCLUSION: El tratamiento AED es una alternativa segura, eficaz y significtivamente más económica para pacientes con infecciones graves que se encuentran clinicamente estabilizados.(AU)