Acute pancreatitis and subdural haematoma in a patient with severe falciparum malaria: Case report and review of literature

Plasmodium falciparum infection is known to be associated with a spectrum of systemic complications ranging from mild and self-limiting to life-threatening. This case report illustrates a patient who had a protracted course in hospital due to several rare complications of falciparum malaria. A 21-year old man presented with a five-day history of high-grade fever, jaundice and abdominal pain and a two-day history of altered conscious state. A diagnosis of severe falciparum malaria was made based on the clinical presentation and a positive blood smear with parasitaemia of 45%. Despite adequate anti-malarial therapy with artesunate, the patient had persistent and worsening abdominal pain. Investigations suggested a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, a rare association with falciparum malaria. However, in spite of supportive therapy for acute pancreatitis and a 10-day course of intravenous artesunate and oral doxycycline at recommended doses, he continued to be febrile with peripheral blood smear showing persistence of ring forms. Antimalarial therapy was, therefore, changed to quinine on the suspicion of possible artesunate resistance. On the 17th day of stay in hospital, the patient developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Computerized tomography of the brain showed bilateral fronto-parietal subdural haematomas that were surgically drained. His fever persisted beyond 30-days despite broad-spectrum antibiotics, quinine therapy and negative malarial smears. A possibility of drug fever was considered and all drugs were ceased. He subsequently became afebrile and was discharged on the 38th hospital admission day. Recognition of complications and appropriate management at each stage facilitated successful outcome. This report has been presented to highlight the occurrence of several rare complications of falciparum malaria in the same patient

First Indian report on genome-wide comparison of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli from blood stream infections.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) is becoming endemic in health care settings around the world. Baseline data on virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of specific lineages of E. coli circulating in developing countries like India is currently lacking. METHODS: Whole-genome sequencing was performed for 60 MDR E. coli isolates. The analysis was performed at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) level resolution to identify the presence of their virulence and AMR genes. RESULTS: Genome comparison revealed the presence of ST-131 global MDR and ST410 as emerging-MDR clades of E. coli in India. AMR gene profile for cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance differed between the clades. Genotypes blaCTX-M-15 and blaNDM-5 were common among cephalosporinases and carbapenemases, respectively. For aminoglycoside resistance, rmtB was positive for 31.7% of the isolates, of which 95% were co-harboring carbapenemases. In addition, the FimH types and virulence gene profile positively correlated with the SNP based phylogeny, and also revealed the evolution of MDR clones among the study population with temporal accumulation of SNPs. The predominant clone was ST167 (blaNDM lineage) followed by ST405 (global clone ST131 equivalent) and ST410 (fast spreading high risk clone). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the whole genome analysis of MDR E. coli lineages circulating in India. Data from this study will provide public health agencies with baseline information on AMR and virulent genes in pathogenic E. coli in the region

Scrub typhus in South India: clinical and laboratory manifestations, genetic variability, and outcome

SummaryObjectivesThis study sought to document the clinical and laboratory manifestations, genetic variability, and outcomes of scrub typhus, an often severe infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, in South India.MethodsPatients admitted to a large teaching hospital with IgM ELISA-confirmed scrub typhus were evaluated. Clinical examination with a thorough search for an eschar, laboratory testing, chest X-ray, and outcome were documented and analyzed. Additionally, a 410-bp region of the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene of O. tsutsugamushi was sequenced and compared with isolates from other regions of Asia.ResultsMost of the 154 patients evaluated presented with fever and non-specific symptoms. An eschar was found in 86 (55%) patients. Mild hepatic involvement was seen in most, with other organ involvement including respiratory, cardiovascular, and renal. Multi-organ dysfunction was noted in 59 (38.3%), and the fatality rate was 7.8%. Hypotension requiring vasoactive agents was found to be an independent predictor of mortality (p<0.001). The phylogeny of 26 samples showed 17 (65%) clustering with the Kato-like group and eight (31%) with the Karp-like group.ConclusionsThe presentation of scrub typhus can be variable, often non-specific, but with potentially severe multi-organ dysfunction. Prompt recognition is key to specific treatment and good outcomes. Further study of the circulating strains is essential for the development of a successful vaccine and sensitive point-of-care testing

Combination Versus Monotherapy for Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Species Serious Infections: A Prospective IPTW Adjusted Cohort Study

Introduction: International guidelines recommend definitive combination antibiotic therapy for the management of serious infections involving carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRAB) species. The commonly available combination options include high-dose sulbactam, polymyxins, tetracyclines, and cefiderocol. Scanty prospective data exist to support this approach. Methods: Patients with CRAB bacteraemia, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), or both were categorized based on whether they received combination therapy or monotherapy. The 30-day mortality was compared between the two groups. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was done using propensity score (PS) for a balanced comparison between groups. Results: Between January 2021 and May 2023, of the 161 patients with CRAB bacteraemia (n = 55, 34.2%), VAP (n = 46, 28.6%), or both (n = 60, 37.3%) who received appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy, 70% (112/161) received monotherapy, and the rest received combination therapy. The overall 30-day mortality was 62% (99/161) and not different (p = 0.76) between the combination therapy (31/49, 63.3%) and monotherapy (68/112, 60.7%) groups. The propensity score matching using IPTW did not show a statistical difference (p = 0.47) in 30-day mortality for receiving combination therapy with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) P of 1.29 (0.64, 2.58). Conclusion: Combination therapy for CRAB infections needs further study in a randomised controlled trial, as this observational study showed no difference in 30-day mortality between monotherapy and combination therapy

Intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or both for severe scrub typhus

BACKGROUND: The appropriate antibiotic treatment for severe scrub typhus, a neglected but widespread reemerging zoonotic infection, is unclear. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or a combination of both in treating severe scrub typhus. Patients who were 15 years of age or older with severe scrub typhus with at least one organ involvement were enrolled. The patients were assigned to receive a 7-day course of intravenous doxycycline, azithromycin, or both (combination therapy). The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause at day 28, persistent complications at day 7, and persistent fever at day 5. RESULTS: Among 794 patients (median age, 48 years) who were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis, complications included those that were respiratory (in 62%), hepatic (in 54%), cardiovascular (in 42%), renal (in 30%), and neurologic (in 20%). The use of combination therapy resulted in a lower incidence of the composite primary outcome than the use of doxycycline (33% and 47%, respectively), for a risk difference of −13.3 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], (21.6 to −5.1; P=0.002). The incidence with combination therapy was also lower than that with azithromycin (48%), for a risk difference of −14.8 percentage points (95% CI, −23.1 to −6.5; P<0.001). No significant difference was seen between the azithromycin and doxycycline groups (risk difference, 1.5 percentage points; 95% CI, −7.0 to 10.0; P=0.73). The results in the per-protocol analysis were similar to those in the primary analysis. Adverse events and 28-day mortality were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin was a better therapeutic option for the treatment of severe scrub typhus than monotherapy with either drug alone. (Funded by the India Alliance and Wellcome Trust; INTREST Clinical Trials Registry–India number, CTRI/2018/08/015159.

Neurological effects of an unusual insecticide poison: Amitraz

Amitraz is a triazapentadiene compound belonging to amidine family. As an insecticide and acaricide, it has been used to control red spider mites, scale insects, aphids, leaf worms, whitefly, bollworms, and pear psylla on Oregon pear crops. Poisoning is secondary to accidental or suicidal inhalation and ingestion of the compound. The toxicity profile is mostly in the form of alteration of the nervous system resulting in various clinical manifestations. We describe a case report of amitraz poisoning presenting with coma

Acute pancreatitis due to scrub typhus

Scrub typhus is endemic in large parts of India and can cause multi-organ failure and death. Acute pancreatitis as a complication is very rare and is potentially fatal. This case series describes seven adult patients who presented with an acute febrile illness and were diagnosed to have scrub typhus with acute pancreatitis. The mean age of the seven patients with acute pancreatitis was 49.4 years, and mean duration of fever prior to presentation was 7.7 days. All seven patients had abdominal pain, and three had a pathognomonic eschar. The mean serum lipase level was 1,509 U/L (normal value: <190 U/L) and the mean serum amylase level was 434 U/L (normal value: <200 U/L). Six patients had evidence of multi-organ dysfunction. Hematological and respiratory system dysfunction was seen in five patients, hepatic and renal dysfunction in four, and central nervous system dysfunction in three patients. Three patients who had ≥4 organs involved, died (mortality rate: 42.8%). Our case series shows that pancreatitis in scrub typhus is an extremely rare complication and when present, is associated with increased mortality (42.8%). Physicians may be familiar with the various complications of scrub typhus but less so with acute pancreatitis and hence may be underdiagnosed

Acute pancreatitis due to malaria: A case report of five patients and review of literature

Malaria is endemic in large parts of India and can cause multiorgan failure and death. Acute pancreatitis as a complication is rare and is potentially fatal. This case series describes five adult patients between 2005 and 2010 who presented with a short duration febrile illness and diagnosed to have malaria with acute pancreatitis. The mean age of the five patients with acute pancreatitis was 40.4 years and four of them were males. None of them were alcohol consumers and did not have any other risk factor for acute pancreatitis. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all the cases. Pancreatic enzymes were significantly elevated in all the patients with a mean serum lipase level of 1795 U/L (normal value: 1.4 mg/dl), and hyperbilirubinemia were seen in all the patients. One patient died due to multiorgan failure. Acute pancreatitis is a very rare complication of malaria, and a high index of suspicion is required in patients presenting with severe malaria and abdominal pain

Clinical presentation, etiology, management, and outcomes of iliopsoas abscess from a tertiary care center in South India

Introduction: Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is the collection of pus in the iliopsoas compartment. The etiology of IPA is variable and depends on the geographical area and the antibiotic usage prevalence in that area. This study attempts to evaluate the etiology, clinical features, risk factors, management modalities, and outcomes in patients with IPA from a tertiary care center in South India. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study done in a tertiary care center in South India. Patient details were obtained from electronic medical records. Results: A total of 43 patients were enrolled in the study, the causative organism could be identified in 20 (46.5%) patients. The most common etiology was tuberculosis (TB). Most (23 [56.5%]) patients were treated conservatively, 20 (46.5%) patients were treated with percutaneous drainage (PCD), and 2 (4%) patients required surgery. Conclusion: The most common cause of IPA is TB. PCD was successful in 95% of the patients with complete resolution of symptoms