Man and woman flu

This article presents two cases of Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in young adults with evidence of preceding influenza B virus infection. One isolate carried the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) gene that has been associated with highly lethal necrotizing pneumonia in young immunocompetent patients (Gillet et al, 2002). This provides a timely reminder of one of the complications of influenza, highlights the importance of starting empirical antibiotics active against S. aureus for influenza-associated pneumonia (e.g. during a flu pandemic) and discusses the association of the PVL gene with severe pneumonia

Man and woman flu

This article presents two cases of Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in young adults with evidence of preceding influenza B virus infection. One isolate carried the Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) gene that has been associated with highly lethal necrotizing pneumonia in young immunocompetent patients (Gillet et al, 2002). This provides a timely reminder of one of the complications of influenza, highlights the importance of starting empirical antibiotics active against S. aureus for influenza-associated pneumonia (e.g. during a flu pandemic) and discusses the association of the PVL gene with severe pneumonia

Residual FDG-PET metabolic activity in metastatic melanoma patients with prolonged response to anti-PD-1 therapy

18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans were performed on 27 patients with unresectable stage IIIC or IV melanoma after prolonged treatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies to examine the hypothesis that patients with prolonged response to treatment may have metabolically inactive lesions by FDG-PET. Scans were performed at a median of 15.2 months (range 12-29 months) after starting treatment. Overall, 15 of 27 (56%) patients had a positive FDG-PET scan. Eight patients with positive scans underwent biopsy; 5 of 8 (62%) were melanoma and 3 of 8 (38%) were immune cell infiltrates. Of the 12 patients with negative FDG-PET scans, six had residual computerized tomography-visible lesions, five have ceased treatment, and none have recurred with follow-up of 6-10 months. Patients with residual metastases after a prolonged period without progression on anti-PD-1 therapy may have metabolically inactive lesions. Isolated metabolically active lesions in clinically well patients may reveal immune cell infiltrates rather than melanoma.6 page(s