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.     

肝硬化发生自发性细菌性腹膜炎的危险因素分析

目的探讨肝硬化自发性细菌性腹膜炎（SBP）发生的危险因素。方法 398例肝硬化患者被分为SBP组（135例）和无SBP组（263例）,比较两组年龄、性别、病程、既往SBP史、腹水时间、糖尿病史、腹水总蛋白、消化道出血、肝功能Child-Pugh分级、抗生素预防、重要生化及凝血指标等因素。结果两组患者在既往SBP史、腹水时间、糖尿病史、腹水总蛋白、消化道出血、Child-Pugh分级、抗生素预防、血Na＋、TBil、ALB、PT等方面差异有非常显著性意义（P〈0.01）。结论肝硬化SBP发生与一些因素高度相关,应予以及时有效的防治,以减少SBP的发生。     

Pyogenic psoas abscess on the dorsal side,and bacterial meningitis and spinal epidural abscess on the ventral side,both of which were induced by spontaneous discitis in a patient with diabetes mellitus: A case report

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients are immunocompromised, particularly under poorly controlled conditions, and thereby they could develop rare inflammatory diseases, such as spontaneous discitis, pyogenic psoas abscess, spinal epidural abscess and bacterial meningitis. Herein we report a pyogenic psoas abscess on the dorsal side, and bacterial meningitis and spinal epidural abscess on the ventral side, both of which were induced by spontaneous discitis in a patient with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. This case was very rare and interesting, because we successfully treated various infections with antibiotics over a long period of time, complicated by hyperglycemic crises, although the patient suffered severe bone destruction and required rehabilitation for a long time.     

Bacterial infection in cirrhotic patient

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections at admission or during hospitalization are frequent complication of cirrhosis that occurs in about 30% of the cases. Furthermore they are responsible for 25% of deaths in this population. AIM: Evaluate the prevalence of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients at a general hospital and determine its correlation with alcoholic etiology of liver disease; degree of hepatic dysfunction and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. PATIENTS/METHODS: Five hundred and forty one admissions were retrospectively evaluated in 426 cirrhotic patients at years 1992 to 2000. The mean age was 50.5 years (15-95), being 71.2% male. The alcoholic etiology of cirrhosis was 35.4%. The main outcome considered was discharge or death during admission. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty five episodes of bacterial infections (25%) were diagnosed. The most frequent are urinary tract infection (31.1%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (25.9%) and pneumonia (25.2%). The association between urinary tract infection and pneumonia occurred in 3.7% and erysipelas or cellulites in 11.1%. Bacteremia occurred in 2.9%. There was a correlation between bacterial infection and alcoholic etiology of liver disease, hepatic dysfunction and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The mortality was higher in the infected patients (8.9%) and in those with a poor hepatic function. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial infections are common complications in cirrhotic patients and are correlated with alcoholic etiology, Child Pugh classification and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Furthermore, bacterial infections are correlated with poor prognosis.     

Bacterial peritonitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes: Case report and review of the literature

Although Listeria monocytogenes has been isolated from the gastrointestinal tract, it is an infrequent cause of bacterial peritonitis. Since 1963 only 23 cases of peritonitis caused by listeria have been reported. This report describes another case in a patient with cirrhosis and chronic renal failure and presents a review of the literature. Most (16) of the previous cases were cirrhotic while six were undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Eight patients were on immunosuppressive therapy. Blood cultures were positive in fewer than half (42%) of the cases and Gram stain of peritoneal fluid was positive only twice. The peritoneal fluid protein concentration was relatively high compared with other causes of bacterial peritonitis. Ampicillin was the drug most commonly used for treatment, and the majority of patients survived the acute infection.     

Infectious complications of cirrhosis

Infectious complications in cirrhotic patients can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Bacterial infections are estimated to cause up to 25% of deaths in cirrhotic patients. The most frequent are urinary tract infection, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, respiratory tract infection, and bacteremia. It has been said that cirrhosis is the most common form of acquired immunodeficiency, exceeding even AIDS. The specific risk factors for infection in cirrhotic patients are low serum albumin, gastrointestinal bleeding, intensive care unit admission for any cause, and therapeutic endoscopy. Certain infectious agents are more virulent and more common in patients with liver disease. These include Vibrio, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Plesiomonas, Enterococcus, Aeromonas, Capnocytophaga, and Listeria species, as well as organisms from other species. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a frequent, severe, life-threatening complication of patients with ascites. Current observations and recommendations regarding treatment and prophylaxis are reviewed. A brief synopsis of miscellaneous infections encountered in cirrhotic patients is also included.     

Bacterial infections complicating liver disease

Bacterial infection is a serious and often fatal complication of patients with liver disease and can prove fatal either directly or by precipitation of gastrointestinal bleeding, renal failure, or hepatic encephalopathy. At greatest risk are patients with alcoholic cirrhosis or decompensated chronic liver disease, or cases of acute liver disease who progress to fulminant hepatic failure or subacute hepatic necrosis. Infection appears to be unusual in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. The site and type of infection is unrelated to the aetiology of the liver disease. Bacteraemia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are most common but infective endocarditis and meningitis, especially with pneumococci, are easily overlooked. Clinical suspicion of infection must be high as the only indication may be a general deterioration in the patients' clinical state, increasing encephalopathy or renal impairment. In the case of patients with fulminant hepatic failure, infection may precipitate the initial or recurrent encephalopathy and contributes to death in 10% of fatal cases. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is now recognized to occur in the absence of clinical features of peritonitis. The PMN content of the ascitic fluid may provide the only indication of infection and is the most readily available screening test. The most common types of organism responsible for all types of infection are Gram-negative enteric and streptococci, especially pneumococci, while infection with anaerobes is rare. Risk factors for infection include decompensated alcoholic liver disease, fulminant hepatic failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, invasive practical procedures and impaired host defence mechanisms against infection. Of the host defence mechanisms, impaired function of the reticuloendothelial system, complement, and PMNs represent the most common and serious defects. Defects of humoral immunity are present in ascitic fluid from patients with cirrhosis and are probably a major reason for development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Diuresis improves these functions and reduces the risk of peritonitis. Treatment of infections even with the appropriate antibiotic is still associated with a high mortality but the use of adjuvant gut sterilization is promising, particularly in cases infected with Gram-negative enteric organisms. Infusions of fresh frozen plasma, blood and cryoprecipitate improve some systemic host defences and may be beneficial in the treatment and reduction of risk of infection.     

Ascaris peritonitis and peritoneal granuloma in China

This article is a survey of the Chinese literature on perforation of gastrointestinal tract by ascaris. We wish to draw attention to the acute abdominal disease of ascaris infection, and acute ascaris peritonitis as a result of perforation, most cases being found in children. The disease has very high morbidity (24/112; 21.4%) and high mortality (17/112; 15.2%). Early detection and operation are of critical importance. Perforation of gastrointestinal tract by ascaris may develop into peritoneal granuloma, which has a different clinical presentation and outcome.     

Hepatic abscess induced by foreign body： Case report and literature review

Hepatic abscess due to perforation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by ingested foreign bodies is uncommon. Pre-operative diagnosis is difficult as patients are often unaware of the foreign body ingestion and symptoms and imagiology are usually non-specific. The authors report a case of 62-year-old woman who was admitted with fever and abdominal pain. Further investigation revealed hepatic abscess, without resolution despite antibiotic therapy. A liver abscess resulting from perforation and intra-hepatic migration of a bone coming from the pilorum was diagnosed by surgery. The literature concerning foreign body-induced perforation of the gastrointestinal tract complicated by liver abscess is reviewed.     

Brain abscess in adult cirrhotic patients: two case reports

Patients who have liver cirrhosis are at increased risk of bacterial infections, such as bacteremia, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, due to immunodeficiency associated with the severity of the cirrhosis. Although bacterial infections are frequent in cirrhotic patients, only isolated cases of brain abscess have been reported. In these cirrhotic patients, the initial presentation of brain abscess may not be fever or leukocytosis, but focal neurologic deficits. In addition, for consideration of blood-brain barrier penetration, the anti-biotic choice postoperatively is also quite different from other infections outside the central nervous system. We will discuss two cases of brain abscess in cirrhotic patients with special emphasis on the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance spectroscopic findings, organism encountered, therapeutic strategy, and prognosis.     

Ultrasonography and computed tomography in severe urinary tract infection

A prospective study evaluated the utility of renal computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography in 35 patients hospitalized for treatment of urinary tract infection. Renal computed tomograms were abnormal in 18 of 28 patients with acute pyelonephritis and three of four patients with urosepsis, showing findings consistent with pyelonephritis in 17 patients and intrarenal abscess or focal bacterial nephritis in four patients. Renal sonograms were abnormal in only eight patients, showing findings compatible with pyelonephritis in four and intrarenal abscess or focal bacterial nephritis in the other four. Flank tenderness was absent in only four patients with CT findings of pyelonephritis, of whom three were diabetic. We therefore found that (1) renal CT is a sensitive test for acute upper urinary tract infection, (2) ultrasonography detects focal bacterial nephritis and abscesses but is insensitive to uncomplicated upper urinary tract infection, and (3) painless pyelonephritis may be more common in patients with diabetes mellitus.     

Renal failure and bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis: epidemiology and clinical features

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical course of renal failure that was induced by the various types of bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Three hundred and nine patients, who were consecutively admitted to the 3 major hospitals of Padova, Italy, during the first 6 months of 2005, were studied prospectively. Of these, 233 patients (75.4%) had evidence of ascites. In 104 patients with cirrhosis and ascites (44.6%) a bacterial infection was diagnosed. A bacterial infection-induced renal failure was observed in 35 of 104 patients (33.6%). The prevalence of renal failure was higher in biliary or gastrointestinal tract infections and in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and in than in other types of infections. In addition, the progressive form of renal failure was only precipitated by biliary or gastrointestinal tract infections, SBP, and urinary tract infections (UTI). In a multivariate analysis only MELD score (P = 0.001), the peak count of neutrophil leukocyte in blood (P = 0.04), and the lack of resolution of infection (P = 0.03) had an independent predictive value on the occurrence of renal failure. CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that the development of bacterial-induced renal failure in patients with cirrhosis and ascites is related to the MELD score, and to both the severity and the lack of resolution of the infection. A progressive form of renal failure occurs only as a consequence of biliary or gastrointestinal tract infections, SBP, and UTI.     

Pneumococcal peritonitis in adult patients: report of 64 cases with special reference to emergence of antibiotic resistance

BACKGROUND: Few data are available regarding pneumococcal peritonitis. We studied the clinical characteristics of intra-abdominal infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and its prognosis in relation to antibiotic resistance. METHODS: We reviewed all cases of culture-proved pneumococcal peritonitis. Patients with liver cirrhosis and primary pneumococcal peritonitis were compared with patients with Escherichia coli peritonitis. RESULTS: Between January 1, 1979, and December 31, 1998, we identified 45 cases of primary pneumococcal peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis and 19 cases of secondary (or tertiary) pneumococcal peritonitis. Patients with cirrhosis and primary pneumococcal peritonitis vs those with primary E coli peritonitis had more frequent community-acquired infection, 73% vs 47%; pneumonia, 36% vs 2%; and bacteremia, 76% vs 33%; and higher attributable mortality (early mortality), 27% vs 9% (P<.05 for all). Secondary (or tertiary) pneumococcal peritonitis was associated with upper or lower gastrointestinal tract diseases; in most cases, the infection appeared after surgery. A hematogenous spread of S pneumoniae from a respiratory tract infection might be the most important origin of peritonitis; also, S pneumoniae might directly reach the gastrointestinal tract favored by endoscopic procedures or hypochlorhydria. There was an increased prevalence of penicillin and cephalosporin resistance up to 30.7% and 17.0%, respectively, although it was not associated with increased mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: Primary pneumococcal peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis more often spread hematogenously from the respiratory tract and was associated with early mortality. In secondary (and tertiary) pneumococcal peritonitis, a transient gastrointestinal tract colonization and inoculation during surgery might be the most important mechanisms. Current levels of resistance were not associated with increased mortality rates.     

Diagnosis, management and prevention of infections in cirrhotic patients

Infections in patients affected with liver cirrhosis are frequent, recurrent and associated to unfavorable outcome. They are facilitated by acquired and progressive defects on the innate immune and reticuloendothelial system that are aggravated by alcohol consumption. Infections in patients with cirrhosis are typically bacterial or viral in origin and have in most cases a stereotyped clinical presentation, although diagnosis may be difficult in some cases. Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis explain more than 90% of the cases. The latter requires a high clinical suspicion and a standardized diagnostic work up. Preventive strategies are important in the management of these patients and include chemoprophylaxis against spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in selected cases, vaccines against pneumococcal and influenza infections, and hepatitis A and B vaccine in susceptible patients. Due to limited seroconversion, active immunization should be applied as earlier as possible, before clinical deterioration ensues.     

Infection of ascitic fluid by perforation of a sclerodermic colon]

In progressive systemic scleroderma, a disease of protean manifestations, involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is noted infrequently in patients who are asymptomatic, and is rarely fatal. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who was admitted for ascitis related to a non A, non B cirrhosis. The patient presented with bacterial peritonitis due to colonic perforation by fecal impaction associated with sclerodermic involvement. Pathologic study of the resected colon showed that the true muscularis was very atrophic and fibrotic, characteristic of scleroderma. To our knowledge, this cause of ascitic fluid infection has not been previously reported.     

糖尿病合并细菌性肝脓肿的临床特征分析

回顾性分析138例细菌性肝脓肿患者的临床资料,发现细菌性肝脓肿主要致病菌为肺炎克雷伯杆菌.与非糖尿病者相比,糖尿病患者合并细菌性肝脓肿有如下特点:(1)典型腹痛表现者所占比例低(P＜0.05);(2)血中性粒细胞比值高,血清白蛋白、血红蛋白水平低(P＜0.05);(3)合并尿路感染、并发败血症比例高(P＜0.05);(4)症状较难控制,疗程长(P＜0.05).     

Vibrio vulnificus infection after raw oyster ingestion in a patient with liver disease and acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related complex

Sepsis, peritonitis, and gastroenteritis developed in a 45-yr-old homosexual man 1 day after ingestion of raw oysters. The patient had chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis with hepatitis B virus and delta-infection. He also had persistent generalized lymphadenopathy associated with HTLV-III antibody positivity. Vibrio vulnificus was isolated from the patient's blood and peritoneal fluid as well as from the same batch of oysters at the restaurant where the patient had visited. To our knowledge, this is the first report relating direct microbiologic and clinical evidence that the infection is acquired through the gastrointestinal tract by consuming raw seafood containing the pathogen. This is also the first reported case of peritonitis associated with sepsis and gastroenteritis from this organism. Patients with liver disease and other immunocompromised states should be warned about such life-threatening infections and complications associated with the consumption of raw oysters or other undercooked seafoods.     

肝硬变患者医院感染的前瞻性调查分析

目的探讨肝硬变患者医院感染的危险因素及控制措施．方法采用前瞻性跟踪调查法，对１１７例肝硬变患者的医院感染率、例次率、感染部位、微生物，医院感染与住院时间长短、血浆清蛋白水平、脾功能亢进以及合并肝性脑病、消化道出血等因素的关系进行了探讨．结果医院感染率为２０５％，例次率为２３１％．在２７例次医院感染中，胃肠道（包括腹腔）和下呼吸道感染各７例次（２５９％），同居首位；其次是上呼吸道感染６例次（２２２％），口腔和皮肤感染各３例次（１１１％），泌尿系感染１例次（３７％），８例微生物培养阳性中，Ｇ－细菌４株，Ｇ＋细菌２株，霉菌２株．结论肝硬变患者医院感染的危险因素，可能与患者住院时间长短、血浆清蛋白水平、脾功能亢进以及合并肝性脑病和消化道出血等因素密切相关     

Epidemiology and pathophysiology of intraabdominal infections (IAI)

Summary  Intraabdominal infection continues to be one of the major challenges in general surgery. Whilst the term “peritonitis” means an inflammation of the peritoneum regardless of its etiology, intraabdominal infections encompass all forms of bacterial peritonitis, of intraabdominal abscesses and of infections of intraabdominal organs. Several classification systems have been suggested for peritonitis and intraabdominal infections, respectively. However, neither phenomenological classifications nor classification systems with respect to the origin of bacterial contamination have a proven relevance for the clinical course of this disease. Moreover, most of the studies dealing with secondary peritonitis or intraabdominal infections are ill-comparable because of wide variations of inclusion criteria. Thus the true incidence of secondary bacterial peritonitis is difficult to assess. With respect to its etiology perforation of hollow viscus is the leading cause followed by postoperative peritonitis, ischemic damage of bowel wall, infection of intraabdominal organs and translocation in nonbacterial peritonitis. The anatomic origin of bacterial contamination and microbiological findings are no major predictors of outcome. However, the preoperative physiological derangement, the surgical clearance of the infectious focus and the response to treatment are established prognostic factors. The pathogenesis of intraabdominal infections is determined by bacterial factors which influence the transition from contamination to infection. Intraabdominal adjuvants and the local host response are additionally important. Bacterial stimuli lead to an almost uniform activation response which is triggered by reaction of mesothelial cells and interspersed peritoneal macrophages and which also involves plasmatic systems, endothelial cells and extra- and intravascular leukocytes. The local consequences of this activation are the transmigration of granulocytes from peritoneal capillaries to the mesothelial surface and a dilatation of peritoneal blood vessels resulting in enhanced permeability, peritoneal edema and lastly the formation of protein-rich peritoneal exudate.     

Prevention and treatment of infections in patients with cirrhosis

Patients with cirrhosis have altered immune defenses and are considered immunocompromised individuals. Changes in gut motility, mucosal defense and microflora allow for translocation of enteric bacteria into mesenteric lymph nodes and the blood stream. Additionally, the cirrhotic liver is ineffective at clearing bacteria and associated endotoxins from the blood thus allowing for seeding of the sterile peritoneal fluid. Thus, hospitalised cirrhotic patients, particularly those with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, are at high risk of developing bacterial infections, the most common being spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and the fact that half of the cases are community acquired, all hospitalised cirrhotic patients should have a diagnostic paracentesis to exclude infection. Those admitted with gastrointestinal bleed and a negative paracentesis require short-term prophylaxis with norfloxacin. A third generation cephalosporin is the treatment of choice for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and, once the acute infection is resolved, secondary prophylaxis with oral norfloxacin is warranted. Patients who develop renal dysfunction at the time of active infection have the highest mortality and require adjunctive albumin therapy. This article reviews the pathogenesis of SBP, the evidence behind the antibiotics used, the rationale for adjunctive albumin therapy in the setting of acute renal failure, and the role of prophylactic antibiotics in specific high-risk populations.