Mortality related to coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia in febrile neutropenia: A cohort study

BACKGROUND:

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are currently the most common isolates recovered from the blood of patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN).

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the mortality associated with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by CoNS in cancer patients with FN.

METHODS:

A prospective cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary hospital from October 2009 to August 2011. Follow-ups were performed on all of the adult patients who were admitted to the hematology ward with cancer and FN. Bacteremia caused by CoNS was defined as two positive results of two independent cultures. Twenty-eight days after the onset of FN, the mortality rates of the patients with BSIs caused by CoNS were compared with those of patients with BSIs caused by other pathogens.

RESULTS:

A total of 169 subjects were evaluated. During the study period, 78 patients with BSIs were documented. Twenty-three BSIs (29.4%) were a result of CoNS. CoNS-induced bacteremia resulted in lower 28-day mortality compared with bacteremia caused by other pathogens (4.3% versus 32.7%; log-rank P=0.009). In a Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, BSIs caused by CoNS were independently associated with lower mortality (HR 0.09 [95% CI 0.01 to 0.74]).

CONCLUSIONS:

In adult patients with cancer and FN, BSIs caused by CoNS were associated with lower mortality compared with BSIs caused by other pathogens.     

浙江地区散发新型布尼亚病毒感染患者的临床特点及其基因序列

目的 分析发热伴血小板减少综合征布尼亚病毒(SFTSV)感染患者的临床特征、流行病学以及SFTSV基因序列.方法 收集2011年5月至7月在温州医学院附属舟山医院感染性疾病科收治的5例重症发热伴血小板减少综合征(SFTS)患者,均经PCR检测SFTSV核酸确诊.采用流式细胞仪(FCM)检测CD3+ CD4+、CD3+ CD8+T淋巴细胞,分离的病毒株测序并与GenBank比对.结果 SFTS患者典型临床表现为持续高热、全身肌肉酸痛、浅表淋巴结肿大、腹痛、腹泻,可伴消化道出血,在急性期WBC、PLT、CD3+CD4+T淋巴细胞呈进行性下降,最低分别为(0.97～2.00)×109/L,(12～42)×109/L和7.52％～20.39％.2例患者血清中分离出病毒,其基因序列与GenBank中的SFTSV进行比对,依赖RNA的RNA聚合酶基因与BX-2010、L-WWG、LN3、JS4、SD4、HN6和AH12的同源性为96％,糖蛋白基因的同源性为94％,而N蛋白基因与JS4、SD4和LN4的同源性为95％;分离的2株病毒的上述三种基因序列的同源性为99％.结论 SFTSV在浙江省有散发流行,以本土疫源性可能大,起病急,病情重,伴多脏器功能损害.     

老年发热患者的临床特点及病因分析研究

目的分析老年人发热性疾病的病因与临床特征。方法收集中关村医院2009-01—2010-11收治的以发热为首发临床表现的符合发热诊断标准的患者60例,进行回顾性分析。结果 60例患者中最终明确诊断者55例,其中感染性疾病30例、恶性肿瘤19倒、风湿性疾病3例、其他疾病3例。结论老年人发热性疾病由于症状不典型,诊断较困难。感染性疾病仍然是老年人主要的发热原因。     

The Relationship between the MEFV Genotype,Clinical Features,and Cytokine-Inflammatory Activities in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by periodic attacks of fever and polyserositis. The effects of the MEFV genotype differences on clinical picture and inflammatory activity have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to investigate levels of conventional inflammation markers, procalcitonin, interleukin levels, TNF-alpha, and C5a levels in patients with FMF who had different MEFV genotypes and compare them with those of healthy subjects. The study consisted of 41 patients with FMF (F/M: 23/18), and 31 healthy subjects (F/M: 18/13). Tests were performed during the attack-free period.

White-blood cell count, CRP and IL-8 levels were higher in patients with FMF than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05) and also higher in M680I carriers than in the patients with M694V allele carriers. However, ESR, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, IL-6, C5a, TNF-alpha, and IgD levels were not significantly different between patients and healthy subjects (p > 0.05). Arthralgia or arthritis was significantly higher in M694V carriers than in non-M694V carriers (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the clinical features and inflammatory-cytokine activities were higher in patients with FMF during the attack-free period than in healthy subjects, and the different genotype might be related to different clinical pictures.     

Fatal Fever of Unknown Origin in Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Five Cases

Background/Objective: Patients with traumatic upper thoracic and cervical spinal cord injuries are at increased risk for the development of autonomic dysfunction, including thermodysregulation. Thermoregulation is identified as an autonomic function, although the exact mechanisms of thermodysregulation have not been completely recognized. Quad fever is a hyperthermic thermoregulatory disorder that occurs in people with acute cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord injuries. First described in 1982, it has not been widely discussed in the literature.

Methods: Case reports of 5 patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI).

Results: Five of 18 patients (28%) with acute cervical SCI who were admitted during a 1-year period had fatal complications caused by persistent hyperthermia of unknown origin.

Conclusions: Patients with acute traumatic cervical and upper thoracic SCI are at risk for thermoregulatory dysfunction. Changes in the hypothalamic axis may be implicated, especially in the light of modification in hypothalamic afferent nerves, but this hypothesis has not yet been explored. Thermodysregulation may be an early sign of autonomic dysfunction. A comprehensive guideline is needed for the management of elevated body temperature in critically ill patients with cervical SCI, because this condition may be fatal.     

Growth and differentiation factor-15 as a potential prognostic biomarker for status-epilepticus-associated-with-fever: A pilot study

ObjectiveBiomarkers predicting poor outcomes of status-epilepticus-associated-with-fever (SEF) at an early stage may contribute to treatment guidance. However, none have been reported thus far. We investigated the dynamics of serum growth and differentiation factor (GDF)-15 after seizure onset in patients with SEF and determined whether GDF-15 can predict poor outcomes, particularly in the first 6 h after seizure onset.MethodsWe enrolled 37 pediatric patients with SEF and eight patients with simple febrile seizures (SFS) and collected their blood samples within 24 h of seizure onset and eight febrile control patients between March 1, 2017 and September 30, 2020. All patients were aged ≤15 years.ResultsIn the SEF group, the median post-seizure serum GDF-15 values were 1,065 (<6h), 2,720 (6–12 h), and 2,411 (12–24 h) pg/mL. The median serum GDF-15 in the first 6 h was measured in patients with SEF without a significant past medical history (n = 21) and was found to be statistically significantly higher (1,587 pg/mL) than in the febrile control (551 pg/mL) and SFS (411 pg/mL) groups. The median serum GDF-15 was statistically significantly higher in patients with SEF with sequelae (n = 5) and patients with acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures/reduced diffusion/hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (n = 6) than in patients with SEF without sequelae (n = 16) (15,898 vs 756 pg/mL) and patients with prolonged FS (n = 15) (9,448 vs 796 pg/mL).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the dynamics of serum GDF-15 in patients with SEF and indicates the potential of GDF-15 as an early predictor of poor outcomes.     

米氏克雷伯菌合并白色念珠菌感染致不明原因发热一例并文献复习

目的:探讨联合应用宏基因组学和培养组学技术对米氏克雷伯菌合并白色念珠菌感染所致不明原因发热患者的病原检测、分离和治疗措施。方法:分析济南市疾病预防控制中心联合山东大学齐鲁医院对2019年7月1日收治的1例米氏克雷伯菌合并白色念珠菌感染导致的不明原因发热患者的诊疗过程,并复习相关文献。结果:该患者主动脉层术后持续间断发热,经抗真菌治疗后效果不佳,经宏基因组学测序联合培养组学技术分离病原提示疑似米氏克雷伯菌合并白色念珠菌感染,调整使用头孢哌酮钠舒巴坦钠联合卡泊芬净抗感染治疗后,患者发热症状消失,实验室指标恢复正常后出院。结论:米氏克雷伯菌感染较少见,且易误诊为其他克雷伯菌,应用宏基因组学联合培养组学技术可尽早明确该病原所致感染,以进行针对性的抗感染治疗。     

The evaluation of renal hemodynamics changes in Familial Mediterranean fever with color Doppler sonography

Background: Renal resistive index (RRI) scanned through renal Doppler is a practical marker employed in measuring blood flow in renal and intrarenal arteries and in noninvasive evaluation of renal vascular resistance. We aimed to investigate the renal hemodynamic variations in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).

Material and methods: Seventy-nine FMF patients and 51 healthy subjects suitable for age and sex were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to their urinary albumin excretion. Fifty-two patients with 0–29?mg/day albuminuria were included in the normoalbuminuric group while 27 patients with 30–299?mg/day albuminuria were included in the microalbuminuric group.

Results: RRI values were higher in patients with FMF compared to the healthy subjects (p?p?=?0.002, p?p?=?0.013.

Conclusion: RRI may be a marker that may be used in assessing resistance to renal blood flow, early renal damage, and progression of renal damage in FMF patients.     

临床药师对1例头孢他啶致中性粒细胞缺乏病例的治疗干预

摘 要1例30岁男性患者因皮肤软组织感染,给予头孢他啶2 g,ivd,bid,用药21 d后出现发热、咽痛症状,血常规示白细胞计数（WBC）1.3×109·L-1、中性粒细胞绝对数（NEUT）0.4×109·L-1,管床医师要求临床药师介入,临床药师建议停用头孢他啶,给予地榆升白片0.2 g,po,tid。停药第2 d复查血常规：WBC 2.5×109·L-1、NEUT 0.28×109·L-1,给予万古霉素0.5 g,ivd,q8h、重组人粒细胞刺激因子注射液300 μg,ih,qd。停药第3日,患者体温恢复正常,WBC 8.9×109·L-1、NEUT 5.71×109·L-1。患者出院后1年内随访血常规均正常。     

Fever in pregnancy and offspring head circumference

Purpose

To examine whether maternal fever during pregnancy is associated with reduced head circumference and risk of microcephaly at birth.