Metastatic infection secondary to genitourinary tract sepsis

Septic Facet Joint Arthritis after a Corticosteroid Facet Injection

Lumbar facet joint injections are commonly employed in the treatment of low back pain and are considered to be relatively safe with few known complications. We report the case of septic facet arthritis following a periarticular facet injection in a patient with recurrent urinary tract infections. The literature is reviewed to identify epidemiological and clinical features of patients in whom septic facet arthritis developed after lumbar facet injection. The diagnosis of iatrogenic septic facet arthritis is often delayed because neurologic and constitutional signs and symptoms develop slowly. Serologic nonspecific markers of infection and appropriate imaging studies may be more sensitive for the early diagnosis of septic facet arthritis. Recalcitrant or worsening back pain after facet injections should prompt an investigation to rule out infectious causes.

Diagnosis and management of adult pyogenic osteomyelitis of the cervical spine

Establishing the diagnosis of cervical osteomyelitis in a timely fashion is critical to prevent catastrophic neurological injury. In the modern imaging era, magnetic resonance imaging in particular has facilitated the diagnosis of cervical osteomyelitis, even before the onset of neurological signs or symptoms. Nevertheless, despite advancements in diagnosis, disagreement remains regarding appropriate surgical treatment. The role of instrumentation and type of graft material after cervical decompression remain controversial. The authors describe the epidemiological features, pathogenesis, and diagnostic evaluation, and the surgical and nonsurgical interventions that can be used to treat osteomyelitis of the cervical spine. They also review the current debate about the role of instrumentation in preventing spinal deformity after surgical decompression for cervical osteomyelitis. Based on this review, the authors conclude that nonsurgical therapy is appropriate if neurological signs or symptoms, instability, deformity, or spinal cord compression are absent. Surgical decompression, debridement, stabilization, and deformity correction are the goals once the decision to perform surgery has been made. The roles of autogenous graft, instrumentation, and allograft have not been clearly delineated with Class I data, but the authors believe that spinal stability and decompression override creating an environment that can be completely sterilized by antibiotic drugs.

Unusual clinical presentation of Klebsiella pneumoniae induced endogenous endophthalmitis and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a non-nephrolithiasis and non-obstructive urinary tract

The genitourinary tract is well recognized as a route through which bacteria could gain access to the blood circulation. Under some circumstances, metastatic infections may occur in distant organs, including endogenous endophthalmitis. Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an unusual variant of chronic pyelonephritis. It most often occurs in middle-aged women who frequently have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections combined with obstruction and a kidney of poor function. We reported an unusual case of urinary tract infection in a non-nephrolithiasis and non-obstructive urinary tract complicated by Klebsiella pneumoniae endogenous endophthalmitis and developed XGP in two months.

Klebsiella meningitis in adults: clinical features, prognostic factors and therapeutic outcomes

Sixty adult Klebsiella meningitis patients have been identified at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in a period of 13 years. Most cases were associated with debilitating diseases, and devastating metastatic septic abscesses are common in diabetic patients with K. pneumoniae meningitis. Although the mortality rate has been significantly reduced in recent years, there has been an increase in nosocomial infections and the emergence of multi-antibiotic resistant strains. Significant prognostic factors include appropriate antibiotic therapy, the presence of septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and high cerebrospinal fluid protein levels and white blood cell counts. Initial empiric therapy with a third generation cephalosporin should be considered for community-acquired meningitis while antibiotics such as carbapenems should be considered as initial empiric therapy for patients with postneurosurgical meningitis. Early diagnosis and the use of appropriate antibiotics are of crucial importance.

Bacterial urinary tract infections in diabetes

Diabetes mellitus has a number of long-term effects on the genitourinary system. These effects predispose to bacterial urinary tract infections in the patient with diabetes mellitus. Bacteriuria is more common in diabetic women than in nondiabetic women because of a combination of host and local risk factors. Upper tract infection complications are also more common in this group. Diabetic patients are at higher risk for intrarenal abscess, with a spectrum of disease ranging from acute focal bacterial pyelonephritis to renal corticomedullary abscess, to the renal carbuncle. A number of uncommon complicated urinary tract infection complications occur more frequently in diabetics, such as emphysematous pyelonephritis and emphysematous pyelitis. Because of the frequency and severity of urinary tract infection in diabetic patients, prompt diagnosis and early therapy is warranted. A plain abdominal radiograph is recommended as a minimum radiographic screening tool in the patient with diabetes presenting with systemic signs of urinary tract infection. Ultrasonography or further radiographic studies such as CT scanning may also be warranted, depending on the clinical picture, to identify upper urinary tract complications early for appropriate intervention.

Lumbar pain caused by Mycoplasma infection

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to hospital following acute onset of lower back pain. Clinical and laboratory investigations established a lumbar paraspinal soft tissue infection with Mycoplasma hominis associated with severe spondylarthrosis at L5/S1. A relationship to a recently performed hysterectomy must be considered.

Diagnosis and management of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in adults

Management of vertebral osteomyelitis remains controversial regarding optimum duration of antibiotic therapy and the role of surgery. Forty adults with vertebral osteomyelitis were reviewed. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen isolated. Disk space narrowing with end-plate erosion was the earliest finding, followed by progressive vertebral body destruction. Magnetic resonance imaging proved extremely valuable in detecting spinal cord compression in patients with neurologic deficit. Treatment should include at least 8 weeks of intravenous antibiotics combined with immobilization for pain reduction. Surgical intervention is indicated for all patients with neurologic deficit. Serial erythrocyte sedimentation rates are valuable for following response to therapy. The value of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis is emphasized.

Microbiological study of bladder tumors, their histology and infective complications

The microbiology of bladder tumors and the infective complications of transurethral resection (TURBT) were studied prospectively in 51 patients. Patients taking antimicrobials were excluded. Those with significant preoperative bacteriuria were included in the study when results of the preoperative urine specimen were unavailable at the time of operation. Infected tumors were found in 18 percent of males and 75 percent of females. A wide range of bacteria, including anaerobes, was isolated; when streptococci or coliforms were cultured from the tumor, they were always found in significant numbers in the preoperative urine specimen. Perioperative bacteremia and postoperative complications requiring parenteral antibiotics were more common in females and in patients with significant preoperative bacteriuria. No correlation was found between tumor infection and histologic grade or stage of tumor. Patients with sterile preoperative urine and positive bacterial cultures from tumors were no more likely to have postoperative urinary tract infections than those with negative tumor cultures.

Central nervous system complications in patients with bacteremia

The occurrence of central nervous system (CNS) complications was studied retrospectively in 150 patients with bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, beta-hemolytic streptococci or Escherichia coli. The incidence and clinical manifestations of different CNS complications were noted during 1 month after the bacteremia. Special attention was paid to vascular complications (infarction or hemorrhage), infections (meningitis or brain abscess) and mental changes when they were the only signs of CNS origin (lowered level of consciousness, confusion or delirium). The risk of cerebral infarction was elevated in the patients with bacteremia during the first month after the positive blood culture as compared with the overall risk of stroke in the general population. 10/150 patients (7%) developed cerebral infarction during that month. Two of these cases were associated with bacterial meningitis and 1 with endocarditis. Mental changes as a main symptom of CNS origin occurred in 27% of patients with bacteremia. Increasing patient age predisposed to this complication. Mental changes were not associated with any bacterial species studied. Altogether 40% of the patients developed CNS complications, which were a significant risk factor for death during the first month after the bacteremia.

Oral ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for optical urethrotomy

It is known that urethral strictures predispose to bacteriuria. We studied a series of patients undergoing optical urethrotomy to see if antibiotic prophylaxis was justified. Twenty-three patients were randomised to receive either no prophylaxis or a short peri-operative course of oral ciprofloxacin. Two patients with sterile pre-operative urine and two patients with pre-operative bacteriuria given no prophylaxis had post-operative bacteriuria, whereas all patients given ciprofloxacin had sterile urine after operation. Antibiotic prophylaxis may be indicated in patients undergoing optical urethrotomy.

Bilateral and symmetrical osteomyelitis due to gram-negative bacilli. A report on two cases

Gram-negative bacillary osteomyelitis secondary to sepsis is a rare condition. It most frequently attacks the vertebrae, occasionally in the long bones, and can on occasion be multiple. We present 2 patients with severe sepsis of urinary origin who, after a latent period, developed bilateral and symmetrical osteomyelitis due to the same microorganism that caused the sepsis. We discuss this peculiar presentation, its possible pathogenetic mechanism and the need to consider osteomyelitis in the presence of bilateral and symmetrical arthritis after an episode of severe sepsis.

Pathogenicity of enterococci outside of urinary tract and blood stream

It is evident at this time that enterococci by themselves are able to cause infections outside the bloodstream and the urinary tract only rarely and under very special circumstances in which local defense mechanisms are severely compromised (e.g., by plastic devices). In most instances, they have been found in mixed culture and probably act synergistically with other bacteria to cause damage to the host. They could, however, be carried from their habitat into the bloodstream and eventually cause septicemia. Such a danger is probably heightened if supercolonization is fostered through antibiotics that are ineffective against them, e.g., cephalosporins.

A prospective study on septicemia. II. Clinical manifestations and complications, results of antimicrobial treatment and report of a follow-up study

In a prospective study at a hospital for infectious diseases 151 patients, 110 with proved and 41 with probable septicemia, were analysed. Clinical, laboratory, therapeutic data and prognostic experiences, partly from a follow-up study, are described. Secondary manifestations, mostly from skin, mucous membranes, nervous system and lungs, were present in 72%. They were more often caused by gram-positive cocci than by gram-negative baccilli and in some cases not revealed until autopsy. Lesions in the nervous system were most often caused by strepto- or penumococci or Haemophilus influenzae. In 2 splenectomized patients with extensive hemorrhages, pneumococci were isolated. Subacute courses were rare even in alpha-streptococcal infection and its "classical signs" were never observed. Shock and thrombocytopenia suggesting disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred together in 11%, and in one-third in the lethal cases. Gram-positive bacteria were often involved. Leukocytosis was absent in 53 patients; 20 were alcohol or narcotic drug abusers, and 7 died. ECG changes were registered in 33%. Initial antibiotic treatment was applied according to a fixed schedule, with cure in 61% on this first treatment, and especially so in infections with gram-positive cocci. During the initial hospital stay 20% died from uncontrolled infection. All had underlying diseases or factors, often major causes of death. The infection was regarded as hospital-acquired in 40% among the lethal cases. During a one-year follow-up period 3 patients died from a new septicemia and 10 from their underlying disease.

Miliary tuberculosis following ureteral catheterization

In a patient with undiagnosed right renal tuberculosis miliary spread to both lungs developed following ureteral catheterization. Mycobacteremia with miliary metastatic foci should be considered as a complication of urinary tract instrumentation in the presence of renal tuberculosis.

Effects of immunization and anticoagulation on the development of experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis

The effects of immunization and anticoagulation in experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis were studied. Immunization of rabbits with E. coli resulted in the development of specific agglutinating and opsonic activity of the serum, but not in bactericidal activity. These antibody activities also developed in nonimmunized rabbits during the course of bactericidal endocarditis. Immune serum promoted phagocytosis in vitro but did not enhance intracellular killing of E. coli by elicited rabbit peritoneal macrophages. The presence of specific antibodies in rabbits after immunization had no effect on the induction or course of E. coli infection of endocardial vegetations. Anticoagulation was found to affect the induction of the infection. In anticoagulated rabbits, larger bacterial inocula were needed to induce an infection, but in animals with bacterial endocarditis the number of bacteria in the vegetations did not differ significantly from that of the control animals.