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Abscesses of the neck in infants and young children. A review of 112 cases.

A review of 112 patients 5 years of age and younger with cervical abscesses is reported. Staphylococcus aureus and group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus were cultured most often: in 39% and 17% of patients, respectively. Sixteen patients (14%) had unusual abscesses such as infected congenital cysts, cat-scratch disease, or myocobacterial abscesses. One patient had a necrotizing infection with group A streptococci and anaerobic streptococci. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was used in 104 patients, with 94% of these patients receiving a penicillin derivative, usually an antistaphylococcal penicillin. Ninety-six percent of the patients had incision and drainage of their abscesses; 8 patients required more than one incision and drainage. Two patients required airway intervention, 1 by intubation and 1 by trachetomy. Most pediatric cervical abscesses respond well to appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy and incision and drainage.

Abscess↗

Diagnosis and management of psoas abscess in Crohn's disease.

Four patients with Crohn's disease complicated by psoas abscess are described. These patients did not have general or abdominal signs of sepsis but they all showed wasting of the right quadriceps femoris and hip flexion. It is important to examine the hip and thigh in patients with known Crohn's disease who are on medical treatment. Surgical treatment of a Crohn's psoas abscess should include resection of recurrent disease, fashioning of the anastomosis remote from the abscess cavity, and long-term (21 days) drainage of the abscess cavity to avoid the possibilities of faecal fistula or recurrent abscess.

Abscess↗

Intracranial abscesses secondary to ear and paranasal sinuses infections.

The death rate of brain abscesses in a recently reported series is high, ranging from 36% to 50% of all cases. This paper reports experiences with ten cases of intracranial abscesses secondary to ear and sinus infections. Six of these abscesses are secondary to otitic infections with three of them located in the cerebellum. Two of the cerebellar abscesses are surgically drained through the temporal bone by the otologic surgeon, with close neurosurgical cooperation. Computerized axial tomography has revolutionized the treatment of intracranial abscesses optimizing the timing for medical and surgical management.

Adolescent↗

Septic necrosis of the internal carotid artery: a complication of peritonsillar abscess.

Septic necrosis of the internal carotid artery is a major complication of peritonsillar abscess. Although once a common complication, its occurrence is rare since the introduction of antibiotics. A 12-year-old girl was referred to our institution after a false aneurysm of the internal carotid artery had been entered during routine tonsillectomy for a peritonsillar abscess. Review of the literature and features of the present case demonstrate the following findings suggestive of erosion of the internal carotid artery as a result of peritonsillar abscess: (1) spontaneous hemorrhage from a peritonsillar abscess, (2) persistent peritonsillar swelling after resolution of symptoms of peritonsillar abscess, (3) ipsilateral Horner's syndrome, and (4) otherwise unexplained cranial nerve palsies (nerves IX, X, XI, and XII).

Carotid Artery Diseases↗

Brain abscesses in the young.

Brain abscesses in the young are rare. Only 14 such abscesses have been seen at Texas Children's Hospital since 1968. Most abscesses developed in association with congenital heart disease (5), although sinusitis and mastoiditis were precipitating causes in two patients and one patient, respectively. The latter three patients' cases are reviewed in detail. Clinical and bacteriologic findings in all patients are discussed. There were signs of increased intracranial pressure in nine patients (64%). All abscesses were drained; in several, repeated drainage was necessary. Anaerobic organisms were recovered in six patients (43%), aerobic organisms were recovered in five (36%), and both were recovered in two (14%). In one patient no growth was reported. Antimicrobial therapy was administered to all patients but one, whose abscess was completely excised. Morbidity and mortality remained significant: three patients (21%) died and one has a residual hemiparesis.

Adolescent↗

Epidural abscess caused by Streptococcus milleri in a pregnant woman.

BACKGROUND: Bacteria in the Streptococcus milleri group (S. anginosus, S. constellatus, and S. intermedius) are associated with bacteremia and abscess formation. While most reports of Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) infection occur in patients with underlying medical conditions, SMG infections during pregnancy have been documented. However, SMG infections in pregnant women are associated with either neonatal or maternal puerperal sepsis. Albeit rare, S. milleri spinal-epidural abscess in pregnancy has been reported, always as a complication of spinal-epidural anesthesia. We report a case of spinal-epidural abscess caused by SMG in a young, pregnant woman without an antecedent history of spinal epidural anesthesia and without any underlying risk factors for invasive streptococcal disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25 year old pregnant woman developed neurological symptoms consistent with spinal cord compression at 20 weeks gestation. She underwent emergency laminectomy for decompression and was treated with ceftriaxone 2 gm IV daily for 28 days. She was ambulatory at the time of discharge from the inpatient rehabilitation unit with residual lower extremity weakness. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a Streptococcus milleri epidural abscess in a healthy, pregnant woman with no history of epidural anesthesia or invasive procedures. This report adds to the body of literature on SMG invasive infections. Treatment of SMG spinal-epidural abscess with neurologic manifestations should include prompt and aggressive surgical decompression coupled with targeted anti-infective therapy.

Adult↗

Fistulotomy and drainage of deep postanal space abscess in the treatment of posterior horseshoe fistula.

BACKGROUND: Posterior horseshoe fistula with deep postanal space abscess is a complex disease. Most patients have a history of anorectal abscess drainage or surgery for fistula-in-ano. METHODS: Twenty-five patients who underwent surgery for posterior horseshoe fistula with deep postanal space abscess were analyzed retrospectively with respect to age, gender, previous surgery for fistula-in-ano, number of external openings, diagnostic studies, concordance between preoperative studies and operative findings for the extent of disease, operating time, healing time, complications, and recurrence. RESULTS: There were 22 (88%) men and 3 (12%) women with a median age of 37 (range, 25-58) years. The median duration of disease was 13 (range, 3-96) months. There was one external opening in 12 (48%) patients, 2 in 8 (32%), 3 in 4 (16%), and 4 in 1 (4%). Preoperative diagnosis of horseshoe fistula was made by contrast fistulography in 4 (16%) patients, by ultrasound in 3 (12%), by magnetic resonance imaging in 6 (24%), and by physical examination only in the remainder (48%). The mean +/- SD operating time was 47 +/- 10 min. The mean +/- SD healing time was 12 +/- 3 weeks. Three of the 25 patients (12%) had diabetes mellitus type II. Nineteen (76%) patients had undergone previous surgery for fistula-in-ano, while five (20%) had only perianal abscess drainage. Neither morbidity nor mortality developed. All patients were followed up for a median of 35 (range, 6-78) months and no recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Fistulotomy of the tracts along the arms of horseshoe fistula and drainage of the deep postanal space abscess with posterior midline incision that severs both the lower edge of the internal sphincter and the subcutaneous external sphincter and divides the superficial external sphincter into halves gives excellent results with no recurrence. When it is necessary, severing the halves of the superficial external sphincter unilaterally or even bilaterally in the same session does not result in anal incontinence. Close follow-up of patients until the wounds completely healed is essential in the prevention of premature wound closure and recurrence.

Abscess↗

Vancomycin penetration of a brain abscess: case report and review of the literature.

A 56-year-old man developed an abscess within a right parietal cystic anaplastic astrocytoma 3 days after removal of iodine-125 sources placed 9 days earlier for interstitial radiation therapy. After treatment with cephalosporin antibiotics proved unsuccessful, the patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin and intermittent percutaneous drainage of the abscess. Vancomycin levels obtained from the brain abscess fluid, both before and during later operative removal of the abscess, were 15 and 18 micrograms/ml, respectively; the serum vancomycin level was 21 micrograms/ml. This is the first report of the excellent penetration of vancomycin into brain abscess fluid.

Astrocytoma↗

Intramedullary epidermoid associated with an intramedullary spinal abscess secondary to a dermal sinus.

Intramedullary spinal abscesses are rare and potentially devastating lesions. A heightened clinical awareness of patients at risk is essential for an early diagnosis and intervention to improve the prognosis of these patients. The first case of spinal abscess was described in 1830, and only 63 cases have been reported subsequently. Intraspinal epidermoids also are unusual lesions. These tumors were reported first in 1829 and represent less than 1% of all intraspinal tumors. We present a case of a 2-year-old girl who had rapidly progressive paraplegia with urinary and bowel retention and was found to have an intramedullary epidermoid and an intramedullary abscess as a result of a dermal sinus. The association of an intramedullary abscess and epidermoid tumor, two rare lesions, has not been reported previously. We also review the literature related to both intramedullary epidermoids and intramedullary abscesses of the spinal cord. Advances in sectional imaging as described should help lead to an early and safe diagnosis of these rare but often debilitating lesions. This case illustrates the importance of a complete neurological assessment of all patients with a congenital dermal sinus because of the potential for intradural extension and the frequent association with other dysraphic abnormalities. Prophylactic surgery is indicated in many cases to prevent dangerous and recurrent infections of the central nervous system.

Abscess↗

Causative agents of liver abscess in HIV-seropositive patients: a 10-year case series in Thai hospitalized patients.

Liver abscess is an important tropical gastrointestinal disorder. HIV seropositive patients show relative immunosuppression and are more susceptible to infection, including liver abscess. This retrospective case review was made on 23 patients who were diagnosed as HIV seropositive with liver abscess in Bangkok, Thailand. We demonstrated the high rate of amoebic liver abscess in our series (17.4%) from fresh smear with five cases of tuberculosis and one case of Nocardosis. The rates of positive bacterial culture were 17.4% from blood and 47.8% from pus. Gram-negative aerobes were the major abscess pathogens in our series. Among Gram-negative aerobes, Klebsiella was the most significant microorganism, followed by Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Percutaneous drainage of subphrenic abscesses.

Forty subphrenic abscesses were drained percutaneously in 37 patients. These abscesses were subsequent to abdominal surgery (28 patients), biliary obstruction and/or fistula (six patients), trauma (two patients) or acute pancreatitis (one patient). The procedures were usually monitored by duplex sonography and fluoroscopy (35 out of 40 cases), with an angled subcostal approach to the subphrenic space in over 85% of the cases. Forty-three drainage catheters were inserted using the Seldinger method; 37 (86%) had a size of 12 F or more, 21 were 16 F in size. Only two out of 43 catheters were double-lumen sump drains. The clinical condition improved after insertion of the catheter in all 37 patients. Definitive successful drainage, defined as hospital discharge without complementary surgery, was achieved in 32 patients (87%), without major complications. A temporizing effect was obtained in three additional patients (8%) who underwent curative surgery for the underlying process after complete drainage of the abscess. Two patients died from multiple organ failure before their abscess healed. Considerations for successful drainage of subphrenic abscesses include a good knowledge of the subphrenic space anatomy, the use of large-bore drainage catheters and the recognition and correct management of underlying enteric, biliary or pancreatic fistulas.

Adolescent↗

Routine abscess tonsillectomy: late results.

The late results of abscess tonsillectomy as a routine treatment of peritonsillar abscess were investigated. The material comprises 113 patients. Follow-up was performed two to five years after the operation (bilateral dissection tonsillectomy under general anesthesia). Symptoms of pharyngitis, recurrent or chronic, were present in 17 percent of the patients, in most cases without major objective changes in the throat. The incidence of these symptoms was highest--70 percent--in patients past middle age without any history of trouble from the throat before the peritonsillar abscess. Tonsil remnants were seen in 28 percent, but only 6 percent of the patients had new episodes of febrile throat infections. The results are discussed. A reserved attitude to abscess tonsillectomy (and to interval tonsillectomy) is recommended for peritonsillar abscess in elderly patients without previous trouble from the throat.

Adolescent↗

Intraoral ultrasound evaluation of peritonsillar abscess.

Peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess are similar clinical entities with markedly different methods of treatment. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is paramount to appropriate treatment. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of intraoral ultrasound as a noninvasive method of differentiating abscess from cellulitis. Sixteen consecutive patients suspected of having peritonsillar abscess were prospectively evaluated with intraoral ultrasound. The results were confirmed with imaging or surgical drainage. Correct diagnoses were made in 9 (90%) of 10 abscesses and in 5 (83%) of 6 cases of cellulitis. Our results suggest that, while there is a learning curve for intraoral ultrasound, it is an accurate, noninvasive, and inexpensive tool to differentiate abscess from cellulitis. We believe that this will be a clinically useful technique in the future.

Adolescent↗

Harris P. Mosher Award thesis. Peritonsillar abscess: incidence, current management practices, and a proposal for treatment guidelines.

Currently there is no agreement on the treatment of patients who develop a peritonsillar abscess (PTA). This lack of consensus results in highly variable and possibly expensive therapeutic regimens that may not provide optimum quality patient care at reasonable cost. The present study evaluates surgical, medical, diagnostic, and cost factors that affect the management of PTA based on the following: 1. a cohort study of 123 patients with PTA treated using needle aspiration as the initial surgical drainage; 2. a national survey of the PTA management practices of otolaryngologists; and 3. meta-analyses of various components of the treatment regimen for PTA. In the cohort study, patients diagnosed with PTA were treated by both otolaryngologists and emergency medicine specialists with needle aspiration as the primary surgical modality resulting in a 96% acute resolution rate for PTA. In the national survey, questionnaires were sent to 2000 randomly selected members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery regarding their management of PTA. The return rate was 73%. Ninety-six percent of the physicians who returned survey forms treated an average of seven PTAs per year using either needle aspiration, incision and drainage, or abscess tonsillectomy to drain the abscess initially. The incidence of PTA in the United States and Puerto Rico among patients 5 to 59 years of age treated by survey practitioners is 30.1 per 100,000 person years, accounting for approximately 45,000 cases per year. Four meta-analyses were completed to quantify the success rate of needle aspiration in the treatment of PTA (94%), the recurrence rate of PTA (10% to 15%), the rate at which penicillin-resistant microorganisms are found in patients with PTA (0% to 56%), and the rate of prior oropharyngeal infections associated with PTA (11% to 56%). The recurrence rate for PTA in the United States is 10%, which is significantly different from the recurrence rate of 15% reported from the rest of the world (P < .002). A clinical intervention for PTA is proposed based on the clinical series, the national survey data, and the meta-analyses. These clinical guidelines recommend that needle aspiration be used as the initial surgical drainage procedure for all patients with a PTA other than those who have indications for abscess tonsillectomy. Patients should be treated in an outpatient setting, should receive penicillin if they are not allergic to it, and should receive adequate pain medication. The evidence does not suggest that there is any benefit in examining the abscess contents for microorganisms. Approximately 30% of patients with PTA can be expected to exhibit relative indications for a tonsillectomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Endoscopic drainage of lung abscesses: technique and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Lung abscesses commonly respond well to antibiotic therapy. In patients in whom conventional therapy fails, either percutaneous catheter drainage or surgical resection are usually considered, but are frequently problematic. This study describes our experience with endoscopic lung abscess drainage in patients in whom antibiotic therapy fails. METHODS: Patients in whom antibiotic therapy for lung abscess (enlarging cavity or lack of improvement of clinical status) was unsuccessful were considered candidates if an airway connection to the cavity was present. Treatment decisions were made in a multidisciplinary chest conference. Pigtail catheters were placed via a guidewire approach into the cavities. The abscesses were flushed twice daily with gentamycin solution. If fungal infection was suspected, once-daily amphotericin B was added to the regimen. RESULTS: Forty-two patients, from January 2000 to May 2002 (17 woman and 25 men) were included in this study (mean age, 48.9 years). Catheter placement was successful in 38 patients and led to successful therapy after a mean of 6.2 days of treatment (range, 3 to 21 days). Two patients required transient ventilation after catheter placement; there were no other complications. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic lung abscess drainage in selected patients in whom antibiotic therapy fails is feasible and successful in experienced hands. This treatment represents an additional option for the chest physician other than percutaneous catheter drainage or surgical resection.

Adult↗

Schistosomiasis mansoni is associated with pyogenic liver abscesses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The association between pyogenic liver abscesses and schistosomiasis has been confirmed by clinical and experimental studies. In this retrospective study of 78 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses the association with schistosomiasis has been investigated. Pyodermitis, a known focus of bacteremia, was observed in 19 patients (24%). Blood eosinophilia was observed in 30 patients (39%). Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from abscesses in 17 out of 38 patients (45%). Forty-one out of 57 patients (53%) had stool examination. Schistosoma mansoni was the main parasite identified. Eggs of S. mansoni were also identified in liver biopsies in 7 out of 19 patients who did the exam. The large number of young patients with liver abscesses described here is different from what has been observed in developed countries. This clinical study provide support for the concept that granulomas of S. mansoni in the liver are foci for colonization with S. aureus, which in presence of staphylococcal bacteremia can form liver abscesses.

Adolescent↗

Isolation of Salmonella enterica serotype Worthington from a splenic abscess in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Splenic abscesses are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. We report a case of splenic abscess caused by an unusual serotype of Salmonella. A 55 year old man was admitted with complaints of fever and abdominal pain. On the basis of clinical findings and laboratory reports, a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia was made. Ultrasonography of the abdomen revealed a single large cystic lesion in the spleen. Percutaneous drainage of the abscess was carried out. Salmonella enterica serotype Worthington was isolated from a pus sample taken from the abscess. The isolate was resistant to ampicillin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol and tetracycline, and sensitive to amikacin and norfloxacin. Serotype Worthington is an emerging pathogen. This is the first report of isolation of this serotype from a splenic abscess. In seriously ill patients, such infections should be treated with a combination of antibiotics to circumvent problems with multidrug resistance.

Abscess↗

A case of hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with emphysematous cholecystitis and a liver abscess.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. Most cases of HUS are characterized by a prodromal phase of diarrhea and melena, and affect mainly children. Here we report a unique case of adult-onset HUS that was associated with emphysematous cholecystitis and a liver abscess. The patient did not suffer from diarrhea or melena on admission, but abdominal CT scans revealed emphysematous cholecystitis and a liver abscess. Cholecystectomy was performed and the liver abscess was drained. Cultures of the bile and liver abscess contents were negative, but the serum samples had antibodies against Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157. The patient was anuric for 14 days, and underwent hemodialysis that was repeated 15 times and plasma exchanges 6 times. She recovered from acute renal failure but with inadequate urinary concentrating ability as a sequela. Histopathological examination of renal biopsy specimens on the 83rd hospital day revealed almost normal glomeruli and patchy atrophy of tubules with an increase of interstitium. This is a very rare case of HUS associated with emphysematous cholecystitis and a liver abscess successfully treated with aggressive supportive care. It is possible that an infection with verotoxin-producing E. coli O157 caused the disease.

Aged↗