Infected papillary fibroelastoma attached to the atrial septum. (1/19)

A 61-year-old woman had intermittent fever of 2 months' duration following a dental extraction. On admission, her body temperature was 39.2 degrees C. A mid-systolic murmur was heard at the apex on ausculation. A 2-dimensional echocardiogram revealed a mobile, heavy stick-like mass with vegetation (5.0 x 1.5 cm) attached to the left atrial septum. Multiple blood cultures grew Streptococcus constellatus. On diagnosis of an infected left atrial myxoma, antibiotics were administered daily and 4 weeks later, the left atrial tumor was resected. The tumor was 5.3cm long, 1.5cm in diameter at the inter-atrial wall and had vegetation on the free edge. On microscopic examination, colonies of Gram-positive cocci were found in the thrombus, on the papillary fibroelastoma. After treatment with antibiotics for a further 4 weeks, the patient was discharged. This is the first report of infected papillary fibroelastoma.  (+info)

Mycotic Aneurysm Caused by Streptococcus constellatus subsp. constellatus. (2/19)

An infected mycotic aneurysm due to Streptococcus constellatus subsp. constellatus has not previously been reported. We report on this condition in an 87-year-old woman who had aggravating abdominal pain and a large fusiform aneurysm over the thoracic-abdominal aorta with mural thrombus. Isolates from two sets of blood cultures and the debrided tissue were identified as S. constellatus subsp. constellatus by their biochemical reaction profiles, compatible 16S rRNA gene sequencing results, and sequencing results for the partial groESL gene and the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region.  (+info)

Phototargeting oral black-pigmented bacteria. (3/19)

We have found that broadband light (380 to 520 nm) rapidly and selectively kills oral black-pigmented bacteria (BPB) in pure cultures and in dental plaque samples obtained from human subjects with chronic periodontitis. We hypothesize that this killing effect is a result of light excitation of their endogenous porphyrins. Cultures of Prevotella intermedia and P. nigrescens were killed by 4.2 J/cm2, whereas P. melaninogenica required 21 J/cm2. Exposure to light with a fluence of 42 J/cm2 produced 99% killing of P. gingivalis. High-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the presence of various amounts of different porphyrin molecules in BPB. The amounts of endogenous porphyrin in BPB were 267 (P. intermedia), 47 (P. nigrescens), 41 (P. melaninogenica), and 2.2 (P. gingivalis) ng/mg. Analysis of bacteria in dental plaque samples by DNA-DNA hybridization for 40 taxa before and after phototherapy showed that the growth of the four BPB was decreased by 2 and 3 times after irradiation at energy fluences of 4.2 and 21 J/cm2, respectively, whereas the growth of the remaining 36 microorganisms was decreased by 1.5 times at both energy fluences. The present study suggests that intraoral light exposure may be used to control BPB growth and possibly benefit patients with periodontal disease.  (+info)

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis complicated by narrowing of the internal carotid artery, subarachnoid abscess and multiple pulmonary septic emboli. (4/19)

A 56-year-old woman was admitted because of a high fever, right ptosis, chemosis, proptosis and ocular muscle palsy. Cranial MRI revealed a cavernous sinus thrombosis and a subarachnoid abscess. Carotid angio-gram demonstrated marked stenosis as well as aneurismal formation of the right internal carotid artery at the intracavernous portion. Chest radiograph showed bilateral multiple pulmonary nodules, some of which contained a cavity. Blood culture was positive for Streptococcus constellatus. She was diagnosed with septic cavernous sinus thrombosis complicated by narrowing of the internal carotid artery, subarachnoid abscess and multiple pulmonary septic emboli. She recovered with partial ocular sequelae as a result of seven weeks of intravenous antimicrobial therapy.  (+info)

Brain abscess following dental procedures. Case report. (5/19)

There have been a number of reports of brain abscess suggesting an odontogenic etiology after dental treatment procedures or oral infections, but the diagnosis was mainly by exclusion rather than based on evidence. We present a case of a brain abscess due to Strepto-coccus constellatus in a 27-year-old-immunocompetent woman who underwent extraction of the primary molar and eradication of a radicular cyst some weeks before.  (+info)

Embolic myocardial infarction and left ventricular rupture due to mitral valve endocarditis. (6/19)

A left ventricular rupture due to embolic myocardial infarction is extremely rare. A 72-year-old woman developed an acute embolic myocardial infarction and mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. Two days after the infarction, a left ventricular free wall rupture occurred after transesophageal echo examination. She received an epicardial patch and mitral valve replacement. Perioperatively, an intra-aortic balloon pump and long-term antibiotics were used. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she is doing well 10 months after surgery.  (+info)

Streptococcus constellatus and Prevotella bivia penile abscess. (7/19)

Streptococcus constellatus (S. constellatus) is known to cause abscesses in the oral, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal tracts, frequently in association with anaerobic bacteria. We report a rare case of S. constellatus and Prevotella bivia (P. bivia) causing a penile abscess, which was successfully treated with surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment.  (+info)

A polymicrobial perspective of pulmonary infections exposes an enigmatic pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients. (8/19)

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