Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-related cold thigh abscess as an unusual cause of thigh swelling in infants following BCG vaccine administration: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Thigh swelling in an infant can be a symptom of a simple benign condition or a life-threatening condition. We observed a cluster of thigh swelling episodes in infants in which the cause was Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-related cold thigh abscess. We report this unusual case series to raise awareness about this diagnosis.</p> <p>Case presentations</p> <p>We performed a retrospective review of five infants (four boys and one girl) who presented with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-related left thigh abscess. The swelling was noticed by the parents at a mean period of three months prior to presentation. The ages at presentation were five, five, eight and nine months for the boys, and six months for the girl. All of the patients were healthy Saudi infants, and received the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine at birth. Clinically, all of the patients were well and did not demonstrate signs of systemic infection. All patients underwent needle aspiration, with subsequent incision and drainage in four of the five cases. The cultures obtained from the abscess fluids were the key to establishing the diagnosis. Only three patients (60%) received antituberculosis drugs. Wound healing lasted for a mean period of approximately seven months. Two-year follow-up was unremarkable for all of our patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Technical errors continue to be significant in the development of vaccine-related complications. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-related cold thigh abscess is an extremely rare entity.</p

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus causing diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a neonate

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an uncommon variant of chronic pyelonephritis; often associated with ipsilateral urological obstructive pathology and infection. It occurs rarely in the pediatric population and is caused usually by gram-negative bacteria. We herein present a case of a 6-week old male patient who presented with fever, gross hematuria and left flank tenderness. Urine and blood cultures were negative. Radiological investigations suggested an infiltrating malignant neoplasm of the kidney. There was no evidence of nephrolithiasis or obstructive pathology. A left radical nephrectomy was performed and histopathological examination revealed diffuse XGP. Microbiological culture of the perinephric purulent discharge proved positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MRSA-induced XGP in a neonate emphasizing the expanding spectrum of disease secondary to community-associated MRSA

Management of inguinal hernia in premature infants: 10-year experience

Aim: Debatable issues in the management of inguinal hernia in premature infants remain unresolved. This study reviews our experience in the management of inguinal hernia in premature infants. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of premature infants with inguinal hernia from 1999 to 2009. Infants were grouped into 2: Group 1 had repair (HR) just before discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and Group 2 after discharge. Results: Eighty four premature infants were identified. None of 23 infants in Group 1 developed incarcerated hernia while waiting for repair. Of the 61 infants in Group 2, 47 (77%) underwent day surgery repair and 14 were admitted for repair. At repair mean postconceptional age (PCA) in Group1 was 39.5 ± 3.05 weeks. Mean PCA in Group 2 was 66.5 ± 42.73 weeks for day surgery infants and 47.03 ± 8.87 weeks for admitted infants. None of the 84 infants had an episode of postoperative apnea. Five (5.9%) infants presented subsequently with metachronous contralateral hernia and the same number of infants had hernia recurrence. Conclusions: Delaying HR in premature infants until ready for discharge from the NICU allows for repair closer to term without increasing the risk of incarceration. Because of low occurrence of metachronous hernia contralateral inguinal exploration is not justified. Day surgery HR can be performed in former premature infant if PCA is >47 weeks without increasing postoperative complications

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Hirschsprung’s Disease With Emphasis on Diagnosis and Management: A Single-Center Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Introduction : Hirschsprung’s Disease (HD) is a motor disorder of the gut caused by the failure of neural crest cells to migrate craniocaudally into the bowel during intestinal development, resulting in a functional obstruction. The majority of patients with HD are diagnosed in the neonatal period when they present with symptoms of distal intestinal obstruction. Aim : This study aims to identify the clinic-pathological characteristic of HD patients in our institution in KSA and comparing it with local and international data. Materials and Methods : This retrospective cohort study was conducted in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Kingdome of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Results : A total of 54 patients (72% male) were diagnosed with HD. Forty-eight patients (89%) were born at term, and 6 were pre-term. Sixty-three percent of the patients presented in the neonatal period. Twenty-two patients (41%) underwent one-stage endorectal pull-through procedure, 23 patients (43%) two-stage endorectal pull-through, and 9 patients (16%) had three-stage endorectal pull-through. Five out of 54 patients had ganglion cells seen on FS but were absent in the permanent section. Therefore, the concordance rate was 90.8%. Conclusion : FS biopsy is a necessary method to determine the level of aganglionosis intraoperatively in HD, but the definitive diagnosis should be with permanent section. Also, the choice of surgical operation type (single-stage or multi-stage pull-through) depends on the patient’s clinical condition

The Gravity Probe B test of general relativity

The Gravity Probe B mission provided two new quantitative tests of Einstein's theory of gravity, general relativity (GR), by cryogenic gyroscopes in Earth's orbit. Data from four gyroscopes gave a geodetic drift-rate of −6601.8 ± 18.3 marc-s yr−1 and a frame-dragging of −37.2 ± 7.2 marc-s yr−1, to be compared with GR predictions of −6606.1 and −39.2 marc-s yr−1 (1 marc-s = 4.848 × 10−9 radians). The present paper introduces the science, engineering, data analysis, and heritage of Gravity Probe B, detailed in the accompanying 20 CQG papers.Physic

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population