Perforated retrocaecal appendix presenting as right lumbar abscess

Background  Acute appendicitis is common in older patients, however, the presentation may differ from the younger population and it is often complicated by coexistent disease and delays in presentation. Aims  This case report describes an unusual presentation of acute appendicitis in an elderly patient and also demonstrates a unique anatomical pathway of disease extension. In addition, this case report highlights the advantages of CT in preoperative evaluation and subsequent management of these protean presentations of acute appendicitis. Methods  This report describes a case of an asymptomatic retrocaecal perforated appendicitis which presented clinically as a right lumbar abscess with surrounding cellulitis, and was further complicated by a concomitant new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a 66-year-old male. Conclusion  Elderly or immunocompromised patients presenting with cellulitis or a cutaneous abscess of the abdominal wall or lumbar region may benefit from an abdominal CT to demonstrate an intraperitoneal source of sepsis.     

Musculoskeletal infections: ultrasound appearances

Musculoskeletal infections are commonly encountered in clinical practice. This review will discuss the ultrasound appearances of a variety of musculoskeletal infections such as cellulitis, infective tenosynovitis, pyomyositis, soft-tissue abscesses, septic arthritis, acute and chronic osteomyelitis, and post-operative infection. The peculiar sonographic features of less common musculoskeletal infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis, and rice body formation in atypical mycobacterial tenosynovitis, and bursitis will also be presented.     

临床药师参与1例复杂性尿路感染合并蜂窝织炎引发脓毒性休克患者的治疗实践

摘 要 目的：探讨临床药师在复杂性尿路感染合并蜂窝织炎引发脓毒性休克患者药物治疗中的作用。方法: 临床药师全程参与1例泌尿系感染合并蜂窝织炎引发脓毒性休克患者的治疗,根据药物临床疗效和患者病情变化9次调整用药方案,提供全程个体化的药学监护和服务。结果: 医师采纳临床药师建议,经过38d的治疗,患者的感染得到控制并出院。结论:临床药师参与临床治疗,对重症患者进行全程药学监护,协助医师进行药物治疗决策,促进用药安全有效经济。     

Clinical aspects of invasive infection with Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis in elderly patients

The number of patients with severe invasive infections (mainly exhibiting bacteremia) with Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) has been increasing worldwide. We herein report the clinical aspects of invasive infections (cellulitis, pneumonia, and urosepsis) occurring with SDSE in 13 elderly patients (mean age 84 years, range 69–99 years) diagnosed at a hospital for elderly individuals during the period January 2005–June 2009. Ten subjects had underlying diseases, including neurologic disorders, diabetes mellitus, and others. Eleven patients presented to the hospital emergency department, and the most common symptom was high fever or respiratory distress. Primary care and emergency department doctors treating elderly patients with high fever should keep in mind invasive SDSE infection as a differential diagnosis, especially when an elderly person has underlying illnesses. To detect SDSE in elderly subjects, blood cultures should be obtained before the administration of antimicrobials because, as we found, the patients’ symptoms were limited.     

Swelling of the legs and feet

There are many different causes of leg and foot swelling, some are benign and transient, others can be debilitating and progressive. Correct diagnosis and early treatment is crucial as conservative measures are most effective before the condition is allowed to progress. Current waiting times in the UK National Health Service (NHS) after the Covid-19 pandemic are leading to delays in care for people with chronic leg swelling. Delayed or inadequate treatment for these patients can lead to irreversible tissue damage, an episode of cellulitis, and progression to leg ulceration. There is in addition a significant impact on quality of life associated with living with the pain, anxiety, and reduced mobility. The causes of acute and chronic leg and foot swelling are outlined. Diagnosis and treatment of the common causes of leg and foot swelling in the Western adult population are discussed. The mainstay of treatment for most of these conditions relies on physical therapy and graduated elastic compression garments or elastic Velcro wraps as many do not have a cure.     

Role of nasal swab culture in guiding antimicrobial therapy for acute cellulitis in the era of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A prospective study of 89 patients

In this prospective study of 89 patients with acute cellulitis, we showed nasal swab culture of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), taken at enrollment, has a high specificity of 95% in predicting MRSA cellulitis among the 24 patients whose cellulitis became purulent. However, the sensitivity is only 20%.     

Fascial space odontogenic infections: Ultrasonography as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging

BACKGROUNDThe introduction of modern diagnostic tools has transformed the field of maxillofacial radiology. Odontogenic infection and fascial space involvement have been evaluated with many diagnostic tools, including ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).AIMTo explore USG as an alternative model to MRI in the detection of fascial space spread of odontogenic infections.METHODSAmong 20 patients, 50 fascial spaces were clinically diagnosed with odontogenic infection and included in this prospective study. Fascial space infection involvement was examined by USG and MRI. Results were compared for both and confirmed by microbiological testing.RESULTSUltrasonography identified 42 (84%) of 50 involved fascial spaces. Whereas MRI identified all 50 (100%). USG could stage the infections from edematous change to cellulitis to complete abscess formation.CONCLUSIONMRI was superior in recognizing deep fascial space infections compared to USG. However, USG is a significant addition and has a definite role in prognosticating the stage of infection and exact anatomic location in superficial space infections.