Familial opsonization defect associated with fatal infantile dermatitis, infections, and histiocytosis.
(41/1101)
Members of four generations of a family had a defect of serum opsonization for yeast phagocytosis consistent with dominant inheritance. 2 were healthy, one had chronic osteomyelitis, and the fourth developed a fatal illness in infancy characterized by exfoliative dermatitis, diarrhoea, multiple bacterial infections, and failure to thrive, which resembled the two prevously reported cases with this opsonization defect. At necropsy the infant also had lymphoid depletion, which was possibly secondary, and massive histiocytic infiltration. (+info)
Osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus schleiferi and evidence of misidentification of this Staphylococcus species by an automated bacterial identification system.
(42/1101)
We report a case of sternal osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus schleiferi in a patient who underwent thoracic surgery. This constitutes the first documented case of osteomyelitis caused by this Staphylococcus species. We also relate our experience in the utilization of commercially available MicroScan panels for the identification of this microorganism. (+info)
Vascularised fibular grafts. An experience of 102 patients.
(43/1101)
The results and complications of 104 vascularised fibular grafts in 102 patients are presented. Bony union was ultimately achieved in 97 patients, with primary union in 84 (84%). The mean time to union was 15.5 weeks (8 to 40). In 13 patients, primary union was achieved at one end of the fibula and secondary union at the other end. In these patients, the mean time to union was 31.1 weeks (24 to 40). Five patients failed to achieve union, with a resultant pseudarthrosis (3 patients) or amputation (2 patients). There were various complications. Immediate thrombosis occurred in 14 cases. In two of 23 patients with osteomyelitis, infection recurred at two and six months after surgery, respectively. Both patients had active osteomyelitis less than one month before the operation. Bony infection occurred in a patient with a synovial sarcoma of the forearm one year after surgery. In 15 patients, 19 fractures of the fibular graft occurred after bony union, all except one within one year after union. In patients in whom an external fixator had been used, fracture occurred soon after its removal. Union was difficult to achieve in cases of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia. Appropriate alignment of the fibular graft is an important factor in preventing stress fracture. The vascularised fibula should be protected during the first year after union. Postoperative complications at the donor site included transient palsy of the superficial peroneal nerve in three patients, contracture of flexor hallucis longus in two and valgus deformity of the ankle in three. Vascularised fibular grafts are useful in the reconstruction of massive bony defects. We believe that meticulous preoperative planning, including choosing which vessels to select in the recipient and the type of fixation devices to use, and care in the introduction of the vascularised fibula, can improve the results and prevent complications. (+info)
Primary haematogenous osteomyelitis of the patella: a rare cause for anterior knee pain in an adult.
(44/1101)
Acute osteomyelitis of the patella is a very rare condition, which commonly affects children between the ages of 5-15 years. Primary haematogenous osteomyelitis in an adult usually occurs in patients with associated risk factors like intravenous drug abuse, HIV infection, and trauma. This report discusses a similar condition in a 46 year old women with no associated predisposing risk factors. The rarity of this condition and its atypical presentation should be borne in mind while treating an adult patient with anterior knee pain. Point tenderness over the patella should alert a physician to the possibility of osteomyelitis of the patella. The value of bone scan and computed tomography in the early stages to help diagnose this condition has been stressed. The literature has been reviewed and discussed briefly. (+info)
Linezolid therapy of Staphylococcus aureus experimental osteomyelitis.
(45/1101)
The in vivo activity of linezolid or cefazolin against a clinical isolate of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (linezolid MIC, 2 microg/ml) was studied in a rat model of experimental osteomyelitis. Sixty rats with experimental S. aureus osteomyelitis were treated for 21 days with no antimicrobial, with 25 microg of linezolid per kg of body weight administered intraperitoneally twice or three times a day, or with 50 microg of cefazolin per kg administered intramuscularly three times a day. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the infected tibiae were processed for quantitative bacterial cultures. The results of treatment were expressed as log(10) CFU/gram of bone and analyzed by rank sum analysis. The results of linezolid treatment were not significantly different from those of untreated controls, while cefazolin treatment was significantly more active than no treatment or linezolid treatment. (+info)
Successful treatment of invasive aspergillosis in chronic granulomatous disease by granulocyte transfusions followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
(46/1101)
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder characterized by impaired microbial killing and susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. Cure of the disease can be achieved by stem cell transplantation when performed early in its course, and before severe infections have developed. Invasive aspergillosis constitutes a very high risk for transplantation. We report a 4-year-old boy with X-linked CGD who underwent successful HLA-identical peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation during invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and osteomyelitis of the left fourth rib, which was unresponsive to antifungal treatment. During the 2 months prior to the transplant he received G-CSF-mobilized granulocyte transfusions (GTX) from unrelated donors three times a week in addition to the antifungal treatment. This resulted in clinical improvement in his respiratory status. He also received GTX during the aplastic period after the conditioning regimen, until he had engrafted. Post-transplant superoxide generation test revealed that neutrophil function was within normal range. One year post transplant the CT scan showed almost complete clearance of the pulmonary infiltrates and a marked improvement in the osteomyelitic process. Based on other reports and our own experience, GTX can serve as important treatment in patients with CGD who have failed conventional anti-fungal treatment and for whom stem cell transplantation is the only chance for cure. (+info)
67Gallium in 68 consecutive infection searches.
(47/1101)
When employed in the study of peripheral infections, 67Ga scanning is sensitive and accurate. When used as a diagnostic tool for suspected abdominal abscesses, it locates and delineates abscesses in somewhat over half the cases. Moreover, the true-negative rate is high and the false-positive rate is acceptably low. Gallium scans should be interpreted with all available clinical information. The coexistence of noeplasm is a problem which at present is not completely resolved. (+info)
Osteomyelitis in children: comparison of hematogenous and secondary osteomyelitis.
(48/1101)
SUMMARY: A review of osteomyelitis in 54 patients treated at the Dr. Charles A. Janeway Child Health Centre over a 4-year period revealed equal frequencies of secondary and hematogenous osteomyelitis. Although the clinical picture in patients with hematogenous osteomyelitis was classic, patients with secondary osteomyelitis presented with an altered clinical response. Patients with secondary osteomyelitis have a history of an antecedent puncture wound or an inadequately treated contiguous focus of infection; antistaphylococcal antimicrobial therapy was ineffective for most because gram-negative bacilli were isolated in this group of patients. In contrast to patients with hematogenous osteomyelitis, who frequently respond to intensive antimicrobial therapy, those with secondary osteomyelitis will frequently require surgical intervention to eradicate the infection. (+info)