Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting With Combined Cervical Lymphadenopathy and Cardiac Metastasis Without Inferior Vena Cava Involvement

Renal cell cancer is the third most common urological malignancy following prostate and bladder malignancies. Cardiac metastases to the right side of the heart without inferior vena cava (IVC) involvement are exceedingly rare, with only a handful of cases described in the literature. Metastasis to the head and neck region is also rare, occurring in an estimated 1% of cases. Here we present a case of a patient with recurrent syncopal events secondary to renal cell carcinoma without IVC involvement, with metastases both to the right ventricle and cervical lymph nodes. To our knowledge, this is the first case that presents with both of these rare findings together and that highlights cancer screening in patients with high risk factors and new exam findings in patients with syncopal events having negative initial workup.

Bloodstream Infections With a Novel Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Involving 52 Outpatient Oncology Clinic Patients-Arkansas, 2018

BACKGROUND

In July 2018, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) was notified by hospital A of 3 patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) with a rapidly growing nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) species; on 5 September 2018, 6 additional BSIs were reported. All were among oncology patients at clinic A. We investigated to identify sources and to prevent further infections.

METHODS

ADH performed an onsite investigation at clinic A on 7 September 2018 and reviewed patient charts, obtained environmental samples, and cultured isolates. The isolates were sequenced (whole genome, 16S, rpoB) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine species identity and relatedness.

RESULTS

By 31 December 2018, 52 of 151 (34%) oncology patients with chemotherapy ports accessed at clinic A during 22 March-12 September 2018 had NTM BSIs. Infected patients received significantly more saline flushes than uninfected patients (P < .001) during the risk period. NTM grew from 6 unused saline flushes compounded by clinic A. The identified species was novel and designated Mycobacterium FVL 201832. Isolates from patients and saline flushes were highly related by whole-genome sequencing, indicating a common source. Clinic A changed to prefilled saline flushes on 12 September as recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

Mycobacterium FVL 201832 caused BSIs in oncology clinic patients. Laboratory data allowed investigators to rapidly link infections to contaminated saline flushes; cooperation between multiple institutions resulted in timely outbreak resolution. New state policies being considered because of this outbreak include adding extrapulmonary NTM to ADH's reportable disease list and providing more oversight to outpatient oncology clinics.

Influenza a outbreak in an ambulatory stem cell transplant center

Background

 In the era of cost-consciousness regarding healthcare , provision of medical services in an outpatient setting has become increasingly attractive. We report an influenza outbreak in an ambulatory stem cell transplant center in 2013 that highlights unique identification and infection control challenges in this setting.

Methods

 Nasopharyngeal swabs were performed on patients with suspected influenza-like illnesses (ILI), defined by subjective fever or measured temperature of ≥37.7°C (≥100°F) with cough or sore throat during July 25, 2013 through August 7, 2013. In addition, testing was triggered by an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Specimens were analyzed by using eSensor Respiratory Viral Panel. Clinical and epidemiologic information was collected in real time, and frequencies were calculated on demographics, baseline clinical parameters, treatment methods, comorbidities, and symptoms of affected persons.

Results

 Thirty-one patients had influenza A (H3N2) infection during July 25, 2013 through August 7, 2013. Only 7 patients (23%) met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists ILI case definition. Twenty-five patients (81%) had received ≥1 transplant, with 13 (42%) having occurred within 1 year before the outbreak. Twenty-five patients (81%) had received B-cell active chemotherapy <60 days before influenza diagnosis, 6 (19%) were neutropenic, and 25 (81%) lymphopenic. Among clinical and laboratory markers analyzed, abnormal CRP was the most sensitive screening tool for influenza. Twelve (39%) patients were hospitalized (median stay, 10 days; range, 2–20). No deaths occurred.

Conclusions

 Immunocompromised hosts with influenza have atypical presentations. Existing surveillance case definitions might be insufficient to reliably identify influenza outbreaks in such patients.

Practice guidelines for the management of patients with histoplasmosis. Infectious Diseases Society of America

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations for treating patients with the more common forms of histoplasmosis. PARTICIPANTS AND CONSENSUS PROCESS: A working group of 8 experts in this field was convened to develop this guideline. The working group developed and refined the guideline through a series of conference calls.

OUTCOMES

The goal of treatment is to eradicate the infection when possible, although chronic suppression may be adequate for patients with AIDS and other serious immunosuppressive disorders. Other important outcomes are resolution of clinical abnormalities and prevention of relapse.

EVIDENCE

The published literature on the management of histoplasmosis was reviewed. Controlled trials have been conducted that address the treatment of chronic pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis, but clinical experience and descriptive studies provide the basis for recommendations for other forms of histoplasmosis. VALUE: Value was assigned on the basis of the strength of the evidence supporting treatment recommendations, with the highest value assigned to controlled trials, according to conventions established for developing practice guidelines. BENEFITS AND COSTS: Certain forms of histoplasmosis cause life-threatening illnesses and result in considerable morbidity, whereas other manifestations cause no symptoms or minor self-limited illnesses. The nonprogressive forms of histoplasmosis, however, may reduce functional capacity, affecting work capacity and quality of life for several months. Treatment is clearly beneficial and cost-effective for patients with progressive forms of histoplasmosis, such as chronic pulmonary or disseminated infection. It remains unknown whether treatment improves the outcome for patients with the self-limited manifestations, since this patient population has not been studied. Other chronic progressive forms of histoplasmosis are not responsive to pharmacologic treatment.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Options for therapy for histoplasmosis include ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B (Fungizone; Bristol-Meyer Squibb, Princeton, NJ), liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome; Fujisawa, Deerfield, IL), amphotericin B colloidal suspension (ABCD, or Amphotec; Seques, Menlo Park, CA), and amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC, or Abelcet; Liposome, Princeton, NJ).

Cross-reactivity in Histoplasma capsulatum variety capsulatum antigen assays of urine samples from patients with endemic mycoses

We evaluated cross-reactivity in the antigen assay used for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis by testing urine samples from patients with disseminated fungal infections. The mycoses chosen for this study were selected on the basis of the observation that during clinical testing, cross-reactions may occur between Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, and Penicillium marneffei. We detected antigen in 12 of 19 patients with blastomycosis, 8 of 9 with paracoccidioidomycois, in 17 of 18 with P. marneffei infection, and in one with disseminated H. capsulatum var. duboisii infection. Cross-reactions were not observed in the assays for six patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis. Cross-reactivity between the agents of other endemic mycoses should be considered in interpreting a positive H. capsulatum var. capsulatum antigen assay. Antigen detection may provide a rapid, provisional diagnosis for patients with serious infections caused by one of these organisms.

Mycoses of the breast: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration

Fungal infections of the breast are unusual and may clinically mimic carcinoma. When studied by fine-needle aspiration (FNA), such masses may yield necrosis, granulomatous inflammation, reactive histiocytes, and atypical epithelial cells. Cohesive groups of atypical epithelial cells featured nuclear enlargement and overlapping, as well as prominent nucleoli. The organisms may be widely scattered, so that careful evaluation was required for their identification. In concert with provocative clinical findings, these features may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of malignancy. We describe three women with mycotic masses of the breast initially studied by FNA. The first patient presented at age 31 with a large, firm breast mass, chest wall extension, and radiographic evidence of vertebral bone involvement. FNA was requested to confirm the clinical diagnosis of advanced breast carcinoma. In addition to the atypia described above, the smears showed yeast forms indicative of blastomycosis surrounded by neutrophils. She remains well, following antifungal treatment. The second case of Blastomycosis was diagnosed by FNA of a breast mass in a 64-yr-old woman, who also responded to treatment. The third patient's preoperative needle aspiration showed granulomas, but no organisms were identified, even with special stains; silver stains of surgically excised tissue showed histoplasmosis.

Atypical surgical infections

The management of infections requiring surgical drainage or debridement is a significant component of surgical education and practice. Standard Gram's stain and culture techniques usually allow ready identification and adjunctive therapy of the offending organism; however, the surgical patient population is changing. More patients who require surgery are elderly, critically ill, have been exposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics, or are otherwise immunosuppressed. We identified 33 infections in this group of 32 patients. The majority of the etiologic agents were not identified using traditional microbiologic techniques, often leading to a delay in diagnosis. In this high-risk group of patients, we recommend histologic study of tissue with special stains such as methenamine silver. When the patient's condition warrants, frozen sections can be used. Optimal outcome requires early recognition of the specific etiologic agent.