Successful use of oral linezolid as a single active agent in endocarditis unresponsive to conventional antibiotic therapy

Treatment of resistant gram-positive endocarditis is difficult. We report a case of resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis that failed to respond to conventional antibiotic therapy but was treated successfully with an oral regimen of a new antibiotic, linezolid as a single active agent. This case report demonstrates the use of linezolid as an effective alternative to conventional antibiotics in such cases.

An unusual case of infective endocarditis

A rare case of Corynebacterium striatum endocarditis on a bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement, treated medically, is reported. The presentation was subacute, and initially endocarditis screening was negative. Because of the failure of symptoms to settle further screening was performed which confirmed the organism in several sets of blood cultures. This emphasises the importance of persistent screening for endocarditis if the history raises any suspicion of this potentially serious infection, especially in the presence of prosthetic valves.

Inhaled micronised gentamicin powder: a new delivery system

Forty patients undergoing routine bronchoscopy were randomised to receive inhaled micronised gentamicin powder (180 mg) or nebulised gentamicin solution (160 mg) one hour before the procedure. Similar levels of gentamicin were detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the two groups (micronised powder (n = 20) 9.3 (SD 9.3) mg/l, nebulised solution (n = 20) 8.0 (7.8) mg/l). The micronised gentamicin powder preparation caused cough in half the patients but this did not stop their receiving a full dose. Dry powder gentamicin may be a convenient formulation for long term inhaled treatment if the problem of cough can be overcome.

Varicella in an immunocompromised patient an electron microscopic study

We report the electron-microscopic appearances of tissues from an immunocompromised patient who died of chickenpox. We observed structures consistent with some of the reported appearances of Varicella-Zoster virus in cultured cells, and tubular structures that have not to our knowledge been previously described.

Legionella pneumophila serogroup 12 pneumonia in a renal transplant recipient: case report and environmental observations

We describe the first reported case of pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 12 in the UK. This hospital-associated infection occurred in an immuno-incompetent patient and coincided with a change in character of the local environmental strains of legionellas. The patient produced a serological response both to her own isolate and to L. pneumophila serogroups 1-6. Thus serodiagnosis was attainable using the usual screening antigens.

Mycoplasma hominis as a respiratory pathogen in X-linked hypogammaglobulinaemia

We report a case of lower respiratory tract infection with Mycoplasma hominis in a patient with X-linked hypogammaglobulinaemia.

Parvovirus infection associated with aplastic crisis in a patient with HEMPAS

An aplastic crisis associated with parvovirus infection occurred in a patient suffering from hereditary erythrocytic multinuclearity associated with a positive acidified (Hams) test (HEMPAS). This case emphasises that any patient who has a shortened red cell survival is susceptible to an aplastic crisis induced by parvovirus.

Cytomegalovirus antibody status in couples

Sera from fifty couples were assayed for the presence of antibody to Cytomegalovirus. In twenty of the couples only one partner was seropositive. If serological status accurately distinguishes between infected and uninfected individuals, these data indicate that conjugal transmission of Cytomegalovirus is inefficient.