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Biomedical subjects

J A Marcoux

Publications and source records attributed to J A Marcoux.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis: prognostic usefulness of an early medicosurgical therapy.

Six cases of acute Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis after median sternotomy were reported. Five resulted from an asymptomatic disseminator of S aureus present in the operating room. Each case was characterized by an acute bacteremic phase, occurring after a mean interval of 8.2 +/- 1.7 days after the surgical procedure; within 24 to 36 hours all patients had a temperature above 39 degrees C, toxic appearance, and marked leukocytosis. Pericicatricial inflammation was moderate, instability of the sternum was present in only two patients, and chest roentgenogram was not helpful in making an early diagnosis. No risk factor for mediasinitis in connection with the perioperative or postoperative periods was noted in cases compared with a control group of 103 patients. All strains of S aureus were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotic regimen used in prophylaxis. All patients underwent early surgical reopening of the mediastinum within 47 +/- 15 hours after the first sign of acute mediastinitis. Mediastinal debridement and continuous irrigation-suction with dilute povidone-iodine solution were associated with intravenous antistaphylococcal therapy for a period of four to six weeks. All patients survived and no recurrence was observed, a finding we think due to early diagnosis and aggressive medicosurgical therapy.

Cross Infection↗

[Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans infectious endocarditis. Apropos of 2 cases and review of the literature].

This work reports two cases of endocarditis caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. As noted in the medical literature, the mean clinical features are a subacute infection without know source of bacteremia, in a male patient aged 40 years or older and who is suffering from a heart disease. In our two presentations, the good response to single antibiotic treatment, although the optimal therapeutic approach is not yet defined, and the lack of embolism phenomena are of special interest. Spectrum of bacteria which can be responsible of infective endocarditis is widening rapidly; this study is an example of this trend.

Actinobacillus Infections↗

Protection of indwelling vascular catheters: incidence of bacterial contamination and catheter-related sepsis.

We compared the incidence of catheter contamination and catheter-related sepsis in 200 noninfected patients admitted postoperatively to the surgical ICU. Four methods of catheter fixation were used: (a) povidone-iodine ointment (Betadine) with a sterile gauze and adhesive dressing (Elastoplast); (b) Op-Site film; (c) Op-Site spray followed by Op-Site film; and (d) Beta-dine and Op-Site film. Of 708 catheters used for 200 patients, 516 (72.8%) were cultured. There was no catheter-related septicemia but 13 (2.52%) catheters were contaminated. However, these were evenly distributed among the four groups. We, therefore, conclude that aseptic insertion of catheters, daily inspection of puncture site, and replacement of tubing are the determining factors in preventing catheter-related sepsis.

Bacterial Infections↗

Infective endocarditis due to Leptotrichia buccalis: a case report.

A patient with Down's syndrome presented with infective endocarditis due to Leptotrichia buccalis. The source of the infection was not detected, but the predisposing factor was a complex cardiac malformation. The disease followed a subacute course, had a number of immunologic manifestations and was successfully treated with a 28-day course of penicillin G, given intravenously. L. buccalis has never been reported before as a cause of endocarditis.

Adult↗