Shih-Chi Ku

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of bacteremia caused by Acinetobacter lwoffii

Abstract A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical features and pathogenic roles of bacteremia caused by Acinetobacter lwoffii during a 4-year period. Acinetobacter lwoffii (formerly Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. lwoffii) is recognized as normal flora of the skin, oropharynx and perineum of healthy individuals. There are few reports of Acinetobacter lwoffii bacteremia associated with indwelling catheters in humans, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. The records of 18 patients with Acinetobacter lwoffii bacteremia whose underlying conditions included cancer (11 patients), systemic lupus erythematosus (n=1), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=2) and other diseases (n=4), all but one of whom had indwelling catheters during the bacteremic episode, were examined. The clinical syndromes were classified as probable catheter-related bacteremia (n=14), definite catheter-related bacteremia (n=2), primary bacteremia (n=1) or biliary tract infection (n=1). The infections improved after removal of the catheter and/or appropriate antimicrobial therapy. One death was attributable to the bacteremic event. The results of this study show that indwelling catheter-related Acinetobacter lwoffii bacteremia in immunocompromised hosts appears to be associated with a low risk of mortality.

Pulmonary tuberculosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an endemic infectious disease in Taiwan. A retrospective study was conducted to define clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with pulmonary TB among hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. We identified eight out of 350 HSCT recipients as having pulmonary TB over a 6-year period. The relative risk of having pulmonary TB after HSCT was 13.1-fold higher than in the general population. There was a trend toward increased risk of having pulmonary TB in allogeneic HSCT as compared to autologous HSCT (4.8 ± 1.8% vs 0, P = 0.067). All the eight patients with pulmonary TB received allogeneic HSCT and most (seven of eight patients) developed the infection during treatment for GVHD. Computed tomography of the chest was normal in one patient, with the rest showing either interstitial (two patients) or alveolar infiltrates (five patients) at the onset of pulmonary TB. The four fatal cases had an obviously shorter duration between HSCT and onset of infection. Our data suggest that pulmonary TB in HSCT recipients is not uncommon in this endemic area. Therefore, an effective strategy of prophylactic treatment for candidates and recipients of allogeneic HSCT, who may have latent pulmonary TB infection, must be developed. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 1293–1297.

Intracardiac extension of lung cancer via the pulmonary vein

A 69-year-old male heavy smoker had intermittent haemoptysis for 1 month. He did not have exertional dyspnoea, palpitations or chest pain. Chest radiography showed a mass over the right lower lung (RLL). A CT scan of the chest revealed a dumbbell-shaped tumour with an irregular mass in the RLL field, with a tubular part extending along the right inferior …

Clinical Features and Predictors of a Complicated Treatment Course in Peripheral Tuberculous Lymphadenitis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE There remains uncertainty regarding the treatment strategy for patients with peripheral tuberculous lymphadenitis (pTBL) in areas endemic for tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical features and assess the predictors of a complicated treatment course in pTBL. METHODS A retrospective analysis of 97 pTBL patients from January 1995 through to December 2004 was conducted. Patient characteristics with and without a complicated treatment course, defined as prolonged treatment (>9 months) and/or relapse, were compared for determining the predictors. RESULTS The disease occurred predominantly in females (57.7%) with a mean age of 37. Most patients (72%) were asymptomatic. Cervical nodes were the most common (72%) manifestations. Fifty-six patients completed a 6-9 month course of therapy without relapse; 28 had a prolonged but complete treatment course, and 13 relapsed within a mean of 8.5 months after treatment (range, 3-42 months; median, 7.8 months). Of 97 pTBL patients, six had enlarged or newly appeared lymph nodes during treatment. Multivariate analysis indicated that low body mass index and bilateral cervical nodes were independent determinants of a complicated treatment course with the odds ratios of 1.2 (95% CI, 1.01-1.41; p=0.042) and 3.9 (95% CI, 1.08-14.0; p=0.038), respectively. CONCLUSION This study found that pTBL is more likely to occur in young female patients. For patients who present with bilateral cervical nodes and low body mass index, a prolonged treatment course to ensure disease control should be considered.

Cryptococcosis and tuberculosis co-infection at a university hospital in Taiwan, 1993–2006

BackgroundThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and increasing use of immunosuppressive agents have increased the prevalence of both cryptococcosis and tuberculosis (TB). However, the status of co-infection with both pathogens remains unknown.MethodsThis study retrospectively reviewed patient records of cryptococcosis and TB co-infection from 1993 to 2006. The temporal sequence of co-infection was defined as either concurrent or sequential. Data collected included patient demographics, HIV status, co-morbidities, clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, and outcome at 1-year follow-up.ResultsThere were 23 patients with cryptococcosis and TB co-infection, representing 5.4% of cryptococcosis or 0.6% of TB cases. Eleven (48%) patients were HIV-infected, and no underlying disease or immunocompromised state could be identified in six (26%) patients. Twelve (52%) patients presented with concurrent infection, but diagnosis of co-infection could be achieved simultaneously in only three (13%). Constitutional symptoms, particularly fever and weight loss, were the most common presenting symptoms, developing in more than two-thirds of the patients. The majority (83%) of the patients made a good recovery following dual antifungal and anti-TB therapy. There were three mortalities at the 1-year follow-up, which might be attributable to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of co-infection. The outcomes of HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients were not significantly different.ConclusionsCryptococcosis and TB co-infection, although rare, develops in both immunocompromised and healthy individuals. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve patient prognosis. There should be a high index of suspicion in order to achieve a timely diagnosis in a TB endemic area.

Adrenal insufficiency in prolonged critical illness

IntroductionAdrenal insufficiency is common in critically ill patients and affects their prognosis, but little is known about how adrenal function changes during prolonged critical illness. This study was conducted to investigate dynamic changes in cortisol levels in patients with critical illness who do not improve after treatment.MethodsThis observational cohort study was performed in the intensive care units of a university hospital. We studied acutely ill patients with initial cortisol level above 34 μg/dl, but who did not improve after treatment and in whom follow-up cortisol levels were determined during critical illness. All clinical information and outcomes were recorded.ResultsFifty-seven patients were included. Ten patients had follow-up cortisol levels above 34 μg/dl, 32 patients had levels between 34 and 15 μg/dl, and 15 patients had levels under 15 μg/dl. Outcomes did not differ significantly among the three groups with different follow-up cortisol levels. In Cox regression analysis, those patients who survived to hospital discharge with second cortisol levels under 15 μg/dl had a longer hospital length of stay (odds ratio = 14.8, 95% confidence interval = 2.4 to 90.0; P = 0.004).ConclusionThe majority of acutely ill patients who remained in a critical condition had decreased serum cortisol levels. Depressed cortisol levels at follow up may lead to worse clinical outcomes. We propose that repeated adrenal function testing be conducted in patients with prolonged critical illness.

Impact of therapeutic interventions on survival of patients with hepatic hydrothorax.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Hepatic hydrothorax is an uncommon but important complication of liver cirrhosis. The optimal management of this condition remains unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the impact of therapeutic interventions on the outcome of patients with hepatic hydrothorax. METHODS From August 1996 to March 2004, the medical charts of 52 patients with hepatic hydrothorax in the National Taiwan University Hospital were reviewed. Treatment methods, outcome of interventions, and survival time were described and analyzed. RESULTS At the time of diagnosis, four patients were Child-Pugh class A, 20 were class B, and 28 were class C. Twenty-eight (53.8%) patients received supportive care with thoracentesis for symptom relief. Among the other 24 patients, 16 (30.8%) were treated by chemical pleurodesis, 14 (26.9%) underwent surgical interventions, and six (11.5%) received both interventions. Intervention success, defined as resolution of hydrothorax for at least 3 months after the procedure, was achieved in 37.5% and 42.9% of patients who underwent chemical pleurodesis and surgery, respectively, with an overall success rate of 50%. The median survival of all patients was 8.6 months (range, 0.2-77.6 months). The median survival of patients with intervention success (22.5 months) was significantly longer than those with intervention failure (5.4 months) and supportive care (6.3 months). Multivariate analysis showed that only intervention success (p = 0.010, hazard ratio = 0.25) was an independent predictor of survival. CONCLUSION For patients with hepatic hydrothorax, aggressive medical or surgical intervention might improve survival over supportive management, especially when resolution of hydrothorax can be maintained for at least 3 months.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bacteremia in HIV-negative Patients

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Limited information exists about the epidemiologic characteristics of HIV-negative patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteremia (MTB). METHODS We retrospectively surveyed tuberculosis (TB) cases reported at National Taiwan University Hospital between 1997 and 2003. Demographic data, underlying diseases or conditions, clinical, microbiologic and radiologic findings and therapy were collected. Long-term outcome was evaluated at 1 year after initiation of anti-TB agents. RESULTS During the study period the incidence of MTB bacteremia in HIV-negative patients and HIV-positive patients were 0.024 and 6.2 per 1000 discharges, respectively (p<0.01). All 11 HIV-negative patients were males and eight (73%) were more than 50 years old. The most common underlying diseases/conditions were immunosuppressive therapy (64%) and heart disease (55%). Fever (80%), lymphopenia (75%) and pulmonary symptoms (58%) were the most common presentations. Ten patients were septic, two had septic shock and two had acute respiratory distress syndrome on admission. The median interval between admission and initiation of therapy for those who were cured was 6 days. Six (55%) died of TB and/or their underlying diseases. Of the six patients who died, the median survival after collection of positive blood culture was 19 days for three treated patients and 7 days for three untreated patients (p=0.01). CONCLUSION This case series demonstrates the wide spectrum of the initial presentation of HIV-negative patients with MTB bacteremia. The case fatality rate was high and was likely due to immunocompromised status and no anti-TB treatment prior to death. A high index of suspicion for TB and blood culture for MTB provides an additional simple and noninvasive diagnostic method to detect disseminated TB in endemic areas.

Concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis in hospitalized healthcare-associated pneumonia in a tuberculosis endemic area: a multi-center retrospective study.

Background In tuberculosis (TB) endemic areas, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important but easily misdiagnosed pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the occurrence of concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in hospitalized healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) has never been investigated. Methods and Findings Seven hundred and one hospitalized HCAP and 934 hospitalized CAP patients from six medical centers in Taiwan were included in this nationwide retrospective study. Concomitant PTB was defined as active PTB diagnosed within 60 days of admission due to HCAP or CAP. The predictors for concomitant PTB and the impact of PTB on the outcomes of pneumonia were investigated. Among the enrolled subjects, 21/701 (3%) of the HCAP patients and 25/934 (2.7%) of the CAP patients were documented to have concomitant PTB. In multivariate analysis, a history of previous anti-TB treatment (OR = 5.84, 95% CI: 2.29–20.37 in HCAP; OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.09–10.22 in CAP) and escalated pneumonia severity index (PSI) scores (OR = 1.014, 95% CI: 1.002–1.026, in HCAP; OR = 1.013, 95% CI: 1.001–1.026, in CAP) were independent predictors for concomitant PTB in both CAP and HCAP patients. Regarding treatment outcomes, HCAP patients with concomitant PTB were associated with more acute respiratory failure within 48 hours of admission (47.6% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.008), higher intensive care unit admission rate (61.9% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.014), longer hospitalization (39.6±34.1 vs. 23.7±27 days, p = 0.009), and higher in-hospital mortality (47.6% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.03) than those without concomitant PTB. Exposure to certain groups of antibiotics for the treatment of pneumonia was not associated with the occurrence of concomitant PTB. Conclusions In HCAP patients, the occurrence of concomitant PTB is comparable with that in CAP patients and associated with higher PSI scores, more acute respiratory failure, and higher in-hospital mortality.

Disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii infections in intensive care units.

A retrospective study of clinical characteristics, outcome and prognostic factors of patients with cryptococcosis was undertaken in intensive care units (ICUs) of a medical centre for the period 2000-2005. Twenty-six patients with Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii infection were identified (16 males, median age 58 years). The most frequent underlying diseases were liver cirrhosis (38.5%), diabetes mellitus (26.9%) and HIV infection (19.2%). The most frequently identified sites of infection were blood (61.5%), cerebrospinal fluid (38.5%) and airways (34.6%). The mean Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation II score at ICU admission was 22.46. The ICU mortality rate in these patients was 73.1% (19/26) and there were a further two mortalities recorded after discharge from ICU, reaching a total mortality rate of 80.8% (21/26). Patients with ICU survival >2 weeks had lower rates of HIV infection (P=0.004), less use of inotropic agents during ICU stay (P<0.001) and lower white blood cell counts (P=0.01). After adjusting for clinical variables in the multivariate Cox regression model, diabetes and cryptococcal infection after ICU admission were independent predictors of good long-term prognosis (P=0.015) and HIV infectious status was associated with poor outcome (P=0.012).