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Biomedical subjects

D R Hinthorn

Publications and source records attributed to D R Hinthorn.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Serratia marcescens bacteremia.

Serratia marcescens bacteremia has become ubiquitous recently. S. marcescens bacteremia, either hospital- or community-acquired, can no longer be treated as insignificant. We reviewed 23 episodes of S. marcescens bacteremia in 1985. Among them, 17 patients (74%) were hospital-acquired infections, while 6 (26%) were community-acquired. Nine patients died, and the case fatality rate was 39%. Eleven patients (48%) had no clinically apparent source of infection, 5 (22%) had urinary tract infection, 3 (13%) had pneumonia, 2 (9%) had biliary tract infection, 1 (4%) had intra-abdominal infection, and 1 (4%) had skin and soft-tissue infection. Nosocomial isolates are often resistant to many antibiotics. Amikacin and the beta-lactamase-stable (third generation) cephalosporins are superior to gentamicin in the treatment of nosocomial S. marcescens bacteremia. We here emphasize that the awareness and treatment of S. marcescens bacteremia in daily clinical practice is unequivocally critical.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Nonenterococcal group D streptococcal septicemia: association with unrecognized endocarditis.

68 patients presented to the Veterans General Hospital, Taipei with nonenterococcal group D streptococcal septicemia in the years 1985-1987. 36 patients (53%) had nonenterococci as part of a polymicrobial bacteremia. The large intestine was not examined in most patients. Five patients (7%) had associated colonic carcinoma, and 17 patients (25%) had colorectal diseases. Only 7/68 patients (10%) were clinically diagnosed as having infective endocarditis by the doctors in charge. The others were regarded as having septicemia. The charts of these patients were reviewed retrospectively to diagnose infective endocarditis based on strict definitions. One (1%) had definite endocarditis proved at autopsy. 16 patients (24%) had probable endocarditis due to the presence of either a new regurgitant murmur or both a predisposing heart disease and embolic phenomena; 39 (57%) had possible endocarditis based on evidence of having either a predisposing heart disease or embolic phenomena; and only 12 (18%) had no evidence of endocarditis. 27 patients (40%) had at least one predisposing heart disease associated with endocarditis. 51 patients (75%) had at least one lesion suggesting embolic phenomena. 30 patients (44%) had electrocardiographic abnormalities. This high incidence of arrhythmia in nonenterococcal septicemia is of particular interest and could be related to cardiac involvement in some patients. The overall mortality, 62% (42/68), was extremely high in our series, but in those who were clinically diagnosed and treated as infective endocarditis, the mortality was low, 14% (1/7). We suggest all patients with nonenterococcal septicemia associated with either heart disease or lesions of CNS, lung, heart, kidney or limbs suggesting embolic phenomena should be regarded as having possible or probable endocarditis. Treating such patients as having infective endocarditis may reduce the mortality in nonenterococcal septicemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Short-course treatment of bacteremia with ceftriaxone monotherapy.

The efficacy of short-course ceftriaxone monotherapy in treatment of bacteremia was evaluated in an open protocol. Patients with laboratory-proven bacteremia were randomly treated with one of three dosing schedules for a duration of 5 to 7 days. Fifty-seven (62%) out of the 92 evaluable infections had successful results. Successful responses were seen in 20 (59%) out of 34 infections given 4 g every 24 hours, 15 (54%) out of 28 given 2 g every 12 hours, and 22 out (73%) of 30 given 2 g every 24 hours. The results showed no significant differences. The cases evaluated as failures were largely due to infections with resistant organisms or inadequate drainage of the primary infectious foci. Forty-nine (94%) of the 52 infections had successful results with one of the short-course treatment regimens, provided that they had no factors indicative of a poor prognosis. We stress the importance of anti-microbial susceptibility and adequate removal of the primary foci in the treatment of bacteremia. Our experience indicates that once-daily administrations of 2 g ceftriaxone as monotherapy is preferred for short-course treatment of bacteremia since it is equally effective, but more economical than higher dose regimens.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia: analysis of 100 episodes.

In 1985, 100 episodes of klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in 98 patients were treated at the Veterans General Hospital--Taipei. The disease was community acquired in 58% and nosocomially acquired in 42%; unimicrobial in 86% and part of a polymicrobial bacteremia in 14%. Medical records of 90 episodes were available and were analyzed. Portals of entry, in decreasing order of frequency, were hepatobiliary (24%), respiratory (20%), and urinary tract (19%). Diabetes mellitus, which was found in 25 (28%) patients, was the most common underlying disease, followed by malignancies in 13 (14%), biliary tract abnormalities in 9 (10%), and cirrhosis of the liver in 8 (9%). The most frequent clinical findings were fever (89%) and leukocytosis (60%), followed by thrombocytopenia (27%), jaundice secondary to bacteremia (22%) and shock (21%). The course of one (1%) patient, who was diabetic and had a liver abscess, was complicated by metastatic septic endophthalmitis and meningitis. Overall case fatality was 46%. Poor prognostic factors included inappropriate antibiotic therapy, respiratory tract as a portal of entry and the presence of shock. Cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were the most active antibiotics. The use of one or more antibiotics, which included at least one cephalosporin, with in vitro activity against the corresponding isolate, with adequate dosage and an appropriate route of administration significantly reduced deaths directly attributed to K. pneumoniae septicemia, 32% (18/57), compared with 88% (21/24) in patients who were not treated appropriately (p less than 0.001). Combination therapy with a cephalosporin and aminoglycoside in conjunction with surgery in selected cases is the treatment of choice for K. pneumoniae bacteremia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Intra-articular amphotericin B treatment of Sporothrix schenckii arthritis.

Arthritis caused by Sporothrix schenckii may not respond satisfactorily to a full course of intravenous amphotericin B therapy. Left untreated, the fungus continues to be recovered from cultures of joint fluid, and the patient typically has serious joint disability. We have shown in one patient with sporotrichosis of the knee that direct low-dose injections of amphotericin B can be performed safely, resulting in eradication of the fungus. The patient has had continued useful range of motion and weight bearing on the involved knee.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1988

Eosinophilia in coccidioidomycosis.

Eosinophilia as a manifestation of coccidioidomycosis may be found in blood or cerebrospinal fluid. We report on a case of coccidioidomycosis with pleurisy, skin lesions, and meningitis with concomitant striking eosinophilia in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid that resolved promptly after amphotericin B therapy was started.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Enteral nutrition in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Multiple sources of tracheal colonization include the stomach.

Nutritional therapy of patients receiving mechanical ventilation includes enteral feeding. To determine the frequency of gastric microbial colonization in patients receiving enteral nutrition, 18 patients with acute respiratory failure receiving ventilation were studied. Multiple sources of tracheal colonization were then evaluated to determine the frequency of tracheal transmission of gastric flora and the relationship of gastric colonization and transmission to nosocomial respiratory infection. The stomach was colonized in every patient who received enteral feeding. Tracheal colonization occurred in 89 percent (16 of 18) of patients. In 12 of these 16 patients, 14 organisms colonized the trachea after transmission from the stomach and/or oropharynx. Thirty-six percent (five of 14) of organisms transmitted to the trachea originated from the stomach, whereas another 36 percent (five of 14) were first recovered from the oropharynx. Four tracheally transmitted organisms were first recovered simultaneously from the stomach and oropharynx. Nosocomial respiratory infection developed in 11 patients (63 percent). Three infections occurred during the six-day study period, one of which was associated with transmission of a gastric organism. Multiple sources of tracheal colonization occur in patients receiving enteral nutrition. The stomach is an important source of tracheal colonization. Enteral nutrition can be associated with gastric flora colonizing the trachea and causing nosocomial respiratory infection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1978

Nafcillin-associated granulocytopenia.

Three patients treated with nafcillin developed granulocytopenia. Only three other such cases have been reported. This complication is most likely due to a direct toxic effect on the bone marrow; markers for an immunologically mediated mechanism have not been found. Nafcillin-associated granulocytopenia usually occurs during the third week of therapy and remits spontaneously with prompt cessation of nafcillin administration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Pharmacological evaluation of cefaclor in volunteers.

The plasma and urine concentrations of cefaclor were measured after oral administration of single and multiple doses to volunteers. Cefaclor was rapidly absorbed, rapidly excreted in the urine, well tolerated without toxicity, and failed to accumulate in the plasma with chronic dosing.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Radionuclide imaging in herpes simplex encephalitis.

Eight patients with herpes simplex encephalitis among the 10 cases diagnosed at the University of Kansas Medical Center from 1966 to 1976 were studied with 99mTc early in their diagnostic work-up. The images were unilaterally positive in the temporal lobe area in all 8 patients. Radionuclide studies can suggest herpes simplex as the specific etiology in cases of encephalitis and can also indicate the best site for brain biopsy to confirm the diagnosis by fluorescent antibody techniques. Appropriate antiviral therapy should be instituted as soon as possible to alter the course of this destructive form of viral encephalitis.

Adolescent↗