Revista chilena de infectología : órgano oficial de la Sociedad Chilena de Infectología
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Rev Chilena Infectol · Sep 2006
Review Case Reports[Granulomatous amoebic meningoencephalitis by Balamuthia mandrillaris: case report and literature review].
The free-living amebas Naegleria and Acanthamoeba are recognized as causal agents of central nervous system infections. Recently a third free-living ameba, Balamuthia mandrillaris, was identified as the causal agent of granulomatous encephalitis in humans. We report a case of Balamuthia encephalitis in an immunocompetent school-age girl who presented cutaneous lesions that compromised the central portion of the face. ⋯ Nevertheless, the child was readmitted six months later, with progressive neurological involvement, dying about one year after the onset of cutaneous symptoms. The brain necropsy showed the presence of B. mandrillaris cysts and trophozoites. Balamuthia mandrillaris infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with chronic granulomatous disease with neurologic symptoms.
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Subdural empyema is a rare complication of sinusitis in children. Its clinical presentation represents a neurosurgical emergency and as a scarcely recognized entity a delayed diagnosis rapidly increases its fatal prognosis. We report the clinical and radiological course of an adolescent with a subdural empyema secondary to sinusitis. Clinical and radiological features, laboratory findings and outcome of this condition are discussed based in a review of previously reported cases.
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Clinical efficacy of polyspecific immunoglobulins or monoclonal antibodies to treat patients with severe sepsis or septic shock is still under debate after several clinical trials. Only a few of them have been able to demonstrate a direct benefit to reduce mortality or this effect appears after meta-analysis. Evidence sustains that polyspecific immunoglobulin G reduces mortality in these patients, being this effect higher for IgM-enriched immunoglobulins. ⋯ Evidence does not sustain a favorable impact on mortality for monoclonal antibodies directed against bacterial lypopolysaccaride, other bacterial antigens or against TNF-alpha. Furthermore, infusion of recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist or soluble receptors for TNF-alpha that could attenuate the inflammatory response have not demonstrated utility after many clinical trials. These therapeutic tools are characterized by a high acquisition cost and adequate cost-effectiveness analysis has not been yet performed.
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Rev Chilena Infectol · Jan 2005
Review[Clinical and radiological diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in adults].
Community acquired pneumonia in adults is an acute disease characterized by worsening in general conditions, fever, chills, cough, mucopurulent sputum and dyspnea; associated with tachycardia, tachypnea, fever and focal signs in pulmonary examination. The probability of pneumonia in a patient with acute respiratory symptoms depends on the disease prevalence in the environment where it is acquired and on clinical features. It is estimated that pneumonia prevalence is 3-5% in patients with respiratory disease seen in outpatient facilities. ⋯ Clinical findings and chest X ray do not permit to predict with certainty the etiology of pulmonary infection. Radiology is useful to confirm clinical suspicion, it establishes pneumonia location, its extension and severity; furthermore, it allows differentiation between pneumonia and other diseases, to detect possible complications, and may be useful in follow up of high risk patients. The resolution of radiological infiltrates often ensues several weeks or months after clinical recovery, especially in the elderly and in multilobar pneumonia cared for in intensive care units.
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Rev Chilena Infectol · Jan 2005
Review Practice Guideline[Severe community-acquired pneumonia in adults].
Patients with severe community acquired pneumonia (CAP) need continuous surveillance and monitoring at intensive care units (ICU), where they can receive specialized support as mechanical ventilation and/or hemodynamic support. Patients that require ICU admittance represent 10 to 30% of all patients interned because a pneumonia. In this category, high complication rate, prolonged hospital stay and high mortality rate are the rule. ⋯ This evaluation should be done in conjunction with an experienced physician, and if criteria for poor prognosis are met, an early admission to ICU is recommended. ATS and BTS modified criteria (CURB) are useful in this procedure. In severely ill patients with CAP it is recommended to perform the following microbiological analysis: sputum Gram stain and culture, blood culture, pleural fluid Gram stain and culture, if present and tapped, Legionella pneumophila urine antigen test, influenza A and B antigen detection tests (epidemic period: autumn and winter), and serology for atypical bacteria (Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae).