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Biomedical subjects

F D Pien

Publications and source records attributed to F D Pien.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Mycobacterial infections in patients with chronic renal disease.

In this article, the authors have provided a comprehensive review of TB and MOTT infections in patients on renal dialysis and receiving kidney transplants. Because most published series are small retrospective studies or case reports, there are several uncertainties still involved in the diagnosis and treatment of such patients. Unanswered questions include selection of optimal dosage and duration of therapeutic agents; the best tests for screening and diagnosis, especially in high prevalence areas; and the best management of MOTT infections because of unavailability of highly effective therapy.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed1999

Angiostrongylus cantonensis eosinophilic meningitis.

In the past 50 years, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis, has spread from Southeast Asia to the South Pacific, Africa, India, the Caribbean, and recently, to Australia and North America, mainly carried by cargo ship rats. Humans are accidental, "dead-end" hosts infected by eating larvae from snails, slugs, or contaminated, uncooked vegetables. These larvae migrate to the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots, causing eosinophilia in both spinal fluid and peripheral blood. Infected patients present with severe headache, vomiting, paresthesias, weakness, and occasionally visual disturbances and extraocular muscular paralysis. Most patients have a full recovery; however, heavy infections can lead to chronic, disabling disease and even death. There is no proven treatment for this disease. In the authors' experience, corticosteroids have been helpful in severe cases to relieve intracranial pressure as well as neurologic symptoms due to inflammatory responses to migrating and eventually dying worms.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis↗
PubMed1998

Amphotericin B use in a community hospital, with special emphasis on side effects.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the usage of amphotericin B desoxycholate in a small community hospital, with special emphasis on its side effects and need for premedication. We performed a retrospective chart review for patients who received intravenous amphotericin B from January 1993 to May 1996. Temperature elevation, clinical symptoms during infusion, need for premedication, and fluctuations in serum potassium and creatinine values were especially noted. Statistical analysis showed that toxicity indicated by laboratory values (laboratory toxicity) increased with increasing amphotericin B dose, but clinical side-effects decreased with advancing age. Clinical side effects were not associated with total amphotericin B dosage; laboratory toxicity in our study was not more prevalent in elderly patients. The main finding of this study was that most patients tolerate amphotericin B well and only 23% of patients needed premedication. Our fungal cure rate was 83%. New, expensive preparations of amphotericin B should be reserved for the small subset of patients who either are intolerant of amphotericin B desoxycholate or need high doses for systemic fungal infections.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Gastrostomy tube infections in a community hospital.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous gastric feeding tubes are becoming increasingly more common to provide nutrition in debilitated patients, while they decrease the risk of aspiration associated with nasogastric tubes. METHODS: We reviewed infectious complications of 372 feeding gastrostomy tubes placed in a small urban community hospital over a recent period. RESULTS: In our study there was an infection rate of 4.8%. Four serious infections occurred: two cases of peritonitis and two deep abscesses, but there were no infectious deaths. The most common infecting organisms were staphylococci, gram negative bacteria, and yeast. Most infections required treatment with parenteral antibiotics, prolonging hospitalization. Two of 17 infected tubes required removal. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous gastrostomy tubes can produce life threatening infections and deserve serious attention by ICPs in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home care services. These tubes should only be inserted if they extend meaningful life in patients. Protocols are needed for the care of gastrostomy tubes, and infections must be treated as early and as aggressively as possible to avoid serious consequences.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Tuboovarian abscess caused by Edwardsiella tarda.

Edwardsiella tarda infections are uncommon and have often been reported in association with pet reptiles. The majority of these infections occur as gastrointestinal disorders in immunocompromised hosts. We believe this to be the first reported American case of tuboovarian abscess caused by this organism in an otherwise healthy woman whose only known exposure was to raw seafood. This patient had fever and lower abdominal pain caused by a severe Edwardsiella tarda pelvic abscess that required surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotics for complete recovery.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1991

Septic bursitis: experience in a community practice.

We reviewed 47 episodes of septic bursitis occurring in a private community medical practice. Most patients were male (85%), and roughly half (49%) the cases were related to recreational or occupational trauma. About 72% of cases were located in the olecranon bursa, while the remaining cases were prepatellar. Prepatellar bursitis patients were more likely to be hospitalized. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 70% of bursal fluid aspirations; other etiologic organisms included gram negative bacteria and Mycobacterium marinum. The majority of patients were able to be treated as outpatients with oral antibiotics. All patients were eventually cured without serious complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Bacterial endocarditis at a small community hospital.

Clinical features, microbiology, and predisposing factors are described in 56 patients with bacterial endocarditis (BE) treated over a 12-year period at a small community hospital in Hawaii. The average age of patients was 52.0 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 28.8 days (range 1 to 240 days). Streptococci was the most frequently identified causative organism, present in 61% of the cases. Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from six patients (11%). Fourteen patients (25%) required cardiac surgery; the most common condition leading to surgery was severe valvular insufficiency, followed by congestive heart failure and recurrent embolism. Eighty-two percent of the patients in the series survived. The leading causes of death were congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular accidents.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Eosinophilic pleural effusions.

We present 2 cases of eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) seen recently at Straub Hospital. One occurred in a patient with pneumococcal empyema; the 2nd patient had 2 episodes of EPE secondary to malignant histiocytic lymphoma. Eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) is defined as having eosinophils exceeding 10% of the pleural fluid WBC differential. EPE is usually exudative, typically accounting for 1% to 8% of all pleural effusions. Up to 30% to 35% of EPE are idiopathic, while other frequent causes include air in the pleural space (30%), and pulmonary infections (10%). Collagen vascular diseases, tuberculosis and malignancies are common causes of EPE. Although spontaneous resolution and a favorable prognosis predominates in this entity, prudent clinical follow-up is advised. Since the first documented case of eosinophilic pleural effusion in 1984 by Harmsen, clinicians have attempted to determine its significance. This condition is defined as pleural effusion with greater than 10% of the WBC differential eosinophils. We saw 2 cases of EPE at Straub Hospital during 1988.

Eosinophilia↗
PubMed1989

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus associated with pentamidine.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus occurred following intravenous pentamidine treatment of two AIDS patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Both patients also experienced drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Patients receiving pentamidine must be observed for multisystem dysfunction, including the onset of severe diabetes mellitus. Dosage adjustment or alternative therapy should be considered with the onset of toxicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Vibrio vulnificus infection in Hawaii.

A life-threatening Vibrio vulnificus infection occurred in a 52-year-old Korean woman with hepatic cirrhosis. Four days after ingesting raw crab, the patient presented to the hospital with nausea, vomiting, fever, hypotension, and hemorrhagic blistering of the left foot. Vibrio vulnificus was recovered from both her blood and a foot wound.

Female↗
PubMed1988

AIDS affects all.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Marine-acquired infections. Hazards of the ocean environment.

Numerous pathogenic bacteria are found in seawater. They can cause several environmental infections, such as conjunctivitis, otitis externa, wound infections, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal illness. The incidence of some of these infections could be lowered if people took care to avoid eating undercooked seafood, swimming in brackish water, or sustaining lacerations in a marine environment. However, such infections will probably increase in frequency as more people visit ocean resorts. Prompt elimination of the infective agent, adequate wound care, and avoidance of reexposure can minimize the severity of the condition.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1986

HTLV-III infection. A clinical approach to diagnosis and treatment of the 'AIDS virus'.

The retrovirus human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) can cause no symptoms at all, a syndrome of vague symptoms such as fever and fatigue, or full-blown acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Serologic tests for antibodies to HTLV-III are available for identifying the virus; tests for T lymphocyte subset numbers and function and white cell count are also helpful. Management of patients with the virus depends on clinical presentation: Patients who are asymptomatic carriers need only reassurance and follow-up, patients with mild illness need symptomatic treatment and monitoring, and patients with full-blown AIDS need increasing levels of physical and emotional supportive care. Through early diagnosis, treatment when needed, and patient education, primary care physicians can be instrumental in curtailing the spread of HTLV-III infection.

AIDS-Related Complex↗