Infections and antibiotics (2) Flashcards
A 35 year old man presents to his GP with a persistent dry cough and general malaise for the last 3 weeks. Initially he thought he just had a cold with coryzal symptoms and a headache, but he is not improving. He has also noticed a rash. On examination he has a few crackles and wheeze at the right base. His GP sends him for a CXR (picture)
What does an x ray show?
CXR confirms patchy shadowing at R base
Describe the rash
Target lesions – erythema multiforme
A 35 year old man presents to his GP with a persistent dry cough and general malaise for the last 3 weeks. Initially he thought he just had a cold with coryzal symptoms and a headache, but he is not improving. He has also noticed a rash. On examination he has a few crackles and wheeze at the right base. His GP sends him for a CXR (picture)
What do you think is a diagnosis and give reasons
Atypical pneumonia – Mycoplasma pneumonia due to:
- insidious onset
- dry cough
- extra-pulmonary features such as the rash
List 2 investigations which may help to establish a diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia
- serology for mycoplasma
- cold agglutin test
- haemolytic anaemia
- raised ESR
Treatment for mycoplasma pneumonia
- Amoxicillin 500mg – 1 g tds + Erythromycin 500mg qds 14 days
- Doxycycline is also effective against mycoplasma
Possible complications of mycoplasma pneumonia
- Rashes → erthema multiforme, erthema nodosum, urticaria
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Cold agglutinin disease
- Aseptic meningitis
- transerve myelitits
- Guillaine- Barre
- Myocarditis
- Pericarditis
What’s Cold Agglutinin Disease?
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD)
- a rare autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of high concentrations of circulating cold sensitive antibodies
- It is a form of autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Pathology:When affected people’s lood is exposed to cold temperatures certain proteins that normally attack bacteria (IgM antibodies) attach themselves to red blood cells and bind them together into clumps (agglutination). This eventually causes red blood cells to be prematurely destroyed (hemolysis) leading to anemia and other associated signs and symptoms
Cause:Cold agglutinin disease can be primary (unknown cause) or secondary, due to an underlying condition such as an infection, another autoimmune disease, or certain cancers
Treatment: depends on many factors including the severity of the condition, the signs and symptoms present in each person, and the underlying cause
Treatment of cold agglutinin disease
- Avoid cold weather.
- Treat the underlying lymphoma.
- No cold drinks; all drinks should be at room temperature (or above).
- Requires heater to maintain temperature in cold places.
Treatment with rituximab has been described
A homeless man is sent to hospital from a hostel feeling unwell – he complains of dyspnoea and a cough productive of purulent sputum and said this started 5 days ago after he collapsed drunk in a doorway. On examination he is febrile temp 39 C, pulse 120 bpm and Sats 90% on air.
What does the X-ray show?
R upper lobe pneumonia
A homeless man is sent to hospital from a hostel feeling unwell – he complains of dyspnoea and a cough productive of purulent sputum and said this started 5 days ago after he collapsed drunk in a doorway. On examination he is febrile temp 39 C, pulse 120 bpm and Sats 90% on air.
What is the likely diagnosis and why and what organisms are involved?
Aspiration pneumonia as:
- usually affects R side and if aspiration occurs while prone will be in upper lobe
- common organisms – anaerobic organisms but also aerobic organisms
A homeless man is sent to hospital from a hostel feeling unwell – he complains of dyspnoea and a cough productive of purulent sputum and said this started 5 days ago after he collapsed drunk in a doorway. On examination he is febrile temp 39 C, pulse 120 bpm and Sats 90% on air.
Management
- ABC - Oxygen, IV access, BP
- ABGs, blood cultures, sputum culture
- Treat with oxygen, amoxicillin 1g tds + metronidazole 400mg tds for 7-10 days.
A 28 year old cachexic man is admitted to hospital with a high fever and productive cough – o/e he has crackles and bronchial breathing with reduced AE at the left base.
This is part of your examination, what do the pictures suggest?
- Infected injection site/track marks
- Lung abscess at L base
*likely due to Staph aureus infection
A 28 year old cachexic man is admitted to hospital with a high fever and productive cough – o/e he has crackles and bronchial breathing with reduced AE at the left base.
List 2 other complications that may occur in this man (directly related to above pathogen).
- Injection site abscesses
- R side endocarditis
A 28 year old cachexic man is admitted to hospital with a high fever and productive cough – o/e he has crackles and bronchial breathing with reduced AE at the left base.
Management
Diagnosis: lung abscess due to Staph Aureus infection
Management:
- ABC
- ABG
- Sputum
- blood culture
Amoxicillin 500mg 1g tds + flucloxacillin 500mgs qds for min 14 days
IV drug user with a lung abscess due to Staph aureus infection.
What further Ix do we need to consider?
- Hep B and Hep C
- HIV
- TB
- Consider managing issue of addiction – methadone, rehab programme
- forensic hx
- sexual hx and STIs screen