Pneumonia lipídica - aspectos na tomografia computadorizada: relato de caso

Os autores relatam um caso de pneumonia lipídica em um paciente de 80 anos de idade, que iniciou o quadro com dispnéia em repouso. Havia história de constipação crônica, com uso freqüente de laxativos oleosos. O paciente apresentava diminuição do nível de consciência e os familiares relatavam tosse e engasgos freqüentes, durante o uso do medicamento. As radiografias de tórax demonstravam consolidação localizada no segmento posterior do lobo superior do pulmão direito, além de opacidades mal definidas nos lobos inferiores e que não se modificavam em exames sucessivos. A tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução mostrou consolidações com medidas de densidade negativas em seu interior, variando de -29 a -83 UH, e opacidades em vidro fosco localizadas no lobo superior do pulmão direito e nos lobos inferiores, com predomínio nos segmentos posteriores. O diagnóstico foi feito através do lavado bronco-alveolar, que evidenciou a presença do material oleoso. O paciente foi orientado a interromper o uso de laxativos oleosos e não retornou para o controle ambulatorial.

Tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução nas complicações pulmonares pós-transplante de medula óssea: ensaio iconográfico

O transplante de medula óssea (TMO) tem sido utilizado como tratamento de escolha para diversas doenças hematológicas. Entretanto, as complicações pulmonares, que podem ocorrer em até 60% dos pacientes, são o principal motivo de falha no tratamento. As complicações pulmonares pós-TMO podem ser divididas em três fases, de acordo com a imunidade do paciente. Na primeira fase, até 30 dias após o procedimento, predominam as complicações não infecciosas e as pneumonias fúngicas. Na fase precoce, que vai até o 100º dia pós-TMO, as infecções virais, principalmente por citomegalovírus, são mais comuns. Finalmente, na fase tardia pós-TMO, complicações não infecciosas como bronquiolite obliterante com pneumonia em organização e doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro são mais comumente observadas. Os autores apresentam um ensaio iconográfico, enfatizando os aspectos de tomografia de alta resolução em pacientes com complicações pulmonares pós-TMO.

Severe pneumonia due to Parachlamydia acanthamoebae following intranasal inoculation: a mice model.

Parachlamydia acanthamoebae is an obligate intracellular bacterium naturally infecting free-living amoebae. The role of this bacterium as an agent of pneumonia is suggested by sero-epidemiological studies and molecular surveys. Furthermore, P. acanthamoebae may escape macrophages microbicidal effectors. Recently, we demonstrated that intratracheal inoculation of P. acanthamoebae induced pneumonia in 100% of infected mice. However, the intratracheal route of infection is not the natural way of infection and we therefore developed an intranasal murine model. Mice inoculated with P. acanthamoebae by intranasal inoculation lost 18% of their weight up to 8 days post-inoculation. All mice presented histological signs of pneumonia at day 2, 4, 7, and 10 post-inoculation, whereas no control mice harboured signs of pneumonia. A 5-fold increase in bacterial load was observed from day 0 to day 4 post-inoculation. Lungs of inoculated mice were positive by Parachlamydia-specific immunohistochemistry 4 days post-inoculation, and P. acanthamoebae were localized within macrophages. Thus, we demonstrated that P. acanthamoebae induce a severe pneumonia in mice. This animal model (i) further supports the role of P. acanthamoebae as an agent of pneumonia, confirming the third Koch postulate, and (ii) identified alveolar macrophages as one of the initial cells where P. acanthamoebae is localized following infection.

Pneumonia lipoídica em adultos: aspectos na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os aspectos na tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax da pneumonia lipoídica exógena por aspiração de óleo mineral, em pacientes adultos MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram estudados oito pacientes adultos - quatro mulheres e quatro homens - com média de idade de 69,4 anos, todos usuários de óleo mineral para tratamento de constipação intestinal. Os exames foram avaliados por dois radiologistas, de forma independente RESULTADOS: Os achados tomográficos mais comuns foram as consolidações com áreas de densidade de gordura de permeio, e o padrão de pavimentação em mosaico. As lesões foram bilaterais em seis pacientes, e unilaterais em dois CONCLUSÃO: O encontro de consolidações pulmonares com áreas de densidade de gordura de permeio, associado à história clínica do uso de óleo mineral, é diagnóstico de pneumonia lipoídica exógena.

A prospective cohort study of healthcare visits and rehospitalizations after hospital discharge in community-acquired pneumonia

Background and objective: We aimed to identify the frequency of, reasons for and risk factors associated with additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations (healthcare interactions) by patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) within 30 days of hospital discharge. Methods: Observational analysis of a prospective cohort of adults hospitalized with CAP at a tertiary hospital (2007-2009). Additional healthcare interactions were defined as the visits to a primary care centre or emergency department and hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Results: Of the 934 hospitalized patients with CAP, 282 (34.1%) had additional healthcare interactions within 30 days of hospital discharge: 149 (52.8%) needed an additional visit to their primary care centre and 177 (62.8%) attended the emergency department. Seventy-two (25.5%) patients were readmitted to hospital. The main reasons for additional healthcare interactions were worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and new or worsening comorbid conditions independent of pneumonia, mainly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The only independent factor associated with visits to primary care centre or emergency department was alcohol abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.64). Prior hospitalization (≤ 90 days) (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.11-5.52) and comorbidities (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.12-14.23) were independently associated with rehospitalization. Conclusions: Additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations within 30 days of hospital discharge are common in patients with CAP. This is mainly due to a worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and/or comorbid conditions. These findings may have implications for discharge planning and follow-up of patients with CAP.

External Validation of the Prestroke Independence, Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ISAN) Score for Predicting Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in the Athens Stroke Registry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Prestroke Independence, Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ISAN) score was developed recently for predicting stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), one of the most common complications after stroke. The aim of the present study was to externally validate the ISAN score. METHODS: Data included in the Athens Stroke Registry between June 1992 and December 2011 were used for this analysis. Inclusion criteria were the availability of all ISAN score variables (prestroke independence, sex, age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score). Receiver operating characteristic curves and linear regression analyses were used to determine the discriminatory power of the score and to assess the correlation between actual and predicted pneumonia in the study population. Separate analyses were performed for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). RESULTS: The analysis included 3204 patients (AIS: 2732, ICH: 472). The ISAN score demonstrated excellent discrimination in patients with AIS (area under the curve [AUC]: .83 [95% confidence interval {CI}: .81-.85]). In the ICH group, the score was less effective (AUC: .69 [95% CI: .63-.74]). Higher-risk groups of ISAN score were associated with an increased relative risk of SAP; risk increase was more prominent in the AIS population. Predicted pneumonia correlated very well with actual pneumonia (AIS group: R(2) = .885; β-coefficient = .941, P < .001; ICH group: R(2) = .880, β-coefficient = .938, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: In our external validation in the Athens Stroke Registry cohort, the ISAN score predicted SAP very accurately in AIS patients and demonstrated good discriminatory power in the ICH group. Further validation and assessment of clinical usefulness would strengthen the score's utility further.

A prospective cohort study of healthcare visits and rehospitalizations after hospital discharge in community-acquired pneumonia

Background and objective: We aimed to identify the frequency of, reasons for and risk factors associated with additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations (healthcare interactions) by patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) within 30 days of hospital discharge. Methods: Observational analysis of a prospective cohort of adults hospitalized with CAP at a tertiary hospital (2007-2009). Additional healthcare interactions were defined as the visits to a primary care centre or emergency department and hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Results: Of the 934 hospitalized patients with CAP, 282 (34.1%) had additional healthcare interactions within 30 days of hospital discharge: 149 (52.8%) needed an additional visit to their primary care centre and 177 (62.8%) attended the emergency department. Seventy-two (25.5%) patients were readmitted to hospital. The main reasons for additional healthcare interactions were worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and new or worsening comorbid conditions independent of pneumonia, mainly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The only independent factor associated with visits to primary care centre or emergency department was alcohol abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.64). Prior hospitalization (≤ 90 days) (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.11-5.52) and comorbidities (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.12-14.23) were independently associated with rehospitalization. Conclusions: Additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations within 30 days of hospital discharge are common in patients with CAP. This is mainly due to a worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and/or comorbid conditions. These findings may have implications for discharge planning and follow-up of patients with CAP.

A prospective cohort study of healthcare visits and rehospitalizations after hospital discharge in community-acquired pneumonia

Background and objective: We aimed to identify the frequency of, reasons for and risk factors associated with additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations (healthcare interactions) by patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) within 30 days of hospital discharge. Methods: Observational analysis of a prospective cohort of adults hospitalized with CAP at a tertiary hospital (2007-2009). Additional healthcare interactions were defined as the visits to a primary care centre or emergency department and hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Results: Of the 934 hospitalized patients with CAP, 282 (34.1%) had additional healthcare interactions within 30 days of hospital discharge: 149 (52.8%) needed an additional visit to their primary care centre and 177 (62.8%) attended the emergency department. Seventy-two (25.5%) patients were readmitted to hospital. The main reasons for additional healthcare interactions were worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and new or worsening comorbid conditions independent of pneumonia, mainly cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. The only independent factor associated with visits to primary care centre or emergency department was alcohol abuse (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.64). Prior hospitalization (≤ 90 days) (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.11-5.52) and comorbidities (OR = 3.99; 95% CI: 1.12-14.23) were independently associated with rehospitalization. Conclusions: Additional healthcare visits and rehospitalizations within 30 days of hospital discharge are common in patients with CAP. This is mainly due to a worsening of signs or symptoms of CAP and/or comorbid conditions. These findings may have implications for discharge planning and follow-up of patients with CAP.

Aspectos ultrassonográficos associados à morbidade de formas clínicas crônicas de esquistossomose mansônica, utilizando-se protocolo proposto pela Organização Mundial da Saúde

OBJETIVO: Avaliar aspectos ultrassonográficos associados à morbidade em pacientes com formas clínicas crônicas de esquistossomose mansônica, utilizando-se protocolo proposto pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas duas populações distintas: a) área endêmica e b) institucional terciária, com histopatológico confirmando fibrose. Critérios de inclusão: diagnóstico confirmado por parasitológico de fezes para Schistosoma mansoni (método Kato-Katz). Critérios de exclusão: sorologia positiva para HIV, HTLV-1, VHB ou VHC. Foi utilizado protocolo ultrassonográfico de Niamey, proposto pela OMS. RESULTADOS: Avaliando-se isoladamente as medidas dos espaços periportais, estas se mostraram sem alterações em 21% dos indivíduos com doença avançada da instituição terciária. Utilizando-se todos os parâmetros do protocolo, 100% dos indivíduos da instituição terciária, com forma grave da doença, apresentaram fibrose periportal avançada. Em pacientes hepatoesplênicos da área endêmica não se identificou fibrose à ultrassonografia. CONCLUSÃO: O protocolo ultrassonográfico proposto pela OMS detecta fibrose periportal avançada nos pacientes com forma grave da doença, com maior sensibilidade do que a medida do espaço periportal isoladamente. A complexidade de identificação das fases iniciais da fibrose periportal, em áreas endêmicas, pela ultrassonografia, pode suscitar o campo da complementação diagnóstica e a continuidade do aprimoramento dos protocolos ultrassonográficos nestas áreas.

Aspiration pneumonia in children: an iconographic essay

Abstract In most cases of aspiration pneumonia in children, the disease is specific to this age group. Clinical and radiological correlation is essential for the diagnosis. The present pictorial essay is aimed at showing typical images of the most common etiologies.

Childhood community-acquired pneumonia

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. New, rapid methods are needed to improve the microbiologic diagnosis of pneumonia in clinical practice. The increasing incidence of parapneumonic empyema in children accentuates the importance of the identification of the causative agent and clinical predictors of empyema. Aims and methods: Two prospective studies were conducted to find feasible diagnostic methods for the detection of causative agents of pneumonia. The usefulness of pneumolysin-targeted real-time PCR in the diagnosis of pneumococcal disease was studied in children with pneumonia and empyema, and the clinical utility of induced sputum analysis in the microbiologic diagnosis of pneumonia was investigated in children with pneumonia. In addition, two retrospective clinical studies were performed to describe the frequency and clinical profile of influenza pneumonia in children and the frequency, clinical profile and clinical predictors of empyema in children. Results: Pneumolysin-PCR in pleural fluid significantly improved the microbiologic diagnosis of empyema by increasing the detection rate of pneumococcus almost tenfold to that of pleural fluid culture (75 % vs. 8 %). In whole blood samples, PCR detected pneumococcus in only one child with pneumonia and one child with pneumococcal empyema. Sputum induction provided good-quality sputum specimens with high microbiologic yield. Streptococcus pneumoniae (46 %) and rhinovirus (29 %) were the most common microbes detected. The quantification results of the paired sputum and nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens provided support that the majority of the bacteria (79 %) and viruses (55 %) found in sputum originated from the lower airways. Pneumonia was detected in 14 % of children with influenza infection. A history of prolonged duration of fever, tachypnea, and pain on abdominal palpation were found to be independently significant predictors of empyema. Conclusions: Pneumolysin-targeted real-time PCR is a useful and rapid method for the diagnosis of pneumococcal empyema in children. Induced sputum analysis with paired nasopharyngeal aspirate analysis can be of clinical value in the microbiologic diagnosis of pneumonia. Influenza pneumonia is an infrequent and generally benign disease in children with rare fatalities. Repeat chest radiograph and ultrasound imaging are recommended in children with pneumonia presenting with clinical predictors of empyema and in children with persistent fever and high CRP levels during hospitalization.