Detection of focal infection by 111In-human polyclonal IgG

Eleven patients with suspected foci of inflammation and/or infection were scanned with 111In-labeled polyclonal human IgG. Seven patients were suspected of having the source of their infection in the abdomen, three in the musculoskeletal system and one in the thoracic aorta. The test was truly positive in seven patients, truly negative in three and falsely negative in one. All the true positive cases showed abnormally increased radiopharmaceutical uptake at the site of infection by six hours, suggesting the diagnosis, although the intensity of uptake increased progressively 24 hours later. There were no untoward effects noted in this series. This examination is potentially useful in the early depiction of focal sources of infection/inflammation.     

Histoplasmosis: cytodiagnosis and review of literature with special emphasis on differential diagnosis on cytomorphology

N. Gupta, S. K. Arora, A. Rajwanshi, R. Nijhawan and R. Srinivasan
Histoplasmosis: cytodiagnosis and review of literature with special emphasis on differential diagnosis on cytomorphology Background: Human infection with Histoplasma capsulatum runs the gamut from asymptomatic to disseminated disease. In immunocompromised patients, a tiny inoculum can lead to widespread disseminated infection. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment is therefore important. Objective: To review the cases of histoplasmosis diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and to discuss the clinical presentation, associated inflammatory response, load of organisms and differential diagnosis on cytomorphology in these cases. Methods: Retrospective review of seven cases of histoplasmosis at a tertiary‐care centre during the period from 1998 to 2009 was performed. Clinical presentation along with cytomorphological features were studied and discussed in detail. Results: The mean age of patients was 48.6 years and six out of seven were male. History of immunodeficiency (HIV) was available in five cases. Six patients presented with peripheral and/or abdominal lymphadenopathy. One patient had nodular shadows in both lungs and two also had skin lesions. On cytological smears, a variable load of uniform round to oval, about 2–4 μm in diameter, budding yeasts were seen intracellularly (within histiocytes) as well as extracellularly. In one case (HIV positive), these organisms were also seen within neutrophil polymorphonuclear leucocytes. In two cases, an inflammatory response in the form of epithelioid cell granulomas along with multinucleated giant cells was seen. Conclusions: FNAC is a reliable tool to recognize infection with H. capsulatum in tissues. This infection can cause a variable inflammatory response, which should be considered while reporting on such cases.     

Cowpox in man

Two cases of human infection caused by vaccinia virus were recorded in the Rzeszów province (Poland), this infection being absent both in this province and in the whole country for many years. The diagnosis was based on the investigation of isolated samples (from one female patient) and the identification of the causative agent by its biological properties and the results of the analysis of its genome, made with the use of restrictases, as well as on the results of the serological investigation. Of the two female patients, one suffered from a prolonged and severe infection in her eye, the other had a lesion on the backside of her hand. Apart from local lesions, systemic phenomena (fever, malaise, headache) were observed in both patients. The authors state that, most likely, rodents were the source of infection in these two cases. This is confirmed by the fact that wild rodents (rats, mice) caught in the focus of infection show the presence of antibodies to orthopoxviruses.     

腹部外伤患者术后感染与血清炎症因子的关联性研究

本研究旨在探讨外伤术后腹腔感染患者血清降钙素原(PCT)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、C-反应蛋白(CRP)和白细胞介素6 (IL-6)的水平变化与感染程度的相关性,为外伤术后腹腔感染临床治疗、抗菌药物应用提供依据。本研究选取我院2015年1月至2017年5月收治的腹部外伤手术患者150例,其中术后发生感染患者83例,未感染组,未发生感染患者67例,为非感染组。通过检测其术前术后及进行抗感染治疗后的PCT、TNF-α、CRP、IL-6水平,对腹腔感染标本进行菌种鉴定,并分析PCT、TNF-α、CRP、IL-6水平变化与腹腔感染的相关性,本研究发现,感染组患者术后各时间段血清PCT、TNF-α、CRP、IL-6水平明显较术前升高(p<0.05);且在术后12 h、24 h、72 h的PCT、TNF-α、CRP、IL-6水平明显高于未感染组(p<0.05);感染患者标本共检出76株不同的菌株,革兰阴性杆菌45株,革兰阳性菌22株,真菌9株;PCT、TNF-α、CRP在术后12 h、24 h、72 h检出感染的阳性率与病原学诊断结果相关性较高,血清IL-6则在术后72 h检出感染的阳性与病原学诊断相关性较高。本研究初步得出结论,临床检测血清PCT、TNF-α、CRP和IL-6均有助于鉴别是否存在外科腹腔感染,对抗菌药物的应用有一定的指导作用。     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes in HIV-infected individuals

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in lymphadenopathy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals (HIVII). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine HIVII presenting with lymphadenopathy at University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, were subjected to FNAC. Cytologic smears were routinely stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain. Special stains and immunostains were used when necessary. RESULTS: In nine cases, the cytologic appearance was compatible with HIV type A and in one case with HIV type C lymphadenopathy. In 21 cases, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) were demonstrated in the cytologic smears, enabling a diagnosis of mycobacterial lymphadenitis. In one of these cases there was a concomitant infection with Penicillium marneffei that was overlooked on initial cytologic examination. The cause of granulomatous lymphadenitis could not be ascertained in one case, where neither AFB nor any other organisms were demonstrable. Two cases of histoplasma and one of cryptococcal lymphadenitis were diagnosed, as was one high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that could be immunophenotyped on cytologic material. In three cases the aspirates were inadequate for a cytologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Lymph node FNAC is a valuable investigative modality in HIVII. Most opportunistic infections (bacterial and fungal) can be correctly identified, and high grade lymphoma can be diagnosed and phenotyped.     

Abcès rénal et périrénal chez l'enfant.

One child with a pure perinephric abscess and three with renal abscesses, one of which had perinephric extension, are described. All presented with a long course of subacute infection leading to localizing symptoms or signs in the flank. The diagnosis was confirmed by radiologic examination. All the abscesses were surgically drained at various intervals after diagnosis, while the patients were receiving antibiotic therapy. Salvage of renal function was possible in all cases. A rational approach to the diagnosis and management of such abscesses is emphasized.     

Fungal Thyroiditis: An Overview

The authors review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal thyroiditis cases previously reported in the medical literature. Aspergillus was by far the most common cause of fungal thyroiditis. Immunocompromised patients, such as those with leukemia, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and organ-transplant patients on pharmacological immunosuppression were particularly at risk. Fungal thyroiditis was diagnosed at autopsy as part of disseminated infection in a substantial number of patients without clinical manifestations and laboratory evidence of thyroid dysfunction. Local signs and symptoms of infection were indistinguishable from other infectious thyroiditis and included fever, anterior cervical pain, thyroid enlargement sometimes associated with dysphagia and dysphonia, and clinical and laboratory features of transient hyperthyroidism due to the release of thyroid hormone from follicular cell damage, followed by residual hypothyroidism. Antemortem diagnosis of fungal thyroiditis was made by direct microscopy and culture of a fine-needle aspirate, or/and biopsy in most cases. Since most patients with fungal thyroiditis had disseminated fungal infection with delay in diagnosis and treatment, the overall mortality was high.     

非人类免疫缺陷病毒感染马尔尼菲青霉病9例临床特征分析及文献复习

为探讨和总结非人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)感染者发生马尔尼菲青霉病的临床特点,回顾性研究复旦大学附属华山医院感染科2007年1月-2017年8月收治的9例及同期发表文献中的马尔尼菲青霉病病例,分析其临床表现、实验室检查、治疗及转归。9例马尔尼菲青霉病患者的HIV检测均为阴性,5例CD4^＋ T细胞计数正常。非HIV感染马尔尼菲青霉病的起病较缓,临床表现与经典马尔尼菲青霉病类似,真菌血症较少见,病理特点以肉芽肿改变及化脓性炎症为主,诊断方法仍以培养为主(8/9),1例通过病理及二代测序技术诊断。目前,非HIV感染马尔尼菲青霉病发病率有升高趋势,部分发生于免疫正常人群,需引起临床医师的重视。     

Assessment of immunochromatographic test for rapid lymphatic filariasis diagnosis

Two rapid immunodiagnostic tests (ICT Filariasis test), developed for the quick diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infection, have been validated in laboratory and field situation. The aim of this study was to assess the performance and usefulness of this antigen capture assay as a diagnostic method in three foci of lymphatic filariasis, located in the South Pacific (Society archipelago, French Polynesia), with different levels of endemicity. A sample of 1,595 patients was tested with this assay in parallel with a reference Og4C3 antigen capture assay and microfilariae detection. A second-generation ICT test, available for whole blood analysis, was also tested in parallel with the first generation test, developed for serum analysis, on a sample of 50 reference cases. The correspondence between the results obtained with the two rapid tests was excellent, without any influence of rheumatoid factors, but the sensitivity was in both cases slightly inferior to the one obtained with the ELISA reference test. This seems particularly true in epidemiological situation where a high proportion of amicrofilaraemic, adult worm carriers are observed.     

Western blotting for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is a common congenital infection. It does not usually produce recognizable signs of infection at birth so most infected newborns are not detected by routine clinical examination and remain untreated. Infected children without clinical symptoms should nonetheless be identified and treated as early as possible. Serological diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis is quite difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of Western blot for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. We compared the immunological profiles of mothers and children to differentiate between passively transmitted maternal antibodies and antibodies synthesized by the infants in the first three months of life. The method enabled us to diagnose congenital toxoplasmosis in cases in which the infection had not been detected by classical serology techniques.     

Cytological diagnosis of filarial infection in an endemic area where screening and prophylaxis is in place

P. Singh, Anshu and N. Gangane Cytological diagnosis of filarial infection in an endemic area where screening and prophylaxis is in place Objective: Filariasis has a worldwide distribution. However, the disease is often overlooked or misdiagnosed because of its unusual presentations and there may be false‐negative results in endemic areas. This study was carried out to assess the role of cytology in the demonstration of filarial parasites in an area where screening and prophylaxis are in place. Methods: This study was carried out in Wardha district in central India, which is endemic for filarial infection. A total of 9182 smears of cases undergoing cytological evaluation were routinely screened at the time of reporting for the presence of adult filarial worm, microfilarial larvae or their fertilized and unfertilized eggs, irrespective of their original clinical diagnosis. Results: Microfilariae were found incidentally in fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears of patients presenting with other clinical conditions. Smears of seven cases were found to be positive for microfilaria. Four cases presented with subcutaneous nodules in the upper arm, two cases were seen incidentally in axillary lymph node aspirates and microfilariae were found in the pleural fluid in one case. Another case was suspected to have breast cancer, but aspirates from the axillary area showed lymphatic obstruction considered to be due to filariasis. Conclusion: FNA cytology is an inexpensive, simple and easy procedure for detecting microfilariae. Detection of microfilariae may not be common even in endemic areas as screening and prophylaxis is routinely performed, and patients may show atypical presentations such as subcutaneous nodules. We believe that careful screening of FNAs, especially those from subcutaneous swellings, as well as serous fluids, is very important in a filariasis‐endemic zone.     

A new luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay provided serological evidence for missed diagnosis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection, was first reported in 2010 in China with an initial fatality of up to 30%. The laboratory confirmation of SFTSV infection in terms of detection of viral RNA or antibody levels is critical for SFTS diagnosis and therapy. In this study, a new luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assay based on pREN2 plasmid expressing SFTSV NP gene and tagged with Renilla luciferase (Rluc), was established and used to investigate the levels of antibody responses to SFTSV. Totally 464 serum samples from febrile patients were collected in the hospital of Shaoxing City in Zhejiang Province in 2019. The results showed that 82 of the 464 patients (17.7%) had antibody response to SFTSV, which were further supported by immunofluorescence assays (IFAs). Further, qRT-PCR and microneutralization tests showed that among the 82 positive cases, 15 patients had viremia, 10 patients had neutralizing antibody, and one had both (totally 26 patient). However, none of these patients were diagnosed as SFTS in the hospital probably because of their mild symptoms or subclinical manifestations. All the results indicated that at least the 26 patients having viremia or neutralizing antibody were the missed diagnosis of SFTS cases. The findings suggested the occurrence of SFTS and the SFTS incidence were higher than the reported level in Shaoxing in 2019, and that LIPS may provide an alternative strategy to confirm SFTSV infection in the laboratory.     

Costs of Rapid HIV Screening in an Urban Emergency Department and a Nearby County Jail in the Southeastern United States

Emergency departments and jails provide medical services to persons at risk for HIV infection and are recommended venues for HIV screening. Our main objective in this study was to analyze the cost per new HIV diagnosis associated with the HIV screening program in these two venues. The emergency department’s parallel testing program was conducted at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia starting in 2008; the jail’s integrated testing program began at the Fulton County (GA) Jail in 2011. The two sites, four miles apart from one another, employed the same rapid HIV test. Ascertainment that cases were new differed by site; only the jail systematically checked identities against health department HIV registries. The program in the emergency department used dedicated HIV test counselors and made 242 diagnoses over a 40-month period at a cost of $2,981 per diagnosis. The jail program used staff nurses, and found 41 new HIV cases over 10.5 months at a cost of $6,688 per new diagnosis. Differences in methods for ascertainment of new diagnoses, previously undiagnosed HIV sero-positivity, and methodologies used for assessing program costs prevent concluding that one program was more economical than the other. Nonetheless, our findings show that testing in both venues yielded many new diagnoses, with the costs within the range reported in the literature.     

眼部浅绿色气球菌感染4例报道

目的 提高对眼部气球菌感染的认识.方法 报告4例眼部气球菌感染病例并复习文献,对其发病因素、临床症状、诊断、及治疗和预后进行分析.结果 4例眼部感染气球菌患者为中年或老年人,基础疾病为青光眼、糖尿病(2例)及甲状腺功能亢进症,均经病原菌的分离鉴定后确诊为浅绿色气球菌感染,且对左氧氟沙星、万古霉素等常用药敏感,4例患者中除1例青光眼患者用药效果不理想外,其余均经1～2周的治疗后痊愈.结论 对眼部感染患者,应加强浅绿色气球菌的分离与鉴定.     

241例儿童社区获得性肺炎支原体感染的临床分析

目的：总结2011-2012年黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎（CAP）患儿中支原体的感染情况,以指导临床诊断和治疗。方法：选取2011-2012年间因CAP住院的患儿241例,所有CAP患儿均于住院第2天采集空腹血行9项呼吸道感染病原体IgM检查,包括肺炎支原体、嗜肺军团菌、Q热立克次体、肺炎衣原体、腺病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒、甲型流感病毒、乙型流感病毒、副流感病毒。结果：241例社区获得性肺炎患儿中支原体感染阳性74例（30.7%）,其中132例男性CAP患儿中支原体感染38例（28.8%）,109例女性CAP患儿中支原体感染36例;〉3岁患儿的感染率为41.2%,1-3岁患儿感染率26.2%,〈1岁婴幼儿感染率为5.4%;2011年CAP患儿支原体感染率为19.4%,而2012年为34.6%;74例支原体阳性患儿合并其他感染者6例。结论：黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎中支原体感染占重要地位,且有升高趋势,应重视婴幼儿支原体感染及难治性支原体肺炎的诊治。     

241 例儿童社区获得性肺炎支原体感染的临床分析

目的：总结2011-2012 年黄岛地区儿童社区获得性肺炎(CAP)患儿中支原体的感染情况,以指导临床诊断和治疗。方法：选取 2011-2012 年间因CAP住院的患儿241 例,所有CAP 患儿均于住院第2 天采集空腹血行9 项呼吸道感染病原体IgM检查,包括 肺炎支原体、嗜肺军团菌、Q热立克次体、肺炎衣原体、腺病毒、呼吸道合胞病毒、甲型流感病毒、乙型流感病毒、副流感病毒。结 果：241 例社区获得性肺炎患儿中支原体感染阳性74 例(30.7%),其中132例男性CAP患儿中支原体感染38 例(28.8%),109 例女 性CAP 患儿中支原体感染36 例;＞3 岁患儿的感染率为41.2%,1-3 岁患儿感染率26.2%,＜1 岁婴幼儿感染率为5.4%;2011 年 CAP患儿支原体感染率为19.4%,而2012 年为34.6%;74 例支原体阳性患儿合并其他感染者6 例。结论：黄岛地区儿童社区获得 性肺炎中支原体感染占重要地位,且有升高趋势,应重视婴幼儿支原体感染及难治性支原体肺炎的诊治。     

Bacterial infection in patients with visceral leishmaniasis

In an analysis of 63 hospitalized cases with visceral leishmaniasis, the clinical or post-mortem diagnosis of bacterial infection was performed in 33; 13 (39.3%) patients had respiratory infection, 4 (12.1%) had skin infection, 4 had urinary tract infection, 3 (9.0%) showed ear infection and 2 (6.6%) had infection of the oral cavity. It is worth mentioning that in 7 (21%) cases there was infection in multiple sites. Gram positive and/or Gram negative organisms were isolated from 10 patients. In only two (autopsied) cases, infection with less common organisms was recorded, one with disseminated candidiasis and another with disseminated tuberculosis. Death occurred in 9 of the 63 cases, and in 8 of these, concomitant bacterial infection of importance was documented. Patients who had serum globulins lower than 4 g% had significantly more infection (p less than 0.05) than patients with globulin levels higher than 4 g%; there was no significant difference when the number of leucocytes and neutrophils in patients with associated infection was compared with those in patients without bacterial infection. The present study demonstrates that bacterial infection frequently occurs in patients with visceral leishmaniasis, and indicates an unfavourable prognosis. Even though the mechanism of increased susceptibility to infection in this condition was unclear, the widespread range of infections and of infective agents, suggests a multifactorial process.     

Enhanced allergic tissue injury in Goodpasture's syndrome by intercurrent bacterial infection.

Studies of 16 relapses in seven patients receiving treatment for Goodpasture''s syndrome showed that intercurrent bacterial infection seemed to be the precipitating event in 13 cases, whereas a rising antibody titre to glomerular basement membrane was responsible in only one. This association between infection and relapse in Goodpasture''s syndrome has several implications for the pathogenesis of antibody-mediated tissue damage, and, clearly, more experiments are needed. Whatever the explanation, however, prevention and early diagnosis and treatment of infection in anti-GBM disease are important.     

脑室—腹腔分流术后感染26例诊治分析

目的探讨脑室—腹腔分流术后感染的早期诊断和治疗原则。方法回顾性分析26例脑室—腹腔分流术后感染病例的诊断和治疗办法,所有病例均进行血液和脑脊液的培养及影像学检查。结果 2例死于感染并发症,2例感染复发,21例患者重新安装分流装置,3例病情较轻的患者经分流泵及鞘内给药后痊愈。结论脑室—腹腔分流术后的早期诊断非常重要,一些非特异性的症状和体征需引起重视。对于感染的病例,及时移除分流装置,同时行脑室外引流冲洗和脑室内注药,当脑脊液达到无菌状态后重新植入分流装置是行之有效的办法。结果表明抗感染应首选万古霉素、第三代头孢菌素或改为美罗培南,待获得培养结果后根据药敏试验针对性用药。脑脊液培养以金黄色葡萄球菌和表皮葡萄球菌多见,经治疗再次培养结果均为阴性。     

HPV testing and Pap test: role for a combined approach in a non-screened population

The aim of the present study was to test the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a tool to identify human papillomavirus (HPV) in routine cytological samples scraped from the uterine cervix. Moreover, attention has been focused on the correlation between HPV types and early intraepithelial lesions. The study involved 586 women who had undergone conventional Pap test. Analysis of HPV infection was performed by PCR and HPV typing by dot blot. In a group of 78 cases histologically diagnosed as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), the cytological diagnosis was correct in 92.3% and the HPV test was positive in 89.8% of cases; combined positivity at Pap and/or HPV tests raised this figure to 99.0%. In a group of 67 cases histologically diagnosed as low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), the cytological diagnosis was correct in 73.1% and the PCR-based HPV test was positive in 64.2%; combined positivity at Pap and/or HPV tests raised this figure to 91.0%. This study confirms the limitations of screening programs based on Pap test only. Our results suggest, in fact, that adding the HPV test to primary screening could increase the yield of preinvasive cervical lesions.