Management of brain abscesses in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Brain abscesses in children with leukemia or other malignancies are rare and potentially fatal. We report on four children who developed brain abscesses during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). All patients received multimodal broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and liposomal amphotericin-B in combination with hyperbaric oxygen. First-line antimicrobial treatment was modified when a causative organism was isolated. All four patients survived, with two patients showing complete resolution of neurological and MRI abnormalities and with two patients still having residual lesions. To date, all patients are in remission with three patients still receiving antileukemic therapy. Brain abscesses can be successfully managed by a multimodality approach even in severely immunocompromised cancer patients.     

细菌性肝脓肿治疗吸收后的特征性MRI表现

目的 评价细菌性肝脓肿治疗吸收后纤维化期的特征性MRI表现.方法 本组资料包括经影像及临床确诊为肝脓肿患者7例,其中男5例,女2例,年龄30～80岁.予患者抗感染结合介入抽吸/穿刺引流治疗后,门诊定期影像学复查.结果肝脓肿初期MRI呈不均匀长T1长T2信号,经治疗后肝脓肿T2信号逐渐降低.治疗3～7个月后MRI表现为：T1WI呈明显低信号,T2WI呈等信号,增强扫描可见轻度不规则条状强化.结论脓肿吸收后呈T1WI明显低信号T2WI等信号,为肝脓肿纤维化期的特征性MRI表现.     

21例胰腺脓肿的治疗

目的 探讨胰腺脓肿的外科治疗。方法 回顾性分析21例重症急性胰腺炎并发胰腺脓肿的临床治疗资料，脓肿数目1～7个，直径3．2～11．7cm，所有病人均经手术清除脓肿及胰腺坏死组织，并行引流及腹腔灌洗。结果 19例痊愈出院，2例合并多器官功能衰竭死亡，3例并发胰瘘，7例脓肿复发再次手术(其中1例行5次手术，2例行3次手术)。结论 胰腺脓肿是重症急性胰腺炎的严重并发症，明确诊断后应立即手术治疗，术中尽可能清除坏死组织并根据具体情况决定引流管的大小、数量及放置部位，保持充分有效的引流至关重要。     

脑脓肿立体定向外科治疗

目的进一步评价立体定向外科手术在脑脓肿治疗中的作用并探讨脑脓肿的最有效治疗方法。方法自1999年1月至2005年3月共外科手术治疗脑脓肿患者24例，其中男19，女5例，年龄7～76岁（平均44．5岁）。单发脓肿21例；多发脓肿3例。共行立体定向引导脓肿穿刺及引流手术20例：脓肿穿刺14例，穿刺置管引流6例；开颅手术切除脓肿4例。结果全部手术均获得成功，一例患者2W后复发施行了第二次定向手术，另一例于立体定向手术结束时出现癫痫大发作。出院时所有患者临床症状全部消失或明显改善，头颅CT或MRI复查显示脓肿腔消失。22例患者接受了4个月至3年的随访（平均14个月），均未见脓肿复发。结论立体定向脑脓肿穿刺抽吸和引流手术应为脑脓肿的首选治疗。     

肝脓肿增强动态CT扫描动脉期肝脏短暂强化的诊断价值

目的 探讨肝脓肿增强动态CT扫描时动脉期肝脏实质短暂强化(THPE)的病理基础及其临床意义.方法 回顾性分析行增强动态CT扫描的肝脓肿病例43例,均常规先行平扫,分别于注射对比剂后30 s、65 s和3～5 min行动脉期、门静脉期和延迟扫描,分析THPE发生率、部位、形态和各期强化表现.结果 43例中,动脉期有28例出现THPE,发生率65%.28例共有脓肿36个,出现THPE 36处,表现为动脉期出现肝叶/段形(占31%)、扇形(占50%)、不规则形(占14%)或弥漫形(占5%)强化,门静脉期/延迟扫描与正常肝实质呈等密度.肝脓肿THPE以叶/段形、扇形多见(81%).结论 肝脓肿THPE常以叶/段形、扇形多见,提高对THPE征象的认识,对了解病变的病理基础、病变定性,尤其是化脓性炎症期、脓肿形成初期的不典型肝脓肿的诊断和鉴别诊断具有重要作用.     

Risk of Fecal Diversion in Complicated Perianal Crohn’s Disease

The purpose of the study was to determine the overall risk of a permanent stoma in patients with complicated perianal Crohn’s disease, and to identify risk factors predicting stoma carriage. A total of 102 consecutive patients presented with the first manifestation of complicated perianal Crohn’s disease in our outpatient department between 1992 and 1995. Ninety-seven patients (95%) could be followed up at a median of 16 years after first diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Patients were sent a standardized questionnaire and patient charts were reviewed with respect to the recurrence of perianal abscesses or fistulas and surgical treatment, including fecal diversion. Factors predictive of permanent stoma carriage were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Thirty of 97 patients (31%) with complicated perianal Crohn’s disease eventually required a permanent stoma. The median time from first diagnosis of Crohn’s disease to permanent fecal diversion was 8.5 years (range 0–23 years). Temporary fecal diversion became necessary in 51 of 97 patients (53%), but could be successfully removed in 24 of 51 patients (47%). Increased rates of permanent fecal diversion were observed in 54% of patients with complex perianal fistulas and in 54% of patients with rectovaginal fistulas, as well as in patients that had undergone subtotal colon resection (60%), left-sided colon resection (83%), or rectal resection (92%). An increased risk for permanent stoma carriage was identified by multivariate analysis for complex perianal fistulas (odds ratio [OR] 5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2–18), temporary fecal diversion (OR 8; 95% CI 2–35), fecal incontinence (OR 21, 95% CI 3–165), or rectal resection (OR 30; 95% CI 3–179). Local drainage, setons, and temporary stoma for deep and complicated fistulas in Crohn’s disease, followed by a rectal advancement flap, may result in closing of the stoma in 47% of the time. The risk of permanent fecal diversion was substantial in patients with complicated perianal Crohn’s disease, with patients requiring a colorectal resection or suffering from fecal incontinence carrying a particularly high risk for permanent fecal diversion. In contrast, patients with perianal Crohn’s disease who required surgery for small bowel disease or a segmental colon resection carried no risk of a permanent stoma.     

Geographic information system localization of community-acquired MRSA soft tissue abscesses

Background

Soft tissue infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pose an ever-increasing risk to children in the community. Although historically these infections were limited to children with prolonged hospitalization, the authors have seen an increase in community-acquired infections in children without identifiable risk factors. The goal of this study is to determine the incidence of truly community-acquired MRSA soft tissue infections in our community and geographically map regions of increased risk.

Methods

After obtaining the institutional review board's approval, a retrospective chart review was conducted on 195 patients records who underwent an incision and drainage of soft tissue infections from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2003. Thirteen patients were excluded from the study because no cultures were taken at the time of incision and drainage.

Results

The most common organism isolated from wound culture was S aureus, 40% (73/182), of which 45% (33/73) were MRSA. Eighty-one percent (27/33) of MRSA infections were in Springfield, 1 of 18 towns represented in the patient population. Geographic information system analysis identified a significant MRSA cluster 1.96 km in diameter within the city of Springfield.

Conclusions

Geography proved to be a significant risk factor for presenting with MRSA infection. Geographic maps of antibiotic resistance can be used to guide physician antibiotic selection before culture results are available. This has significant implications for the health care provider in proper antibiotic selection within the community.     

Successful medical treatment of multiple brain abscesses due to Nocardia farcinica in a paediatric renal transplant recipient

Brain abscesses caused by Nocardia are rare, but it is very important to detect and treat them early because the associated mortality is 3 times higher than that associated with other bacterial brain abscesses. This infection is prevalent among adults on long-term immunosuppressive therapy; we report the case of a male kidney transplant recipient aged 12.7 years who developed early multiple Nocardia-induced brain abscesses that were successfully treated with linezolid, a novel antibiotic therapy.