Psoas abscess caused by nephrolithiasis with perirenal abscess complicated with pleural effusion]

Left pleural effusion was found in a 60-year-old woman in whom chest radiography performed during a physical check up revealed no abnormality. Abdominal CT scanning revealed an abscess in the left psoas muscle. The psoas abscess was eliminated temporarily by drainage under ultrasonographic guidance and by the administration of antibiotics, but recurred one month later. A stag-horn renal stone considered to have caused the psoas abscess by formation of a perirenal abscess was eliminated by left nephrectomy. It is suggested tentatively that the psoas abscess might have been the cause of the pleural effusion.     

Psoas abscess and bacterial peritonitis caused by urinary tract infection in a patient of liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus

Prognosis of patients with diabetes mellitus or liver cirrhosis can be worsened by the development of a variety of infectious diseases. We describe a case of psoas abscess and bacterial peritonitis in a 58-year-old woman with type C liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus hospitalized after having an elevated temperature caused by urinary tract infection for 2 months. The cirrhosis had not been treated and daily self-administration of insulin had been discontinued for the previous 5 months. On day 2 of hospitalization, vomiting and decreased blood pressure developed. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed ascites, pneumoperitoneum, and psoas abscess. Laparotomy revealed psoas abscess and bacterial peritonitis without gastrointestinal perforation and psoas abscess perforation. Surgical drainage of the abscess and peritoneal cavity was performed. Immediately after the operation, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, shock, hypoglycemia, and metabolic acidosis developed, followed by hepatic failure, renal insufficiency, and cerebral dysfunction. Death occurred on postoperative day 19. Upon autopsy, bacterial peritonitis residue of psoas abscess, and urinary tract infection were confirmed. We surmise that untreated liver cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus is a risk for urinary tract infection that may spread in iliopsoas and free peritoneal space.     

Potential nosocomial disseminated infection due to Nocardia asteroides after a prosthesis insertion in an immunocompetent patient

Nocardia infections are rare and usually occurred in immunocompromised patients with systemic dissemination from a lung infection. We report a case of an immunocompetent patient in whom Nocardia asteroides had cause psoas and cerebral abcess without pulmonary infection, a short period after a hip prosthesis insertion. The clinical history is highly suggestive of a hospital-acquired infection.     

Psoas abscess: report of a series and review of the literature

We describe a series of twelve patients with a psoas abscess seen in a three-year period in a university hospital and a large teaching hospital in the Netherlands. In our series, five of the 12 patients had a primary psoas abscess. The predisposing conditions were intravenous drug use, diabetes mellitus, prostate carcinoma and haematoma in the psoas muscle in a patient with haemophilia A. Seven of the 12 patients had a secondary psoas abscess. Five cases were due to vertebral osteomyelitis including two cases of tuberculosis. In the other two cases it was due to colitis and urinary tract infection. It is remarkable that in our series there was only one patient with a psoas abscess secondary to a disease of the digestive tract, while this is the most common cause of a secondary psoas abscess in the literature. There were two cases of tuberculosis which is an emerging disease again.     

A case of psoas abscess due to renal pelvic carcinoma complicated with non-ketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma]

A 85-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of semicomatous status. Laboratory data on admission showed elevation of blood sugar (823 mg/dl) and serum osmotic pressure (345 mOsm/l), but ketonuria was not detected. Non-ketotic hyperosmolar diabetic coma was diagnosed. The insulin infusion and physiological saline improved the blood sugar level and consciousness within a day. The abdominal ultrasound examination revealed an abscess in the left kidney and right psoas muscle. The same findings were seen by abdominal computed tomography but the possibility of malignant neoplasm of the left kidney could not be ruled out because of a swelling of the left adrenal gland. Pain associated with psoas abscess and low grade fever were observed. Because of his poor general condition, drainage of the abscess was not performed and conservative therapy using antibiotics was administered. Without any improvement of the abscess, he died due to general deterioration four months later. Autopsy findings showed carcinoma of the left renal pelvis and metastasis to the right psoas muscle, left adrenal gland, liver, bilateral lungs and lymph modes. Psoas abscess is a relatively uncommon disease, especially in elderly patients. The etiology of the disease is divided into primary and secondary causes. Most secondary psoas abscess cases are caused by intestinal diseases, and Crohn's disease has been related to the highest incidence. A few cases of psoas abscess caused by colorectal carcinoma have been reported. Ultrasound and computed tomography are useful in diagnosing this disease and drainage of an abscess is necessary for therapy and proving the cause. Cancer metastasis should considered in differential diagnoses, when psoas abscess is seen in elderly patients.     

Pyogenic psoas abscess: six cases and review of the literature

PURPOSE: Psoas abscess is a rare disease in developed countries. Its diagnosis is difficult and any delay could lead to a worsen prognosis. The aim of this study is to determine the best diagnostic and therapeutic practices. METHODS: A retrospective study of psoas abscess that occurred during six months was performed. RESULTS: Six cases of secondary psoas abscess are reported. They were associated with spondylodiscitis in three cases, arthritis and gynaecologic infection in the three remaining cases. Anatomic diagnosis was performed by tomodensitometry. Microbiologic diagnosis was obtained by blood culture or direct puncture of the abscess. Antibiotics were associated with percutaneous drainage in two cases, with simple puncture in one case, and with surgery in one case. A local improvement w observed in all cases. The oldest patients presented the worst complications which were not directly caused by the abscess. CONCLUSION: Physicians must be aware of psoas abscess because of their increasing incidence. Despite the fact that digestive pathologies are the main cause of secondary psoas abscess, bone infections, particularly spine infections, should be taken into consideration. Tomodensitometry guided puncture or percutaneous drainage are of diagnostic and therapeutic interest. Infectious samples must be taken before starting antibiotics, which have to be efficient against Gram negative bacillus, anaerobes and Staphylococcus aureus. Surgery must be quickly performed when the primary infection localisation need it, in case of voluminous abscess or when antibiotics and drainage are inefficient.     

An intrarenal abscess as presenting symptom of an infection with Nocardia farcinica in a patient after renal transplantation

Abstract: A 52-year-old man presented 8 months after transplantation with an intrarenal mass, which proved to be caused by an infection with Nocardia farcinica . Because of the potential fatal course of nocardiosis, transplantectomy was performed and long-term antibiotic treatment was instituted. Three-and-a-half years later, this patient underwent successful re-transplantation under co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. At present, more than 1 year after his second transplant has been performed, there are no signs of recurrence of Nocardia infection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with nocardiosis with an intrarenal abscess as presenting symptom.     

Psoas Abscess in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is sometimes complicated by the development of a psoas abscess. We recently encountered three patients of IBD with psoas abscess. Two patients had Crohn's ileocolitis and one with ulcerative colitis. During 1979-1984, 23 patients with psoas abscess due to a variety of underlying disease processes were seen at our institution. At the same time period, 483 cases of Crohn's disease and 283 cases of ulcerative colitis were encountered. Therefore, of 766 patients with IBD only three were complicated by psoas abscess (incidence ratio = 0.6%). Thus, psoas abscess was a very rare complication of IBD in patients seen at our institution. In our series of 23 psoas abscess patients, IBD was not a major causative factor. Additionally, to our knowledge, psoas abscess complicating ulcerative colitis has not been reported previously.     

Nocardia exalbida brain abscess in a patient with follicular lymphoma

Nocardial brain abscess is a rare but severe complication in patients with malignancy. Nocardia exalbida was isolated in Japan and characterized within the genus Nocardia. We present the first report of N. exalbida brain abscess in a 63-year-old male patient with follicular lymphoma. He developed abnormal neurological findings during follicular lymphoma treatment, brain CT revealed ring-enhancing, multiloculated lesions, and N. exalbida was detected by aspiration of the lesion. He was successfully treated with trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and meropenem without craniotomy or repeat aspirations. It should be noted that such an infection can occur in patients treated with conventional chemotherapy against malignant lymphoma.     

First case of Nocardia nova spinal abscess in an immunocompetent patient

Nocardia are a group of aerobic actinomycetes that are filamentous gram-positive, weakly acid-fast, and cause opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Primary Nocardia infection mostly involves lung, skin and less commonly, the central nervous system (CNS). Among Nocardia CNS infections, spinal infection is extremely rare. We describe the first case of a spinal abscess caused by Nocardia nova in an immunocompetent patient who experienced a penetrating facial injury six months earlier. Nocardia species were isolated from intradural spinal abscesses and identified by 16S rRNA, hsp65 and secA1 sequence analyses. Surgical excision and treatment with amikacin, cefotaxime, and oral erythromycin was successful.     

Tuberculous psoas muscle abscess following chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

A 34-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus infection and disseminated Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare infection developed a right psoas muscle abscess due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The abscess occurred 18 months after completion of a 12-month course of chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid that was given because of a positive reaction with purified protein derivative of tuberculin. The adjacent vertebrae did not appear to be involved. The abscess was drained with a percutaneously inserted catheter, and he received standard antituberculous chemotherapy. Three weeks into therapy, a second drainage with a catheter was required. The isolation of two mycobacteria in this patient and the apparent failure of chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid are noted.     

Pneumococcal psoas abscess

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of severe low back pain. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a left sided psoas muscle abscess. On the first hospital day, US-guided drainage was performed. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the pus. Thereafter, the open drainage of the abscess and antibiotic treatment were given with subsequent clinical improvement. Only 10 cases of pneumococcal psoas abscess have been previously reported in the world literature.     

Appendicitis with psoas abscess successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery

Although acute appendicitis is a common disease, retroperitoneal abscesses are rarely observed. Here, we report a case consisting of a psoas abscess and cutaneous fistula caused by appendicitis. The patient was a 56-year-old male who was introduced to our institution due to an intractable right psoas abscess. Imaging tests had been performed over the previous 3 years; however, clinicians could not find the origin of the abscess and failed to resolve the problem. A successful operation was performed via a laparoscopic approach, and 17 mo have passed without recurrence. The advantage of laparoscopic surgery is well understood in cases of appendicitis with abscesses. However, the indication for laparoscopic approach is not clear for retroperitoneal abscesses. From our experience, we can conclude that appendicitis with retroperitoneal abscesses can be managed and treated using a laparoscopic approach.     

A case of liver nocardiosis associated with Crohn's disease while treating infliximab

A 23-year-old man, complaining of chronic diarrhea, was given a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. He responded well to steroid therapy and infliximab administration. However, high fever appeared on the 28th day of hospitalization, and CT scan revealed multiple liver abscesses. Gram-positive branched rods were harvested by ultrasonography guided puncture examination. As Nocardia infection was suspected, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was started immediately, and his clinical course improved dramatically. Afterwards, Nocardia farcinica was isolated from the culture of the liver abscess. This case is the first report of liver nocardiosis associated with Crohn's disease. Generally, Nocardia infection can be successfully treated by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim therapy. Liver nocardiosis is very rare but could be an important complication for patients with Crohn's disease.     

Case report of disseminated nocardiosis complicated in an elderly person with pneumoconiosis

Nocardia is typically regarded as an opportunistic infection, with pulmonary nocardiosis frequently disseminated to organs hematogenous by, and nearly half of these cases resulting in complicated nocardia brain abscess. Disseminated nocardia has a dismal prognosis with high mortality, and should be checked for multiple organs including the brain when nocardiosis is diagnosed. We describe the successful treatment of nocardia brain abscesses in an immunocompetent older people with pneumoconiosis by combining trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. Patients had no history of fever, headache, or respiratory symptoms such as cough, or sputum until the acute hemiplegia episode. Nocardia infection is not as rare as generally assumed and should be considered as a possibility in the elderly due to its high mortality.     

Psoas abscess: An unusual manifestation of Q fever

Q fever may lead to serious complications in chronically infected patients. We report two cases of psoas abscess due to Coxiella burnetii associated with lumbar osteomyelitis secondary to an aortic aneurysmal infection. Diagnosis was based on serology, and PCR detected C. burnetii DNA in an abscess sample.     

BILATERAL PRIMARY BRUCELLAR PSOAS ABSCESS

Skeletal involvement is a relatively common complication ofhuman brucellosis. Muscle infection and particularly psoas abscessis rarely reported and always secondary to spondylitis. We reporthere a case of brucellar abscesses in both psoas and right glutealand posterior thigh muscles occurring without any skeletal,renal or bowel lesion. KEY WORDS: Brucellosis, Psoas abscess, Primary myositis     

The cold tuberculous abscess. A forgotten entity? Considerations based on an autopsy case

We present the clinical case of a 28-year old male with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in absence of HIV infection; who also presented a left iliac psoas abscess of torpid evolution simulating an strangulated hernia and died of a sepsis due to colonic perforations by anaerobics and E. histolytica. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Histological sections of the autopsy were studied with hematoxilin-eosin, Gram and Ziehl-Neelsen stains. RESULTS: Autopsy study showed bilateral cavitated tuberculosis, Pott disease of thoracic spine and a cold tuberculous abscess on both psoas muscle and the lower third of the left thigh. Descending colonic perforation were identified, the responsible microorganism were Staphylococcus albus, Klebsiella sp, and E. coli.     

Chest wall destruction: unusual presentation form of pulmonary nocardiosis

Nocardia spp infection is associated with immunosuppresion states, neoplasms and immunosuppresors and glucocorticoids prolonged treatments. Pulmonary involvement is the most typic feature and the dissemination to chest wall and subcutaneous cellular tissue is uncommon. We report one case of pulmonary nocardiosis by Nocardia asteroides, in a diabetic patient without others risk factors, manifested as a chest wall abscess with fifth rib destruction. The treatment with cotrimoxazol after lesion drainage was successful. We review the literature and remain the different diagnostic and therapeutics attitudes.     

Salmonella paratyphi osteomyelitis and psoas abscess

Bone and joint infections associated with Salmonella spp account for less than 1% of all Salmonella infections. Most of the isolates are Salmonella typhi. Joint infections with S. paratyphi are uncommon, and there have been only a few reported cases in literature. Psoas abscess caused by S. paratyphi has not been reported previously in the literature. We report a case of S. paratyphi A osteomyelitis and psoas abscess.