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Effect of systemic fibrinogen depletion on intraabdominal abscess formation.

Deposition of fibrin within the peritoneal cavity is an integral host response to local infection. To directly assess the role of fibrin deposition in the pathogenesis of intraabdominal abscess formation, the ability to induce abscesses in fibrinogen-depleted mice was examined. We hypothesized that systemic defibrinogenation with ancrod would limit the availability of fibrinogen for deposition within the peritoneal cavity and would therefore impair intraabdominal abscess formation. A gelatin capsule containing 50% sterile feces plus Bacteroides fragilis 1 x 10(9) CFU was inserted IP into control or defibrinogenated mice. System defibrinogenation resulted in alteration of the character of abscess formation, as manifested by reduced abscess size and degree of purulence. Abscesses were significantly smaller (0.18 +/- 0.02 gm [n = 29] vs. 0.09 +/- 0.02 gm [n = 11], p less than 0.01) and less purulent (p less than 0.001) in the ancrod-treated mice than in control animals, despite equal numbers of bacteria in the abscesses recovered from both groups. The effect of ancrod was specific for defibrinogenation, because IP repletion with fibrinogen reversed the ancrod effect on abscess size. In addition to its local effects, systemic fibrinogen depletion resulted in a significant elevation in mortality following IP infection (1 of 30 control animals vs. 10 of 23 ancrod-treated animals, p less than 0.01). However, this was not due to an increase in the magnitude of the B. fragilis bacteremia. These studies demonstrate that fibrin deposition contributes to the pathogenesis of purulent abscess formation and that systemic depletion of fibrinogen may alter host susceptibility to the consequences of infection.

Abdomen↗

Bacteriologic and histologic studies of hepatic abscesses in cattle.

Twenty-eight abscessed livers were collected from feedlot cattle at an abattoir; specimens were obtained from 49 abscesses for bacteriologic culture and for histologic examination. Cultural procedures included techniques to enumerate and isolate facultative and obligate anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from all 49 abscesses, whereas facultative bacteria were isolated from only 22. Mean bacterial counts for anaerobic and facultative bacteria were 3 X 10(8) and 8 X 10(8) bacteria/g of purulent material, respectively. Fusobacterium necrophorum, the only anaerobe isolated, was detected in 100% of the abscesses. Fusobacterium necrophorum biotype A was isolated from 57% of the abscesses (in pure culture from 75%), and F necrophorum biotype B was isolated from 47% of the abscesses (from 96% with mixed infections). Corynebacterium pyogenes was the predominant facultative bacterium isolated. Histologic changes in abscesses were qualitatively similar; abscesses were pyogranulomatous, with a necrotic center surrounded by zones of inflammatory tissue. However, the severity of lesions varied, depending on the F necrophorum biotype involved. Portal triad fibrosis and bile-duct proliferation were most severe in biotype A and mixed biotype B infections and less severe in abscesses from which biotype B was isolated in pure culture.

Animals↗

Liver abscess in Crohn's disease. Report of four cases and review of the literature.

Four patients with liver abscesses and Crohn's disease are described, and reports of 14 cases in the English language literature are reviewed. The incidence of liver abscess in patients with Crohn's disease (114-297 per 100,000) appears to be higher than that of liver abscess in the general population (8-16 per 100,000). Frequently the clinical manifestations of liver abscess are mistaken for a reactivation of Crohn's disease, and diagnosis is delayed. In comparison to patients with liver abscess in the general population, patients with Crohn's disease and liver abscess are considerably younger, are more likely to have multiple rather than solitary abscesses, and usually have a predisposing intraabdominal focus of infection, rather than a biliary one. Streptococci, especially Streptococcus milleri, are the most frequent cause of liver abscess in patients with Crohn's disease. Liver scanning should be performed routinely in patients with Crohn's disease in whom a febrile illness cannot be completely explained by bowel disease, or in whom fever does not respond to drainage of intraabdominal abscesses.

Adult↗

[Pyogenic liver abscess].

27 patients who presented with pyogenic liver abscess from 1957 to 1984 are analyzed retrospectively and compared with the literature. Diagnosis and start of therapy were frequently delayed because of the unspecificity of symptoms. Symptoms included fever, abdominal pain, weakness, and loss of weight. In 50% of all patients, the abscess was found by chance at laparotomy or autopsy. The most frequent causes of abscess formation were cholestasis due to extrahepatic obstruction and intraabdominal infections. Frequently a predisposing condition such as carcinoma, diabetes mellitus or alcohol abuse was found. The overall mortality was 25%, and was higher in patients with multiple abscesses of the liver (36%) than in patients with solitary abscesses (10%). With the introduction of new imaging procedures (ultrasound, computer tomography), the abscesses can be punctured under view and the antibiotic therapy can be based on bacterial analysis. The causative bacterial organism could be identified by cultures of the abscess fluid and blood in up to 90%. The bacteria identified usually were identical to the intestinal flora. Using specific antibiotic therapy, surgical treatment is often unnecessary and can be reserved for abscesses resistant to conservative treatment and for those due to correction of the original source of abscess formation.

Adult↗

Early diagnosis and outcome of pancreatic abscesses in pancreatitis.

During the past 3.5 years the authors have evaluated 191 patients, both retrospectively and prospectively, to establish factors which might help to identify those patients at higher risk of developing pancreatic abscesses. Those factors included etiology of pancreatitis, number of severity indices present, and specific indices present. Once an abscess developed, severity indices, etiology, and bacteriology were examined as factors in mortality. Six specific severity indices occurred more often (P less than 0.05) in patients developing abscesses. These indices were lactate dehydrogenase evaluation, leukocytosis, metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, hypocalcemia, and fluid sequestration. In addition, seven of 18 abscess patients had six or more indices present as opposed to five of 161 pancreatitis patients. This was significant at P less than 0.05 level. The etiology of the pancreatitis was not a significant factor. Once an abscess developed, gram-negative infections were polymicrobial (8 of 9 patients) and were associated with a 56 per cent mortality. The gram-positive abscesses (6 patients) were all monomicrobial and none of these patients died. In addition, age greater than 55 years, serum glucose greater than 200 mg%, hematocrit decrease of 10 per cent, and fluid sequestration greater than 6 L were associated with a 50 per cent or greater mortality. The authors believe that patients presenting initially with six or more severity indices, especially the six mentioned above, are at significantly increased risk for developing a pancreatic abscess and those abscess patients with gram-negative abscesses, as well as having any of the four severity indices previously mentioned, have a much worse prognosis.

Abscess↗

Neutrophil localization in acute and chronic experimental abscesses.

Abdominal abscesses are associated with a high mortality, and usually require surgical drainage for cure. A potential mechanism explaining the inability of the host to clear this infection may be in part a result of the inability of the neutrophil to localize at the site of an established infection. To study this question, either acute (4 hours old) or chronic (2 weeks old) abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus were created in perforated capsules implanted in the peritoneal cavity of rabbits. Homologous neutrophils were obtained from donor rabbits 4 hours after peritoneal glycogen stimulation and labeled with indium 111 oxine. Only 0.71% of injected 111In-labeled neutrophils localized in the chronic abscesses, compared with 1.77% in acute abscesses (P less than or equal to 0.01). Animals with chronic infections had a lower intravascular recovery of injected neutrophils (P less than 0.002). Failure of neutrophil localization was not associated with less chemotactic activity within the abscess, as measured by a chemotaxis-under-agarose assay, or caused by a barrier surrounding the abscess as detected by radionuclide imaging. Only 0.07% of injected neutrophils localized into acute abdominal abscesses in animals with a concomitant chronic subcutaneous abscess. These chronically infected animals also demonstrated a low peak intravascular recovery of injected neutrophils when compared with animals with only an acute infection (P less than 0.002). These data reveal that neutrophils localize to abscesses poorly in animals with chronic infections. The mechanism is possibly related to a systemic factor(s) associated with a lower intravascular recovery of injected neutrophils in chronically infected animals.

Abscess↗

Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses and quinsy tonsillectomy.

Two patients presented with history, symptoms, and clinical findings suggesting unilateral peritonsillar abscesses. At the time of quinsy tonsillectomy, the patients were found to have pus present in the contralateral peritonsillar spaces. These findings prompted a review of the literature to determine the actual frequency of bilateral peritonsillar abscesses and to reassess the approach to treatment of patients presenting with peritonsillar abscesses.Peritonsillar abscess frequently develops following the onset of acute tonsillitis, and it is possible that this process occurs bilaterally with the developmental stages of the abscesses being different on each side. Intensive antibiotic treatment, incision and drainage of the obvious abscess probably suppresses the development of and masks the presence of the abscess on the opposite side.Quinsy tonsillectomy has been indicated previously for patients not responding to intravenous antibiotic treatment and incision and drainage of their peritonsillar abscess. The possibility of a subclinical contralateral peritonsillar abscess being present is an additional indication for proceeding with a quinsy tonsillectomy, especially in patients who remain febrile after apparent satisfactory drainage of the clinically evident abscess.

Adult↗

Follow-up of patients with tubo-ovarian abscess(es) in association with salpingitis.

The medical records of 143 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of salpingitis over a five-year period were reviewed. Ninety-three patients had salpingitis without clinical evidence of a tubo-ovarian abscess. Seven (7.5%) of these women had surgical treatment; five of the seven were found to have tubo-ovarian abscesses which had not been detected clinically. Eighty-six of 93 (92.5%) patients with a clinical diagnosis of salpingitis and no abscess responded to medical management alone. Fifty patients had salpingitis and clinical evidence of a tubo-ovarian abscess(es); five of these patients had medical management only, 27 had medical treatment followed by surgery, and 18 had surgery initially before receiving antibiotics. There was a significant difference in age but not in parity between patients with evidence of a tubo-ovarian abscess that was managed medically and those who had surgery. There was no significant difference in surgical procedure performed, chronic symptoms, subsequent gynecologic surgery, or subsequent pregnancy among the groups with an abscess. There was a trend toward more surgical complications among women who had delayed surgical intervention for an abscess. Among women with a unilateral tubo-ovarian abscess, those who had a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy had a higher pregnancy rate than those who received antibiotics alone. In this study, women with a tubo-ovarian abscess in association with salpingitis did not respond well to antibiotic treatment alone. This may be the most reliable way of distinguishing these patients from women with salpingitis alone or salpingitis in association with a tubo-ovarian inflammatory complex, who, as a group, did respond well to medical management alone.

Abscess↗

Determinants of death in patients with intraabdominal abscess.

To better define determinants of death in patients with intraabdominal abscess, 143 patients from a 5-year hospital experience were reviewed. Abscesses were most commonly results of trauma, spontaneous gastrointestinal perforations, and technical errors. Clinical presentation of abscess was quite variable as were criteria to justify reoperation for drainage. Abscesses occurred most commonly in the subphrenic space, pelvis, or subhepatic space. Complete abdominal exploration was employed most frequently for drainage. Those factors that were associated with a fatal outcome were: organ failure (P < 0.001), lesser sac abscess (P < 0.001), positive blood culture (P < 0.01), recurrent and/or persistent abscess (P < 0.01), multiple abscesses (P pE 0.01), age > 50 years (P < 0.03), and subhepatic abscess (P < 0.03). These data suggest that deaths from abdominal abscess are consequences of ineffective surgical drainage and failure of host defense mechanisms.

Abdomen↗

Minimally invasive treatment of renal abscess.

PURPOSE: We critically evaluated the most appropriate management of renal abscesses, and identified the set of patients that most benefits from conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed charts regarding discharge diagnoses, radiological studies, pathological specimens, epidemiology factors and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using loglinear and covariant analysis. RESULTS: Nine years of experience (1984 to 1993) at 2 affiliated hospitals (1 public and 1 private) were reviewed. A total of 52 patients with renal abscesses was identified with a followup rate of 98%. In immunocompetent patients 100% of small abscesses (less than 3 cm.) managed by antibiotics and observation alone resolved. Of medium abscesses (3 to 5 cm.) treated with percutaneous abscess drainage alone 92% resolved. Large abscesses (greater than 5 cm.) often required more than 1 percutaneous drainage procedure (33%) or adjunct open surgical intervention (37%). Statistical analysis revealed that no single treatment modality yielded a superior resolution rate or shorter hospitalization for abscesses stratified by size, patient age or treatment instituted early (1984 to 1993) or late (1992 and 1993) in the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our series suggests that percutaneous drainage is as effective as open surgery for large and medium renal abscesses. Small abscesses may be effectively treated with a course of intravenous antibiotic therapy. A treatment algorithm is reported.

Abscess↗

Rupture of pyogenic liver abscess.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the clinical manifestations, course, treatment, and results obtained in 23 patients with ruptured pyogenic liver abscess and compare these findings with those of nonruptured cases. METHODS: Four hundred twenty-four patients with clinical diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess were enrolled in the study. Among these, 23 patients had ruptured pyogenic liver abscess. The clinical manifestations, incidence of septic shock, laboratory findings, concurrent diabetes mellitus, etiology of abscess, and results of the treatment were recorded. Qualitative data were analyzed by chi 2 test, and quantitative data were analyzed by Student's t test. RESULTS: Except for abdominal pain and septic shock, other symptoms, such as fever, chills, and jaundice, were similar in ruptured and nonruptured groups. Laboratory findings indicated that the group with ruptured liver abscess had higher levels of bilirubin, blood glucose, and aspartate aminotransferase than the non-ruptured group. Of the patients with ruptured abscess, 14 (60.9%) had diabetes mellitus and 15 (65.2%) were cryptogenic. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the bacteria most often isolated in both blood cultures and liver aspirates. Surgical intervention--draining the abscess and cleaning the abdominal cavity--was the only means of saving the patients' lives. The overall mortality rate was higher in this group (43.5%) than in the nonruptured group (15.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Ruptured pyogenic liver abscess should be suspected if septic shock and diffuse abdominal pain are found in a patient with pyogenic liver abscess, concurrent with high levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and blood glucose. Surgery is the only treatment for this condition.

Female↗

[Ultrasonography in the diagnosis and treatment of psoas abscess. Apropos of a study with 30 patients].

The abscess of psoas are more often secondary to a loco-regional cause. The authors report a series of 42 abscess of psoas in 30 patients during 3 years. It concerns 16 men and 14 women witch a mean age of 35 years. The abscess was secondary to a spondylodiscis in 25 patients and primary in 5 patients. The size of the abscess was upper 5 cm with a variable ultrasound structure: liquid in 33 cases, hypoechogenic in 9 cases. All patients underwent a percutaneous treatment guided by ultrasonography. A single or multiple evacuation puncture with 16 Gauge needle were performed for 40 abscess. Complementary percutaneous drainage with 14 french drain was used in 3 cases. In 2 other cases, the percutaneous drainage was used firstly. The bacteriological study of puncture liquid isolated the germ in 8 cases. Evaluation has been assessed in only 29 cases. The recovery was reached in 12 abscess on 15 which were treated by a single puncture. In 10 abscess on 13 treated by multiple puncture; and in 4 abscess an 5 managed by drainage. The results demonstrate the accuracy of single or multiple drainage puncture associated with adapted antibiotherapy in the management of abscess.

Adult↗

Liver abscess in Crohn's disease.

Liver abscess is a rare but serious complication of Crohn's disease. Intra-abdominal abscesses, fistulous disease, and metronidazole or steroid therapy have all been reported to be important predisposing factors in the pathogenesis of the disease, and the mortality has been reported to be high. We report six patients who developed a liver abscess as a complication of Crohn's disease. Three patients presented with a liver abscess as the first manifestation of Crohn's disease and two others had quiescent disease at presentation. The diagnosis was delayed by 1-8 wk after the onset of fever because of the paucity of signs indicating a hepatic infection. None of the patients had intra-abdominal abscesses, active fistulas, or metronidazole therapy before the onset of symptoms. The only predisposing conditions identified were two minor skin infections in patients developing staphylococcal liver abscesses. Nonoperative catheter drainage was successful in four of the six patients. One patient required surgical placement of drains, and the patient with the longest delay before diagnosis required hepatic lobectomy because of extensive necrosis. Shaking chills, fever with leukocytosis, and an elevated alkaline phosphatase are suggestive of a liver abscess and should prompt an ultrasound examination. Catheter drainage with antibiotic therapy is effective if the liver abscess is diagnosed before extensive necrosis has occurred. Minor skin infections may predispose to staphylococcal liver abscess in some cases.

Adolescent↗

Variation of abscess formation in cattle after vaccination with a modified-live Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine.

During the spring of the first year of a vaccine study, 57 of 238 calves (24%), in which modified-live Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine (MLV) was injected twice, developed 1 or more abscesses. Abscesses were not observed after multiple visual examinations of 437 calves given killed P haemolytica bacterin or placebo injections of similar adjuvants used in the vaccine and bacterin. Calves that developed abscesses after the second injection of MLV weighed significantly (P < 0.05) less (on the basis of body weight adjusted for weaning weight) at the second injection than did those that did not develop abscesses. Compared with calves given MLV that did not develop observable abscesses, calves developing abscesses after the second injection of MLV weighed 11.0 and 14.2 kg less, respectively, at 56 days and 112 days after injection, and they had 11.0 kg less gain at 56 days after injection. Abscess prevalence tended to be highest on certain days or at certain locations used for cattle processing, and the prevalence of abscesses increased in cattle processed later on a given day. Abscesses were not observed in 2 other groups of similarly treated calves vaccinated in the autumn or in the subsequent spring.

Abscess↗

Endogenous endophthalmitis associated with pyogenic hepatic abscess.

BACKGROUND: Endogenous endophthalmitis has been associated with pyogenic hepatic abscess in several recent anecdotal reports. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of endophthalmitis associated with pyogenic hepatic abscess, identify the degree of association with Klebsiella pneumoniae as a causative organism, and determine the outcome of treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed of 352 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of pyogenic hepatic abscess who had been admitted to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung between 1986 and 1993. Findings from complete ophthalmologic evaluations and treatment results were recorded. RESULTS: Eleven patients (3.1 percent) with endogenous endophthalmitis (monocular in eight and binocular in three) were found among the 352 cases of pyogenic hepatic abscess. Seven of the patients had diabetes mellitus and their blood glucose was poorly controlled. Only one patient had an intrahepatic stone as the cause of hepatic abscess, the other abscesses were of cryptogenic origin. The causative organism was mainly K. pneumoniae and the diagnosis was made by blood culture in ten patients, hepatic aspirate culture in seven, and vitreous contents culture in three. Systemic antibiotics were given in all patients with endogenous endophthalmitis. Percutaneous catheter drainage for hepatic abscess under echo guidance was performed in seven patients, medical treatment only was performed in three patients, and percutaneous tapping of abscess was done in one patient. All 11 patients were alive at the time of writing. Intravitreous culture followed by injection of antibiotics and steroids was immediately undertaken if septic endophthalmitis was suspected, except in two patients, who lost vision before any treatment was given. In five patients, cefamezin and gentamicin were given, and in four patients vancomycin, amikacin, and dexamethasone were given every three days if necessary. Finally, among the total of 14 eyes, there was blindness in ten, three of these had no light perception initially. In seven patients there had been a delay of treatment longer than one day. In one eye there was "counting fingers" vision and in three eyes there remained some vision. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be alert to the development of endogenous endophthalmitis when a patient with pyogenic hepatic abscess or bacteremia complains of ocular symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and vigorous treatment with intravitreous injections of vancomycin, amikacin, and dexamethasone within 24 hours can save the patient's eyes and vision.

Adult↗

[Fatal brain stem infarction due to rupture of a brain abscess: a case report].

We report a case of a brain abscess which initially presented with subcortical hematoma and ultimately resulted in fatal brain stem infarction due to its rupture into the subarachnoid space. A 50-year-old male was admitted to a nearby hospital with complaints of headache, fever, and sensory aphasia. He had ventricular septal defect found 15 years previously, sinusitis, and liver cirrhosis. Computerized tomographic (CT) scan revealed a left temporal subcortical hematoma. Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed faint ring-like enhancement at the margin of the lesion. The left internal carotid angiogram demonstrated the vascular blush and early venous filling of the vein of Labbé. Administration of antibiotics and predonine resulted in resolution of fever within five days. MRI obtained 17 days after the onset showed typical ring-like enhancement. The mass was just adjacent to the lateral ventricle. The patient was transferred to our hospital for further examination and treatment 21 days after the onset. Fever had recurred 2 days before admission to our hospital. One day after admission, the patient began to vomit. About 15 hours following this symptom, he suddenly became comatose and tetraplegic. CT scan demonstrated a rupture of the abscess. Emergent drainage from the lateral ventricle and the abscess cavity was undertaken. Follow-up CT scan revealed multiple infarctions involving the upper brain stem and the bilateral thalamus. He died on the 29th day after the onset. The mechanisms of hemorrhage with a brain abscess and cerebral infarction after rupture of brain abscess are discussed. Hemorrhage with brain abscess is extremely rare. However, brain abscess should be considered as a possible etiology of an atypical hematoma. To avoid fatal rupture of the brain abscess, immediate treatment is essential. Once the rupture of the brain abscess occurs, its contents might cause vasospasm severe enough to cause cerebral infarction.

Brain Abscess↗

[The role of surgery in the treatment of appendicular abscesses].

The management of appendiceal abscesses is still discussed and many different approaches are nowadays adopted. The aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively our experience with this disease to value the results of drainage of the abscess and appendectomy in one stage in presence of appendiceal abscesses. We studied 44 patients consecutively observed in our Department of General Surgery all submitted to drainage of the abscess and appendectomy for acute appendicitis with periappendiceal abscess. Preoperative ultrasonography showed an accuracy of 85.7% in detecting the presence of an abscess. Mean size of the abscesses were 5 cm (from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm). The mean duration of surgical operation was 48 minutes (min 35'-max 95'), with a mean in-hospital stay of 6.2 days. Morbidity rate was 9% and was due in 75% of cases to wound infection and in 25% of cases to wound dehiscence. Neither major morbidity nor mortality were observed. In consideration of the results the authors conclude that even in presence of an appendiceal abscess, appendectomy with abscess drainage is not only a safe operation with a low morbidity rate but the procedure of choice allowing a significative reduction of hospitalization and health cost.

Abscess↗

[Abdominal abscesses: their treatment and the study of prognostic factors].

The aim of this study is to define outcome predictors that might influence the prognosis and the mortality rate either of percutaneous drainage (DP) or open surgical drainage (DC) for abdominal abscesses. Seventy-one patients with 81 intra-abdominal abscesses were prospectively studied. They were 40 males and 31 females. Mean age was 47 +/- 15 years. Thirty-six (50.7%) patients had a simple abscess, while 35 (49.2%) had a complex abscess. Abscesses occurred most commonly in the sub-hepatic area, pelvic and para-colic space. Thirty-two (45%) patients had a percutaneous drainage, while 39 (54.9%) underwent an operative drainage management. Criteria for treatment selection were not randomized. However the two groups were statistically similar in respect to clinical features, cirrhosis, nutritional status, APACHE II scores), genesis and characteristics (simple, complex) of the abscesses. The treatment was considered successful when not requiring further drainage and the patient survived. Abdominal abscesses were cured in 53 (74.6) patients. In 13 cases (18.3%) a further drainage was necessary to obtain a complex resolution. Post drainage complications were significantly higher in the surgical drainage group (38.4% vs 12%, p < 0.05) because of the high incidence of wound infections. The overall mortality rate was 7%. Using an univariate analysis model, the only significant variable related to unsuccessful outcome in both the percutaneous and surgical group was abscess complexity (p < 0.005). Elderly (p < 0.005), malnutrition (p < 0.03), presence of cancer (p < 0.05), a high APACHE II score (p < 0.005) and the presence of a complex abscess (p < 0.02) were significantly identified as determinants of death.

APACHE↗