Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyGram-negative bacillary meningitis after cranial surgery or trauma in adults.
In order to assess the clinical features, aetiology, treatment and outcome of post-neurosurgical and post-traumatic Gram-negative bacillary meningitis (GNBM) we performed a retrospective review of all adult patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery who had Gram-negative bacilli cultured from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following a neurosurgical procedure or traumatic head/spinal injury. During the 12 y of the review 33 patients had CSF isolates of Gram-negative bacilli that were thought to be significant. The median patient age was 47 y (range 22-77 y) and 21 (64%) were male. ⋯ Five patients (15%) died, 1 dying after cure of his GNBM. There were no failures in those who received more than 12 d of appropriate treatment: treatment for at least 14 d after the last positive CSF culture guaranteed cure. Initial ceftriaxone and amikacin subsequently changing to susceptibility driven alternatives, often a carbapenem, resulted in cure of 85% of our patients with GNBM.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Case ReportsEndobronchial actinomycosis secondary to a tooth aspiration.
We report a middle aged smoker with recurrent pneumonia caused by endobronchial actinomycosis secondary to a tooth aspiration. Unlike previously reported cases, our patient was not chronically debilitated. The case suggests that a follow-up bronchoscopy is beneficial after the initiation of antibiotic therapy for endobronchial actinomycosis.
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When returning from a 5-month trip to China, a 21-y-old Dutch male developed clinical signs, symptoms, and an antibody response compatible with leptospirosis. On d 15 of disease, he also developed facial palsy with a bilateral Bell's phenomenon. Facial palsy is a rare finding in leptospirosis, and if a causal relation exists, the delay of onset in the present case would suggest vasculitis rather than a direct neurotoxic effect.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Neisseria meningitidis W-135 carriage during the Hajj season 2003.
During the 2003 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, 344 pilgrims of 29 different nationalities were screened by means of a throat swab to detect Neisseria meningitidis carriage. N. meningitidis was isolated from 11 subjects; 2 were serogroup W-135, 1 serogroup B, and 8 were non-groupable. ⋯ However, vaccination with the meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine, for all pilgrims, should continue to be recommended. The possibility of new strains arising as a cause of future meningococcal outbreaks should be considered, and annual surveillance may give an early warning.
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Scand. J. Infect. Dis. · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyGender differences in hospitalization rates for respiratory tract infections in Danish youth.
Overall morbidity and mortality rates in childhood are reported to be higher in males than females. As respiratory tract infections constitute the leading cause of childhood hospitalization, we examined the gender difference in rates of hospitalization due to respiratory tract infections in Danish youth (under age 25). ⋯ In young children, boys were hospitalized more often than girls, but the reverse applied in children and adolescents 15-25 y of age. The study generates the hypothesis that gender plays a role in the susceptibility for respiratory infections in early childhood.