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Cureus Mar 2024is a gram-negative facultatively anaerobic, capnophilic bacterium typically residing in the human oropharyngeal flora. This opportunistic pathogen can cause a wide...
is a gram-negative facultatively anaerobic, capnophilic bacterium typically residing in the human oropharyngeal flora. This opportunistic pathogen can cause a wide range of infections, from bacteremia to septic abortion. However, it is exceedingly rare for a patient to present with tonsillitis due to . Herein, we discuss the presentation, hospital course, and clinical trajectory of a patient experiencing complications of tonsillitis related to in the context of acute myeloid leukemia. Additionally, we delve into the treatment approaches and challenges in managing this particular pathogen.
PubMed: 38646309
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56551 -
European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology,... Apr 2024Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a frequent pathology. Treatment consists in drainage of the collection, associated to probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The usefulness of...
PURPOSE
Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a frequent pathology. Treatment consists in drainage of the collection, associated to probabilistic antibiotic therapy. The usefulness of cytobacteriological testing (CBT) of the drainage pus is controversial.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A retrospective study of patients managed for PTA between 2013 and 2020 in our university hospital was performed. The main objective was to assess the usefulness of CBT in the management of PTA. The secondary objectives were to determine the bacteriological profile involved in the onset of PTA and to assess the rate of bacterial resistance to antibiotics prescribed on a probabilistic basis.
RESULTS
The study included 207 patients: 70 outpatients (33%) and 137 inpatients (67%). Probabilistic antibiotic therapy was implemented in 100% of patients. CBT was performed systematically and was negative in 106 patients, revealing oropharyngeal flora in 40% of cases, polymicrobial flora in 50% and sterile samples in 10%. In the 101 patients with positive CBT, the bacteria isolated were penicillin-sensitive in 99%. All patients were successfully treated. In the light of the bacteriological results, no changes were made to the probabilistic antibiotic therapy introduced on admission.
CONCLUSION
CBT on drainage pus had no impact on the management of PTA. CBT is therefore unnecessary in patients with no comorbidities and no signs of severity at admission.
PubMed: 38631947
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2024.03.003 -
Cureus Jan 2024A peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a frequent reason for a visit to the emergency department. As there are no current published guidelines for medical versus surgical...
INTRODUCTION
A peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a frequent reason for a visit to the emergency department. As there are no current published guidelines for medical versus surgical management, attending physicians vary among management tendencies, generating uncertainty among resident physicians. This project established a standard of care for managing patients with PTA and provided clear management guidelines to the emergency department, in collaboration with the otolaryngology department, at a community academic hospital.
METHODS
Pre- and post-interventional, anonymous surveys were given to assess resident physician confidence in the management of PTA. A proposed management protocol was developed based on existing literature and approved by both the emergency medicine (EM) and otolaryngology (ENT) departments. The protocol was then disseminated during in-person didactic sessions to EM residents and ENT residents for use over a four-month interventional period.
RESULTS
The mean confidence level for all residents increased significantly after the implementation of the protocol (p<0.001). The increase in confidence level for "antibiotic selection for PTA" (p=0.72) and "inpatient PTA management" (p=0.20) was not statistically significant for the post-graduate year (PGY) 3 and 4 residents. The increase in confidence level was higher overall for PGY 1 and 2 residents (95% CI 2.25 ± 1.09, p<0.001) than for PGY 3 and 4 residents (95% CI 1.73 ± 1.09, p=0.003).
CONCLUSION
The implementation of a standardized protocol for the management of PTA proved to be an effective tool in assisting residents and improving their confidence. This study highlights the importance of establishing guidelines in clinical practice to promote consistent and evidence-based management strategies for PTA. By providing clear guidelines, this protocol enhances communication among healthcare providers and contributes to the delivery of high-quality care to patients with PTA.
PubMed: 38425612
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53223 -
Anaerobe Apr 2024Tonsillar Fusobacterium necrophorum PCR Ct-values were higher in participants with asymptomatic tonsillar carriage than patients with pharyngeal infections. However,...
Tonsillar Fusobacterium necrophorum PCR Ct-values were higher in participants with asymptomatic tonsillar carriage than patients with pharyngeal infections. However, Ct-values were not associated with severity of disease or predictive of development of complications and hence lacked clinical usefulness. The reporting of F. necrophorum Ct-values in clinical samples is not recommended.
Topics: Humans; Fusobacterium necrophorum; Fusobacterium Infections; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Female; Adult; Middle Aged; Palatine Tonsil; Young Adult; Adolescent; Aged; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Carrier State
PubMed: 38369049
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102831 -
Mediastinum (Hong Kong, China) 2024Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute life-threatening infection that originates in the oropharyngeal region. It is an uncommon disease with a mortality...
BACKGROUND
Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is an acute life-threatening infection that originates in the oropharyngeal region. It is an uncommon disease with a mortality rate of about 20-40%. This high mortality is mainly attributed to delays in diagnosis and treatment and poor drainage of the mediastinum. We highlight key points that may help reduce mortality.
CASE DESCRIPTION
We analyze a retrospective case series of seven patients diagnosed with DNM between March 2019 and July 2022 at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The primary oropharyngeal infection was peritonsillar abscess in three cases and odontogenic abscess in four. All patients showed symptoms of severe cervical infection and symptoms suggestive of mediastinitis. A cervicothoracic computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of cervical and mediastinal collections and emphysema in all cases. All patients were simultaneously evaluated by the otorhinolaryngology and thoracic surgery teams. Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was instituted pending culture. All the patients underwent urgent surgery, consisting of cervicotomy to control the cervical focus and unilateral or bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement and drain of the pleural cavities and mediastinum. Regarding the outcomes, no patients died, one patient (14.2%) underwent transcervical mediastino-thoracoscopy drainage only. In six patients (85.8%) we performed a combined transcervical and transthoracic approach. Reoperation was required in 3 (43%) cases. The parameter that indicated a poor clinical evolution in these patients was an increase in C-reactive protein and the infection extension on the cervicothoracic CT scan. The follow-up was 30 days from last surgery; there were no losses.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on our experience, the key points that can help reduce the high mortality associated with DNM are a rapid multidisciplinary assessment and a combined surgical procedure, considering the minimally invasive approach as the first option to drain the pleural cavities and mediastinum.
PubMed: 38322187
DOI: 10.21037/med-23-32 -
Cureus Jan 2024Intratonsillar abscess (ITA) is rarely reported. Here, we present an uncommon case of acute ITA in an adult, discuss the evaluation and treatment plan, and review the...
Intratonsillar abscess (ITA) is rarely reported. Here, we present an uncommon case of acute ITA in an adult, discuss the evaluation and treatment plan, and review the ITA literature. The abscess reported in the present study was diagnosed through a combination of clinical findings and computed tomography imaging, and treatment included drainage, intravenous (IV) clindamycin, and IV dexamethasone. The literature reports 72 ITA cases with specified treatments: 21 (29.2%) in adults, 19 (26.4%) in children, and 32 (44.4%) in patients of unspecified ages. Among them, 25 (34.7%) responded to antibiotics alone, 11 (15.3%) to needle aspiration and antibiotics, and 36 (50.0%) needed further intervention. Based on the presented case and literature review, we suggest the use of IV antibiotics with needle aspiration as the primary treatment for acute ITA. Incision and drainage (I&D) with antibiotics should be reserved for cases unresponsive to initial measures, and tonsillectomy is recommended for recurrent post-I&D cases.
PubMed: 38313933
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51657 -
Genes Dec 2023Globally, oral diseases are common, pose an economic burden, and significantly decline the quality of life of affected individuals. Recently, researchers have...
BACKGROUND
Globally, oral diseases are common, pose an economic burden, and significantly decline the quality of life of affected individuals. Recently, researchers have substantially highlighted the effect of depression on oral disease incidence and development. In this study, we elucidated the correlation between depression and oral diseases.
METHODS
Using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), the association between depression and the risk of 17 oral diseases was evaluated. Three methods were used to perform MR analysis: the inverse variance-weighted, weighted median, and MR-Egger methods. Furthermore, Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test, and leave-one-out analysis were performed to analyze sensitivity.
RESULTS
After implementing multiple test corrections, we observed that genetic susceptibility to depression was associated with an increased risk of mouth ulcers, toothache, loose teeth, bleeding gums, painful gums, chronic periodontitis, chronic tonsil and adenoid diseases, peritonsillar abscess, and excessive tooth attrition. However, a causal relationship between depression and other oral diseases was not observed. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results.
CONCLUSIONS
We confirmed the causal relationship between depression and several oral diseases, thereby providing a novel viewpoint on the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. Our findings suggest the integration of depression control into routine clinical care to enhance the effectiveness of oral disease treatment.
Topics: Humans; Depression; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Quality of Life; Administration, Oral; Causality
PubMed: 38137013
DOI: 10.3390/genes14122191 -
Radiology Case Reports Feb 2024Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection in the United States. Timely treatment of PTA with antibiotics and aspiration or drainage is...
Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection in the United States. Timely treatment of PTA with antibiotics and aspiration or drainage is paramount, as delay in management may lead to further complications. The oral approach is the preferred route of drainage however may not always be accessible, warranting consideration of other routes of drainage. To the best of our knowledge, CT guidance for aspiration or drainage of a PTA has not been previously described. We present a 50-year-old patient with a PTA who initially presented with throat pain and dysphagia, rapidly developed upper airway obstruction, and required intubation. After the failure of clinical improvement and unsuccessful PTA aspiration via the conventional oral route, successful CT-guided percutaneous needle aspiration was performed by neuroradiology. Shortly thereafter, the patient clinically improved and was discharged with an oral course of antibiotics and follow-up on an as-needed basis. Total hospital length of stay was seven days. The complex patient may not allow for simple incision and drainage or needle aspiration of a suspected PTA. Assistance with ultrasound guidance is often utilized, however, challenges may persist depending on the anatomical location of the PTA and patient comorbidities. In cases where external drainage is considered and conventional ultrasound imaging is particularly challenging, CT-guided percutaneous aspiration may provide a useful alternative. PTAs are common with the possibility of complication. Although the usual route of drainage is oral, there are instances in which this cannot be performed. This case exhibits an uncommon approach to PTA aspiration via an external CT-guided percutaneous approach with rapid subsequent clinical improvement, exhibiting the utility of CT guidance.
PubMed: 38111556
DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2023.11.007