Association between amebic liver abscess and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Taiwanese subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>Invasive amebiasis is an emerging parasitic disorder in Taiwan, especially in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thirty-three Taiwanese subjects with amebic liver abscess (ALA) were examined and a possible correlation between ALA and HIV infection was investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among ALA patients, the proportion of HIV-positive individuals increased during the study period. ALA was the first major clinical presentation in 54% of HIV patients with ALA. Overall, 58% (14/24) of HIV-infected patients had a CD4+ count > 200 cells/μL and 82.1% (23/28) had no concurrent opportunistic infection or other evidence of HIV infection. There was no marked difference in clinical characteristics between HIV-positive and HIV-negative ALA patients except the level of leukocytosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>While the clinical characteristics described herein cannot be used to determine whether ALA patients have HIV infection, routine HIV testing is recommended in patients with ALA, even in the absence of HIV symptoms.</p

Association between Amebic Liver Abscess and Human

PURPOSE: Invasive amebiasis is an emerging parasitic disorder in Taiwan, especially in patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Thirty-three Taiwanese subjects with amebic liver abscess (ALA) were examined and a possible correlation between ALA and HIV infection was investigated. RESULTS: Among ALA patients, the proportion of HIV- positive individuals increased during the study period. ALA was the first major clinical presentation in 54% of HIV patients with ALA. Overall, 58% (14/24) of HIV-infected patients had a CD4+ count > 200 cells/muL and 82.1 % (23/28) had no concurrent opportunistic infection or other evidence of HIV infection. There was no marked difference in clinical characteristics between HIV-positive and HIV-negative ALA patients except the level of leukocytosis. CONCLUSION: While the clinical characteristics described herein cannot be used to determine whether ALA patients have HIV infection , routine HIV testing is recommended in patients with ALA, even in the absence of HIV symptoms. DOI: doi:10.1186/1471-2334-8-4

Association between amebic liver abscess and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Taiwanese subjects-0

Ents; dark gray bars represent HIV-positive ALA patients. The proportion of HIV-infected patients among all cases of ALA increased significantly (0% → 62.5% → 82.3% → 100%; = 0.005 by 2 × 4 Chi-square analysis).<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Association between amebic liver abscess and Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in Taiwanese subjects"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/8/48</p><p>BMC Infectious Diseases 2008;8():48-48.</p><p>Published online 16 Apr 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2374788.</p><p></p

Bacteremia caused by Pantoea agglomerans at a medical center in Taiwan, 2000–2010

Background/PurposeThere are only three case reports of adult patients with spontaneous Pantoea agglomerans bacteremia in the English literature. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical and microbiologic characteristics patients of P agglomerans bacteremia.MethodsWe studied all adult patients with P agglomerans bacteremia at a medical center from 2000 to 2010. The isolates were identified using two commercial identification systems.ResultsOf the 18 patients identified, 72% (n = 13) had active gastroesophageal disease treated with antacids. Two-thirds of patients had indwelling central lines and advanced cancers. None of the removed catheter tips yielded P agglomerans and line persistence was not associated with adverse outcomes. Initial disease severity was low, hypotension was uncommon and no patient died of bacteremia. Recurrence of bacteremia occurred in one patient with deep-seated infection. 16srRNA gene sequencing identified only half of the isolates as P agglomerans. The remaining nine isolates were Enterobacter species for six, Pantoea ananatis for two, and Exiguobacterium profundum for one. There were no significant differences between the characteristics of the subgroup molecularly identified as P agglomernas and the overall group characteristics. Eleven (61%) of the 18 isolates were susceptible to cefazolin, six (33%) susceptible to fosfomycin (MIC ≤ 64 mg/ml). Two isolates had colistin MICs ≥ 4 mg/ml.ConclusionBacteremia caused by P agglomerans is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease and receipt of antacids. 16srRNA gene sequencing should not be used as the sole basis for its identification and we have highlighted the need for another molecular-based technique to conclusively characterize P agglomerans