The role of Yersinia enterocolitica in appendicitis in the southwestern United States.

Infection with Yersinia enterocolitica had been associated with acute appendicitis in approximately six per cent of patients in northern European countries. However, the incidence of Y. enterocolitica in patients with appendicitis in this country is uncertain. Therefore, this study was undertaken to ascertain whether Y. enterocolitica is a possible infectious agent in appendicitis in the southwestern United States. Fifty prospective patients (35 men and 15 women) with an average age of 22.3 years (range 3 to 62 years) underwent appendectomy for presumed appendicitis. Portions of each specimen were cultured for Y. enterocolitica with highly selective media (Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin [CIN] agar). Pathologically, 44 of the patients had appendicitis and 6 patients had normal appendices. Four of the 44 patients (9.1%) with appendicitis were found to be culture positive for Y. enterocolitica, while it was recovered from none of the normal appendices. This indicates that Y. enterocolitica may represent the major pathogen in acute appendicitis in a small, but distinct, portion of indigent patients within Los Angeles County as it does elsewhere in the world.     

Conservative management of a Yersinia enterocolitica hepatic abscess

Yersinia hepatic abscesses are rare, and are more likely to occur in patients with iron overload. A diabetic patient with haemochromatosis presented with a hepatic abscess due to Yersinia enterocolitica, which was treated successfully by the use of a single antibiotic.     

The Yersinia enterocolitica infection in acute abdominal surgery. A clinical study with a 5-year follow-up period.

By estimation of antibody titres or possibly isolation of the micro-organism, the role of the Yersinia enterocolitica as an etiological agent in mesenterial lymphadenitis, ileal inflammation, or abdominal colics was evaluated in 94 consecutive patients (25 operated upon and 69 treated conservatively) during a 1-year period from 1975-76. Eighty four patients (24 operated upon and 60 treated conservatively) were re-examined 5 years later. Among the 25 patients operated upon, three presented acute terminal ileitis, two of them in association with acute Y. enterocolitica infection. A substantial part of the 22 patients with other peroperative findings also presented trace or positive Y. enterocolitica antibody titres. Some of these patients experienced complaints attributable to the Y. enterocolitica infection over the following years. At re-examination, previously elevated Y. enterocolitica antibody titres had generally normalized, and in the two patients who in 1975 presented acute terminal ileitis associated with acute Y. enterocolitica infection, radiological examination now demonstrated normal terminal ileum. Among 69 patients treated conservatively for abdominal colics, 36 in 1975 presented trace or positive titres. During the 5-year follow-up period, abdominal pain and joint complaints were significantly more commonly experienced by patients with trace or positive titres than by patients with negative titres (p = 0.007 and p = 0.004, respectively). The Y. enterocolitica is an important cause of abdominal disease in our region, and the infection commonly gives symptoms of long duration.     

Septic arthritis of the hip caused by Yersinia enterocolitica: a case report

We report a case of bacteriologically documented hip infection caused by Yersinia enterocolitica. A 67-year-old male with a history of valvular disease was admitted for pain and motion range limitation in the left hip with a fever. No organisms were recovered by needle aspiration, but Yersinia enterocolitica grew in joint fluid obtained by surgical arthrotomy. Investigations of the gastrointestinal tract were normal, and there was no evidence of endocarditis. After 6 weeks of appropriate antibiotic therapy and immobilization with transtibial traction, the clinical and laboratory test abnormalities improved. However, the patient died from an intercurrent condition. Y. enterocolitica, a well-known cause of reactive arthritis, can cause septic arthritis.     

Spondylodiscitis of the lumbar spine in a non-immunocompromised host caused by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9

Here presented is an extremely rare case of a spinal osteomyelitis (L5–S1) with epidural empyema in a non-immunocompromised 62-year-old man caused by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9. The infection occurred acutely and required immediate surgical treatment. Y. enterocolitica was cultured from the empyema fluid, wound swabs of the intervertebral disc L5–S1 and stool cultures. Following the surgical decompression and antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered completely, without neurological deficits. A review of the literature revealed only sparse cases of spondylodiscitis due to other Y. enterocolitica serogroups. To our knowledge, we report here the first case of a spondylodiscitis of the lumbar spine caused by Y. enterocolitica serovar O:9 in a non-immunocompromised patient.     

The colovesical fistula in congenital pouch colon: a histologic study

Purpose

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed histopathologic examination of the terminal colonic pouch and the colovesical fistula (CVF) excised during surgical management of male patients with the more severe forms (types I/II) of congenital pouch colon (CPC) associated with anorectal agenesis.

Methods

From January 2005 to December 2006, 25 male patients with types I/II CPC underwent abdominal exploration with dissection of the terminal portion of the colonic pouch and associated CVF till the bladder, division-ligation of the fistula, and excision of the colonic pouch. In 6 of the 25 patients, a complete dissection of the fistula to the bladder was possible, and in them, the terminal portion of the colonic pouch and the CVF were subjected to detailed histopathologic examination. The 6 patients included 3 newborns in whom this surgery was performed as a primary procedure, and 3 patients aged 3 months, 15 months, and 2 years, respectively, in whom a window colostomy of the pouch had earlier been performed. After due processing, multiple sections from the specimens were stained using the routine H&E method and examined under the microscope under different magnifications.

Results

In 4 specimens, the epithelial lining of the CVF consisted of transitional stratified epithelium with underlying anal/urethral glands. In 2 specimens, obtained from patients 15 months and 2 years old, respectively, the lining was of nonkeratinizing, stratified squamous epithelium. Other findings included aganglionosis in the muscle layers (n = 2), submucosal and subserosal fibrosis (n = 1), and thickening of muscle layers in the fistulous portion, suggestive of the presence of an internal sphincter (n = 2).

Conclusions

The CVF in patients with types I/II CPC shows histologic features of the normal anorectal canal.     

Septicemia due to Yersinia enterocolitica in a long-term hemodialysis patient after a single desferrioxamine administration

A long-term hemodialysis male patient was known to have systemic iron overload due to regular blood transfusions. As he was suspected to have aluminum overload, he received a single intravenous administration of desferrioxamine (that supported the hypothesis). Four days later, he became highly febrile with no focus of infection on physical examination. All blood cultures yielded Yersinia enterocolitica. The aim of this case report is to recall the potential risk of Yersinia sepsis in iron overload patients treated with desferrioxamine, even for a short time. The diagnosis should be suspected even in the absence of digestive symptoms, leading to immediate desferrioxamine withdrawal and antibiotic therapy.     

The role of conservative treatment in idiopathic granulomatous mastitis

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign inflammatory disease of the breast that mimics carcinoma of the breast. Its etiology and treatment remain unclear. A retrospective review of nine women with histopathologic diagnosis of IGM was performed. The women had a mean follow-up of 18.7 months and a mean age of 45.7 years (range 32-83 years). The main presentation was breast mass (100%). Clinically and radiologically, 55.6% of the women were suspected to have malignancy. One patient was treated with lumpectomy without recurrence. Eight patients were treated with expectant management with close regular surveillance. No surgery was performed and no medications were given. Fifty percent of the patients had spontaneous complete resolution of disease after a mean interval of 14.5 months. These four patients had no recurrence. Fifty percent of patients had static disease. In conclusion, it is important to differentiate IGM from carcinoma of the breast. Tissue biopsy remains the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. Expectant management with close regular surveillance is the treatment of choice.     

Complicated appendicitis in children: a clear role for drainage and delayed appendectomy

INTRODUCTION: Children presenting with complicated appendicitis represent a common and challenging problem. Conflicting data exist concerning optimal treatment of these patients with primary versus delayed appendectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of all children undergoing appendectomy over a 5-year period was performed. RESULTS: We identified 1,106 children: 360 had evidence of perforation and 92 had an intra-abdominal abscess or right lower quadrant phlegmon. Of these 92, 60 underwent primary appendectomy and 32 underwent drainage and/or antibiotic therapy with delayed appendectomy. Children undergoing delayed appendectomy had a longer prodrome of symptoms (6.9 vs 4.6 days, P = .002), slightly higher presenting white blood cell count (19.3 vs 16.6, P = .08), and had the same hospital length of stay, yet had a lower complication rate requiring readmission to the hospital (0% vs 10%) compared to those undergoing immediate appendectomy. CONCLUSION: In children presenting with prolonged symptoms and a discrete appendiceal abscess or phlegmon, drainage and delayed appendectomy should be the treatment of choice.     

Serum bactericidal activity for Yersinia enterocolitica in hemodialysis patients: effects of iron overload and deferoxamine.

Human serum has been shown to be bactericidal for most strains of Yersinia enterocolitica. Systemic Y enterocolitica infections have been reported in iron-overloaded hemodialysis patients treated with deferoxamine. Both iron and deferoxamine are known to enhance the growth of Y enterocolitica. We inoculated sera from 12 hemodialysis patients whose serum ferritin levels ranged from 26 to 6,855 micrograms/mL (ng/mL), as well as three controls, with Yersinia organisms. After latencies of 0 to 24 hours, inoculated sera were then plated on blood agar. Bactericidal activity was demonstrated in all sera and the degree of activity did not correlate with ferritin levels. Bactericidal activity was also demonstrated in sera from three deferoxamine treated patients. We conclude that in vitro, sera of end-stage renal failure patients, with and without iron overload, are as bactericidal as control sera for Y enterocolitica and that deferoxamine therapy does not interfere with that bactericidal activity.     

Acute appendicitis: a study on 118 patients

One hundred eighteen patients with acute appendicitis operated on at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital during the 8-year period from Aug. 1, 1976 to Feb. 29, 1984 were reviewed. There were 78 children and 40 adults. The clinico-pathological types of acute appendicitis were: simple acute in 35 cases (29.7%); phlegmonous in 30 cases (25.4%); gangrenous in 24 cases (20.3%) and perforated in 29 cases (24.6%). Of the 78 children, 27 (34.6%) had perforated appendixes, whereas of the 40 adults only 2 (5.0%) showed perforated appendicitis. The initial symptoms were abdominal pain in 96.6%; nausea, vomiting or both in 33.1%, and fever in 11.9%. The physical findings on admission were abdominal tenderness in 99.2%, rebound tenderness in 52.5% and palpable mass in 17.8%. The mean body temperature on admission was 37.2 degrees C, and mean WBC count was 12,900/mm3. The roentgenography of the abdomen revealed the "sentinel loop sign" in 66.3%. In the patients under 15 years of age, the frequency of perforation seen in those underwent operation within 24 hours after onset and in those after 24 hours was 12.7% and 56.4%, respectively. From this result, it is advised that all the young patients suspected of having acute appendicitis should be admitted to the hospital promptly, and the diagnosis should be made within 24 hours.     

The efficacy of postoperative oral antibiotics in appendicitis: a randomized prospective double-blinded study

The conventional treatment of acute appendicitis is appendectomy followed by intravenous (IV) antibiotics until intraabdominal infection has resolved. It is controversial as to whether it is efficacious to add a course of oral antibiotics after cessation of IV antibiotics. All consenting patients who presented to Kern Medical Center between October 2000 and June 2003 with acute appendicitis were entered into the study. Perforated/gangrenous appendicitis was equally represented in the two study arms. After appendectomy, and when IV antibiotics were ready to be discontinued, patients were randomized to receive a 7-day outpatient course of either placebo (Group 1) or oral antibiotics (Group 2). Patients were monitored for infectious complications for a minimum of 3 months, and there was no statistical difference (11.5% in Group 1 vs 12.1% in Group 2, P = 0.61). The data suggest that adding a course of outpatient oral antibiotics, after completing a course of IV antibiotics, does not decrease postoperative infectious complications in appendicitis patients.     

The role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Aim-Background

The role of ultrasound scanning in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, mainly in women, and the exclusion of internal reproductive organ pathology.

Materials-Methods

Establishing echographic diagnostic signs with exclusion of other pathology in 120 patients that had an appendectomy with positive histology findings.

Results

The main echographic signs that point towards appendicitis are an appendiceal diameter of more than 6mm, increased appendiceal wall thickness greater than 3mm, presence of an appendicolith, presence of an allantoic mass, loss of rounded appendiceal appearance in transverse view, loss of peristalsis and non-compressible appendix during pressure application with the transducer. Free fluid presence between the intestinal helices, increased vascularity, and hyperechoic mesenteric fat also contribute towards the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. After sensitivity result analysis, it seems that this method is more sensitive in women (95%) rather than men (80%). In obese patients, non-visualization of the appendix should not be considered as strong evidence of the absence of inflammation. Certain patients displayed positive echographic findings for acute appendicitis, even though clinical and laboratory results were negative. A preponderance of echographic signs over clinical signs and laboratory results was noted. Attention should be paid to retrocaecal appendix presenting with absence of clinical symptoms, especially in men. In terms of clinical signs in patients with positive echographic evidence, test results for the McBurney sign were statistically significant. All patients with positive echographic signs showed abdominal tenderness. Among the male group displaying positive echographic signs, the white blood count was higher than that in the respective female group. In the presence of positive echographic signs, an increase in C-reactive protein and platelet count was found to be statistically significant and should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The presentation peak for the male group was summer, as opposed to autumn for the female group.

Conclusion

The high sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound scanning and its low cost warrant its inclusion in the protocol of appendicitis work-up. In addition, it is a valuable tool in female patients for the differential diagnosis of appendicitis from internal reproductive system pathology.     

Histopathology of interval (delayed) appendectomy specimens: strong association with granulomatous and xanthogranulomatous appendicitis

Patients who present with a ruptured acute appendicitis are often treated with antibiotic therapy and drainage followed by a delayed or interval appendectomy. We noticed interval appendectomy specimens with granulomatous inflammation and postulated that interval appendectomy may lead to granulomatous appendicitis. To test this hypothesis, we reviewed the histopathology of all interval appendectomy specimens within a 4-year period and compared them with a control group of patients who had acute appendicitis and underwent routine acute appendectomy. All slides were randomized and reviewed blindly to assess the inflammatory patterns, with special attention given to the presence of granulomas and other Crohn-like features. Twenty-two cases of interval appendectomy were found. The interval between symptom onset and appendectomy ranged from 30 to 95 days with a mean of 58 days, whereas all 44 control patients had surgery within 72 hours of symptoms onset. Thirteen (59.1%) of the 22 interval appendectomy cases contained granulomas compared with only 3 of 44 controls (P < 0.0001). Eight (36.4%) of the interval appendectomy cases had xanthogranulomatous inflammation compared with none in the acute appendicitis group (P < 0.0001). A Crohn-like appearance was seen in 11 (50.0%) of the interval appendectomy cases and 1 of the controls (P < 0.0001). Follow-up data were available in 8 of 11 cases with Crohn-like features; none developed Crohn disease during an average follow-up period of 23 months. Delayed or interval appendectomy specimens often have a characteristic inflammatory pattern that includes granulomas, xanthogranulomatous inflammation, mural fibrosis/thickening, and transmural chronic inflammation. Without the appropriate clinical history, these changes may be misinterpreted as Crohn disease.