Primary pyogenic psoas abscess in children

Primary pyogenic psoas abscess, although quite a common condition, particularly in the tropics, is often overlooked as a clinical entity, probably because a psoas abscess has been traditionally associated with tuberculous spondylitis. The abscess is easily diagnosed by ultrasonography (US). Treatment by open drainage and antibiotics effective against Staphylococcus aureus results in complete reversal of symptoms and signs. In our series of 55 cases in the pediatric age group (0–12 years), pain and flexion at the hip were the most frequent clinical features at presentation. US was diagnostic in all cases in which it was performed. All except 1 patient showed complete resolution with extraperitoneal drainage, antibiotics, and skin traction. Although 4% of the cases were associated with suppurative external-iliac lymphadenitis, the remaining ones arose de novo in the psoas sheath, suggesting a primary pyomyositis of the psoas muscle. Accepted: 22 July 1999     

Abnormal production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -- alpha and clinical efficacy of the TNF inhibitor etanercept in a patient with PAPA syndrome [corrected

We report a family with pyogenic sterile arthritis, pyoderna and acne syndrome (PAPA). The proband presented several episodes of sterile pyogenic arthritis and became unresponsive to glucocorticoids. After treatment with the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor etanercept, the disease underwent rapid and sustained clinical remission. Production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by mononuclear cells of the proband and of the affected relatives was abnormally elevated.     

Immunological competence of children with pyogenic meningitis

A broad range of immunological tests was performed on 9 consecutive children with pyogenic meningitis. Two were found to have combined IgG and IgA deficiency. One had a combination of IgG deficiency and impaired neutrophil chemotaxis. Primary immunodeficiency disorders as a predisposing cause of pyogenic meningitis may be more common than previously suspected.     

Anterior instrumentation for the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine

Anterior radical debridement and bone grafting is popular in the treatment of pyogenic infection of the spine, but there remains great concern of placing instrumentation in the presence of infection because of the potentiality of infection recurrence after surgery. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of anterior instrumentation in patients who underwent simultaneous anterior debridement and autogenous bone grafting for the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. The series consisted of 22 consecutive patients who were treated with anterior debridement, interbody fusion with autogenous bone grafting and anterior instrumentation for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine. The patients were prospectively followed up for a minimum of 3 years (average 46.1 months; range 36–74 months). Data were obtained for assessing clinically the neurological function and pain and radiologically the spinal alignment and fusion progress as well as recurrence of the infection. All the patients experienced complete or significant relief of back pain with rapid improvement of neurological function. Kyphosis was improved with an average correction rate of 93.1% (range 84–100%). Solid fusion and healing of the infection was achieved in all the patients without any evidence of recurrent or residual infection. The study shows that combined with perioperative antibiotic regimen, anterior instrumentation is effective and safe in the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis of thoracic and lumbar spine directly following radical debridement and autogenous bone grafting.     

A pyogenic, ruptured Baker’s cyst induced by arthroscopic pressure pump irrigation

Post-steroid septic arthritis can be treated with irrigation pump assisted arthroscopic synovectomy. The high-intra-articular fluid pressures can force the pyogenic fluid into a pre-existing Baker’s cyst. The cyst can rupture and with the pre-existing steroid induced immune-suppression, the calf abscess will be hard to control. Therefore, thorough investigation with an ultrasound-guided aspiration followed by an early drainage of the collection is warranted and mandatory. Close monitoring for the development of a deep thrombosis of the popliteal vein is required.     

A vertebral hydatid cyst infection mimicking tuberculous spondylodiscitis

Hydatid disease involving the vertebral body and paravertebral soft tissues is rare even in rural areas where echinococcosis is endemic. The case of a 34-year-old woman with vertebral hydatid disease mimicking tuberculous spondylodiscitis (Pott's disease) is presented in this report. Spinal hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spondylodiscitis in endemic countries, and tested for with imaging and serology.     

糖尿病并发细菌性肝脓肿的临床特点及诊治探讨

目的总结糖尿病并发细菌性肝脓肿（diabetes companied with pyogenic hepatic abscess，DPHA）的临床特点及诊治经验。方法回顾性调查自1997年至2006年天津医科大学总医院消化科收治的16例DPHA和同期收治的16例非糖尿病并发细菌性肝脓肿（NDPHA）患者的临床资料并进行对比分析。结果DPHA组症状不典刑者、合并胆系感染、合并胸腔积液或右下肺炎、出现贫血的比例、平均血ALP值和平均住院日都分别高于NDPHA组，而痊愈率低于NDPHA。上述指标两组间均具有有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。DPHA组细菌培养阳性6例，均为肺炎克雷伯菌，NDPHA组培养阳性5例，包括3株肺炎克雷伯菌、1株埃希氏大肠杆菌和1株假单胞菌。结论糖尿病合并细菌性肝脓肿症状多不典型而病情更重，肺炎克雷伯菌感染多见。治疗宜及时采取个体化和综合措施，必要时应早期外科处理。     

Penetration of linezolid into rabbit intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues

Linezolid belongs to a new class of synthetic antimicrobial agent that is effective for a variety of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections including bone and joint MRSA infections, but the effectiveness of linezolid for the treatment of MRSA spine infection remains controversial. In this study, we investigated the diffusion of linezolid or vancomycin into normal rabbit spinal tissues to determine the adequacy of linezolid for the treatment of spinal infection. The penetration efficacy of linezolid into the annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, and vertebral bone (10, 8, and 10%, respectively) was lower than that of vancomycin (27, 11, and 14%, respectively). The penetration efficacy of linezolid into the bone marrow and iliopsoas muscle (88 and 84%, respectively), however, was higher than that of vancomycin (67 and 9%, respectively). These results suggest that linezolid is inadequate for the treatment of spine infection limited to the intervertebral disc, but may be effective for the treatment of infection extending into the muscle and bone marrow, such as in vertebral osteomyelitis, iliopsoas abscess, and postsurgical infection.     

最近5年福建省细菌性肝脓肿的致病菌及伴发疾病变化

目的 研究近5年福建省细菌性肝脓肿的致病菌及与伴发疾病之间的关系,并与10年前病例比较,了解细菌性肝脓肿致病菌及伴发疾病的变化状况.方法 回顾性分析最近5年(2004年1月～2008年6月)收住我院的细菌性肝脓肿病例的临床资料(A组),并与1994年1月～1998年12月期间的肝脓肿病例(B组)比较,调查两组病例的致病菌培养结果,并进行统计学分析及对比.结果 A组病例中胆系疾病与糖尿病的构成比分别占17.46%、30.95%,而B组中二者的构成比分别占32.35%、16.18%.A组病例培养结果以肺炎克雷伯杆菌所占比例最大;而B组以大肠埃希菌所占比例最大.结论 最近5年福建省细菌性肝脓肿的伴发疾病中胆系疾病比例下降,而糖尿病的比例升高,主要致病菌由大肠埃希菌转变为肺炎克雷伯杆菌.     

Liver abscess due to ileocecal perforation: a case report with literature review

The pyogenic liver abscess is a potentially life-threatening disease with low incidence, which has undergone significant changes in epidemiology, management and mortality over the past decades. Usually, patients with pyogenic liver abscesses present to the emergency department with fever of unknown origin. The computed tomography (CT) is basic to confirm the diagnosis.