A 52-Year-Old Man With an 11-Month History of Fever, Cough, Chest Pain, Pleural Effusion, and Left Lung Atelectasis.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital for cough, fever, chest pain, and progressive dyspnea. He has worked as a full-time security staff at a community center and was in a normal state of health until 11 months prior to referral when he began experiencing cough, expectoration, a high-grade fever (up to 39.7°C), chills, and left chest pain. He visited the local hospital several times with suspected lung cancer. Bronchoscopy showed chronic inflammatory changes in his bronchi. He was given a course of antibiotics, but his fever had not subsided. The patient had visited a bamboo rat farm and consumed bamboo rat meat one year previously. He had never smoked.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae 23S rRNA A2063G mutation does not influence chest radiography features in children with pneumonia.

Objective To measure the rate of the A2063G mutation in the Mycoplasma pneumoniae ( M. pneumoniae) 23S rRNA domain V in children with pneumonia and to determine the correlation between radiographic findings and the presence of the A2063G mutation. Methods Patients who were hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of M. pneumoniae pneumonia were enrolled in this study. M. pneumoniae strains were collected for genotype analysis. Chest radiography was performed on all children prior to and following macrolide treatment. Clinical and imaging data were obtained. Results Of 211 patients, 195 (92.42%) harboured M. pneumoniae with the A2063G mutation. No significant differences were identified in inflammation score, chest radiography inflammation absorption grade before and after macrolide treatment, or pulmonary complications (atelectasis, hydrothorax, or pleuritis) prior to macrolide treatment when children were stratified based on the presence or absence of the A2063G mutation. Conclusions A high proportion of children with pneumonia harboured strains of M. pneumoniae with the A2063G mutation in the 23S rRNA domain V. However, no obvious chest radiographic features of M. pneumoniae pneumonia were associated with the A2063G variant.

Right Middle Lobe Collapse and Pleural Effusion in an 18-Year-Old Man.

An 18-year-old African American male subject presented to an acute care clinic with 3 days of productive cough, chills, pleuritic right chest pain, sore throat with hoarseness, congestion, and intermittent shortness of breath. He recently relocated to Texas from Georgia to undergo basic military training. He denied any other recent travel or contact with persons with pulmonary TB or other respiratory illnesses. His medical history was significant for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and sickle cell trait.

[Corynebacterium ulcerans pulmonary infection]. / Infection pulmonaire grave à Corynebacterium ulcerans.

Corynebacterium ulcerans is a bacterium able to infect humans by inducing a disease close to diphtheria. We describe the case of a 83-year-old patient hospitalized as a matter of urgency in intensive care for which C. ulcerans was isolated in pure culture in its bronchial samples. Even if the isolate was not secreting toxin in vitro, it possesses the tox gene which motivated the use of specific antitoxin serum. After two months of intensive care the patient went out of the service. It is about a remarkable case of clinicobiologic collaboration.

[Cervical spondylodiscitis inoculation revealed by abdominal infection]. / Spondylodiscite cervicale d'inoculation révélée par une infection abdominale.

We report a patient who presented successively peritonis concomitant bacteriema with Staphylococcus aureus then meningitis and finally a bone and joint infection. All the infections are associated with the same germ. This patient of 40 years suffers of diabet mellitus and has history of neck pain and cervical spondylosis. For this, he received corticosteroid injection locally one year before his hospitalization.

Atelectasis caused by macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in an adult patient.

A 27-year-old, previously healthy woman was admitted to our hospital for mild pneumonia. After 2 days ceftriaxone sodium administration, her chest radiograph revealed a rightward mediastinal shift caused by atelectasis of the upper portion of the right lung. Bronchoscopic examination showed swelling in the right upper lobe bronchus and obstruction in the B1 segmental bronchus caused by complete edematous swelling. Histopathology showed acute cellular bronchitis with edema of the bronchial wall containing lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected by culture and a polymerase chain reaction test using sputum collected during bronchoscopy, and treatment was changed to minocycline. After 7 days antibiotic therapy, her condition improved and no relapse was observed. Identification of point mutations in domain V of the 23S rRNA for macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae was performed, and an A-to-G transition at position 2063 in domain V of the 23S rRNA gene was identified. Atelectasis caused by M. pneumoniae is thought to be a common associated finding in pediatric patients, but it is rare in adults. In addition, our patient showed extremely unusual findings with obstruction caused by complete edematous swelling.

Cavitary pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium avium observed by bronchoscopy.

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and loss of appetite. He had undergone surgery for esophageal cancer. A chest radiography 12 years after the surgery revealed cavitary lesions in the right upper lobe of the lung. The patient was then diagnosed as having Mycobacterium avium infection. The cavitary lesions worsened 2 years after clarithromycin monotherapy. Bronchoscopy was performed to observe the interior of the cavity. Gray debris adhering to the cavitary wall decreased after intensive treatment with Streptomycin, rifabutin, levofloxacin, and ethambutol. This is a rare case in which treatment efficacy of M. avium infection was directly observed by serial bronchoscopy.

Molecular detection of microorganisms in distal airways of patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Whereas proximal airways of patients undergoing lung cancer surgery are known to present specific microbiota incriminated in the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications, little attention has been paid to distal airways and lung parenchyma considered to be free from bacteria. We have hypothesized that molecular culture-independent techniques applied to distal airways should allow identification of uncultured bacteria, virus, or emerging pathogens and predict the occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications. METHODS: Microbiological assessments were obtained from the distal airways of resected lung specimens from a prospective cohort of patients undergoing major lung resections for cancer. Microorganisms were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting the bacterial 16s ribosomal RNA gene and Herpesviridae, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpesvirus simplex. All postoperative microbiological assessments were compared with the PCR results. RESULTS: In all, 240 samples from 87 patients were investigated. Colonizing agents were exclusively Herpesviridae (CMV, n=13, and herpesvirus simplex, n=1). All 16s ribosomal RNA PCR remained negative. Thirteen patients (15%) had a positive CMV PCR (positive-PCR group), whereas the remaining 74 patients constituted the negative-PCR group. Postoperative pneumonia occurred in 24% of the negative-PCR group and in 69% of the positive-PCR group (p=0.003). Upon stepwise logistic regression, performance status, percent of predicted diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide, and positive PCR were the risk factors of postoperative respiratory complications. The CMV PCR had a positive predictive value of 0.70 in prediction of respiratory complications. CONCLUSIONS: When tested by molecular techniques, lung parenchyma and distal airways are free of bacteria, but CMV was found in a high proportion of the samples. Molecular CMV detection in distal airways should be seen as a reliable marker to identify patients at risk for postoperative respiratory complications.

[Balloon dilatation bronchoplasty in management of bronchial stenosis in children with mycoplasma pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of balloon dilatation through flexible bronchoscopy in the management of inflammatory stenosis of grade 4-5 bronchus. METHOD: Thirty patients with inflammatory bronchial stenosis caused by mycoplasmal pneumonia complicated with pulmonary atelectasis were treated with balloon dilatation through fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Before the procedure and after the last operation, therapeutic effect on pulmonary atelectasis were evaluated with CT and all of the patients were followed-up for 1 - 6 months. RESULT: One to three operations were required to achieve satisfactory dilatation. After balloon dilatation, the average airway diameter increased obviously and the farther airways were opened after the therapy with irrigation. In 25 of 30 cases satisfactory immediate effects were obtained, a narrow airway diameter above expansion significantly increased as compared with preoperative diameter. In 5 children treated with balloon dilatation, the stenosis could not be improved significantly. In 3 patients with hyperplasia of granulation tissue, cryotherapy had to be applied. The operations were ineffective in the other two patients whose course of disease exceeded 3 months. After follow-up periods of 1 - 6 months, chest CT manifestation of expanded sites was improved in 28 patients and atelectasis disappeared. No severe complication was found in any patients. CONCLUSION: Bronchoplasty by balloon dilatation through flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a simple, effective and safe method to treat childhood tracheobronchial stenosis after pulmonary infections.

Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease improves atelectasis in mechanically ventilated children with cardiac disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a mucolytic agent, recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase), improves atelectasis in children with cardiac illness requiring mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study on consecutive patients receiving short-term (< or =14 days) rhDNase therapy for atelectasis in the cardiac intensive care unit from January 2005 through February 2007 was carried out. Data relating to patient characteristics, gas exchange, ventilatory parameters, and chest radiographs were collected and analyzed. The effectiveness of rhDNase therapy in the presence of neutrophils and/or bacteria in the pre-rhDNase therapy tracheal aspirates was also investigated. RESULTS: rhDNase was effective in significantly improving established atelectasis without any major changes in gas exchange and ventilatory parameters. Therapeutic effect of rhDNase is most effective in ameliorating atelectasis in the lungs within 10 doses. rhDNase was more effective in improving chest radiographic atelectasis score in patients who had > moderate amounts of polymophonuclear neutrophils (P value = 0.0008), or bacteria (P value = 0.007) or both (P value = 0.004) present in their pre-rhDNase therapy trachea aspirate. No adverse effects were seen with rhDNase administration in the study cohort. CONCLUSIONS: rhDNase can be safely and effectively used to improve atelectasis in mechanically ventilated children with cardiac disease especially in the presence of bacteria and/or moderate amounts of polymophonuclear neutrophils in the pre-rhDNase therapy tracheal aspirate.

The value of routinely culturing for tuberculosis during bronchoscopies in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country.

PURPOSE: Many medical centers routinely culture bronchoscopy samples for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, even when tuberculosis is not strongly suspected. The value of this practice, however, is controversial. We evaluated the role of that procedure in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study was conducted in a tertiary referral center and included 733 consecutive patients who underwent bronchoscopy examination. RESULTS: M. tuberculosis was isolated in 47 patients (6.4%). According to radiographic features, the rate of positive culture for M. tuberculosis was relatively high in patients with atelectasis (5/33, 15.2%) and those with pulmonary infiltrations of suspicious infections (26/183, 14.2%). M. tuberculosis was isolated even in patients with pulmonary masses (9/266, 3.4%) and those with pulmonary nodules (5/175, 2.9%). In 16/47 (34.0%) patients with positive cultures for M. tuberculosis, active pulmonary tuberculosis was not suspected at the time of bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that routinely culturing for M. tuberculosis during bronchoscopy is still useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country.

[Thoracic actinomycosis: three cases]. / L'actinomycose thoracique. A propos de trois cas.

Actinomycosis is a rare condition which, in the thoracic localisation, can mimic cancer or tuberculosis. We report a series of three case of thoracic actinomycosis treated in the Ibn Sina University Thoracic Surgery Unit in Rabat, Morocco. CASE N degrees 1: This 45-year-old patient presented a tumefaction on the left anterior aspect of the chest. Physical examination identified a parietal mass with fistulisation to the skin. Radiography demonstrated a left pulmonary mass. Transparietal puncture led to the pathological diagnosis of actinomycosis. The patient was given medical treatment and improved clinically and radiographically. CASE N degrees 2: This 68-year-old patient presented repeated episodes of hemoptysis. The chest x-ray revealed atelectasia of the middle lobe and bronchial fibroscopy demonstrated the presence of a bud in the middle lobar bronchus. Biopsies were negative. The patient underwent surgery and the histology examination of the operative specimen revealed pulmonary actinomycosis. The patient recovered well clinically and radiographically with antibiotic therapy. CASE N degrees 3: This 56-year-old patient presented cough and hemoptysis. Physical examination revealed a left condensation and destruction of the left lung was noted on the chest x-ray. Left pleuropulmonectomy was performed. Histological analysis of the surgical specimen identified associated Aspergillus and Actinomyces. The outcome was favorable with medical treatment. The purpose of this work was to recall the radiological, clinical, histological, therapeutic, outcome aspects of this condition and to relate the problems of differential diagnosis when can suggest other diseases.

The Value of Routinely Culturing for Tuberculosis During Bronchoscopies in an Intermediate Tuberculosis-Burden Country

PURPOSE: Many medical centers routinely culture bronchoscopy samples for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, even when tuberculosis is not strongly suspected. The value of this practice, however, is controversial. We evaluated the role of that procedure in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study was conducted in a tertiary referral center and included 733 consecutive patients who underwent bronchoscopy examination. RESULTS: M. tuberculosis was isolated in 47 patients (6.4%). According to radiographic features, the rate of positive culture for M. tuberculosis was relatively high in patients with atelectasis (5/33, 15.2%) and those with pulmonary infiltrations of suspicious infections (26/183, 14.2%). M. tuberculosis was isolated even in patients with pulmonary masses (9/266, 3.4%) and those with pulmonary nodules (5/175, 2.9%). In 16/47 (34.0%) patients with positive cultures for M. tuberculosis, active pulmonary tuberculosis was not suspected at the time of bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that routinely culturing for M. tuberculosis during bronchoscopy is still useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country.

Decision-making for lung resection in patients with empyema and collapsed lung due to tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Collapsed lung with associated empyema is a different clinical entity from destroyed lung . A low perfusion rate of the diseased lung is usually considered an indication for pneumonectomy in patients undergoing thoracotomy for tuberculosis. Such a criterion may not adequately reflect the functional capacity of the underlying parenchyma when the lung is collapsed. METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients underwent thoracotomy for tuberculosis at our hospital between 1998 and 2003. Among these, 5 (4%) patients who had a collapsed lung for more than 3 months and pleural infection were the subjects of this study. Surgery was considered after at least a 3-month course of regular antituberculous treatment. Despite no perfusions in 2 patients and 8%, 10%, and 15% perfusion rates for the remaining 3 patients, decortication alone was intentionally performed, and any kind of resectional operation was avoided. RESULTS: The lung gradually filled the hemithorax between 5 and 12 days after surgery in 4 patients. The remaining patient required a thoracomyoplasty 8 weeks after the initial operation. Repeated perfusion scans 1 and 2 years after decortication continued to show no perfusion in patients who had had no preoperative perfusion. All patients were symptom free on regular follow-up between 10 months and 4.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the outcome is unpredictable in terms of lung expansion after decortication, which is a relatively simple procedure compared with other surgical options. We think that the risk of rethoracotomy is acceptable, considering the devastating complications and high mortality rates of resectional surgery in the treatment of such patients.

Postmortem diagnostics using MSCT and MRI of a lethal streptococcus group A infection at infancy: a case report.

Postmortem cross-sectional imaging using multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was considered as a base for a minimal invasive postmortem investigation in forensic medicine such as within the Virtopsy approach. We present the case of a 3-year-old girl with a lethal streptococcus group A infection and the findings of postmortem imaging in this kind of natural death. Postmortem MSCT and MRI revealed an edematous occlusion of the larynx at the level of the vocal cords, severe pneumonia with atelectatic parts of both upper lobes and complete atelectasis of both lower lobes, purulent fluid-filled right main bronchus, enlargement of cervical lymph nodes and pharyngeal tonsils, and additionally, a remaining glossopharyngeal cyst as well as an ureter fissus of the right kidney. All relevant autopsy findings could be obtained and visualized by postmortem imaging and confirmed by histological and microbiological investigations supporting the idea of a minimal invasive autopsy technique.

[Pulmonary infection caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in two patients with bronchiectasis]. / Infectie met niet-tuberculeuze mycobacteriën bij 2 patiënten met bronchiëctasieën.

Two patients, a woman aged 67 years and a man aged 80 years, had chronic cough among other respiratory symptoms. In the woman, chest radiograph and CT-scan revealed partial atelectasis of the middle lobe and bronchiectasis. In the man, an interstitial pattern was seen on chest radiograph, and CT scan showed diffuse bronchiectasis. In both the man and the woman, non-tuberculous mycobacteria were identified (Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus, respectively). Treatment was successful in both patients. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria can cause considerable pulmonary infection in patients with bronchiectasis.

Aspergillus bronchitis causing atelectasis and acute respiratory failure in an immunocompromised patient.

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an uncommon clinical form of invasive aspergillosis with fungal infection limited entirely or predominantly to the tracheobronchial tree. We report a case of Aspergillus fumigatus bronchitis, diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy, with fungal growth completely occluding the left main bronchus leading to lung collapse and acute respiratory failure in a 60-year-old male with erythroleukemia and profound granulocytopenia.

Bilobectomy and amphotericin B in a case of endobronchial mucormycosis.

Lung mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that has been described mainly in oncologic and diabetic patients. We here report the case of an endobronchial lesion caused by this fungus in an immunocompetent person. Prompt diagnosis, and therapy with Amphotericin B and surgery, permitted the complete resolution.