<it>Absidia Corymbifera </it>in an immune competent accident victim with multiple abdominal injuries: case report

Abstract Background We report a case of mucormycosis in a healthy 17-year-old accident victim with multiple abdominal injuries which was caused by infection with Absidia Corymbifera, a ubiquitous saphrophyte in the ground. Case presentation The patient was admitted to hospital with massive abdominal trauma. During an 8-hour emergency operation he received transfusions of compacted red blood cells, plasma, platelets and hemagel. He developed a crush syndrome with acute renal failure, resolved with extra-corporeal dialysis and had to undergo splenectomy because of spleen hematoma. As wound secretion and central venous catheter (CVC) blood cultures and drainage fluid were positive for Enterococcus Faecium, Providentia Rettgeri, Hafnia Alvei and Candida Albicans, tecoplanin, metronidazole, imipenem, and flucanozole were administered. Although the CVC was changed high fever persisted and discharge continued from the large abdominal wound. Repeated tampons in different sections and wound secretion smears were positive for A. corymbifera. Flucanozole was stopped and liposomal amphotericin (Ambisome; 5 mg/Kg i.v.) given for over 3 months. The patient improved; fever gradually disappeared. After 8 days, tampons and wound secretion smears were negative for A. corymbifera. No other fungal infections developed. Drainage fluid was later positive for tecoplanin-resistant E. faecium and Pseudomonas Aeroginosa responding only to meropenem and ciprofloxacin. Abdominal computerized tomography visualized fluid accumulation around the iliac-femoral bypass. Abcess was ruled out when scintigraphy showed no tracer uptake. The lesion was drained. Drainage fluid cultures were negative for bacteria and fungi. Fluid accumulation gradually disappeared with prolonged antibiotic and antifungal therapy. One year after the accident the patient is in good health, with normal quality of life. Conclusion Successful outcome was due to early, specific antifungal therapy, at sufficiently high dosage which was prolonged for an adequate period of time. Early diagnosis of mucormycosis is essential for efficacious anti-fungal treatment and prevention of irreversible spread of mucormycosis to vital organs. It presupposes awareness that A. corymbifera infection can develop in healthy individuals who are stressed and traumatized through skin-ground contact in accidents.</p

Acute gastroenteritis due to Vibrio cholerae biovar albensis infection: A case report

Vibrio cholerae represents diverse species and includes pathogenic and non-pathogenic variants. Particularly serogroups O1 and O139 are related to cholera epidemics, while non-O1/O139 serogroups (NOVC) in general are non-pathogenic or asymptomatic colonizers in humans, but also can cause different diseases. Vibrio albensis, a non-O1/non-O-139 serogroup, is rarely implicated in human infections. Only a few cases of human pathology related to this species are described in the literature. We present the menagement of V. albensis gastroenteritis in a a 47-year-old woman and discuss clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatement

Real-world costs and dynamics of surveillance in patients who underwent surgery for low-risk branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms

Surveillance costs and appropriateness of surgery of "low-risk" BD-IPMNs are relevant issues. In this study we evaluated the rate of correct indication for pancreatectomy defined as high grade dysplasia (HGD) at histology in 961 patients who underwent surveillance for a median of 5.1 years. Undertreat-ment and overtreatment were defined as invasive cancer and low grade dysplasia (LGD) at histology, respectively. Of the 66 patients (6.9%) who were operated, only 16 (23.8%) had a HGD while 40 (59.7%) had a LGD and 10 (14.9%) an invasive cancer, without differences regarding timing of surgery. The mean surveillance cost was euro 194.9 +/- 107.6 per patient-year, with a median cost of euro 277.1 +/- 148.2 in the correct surgery group compared with euro 222.7 +/- 111.6 and euro 197 +/- 102.7 in the overtreatment and undertreatment groups. The surveillance mean cost from diagnosis to surgery was euro 854.8. Rate of appropriate surgery in BD-IPMNs under surveillance is low.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Epidemiology, clinical features and diagnostic work-up of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: Interim analysis of the prospective PANCY survey

INTRODUCTION: A prospective survey to evaluate the diagnostic workup of cystic pancreatic neoplasms (CPNs) according to the Italian guidelines. METHODS: An online data sheet was built. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 1385 patients (1.1%) had non cystic neoplastic lesions. Forty percent (518/1295) had at least one 1st degree relative affected by a solid tumor of the digestive and extra-digestive organs. Symptoms/signs associated with the cystic lesion were present in 24.5% of the patients. The cysts were localized in the head of the pancreas in 38.5% of patients. Of the 2370 examinations (1.7 examinations per patient) which were carried out for the diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging was performed as a single test in 48.4% of patients and in combination with endoscopic ultrasound in 27% of the cases. Of the 1370 patients having CPNs, 89.9% had an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) (70.1% a branch duct IPMN, 6.2% a mixed type IPMN and 4.6% a main duct IPMN), 12.7% had a serous cystadenoma, 2.8% a mucinous cystadenoma, 1.5% a non-functioning cystic neuroendocrine neoplasm, 0.7% a solid-pseudopapillary cystic neoplasm, 0.3% a cystic adenocarcinoma, and 1.2% an undetermined cystic neoplasm. Seventy-eight (5.7%) patients were operated upon after the initial work-up. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study offers a reliable real-life picture of the diagnostic work-up CPN

Endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary lesions in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis compared with sporadic lesions:A propensity score-matched cohort

Background Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare inherited syndrome that predisposes the patient to cancer. Treatment of FAP-related ampullary lesions is challenging and the role of endoscopic papillectomy has not been elucidated. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of endoscopic papillectomy in matched cohorts of FAPrelated and sporadic ampullary lesions (SALs). Methods This retrospective multicenter study included 1422 endoscopic papillectomy procedures. Propensity score matching including age, sex, comorbidity, histologic subtype, and size was performed. Main outcomes were complete resection (R0), technical success, complications, and recurrence. Results Propensity score matching identified 202 patients (101 FAP, 101 SAL) with comparable baseline characteristics. FAP patients were mainly asymptomatic (79.2% [95 %CI 71.2-87.3] vs. 46.5% [95 %CI 36.6-56.4]); P &lt; 0.001). The initial R0 rate was significantly lower in FAP patients (63.4% [95%CI 53.8-72.9] vs. 83.2% [95%CI 75.8-90.6]; P = 0.001). After repeated interventions (mean 1.30 per patient), R0 was comparable (FAP 93.1% [95%CI 88.0-98.1] vs. SAL 97.0% [95%CI 93.7-100]; P = 0.19). Adverse events occurred in 28.7%. Pancreatitis and bleeding were the most common adverse events in both groups. Severe adverse events were rare (3.5 %). Overall, 21 FAP patients (20.8% [95%CI 12.7-28.8]) and 16 SAL patients (15.8% [95%CI 8.6-23.1]; P = 0.36) had recurrence. Recurrences occurred later in FAP patients (25 [95 %CI 18.3-31.7] vs. 2 [95 %CI CI 0.06-3.9] months). Conclusions Endoscopic papillectomy was safe and effective in FAP-related ampullary lesions. Criteria for endoscopic resection of ampullary lesions can be extended to FAP patients. FAP patients have a lifetime risk of relapse even after complete resection, and require long-time surveillance.</p

Endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary lesions in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis compared with sporadic lesions:A propensity score-matched cohort

Background Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare inherited syndrome that predisposes the patient to cancer. Treatment of FAP-related ampullary lesions is challenging and the role of endoscopic papillectomy has not been elucidated. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of endoscopic papillectomy in matched cohorts of FAPrelated and sporadic ampullary lesions (SALs). Methods This retrospective multicenter study included 1422 endoscopic papillectomy procedures. Propensity score matching including age, sex, comorbidity, histologic subtype, and size was performed. Main outcomes were complete resection (R0), technical success, complications, and recurrence. Results Propensity score matching identified 202 patients (101 FAP, 101 SAL) with comparable baseline characteristics. FAP patients were mainly asymptomatic (79.2% [95 %CI 71.2-87.3] vs. 46.5% [95 %CI 36.6-56.4]); P &lt; 0.001). The initial R0 rate was significantly lower in FAP patients (63.4% [95%CI 53.8-72.9] vs. 83.2% [95%CI 75.8-90.6]; P = 0.001). After repeated interventions (mean 1.30 per patient), R0 was comparable (FAP 93.1% [95%CI 88.0-98.1] vs. SAL 97.0% [95%CI 93.7-100]; P = 0.19). Adverse events occurred in 28.7%. Pancreatitis and bleeding were the most common adverse events in both groups. Severe adverse events were rare (3.5 %). Overall, 21 FAP patients (20.8% [95%CI 12.7-28.8]) and 16 SAL patients (15.8% [95%CI 8.6-23.1]; P = 0.36) had recurrence. Recurrences occurred later in FAP patients (25 [95 %CI 18.3-31.7] vs. 2 [95 %CI CI 0.06-3.9] months). Conclusions Endoscopic papillectomy was safe and effective in FAP-related ampullary lesions. Criteria for endoscopic resection of ampullary lesions can be extended to FAP patients. FAP patients have a lifetime risk of relapse even after complete resection, and require long-time surveillance.</p