Intracranial mycotic infections in neurosurgical practice

Summary Intracranial mycotic infections requiring neurosurgical intervention are being diagnosed more frequently. This study is a review of 17 cases of intracranial mycotic infections that were treated in a neurosurgical unit in Saudi Arabia over an 8-year period. A primary focus of infection was identified in 41% of patients while 18% of patients had a predisposing factor. Forty-seven per cent of patients presented with a brain abscess (solitary 29%, multiple 18%) while 35% had a granuloma, 18% meningitis and ventriculitis and 12% hydrocephalus. The Aspergillus species and Ramichloridium machenziei were the commonest pathogens. Following the appropriate surgical and antimicrobial treatment, the mortality rate was 41% and there was evidence of residual disease at follow-up in 18%. The reason for a fatal outcome was failure to consider a fungal aetiology and to obtain a tissue diagnosis early-because of late referral (2 cases), as well as failure to respond to antimycotic therapy (4 cases) and rupture of the internal carotid artery due to Aspergillus arteritis (one case). It is concluded that an early tissue diagnosis is crucial in the management of intracranial mycotic infection so that the appropriate surgical and antimycotic treatment can be started early.     

肾移植术后移植肾假性动脉瘤临床分析

目的:探讨肾移植术后移植肾假性动脉瘤的诊断与治疗方法。方法:对4例肾移植术后移植肾假性动脉瘤患者的临床资料、诊断及治疗情况进行回顾性分析。结果:本病临床表现不典型,发热2例,移植肾区疼痛3例,尿量减少2例,血肌酐升高2例。4例均行移植肾彩色多普勒超声检查,3例行血管造影确诊为移植肾假性动脉瘤。治疗上,2例行移植肾加动脉瘤切除术,其中1例同时行髂外动脉人工血管端端吻合;1例采用带膜支架髂外动脉置入治疗;1例未作特殊处理,仅定期随访观察。结论:彩色多普勒超声检查对本病的诊断较具价值,血管造影可确诊。移植肾加动脉瘤切除术是常用的方法,带膜支架置入治疗移植肾假性动脉瘤是一种微创、有效、安全的治疗方法。     

Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis in renal transplant recipient with CMV infection: A case report

Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) is an uncommon complication of renal transplantation. It is usually associated with hepatitis B and C viral infection. It is further rare in renal transplantation in absence of HBV and HCV infection. To the best of our knowledge, only three cases of FCH in renal transplantation, which were both HBV and HCV negative, have been reported to date. Out of these, two cases were diagnosed to have CMV infection and the third was attributed to azathioprin. We are presenting another case of FCH in a renal transplant recipient with CMV infection.     

Colchicine myoneuropathy in a renal transplant patient

Colchicine is widely employed for the treatment of gout in renal transplant patients where NSAIDs are contra-indicated and allopurinol prophylaxis is often avoided due to concomitant azathioprine immunosuppression. We report here a case of colchicine-induced myoneuropathy in a renal transplant recipient. Our patient had myalgia, muscle weakness, elevated creatine kinase levels, myopathic changes on electromyography and peripheral neuropathy. Withdrawal of colchicine resulted in recovery within 4 weeks. Renal transplant recipients are likely to be at greater risk of colchicine-induced myoneuropathy due to the unique concurrence of risk factors predisposing to toxicity in such patients. These risk factors include the high incidence of gout in this population, widespread use of colchicine as first-line therapy, impaired renal function and concomitant cyclosporin treatment. The diagnosis should be considered in any renal transplant recipient receiving the drug who develops myopathy. Prompt withdrawal of colchicine therapy should result in rapid clinical and biochemical improvement.     

Infectious disease prophylaxis in renal transplant patients: a survey of US transplant centers

Definitive approaches to most infectious diseases following renal transplantation have not been established, leading to different approaches at different transplant centers. To study the extent of these differences, we conducted a survey of the practices surrounding specific infectious diseases at US renal transplant centers. A survey containing 103 questions covering viral, bacterial, mycobacterial and protozoal infections was developed. Surveys were sent to program directors at all U.S. renal transplant centers. Responses were received from 147 of 245 (60%) transplant centers and were proportionately represented all centers with respect to program size and geographical location. Pre-transplant donor and recipient screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is uniform, but great discrepancy exists in the testing for other agents. HCV seropositive donors are used in 49% of centers. HIV seropositivity remains a contraindication to transplantation, although 13% of centers indicated they have experience with such patients. Post-transplant, there is wide variety in approach to CMV and Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) prophylaxis. Similarly divergent practices affect post-transplant vaccinations, with 54% of centers routinely vaccinating all patients according to customary guidelines in non-transplant populations. In contrast, 22% of centers indicated they do not recommend vaccination in any patients. We believe an appreciation of the differences in approaches to post-transplant infectious complications may encourage individual centers to analyse the results of their own practices. Such analysis may assist in the design of studies to answer widespread and important questions regarding the care of patients following renal transplantation.     

Poor compliance with antifungal drug use guidelines by transplant physicians: a framework for educational guidelines and an international consensus on patient safety

The rate of compliance with antifungal drug use guidelines by transplant physicians is mostly unknown. We performed a nationwide electronic survey to assess antifungal use by different types of transplant physicians. Sixty-one percent (53/87) of the transplant programs responded (accounting for 85% of heart transplant procedures, 65% of kidney transplantations, and 71.5% of liver transplantations). Antifungal prophylaxis was used in 41.5% programs (liver 93.3%, heart 30.8%, and kidney 16%). Prophylaxis was universal in 32% of the programs and targeted only to selected patients in 68%, mainly indicated after re-transplantation (73.3%), re-intervention (66.7%) and hemodialysis (60%). Main drugs for universal prophylaxis were fluconazole and itraconazole (42.9% each), while fluconazole (60%), L-amphotericin B (AMB), and caspofungin (13.4% each) were preferred for targeted prophylaxis. Overall, 84.9% of the programs used galactomannan for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (only 34% in BAL) and 66.6% used voriconazole as first-line monotherapy. Combination first-line therapy for invasive aspergillosis was used by 31.3%, mainly with voriconazole with caspofungin (40%) or anidulafungin (26.7%) or L-AMB-caspofungin (26.7%). Adherence of transplant physicians to current recommendations on antifungal treatment and prophylaxis is poor. An international consensus that responds to differences in patients and centers and emphasizes patient safety is clearly needed.     

Kidney transplant performed after liver transplant: a single center experience

Changes in liver allocation due to institution of the model for end-stage liver disease/PELD criteria have led to an increase in the number of patients receiving liver transplants who have elevated creatinine. Whether these patients' renal dysfunction is reversible or not and whether they should receive combined liver and kidney transplants (KTXs) are individualized decisions, although some criteria are becoming clearer. A part of this decision must consider the outcomes of patients who have liver transplants alone but later require KTXs. We herein describe our single-center experience with this patient population. Our data show that KTX subsequent to liver transplantation (TX) is generally safe and effective, with a possibly higher surgical complication rate than standard KTX. Outcomes analysis showed not statistically different patient survival of KTXs performed after liver transplant (KALT) compared with KTX alone. Death censored graft survival was statistically lower in the KALT group but this largely accrued in the first three yr after transplant and was nearly equivalent by 10 yr.     

Fungal infections in the critically ill

The successful management of invasive fungal infections continues to plague the clinician. They are associated with an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality, with reliable diagnostics a major issue. Although well described in the immunocompromised, especially haemato-oncology patients, there is no doubt that these infections are on the rise in the critically ill, intensive care patient. This article aims to examine and focus on the changing epidemiology, problems with diagnostics and the management of such life threatening sepsis.     

Acute torsion of a renal transplant: cause of organ loss

Acute torsion of a renal allograft has not been previously described as a cause of organ loss. We present a case of acute torsion of a transplanted kidney in a patient with prune-belly syndrome which led to renal necrosis, necessitating organ removal.     

Emphysematous urinoma in a renal transplant patient

Urinary infection is a common complication after kidney transplantation. In some instances, especially with Escherichia coli infections, there is formation and collection of gas in the parenchyma and collecting system of the kidney, giving rise to the condition of emphysematous pyelonephritis. Such a process could occur in collections of urine (urinoma) secondary to ureteric leak in the transplant kidney. This process has not been described so far. In this report, we describe the first case of an infected urinoma with an interesting radiologic finding, a so-called emphysematous urinoma. © 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.     

妇产科侵袭性真菌感染患者的诊断和治疗探讨

目的 总结侵袭性真菌感染（IFI）在北京协和医院妇产科手术及肿瘤患者中的诊断和治疗特点,主要关注其分布、病原学特点、高危因素和治疗效果.方法 对2003年1月至2009年12月间北京协和医院细菌室及病案科记录的IFI资料行回顾性分析,按诊断标准分为确诊、临床诊断和拟诊病例,按治疗性质分为手术、化疗和恶性肿瘤终末期患者.分析不同IFI患者的分布、病原学特点、高危因素和治疗效果.结果 总计220例妇科IFI病例入选,其中确诊、临床诊断和拟诊病例分别为52例、11例和157例.妇产科IFI患者泌尿生殖系感染显著高于全院水平（46.2% vs 18.7%,P＜0.001）;可能的高危因素包括低白蛋白血症（87.3%）、中性粒细胞减少（52.4%）和放化疗（50.8%）;手术、化疗和恶性肿瘤终末期患者的总体治疗有效率分别为100.0%（108/108）、91.6%（87/95）和52.9%（9/17）,存在显著差异（P＜0.001）.结论 妇产科侵袭性真菌感染重症患者多,感染部位分布特殊,易感因素多样,手术及化疗患者中的治疗效果好.     

Invasive fungal infections in renal transplant recipients

Invasive fungal infections are a significant and often lethal problem in transplant patients. Infections caused by geographically limited endemic fungi are infrequent, and Aspergillus species, Mucorales species, Candida species, and Cryptococcus neoformans are the opportunistic fungi responsible for most such infections. The symptoms of systemic fungal infections are nonspecific, particularly in their early stages. The high rates of mortality and graft loss owing to fungal infections render early diagnosis and treatment imperative in immunosuppressed patients. Current methods for the diagnosis of systemic fungal infections include imaging procedures, endoscopic methods and biopsies, microscopic and culture techniques, antibody and antigen-based serologic testing, and the detection (via polymerase chain reaction) of fungal deoxyribonucleic acid in blood or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as the careful analysis of signs and symptoms. Antifungal therapy should be initiated early in patients with a suspected fungal infection (even before laboratory findings have confirmed that diagnosis) and should be administered with appropriate adjustment of immunosuppressive regimens. To manage fungal infections in patients with renal failure, optimizing the pharmacokinetics of antifungal drugs to reduce the risk of nephrotoxicity is crucial.     

异基因造血干细胞移植后早期深部真菌感染风险因素分析

目的提高对异基因造血干细胞移植后早期深部真菌感染风险的认识。方法分析22例异基因造血干细胞移植患者的移植方式、病程、白细胞植入时间、移植后白细胞计数与早期深部真菌感染的相关性。结果6例患者异基因造血干细胞移植后早期发生深部真菌感染。采用半相合和无关供者的造血干细胞移植的患者深部真菌感染发生率明显高于全相合亲缘供者的造血干细胞移植,使用过兔抗人胸腺淋巴细胞球蛋白(ATG)或猪抗人淋巴细胞球蛋白(ALG)的患者,深部真菌感染发生率明显高于未使用者。在全相合的亲缘供者的造血干细胞移植中,真菌感染与非感染患者移植后0和14d白细胞计数存在显著性差异,而两组患者移植前病程和移植后7、21 d的白细胞计数差异无显著性。结论移植方式、使用ATG或ALG、移植后0和14 d白细胞数是移植后早期深部真菌感染发生的危险因素。     

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection after recurrent infection in a mother with a renal transplant

A woman with a renal transplant developed a systemic cytomegalovirus infection. She recovered and 3 years later she became pregnant. She had 3 days of fever in the first trimester. She delivered an infant severely affected with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. The incidence of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection in infants born to immunosuppressed mothers who develop reactivated cytomegalovirus during their pregnancy seems high. Received April 22, 1996; received in revised form September 3, 1996; accepted October 22, 1996     

The feared five fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients: A single‐center 20‐year experience

Invasive fungal infections are a feared complication in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Here we present the University of Wisconsin experience with 5 invasive fungal infections—aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis—in KTRs transplanted between 01/01/1994 and 06/30/2014. During this period, there were 128 cases of fungal infections; aspergillosis was the most common (72), followed by cryptococcosis (29), histoplasmosis (14), blastomycosis (10), and coccidioidomycosis (3). The mean interval from transplant to fungal infection was 3.19 ± 3.58 years (range 5 days‐15.8 years). By 6 months postinfection, there were 53 (41%) graft failures and 24 (19%) deaths. Graft failure occurred in 46%, 38%, 21%, 40%, and 67% of patients with aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis, respectively. Anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.03‐2.16; P = .04), diabetes (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.05‐2.21; P = .03), and age (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.27‐1.70; P ≤ .001) were associated with an increased risk for infection in univariate analysis. Multivariate adjustment retained ATG induction and older age. A large proportion of kidney transplant recipients with invasive fungal infections suffer graft failure within 3 years. Preventive, therapeutic, and monitoring strategies are needed to improve graft and patient outcomes.     

Fungal infections in liver transplant recipients

A retrospective analysis of 462 consecutive orthotopic liver transplantations was undertaken to evaluate incidence, risk factors, clinical course, and outcome of fungal infections. Infections involving Aspergillus (6 cases), Candida (5 cases), Mucor (1 case), and Cryptococcus (1 case) were observed in 2.8% (13/462) of our patients. Twelve of the 13 episodes developed during the first 2 postoperative months. None of the potential risk factors for fungal infections described by other authors (i.e., age, rejection treatment, dialysis, mechanical ventilation, graft failure, long operation time, second transplant, serious nonfungal infection) correlated significantly with the episodes in our patients. However, in patients who exhibited three or more of these potential risk factors the incidence of fungal infections was elevated (P<0.001). Six of seven exogenous infections (Aspergillus, Mucor) began before July 1991 when our department moved from Charlottenburg to Wedding, thus indicating that the incidence of these infections is highly influenced by exposure (P=0.01). Exposure prophylaxis should therefore by meticulously followed, particularly when severely compromised patients are involved, in order to prevent exogenous infections (i.e., Aspergillus/Mucor). Infections involving such patients are combined with a very high mortality (57%). We observed Candida infection as a pathological overgrowth of physiological oropharynx flora into the esophagus and/or trachea in five patients. In each case treatment led to full recovery.

---

Pilzinfektionen nach Lebertransplantation

Zusammenfassung Um Inzidenz, Risikofaktoren, klinischen Verlauf und Prognose von Pilzinfektionen nach Lebertransplantation zu klären, wurden die Verläufe von 462 Patienten retrospektiv untersucht, die zwischen Oktober 1988 und Februar 1994 konsekutiv transplantiert wurden. Bei 13 unserer Patienten (2,8%) beobachteten wir Infektionen mit Aspergillus (6mal), Candida (5mal), Mucor (1mal) und Cryptococcus (1mal) Dabei trat die Infektion bei 12 der 13 Patienten bereits während der ersten 2 postoperativen Monate auf. Von den von anderen Autoren beschriebenen potentiellen Risikofaktoren (Alter, Abstoßungsbehandlung, Dialyse, maschinelle Beatmung, Graftversagen, lange Operationszeit, Retransplantation, schwere Allgemeininfektion) korrelierte bei unseren Patienten keine einzige mit den Infektionen. Allerdings war die Inzidenz der Pilzinfektionen bei Patienten, die 3 oder mehr dieser Risikofaktoren zeigten, signifikant erhöht (p<0,001). Ferner traten 6 von 7 exogenen Infektionen (Aspergillus, Mucor) vor dem Umzug unserer Transplantationsstation aus dem 1. Stock eines alten, efeubewachsenen Ziegelbaus in den 7. Stock eines Neubaus im Juli 1991 auf (p=0,01). Dies zeigt, daß die Exposition die Inzidenz von Pilzinfektionen nach Lebertransplantation wesentlich beeinflußt. Daraus folgt, daß insbesondere schwer kompromittierte Patienten einer strengen Expositionsprophylaxe unterzogen wurden müssen, um Infektionen mit Aspelgillus/Mucor zu vermeiden, die bei unseren Patienten eine Letalität von 57% aufwiesen. Bei 5 Patienten beobachteten wir Candidainfektionen als pathologisches Überwuchern der oralen Standortflora in Trachea und/oder Speiseröhre, die unter Therapie ausnahmslos ausheilten.