Kairav Shah

Zika and Chikungunya virus co-infection in a traveller returning from Colombia, 2016: virus isolation and genetic analysis

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) can share the same mosquito vector, and co-infections by these viruses can occur in humans. While infections with these viruses share commonalities, CHIKV is unique in causing arthritis and arthralgias that may persist for a year or more. These infections are commonly diagnosed by RT–PCR-based methods during the acute phase of infection. Even with the high specificity and sensitivity characteristic of PCR, false negatives can occur, highlighting the need for additional diagnostic methods for confirmation. Case presentation: On her return to the USA, a traveller to Colombia, South America developed an illness consistent with Zika, Chikungunya and/or Dengue. RT-PCR of her samples was positive only for ZIKV. However, arthralgias persisted for months, raising concerns about co-infection with CHIKV or Mayaro viruses. Cell cultures inoculated with her original clinical samples demonstrated two types of cytopathic effects, and both ZIKV and CHIKV were identified in the supernatants. On phylogenetic analyses, both viruses were found to be related to strains found in Colombia. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to consider CHIKV co-infection in patients with prolonged rheumatological symptoms after diagnosis with ZIKV, and the usefulness of cell culture as an amplification step for low-viremia blood and other samples.

Pseudomembranous colitis secondary to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A 37-year-old woman with a history of type II diabetes and Crohns disease, status postcholecystectomy, presented with a >2-week history of cramping abdominal pain, nausea, non-bloody/non-bilious emesis and, later, diarrhoea. A flexible sigmoidoscopy was performed, revealing that ‘a segmental pseudomembrane was found from rectum to sigmoid colon’. Clostridium difficile PCR on the stool was repeated twice and resulted negative both times. A food history prior to onset of symptoms was consistent with Staphylococcal food poisoning and a stool culture was positive for heavy growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the absence of enteric flora. The patient was successfully treated with oral vancomycin.

Ampicillin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by vancomycin resistant enterococcus spp (VRE): a single-center university hospital experience

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and are typically multidrug resistant, including ampicillin. This retrospective study evaluated outcomes of 84 adult patients hospitalized between January 2007 and December 2015 with ampicillin- and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus isolates causing UTI and treated with ampicillin. Treatment response was classified as clinical cure and microbiological eradication. Clinical cure was achieved in 88.1% (74/84) of patients. In patients with follow-up cultures, microbiological eradication was achieved in 86% (50/58) of patients. Cure rates were similar in patients with indwelling urinary catheters (n = 45) receiving catheter exchange/removal (90.47%; 19/21) versus catheter retention (87.5%; 21/24). Presence of co-morbidities, such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, were not associated with increased risk of treatment failure. Immunocompromised patients achieved lower cure rates of 78.1% (25/32) compared with 94.2% (49/52) among those without immune impairment (P = 0.038). Presence of an underlying urinary tract abnormality was also associated with a lower cure rate of 71.4% (15/21) compared with 93.7% (59/63) in those without urinary tract abnormalities (P = 0.0135). Overall cure rates remained high in all groups providing good evidence to support ampicillin for the treatment of complicated UTI caused by ampicillin- and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Refractory acute respiratory failure due to Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis: A case report and review of literature

Highlights • A case report of an HIV patient with refractory acute respiratory failure secondary to Pneumocystis jiroveci (PCP) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis.• Diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma of treating CMV in such a clinical scenario.• Role of corticosteroids in treatment of PJP and risk factors for CMV.• Characteristic findings on CT scan and BAL cytology.

Non-infectious diffuse vesiculobullous rash in a pancreas and renal transplant recipient

Solid organ transplant patients are well established to be at risk of herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus infection and reactivation. We present a case of a 41‐year‐old woman with a history of pancreas and renal transplant who presented with what appeared to be disseminated herpes simplex virus or varicella zoster virus induced rash, but who was ultimately diagnosed and treated as linear IgA bullous dermatosis. This case alerts physicians to other non‐infectious dermatoses as a cause of vesiculobullous rash in solid organ transplant patients.

Assessing antimicrobial stewardship initiatives: Clinical evaluation of cefepime or piperacillin/tazobactam in patients with bloodstream infections secondary to AmpC-producing organisms

Management of micro-organisms harbouring AmpC β-lactamases remains challenging. Carbapenems are often considered first-line agents. Due to growing concern regarding carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, integrating non-carbapenem treatment strategies is being explored for these pathogens. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with bacteraemia secondary to AmpC-producing organisms treated with cefepime or piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP). A retrospective study of adult patients receiving cefepime or TZP for the treatment of AmpC -producing organisms with positive cefoxitin screen (i.e. Citrobacter, Enterobacter or Serratia spp. along with cefoxitin resistance) isolated from blood cultures was conducted. The primary endpoint was clinical cure at end of therapy (EOT). Secondary endpoints included microbiological eradication, frequency of susceptibility changes following treatment, and 7- and 30-day all-cause mortality. Clinical cure at EOT was 87.1%, with 93.2% of patients achieving microbiological eradication. The 7- and 30-day mortality rates were 3.8% and 10.6%, respectively. Organism susceptibility was exceptionally high, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ≤2 μg/mL in 90% of patients treated with cefepime (n = 108). Selection for resistance to third-generation cephalosporins or primary antimicrobial therapy was infrequent at 6.1% (8/132). In conclusion, use of cefepime or TZP for management of AmpC bloodstream infections was associated with clinical and microbiological cure with infrequent selection for resistance.

Pasteurella multocida prosthetic joint infection

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that commonly causes cellulitis after a bite, scratch or lick from a cat or dog [1]. Rarely, it may cause invasive disease, which is more common in immunocompromised patients [2]. This may include osteomyelitis, sepsis, meningitis, peritonitis, endocarditis and septic arthritis. Septic arthritis is usually caused by direct injury to the same joint, or distal to the joint. We present a case of P. multocida causing septic joint in a prosthetic knee following hematogenous spread.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) presenting as fever of unknown origin and acute liver failure

A 51-year-old previously healthy woman presenting with two-weeks of fever, flu-like symptoms, jaundice, and abdominal pain was found to have pancytopenia, transaminitis, and significantly elevated ferritin in the setting of an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. Bone marrow biopsy revealed phagocytic macrophages consistent with findings of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Given bone marrow findings and that the patient had five of the eight clinical criteria supporting the diagnosis of HLH, chemotherapy was initiated as per the HLH-94 protocol with initial improvement in patient’s symptoms and overall functional status. This case demonstrates a classic presentation of HLH and displays the importance of correct diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma mimicking classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a patient presenting with fevers of unknown origin

A 52-year-old man presented to our hospital for further workup of fever of unknown origin after an extensive workup at an outside hospital had failed to reveal a diagnosis. At the outside hospital, he underwent excisional biopsy of the left supraclavicular lymph node, which showed non-necrotising granulomatous changes, and a bone marrow biopsy which showed a normocellular marrow. He was discharged without a diagnosis with recommendations to present to a tertiary hospital. During his admission, his hospital course was complicated by new direct hyperbilirubinaemia and eosinophilia, prompting liver and skin biopsies which showed CD30+ and CD3+ cells. He subsequently underwent left axillary lymph node biopsy, which was reported as ‘classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma’. With worsening lab values and T cells noted on liver and skin biopsies, excisional lymph node biopsy was sent to the National Institute of Health, where it was confirmed patient had peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Bordetella bronchiseptica bloodstream infection in a renal transplant patient

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a gram‐negative coccobacillus that infects animals, but rarely affects humans. B. bronchiseptica has been reported to cause disease in immunocompromised hosts. We present a case of a 61‐year‐old man with a renal transplant who developed B. bronchiseptica bacteremia likely as a result of close contact between dogs and his skin cancer biopsy sites. The patient was successfully treated with 2 weeks of oral levofloxacin. This case alerts physicians to B. bronchiseptica as a cause of bacteremia in solid organ transplant patients with exposure to animals.