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Biomedical subjects

Mark A Marinella

Publications and source records attributed to Mark A Marinella.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Group C streptococcal sepsis complicating Fournier gangrene.

Fournier gangrene is a life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal-scrotal area that occurs in diabetic males. Patients typically present with systemic toxicity and significant inflammatory changes in the scrotum and perineum. Most cases of Fournier gangrene are polymicrobic and require urgent surgical debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. We describe a case of Fournier gangrene in a young diabetic man that was associated with group C streptococcal bacteremia, an association previously unreported in the literature to our knowledge.

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PubMed2004

Refeeding syndrome: implications for the inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units commonly have underlying medical disorders and are at risk for poor oral intake and malnutrition, which may be compounded by dysphagia and anorexia. The refeeding syndrome is an underappreciated but clinically important entity characterized by acute electrolyte abnormalities, fluid retention, and dysfunction of various organ systems, which can result in significant morbidity and, occasionally, death. Reinstitution of nutrition by any route in a undernourished patient may lead to acute electrolyte shifts and fluid retention, which are hallmarks of the refeeding syndrome. As such, this article briefly summarizes the clinical manifestations and treatment of refeeding syndrome as it relates to patients admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Leukemoid reactions complicating colitis due to Clostridium difficile.

BACKGROUND: We sought to describe the characteristics of patients who had Clostridium difficile colitis complicated by leukemoid reactions (total leukocyte count greater than 35 x 10(9)/L) and to determine whether this complication is associated with higher morbidity or mortality than C difficile colitis without leukemoid reactions. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case series analysis of patients with a positive fecal assay for C difficile toxin and a peak leukocyte count greater than 35 x 10(9)/L during 1998 and 1999. Twenty cases that met these criteria were compared with 65 randomly selected control patients (patients with a positive C difficile toxin and a peak leukocyte count less than 35 x 10(9)/L). RESULTS: The mean peak leukocyte count was 52 +/- 18.2 x 10(9)/L (+/- SD) in the case group and 14.9 +/- 6.5 x 10(9)/L in the control group. Patients with a leukemoid reaction had a lower temperature, a lower serum albumin level, and a higher hematocrit value. Multivariable logistic regression showed respiratory tract infection and lower temperature to be independent predictors of a leukemoid reaction. There were 10 deaths (50%) in the leukemoid reaction group and 5 deaths (7.7%) in the control group. All seven patients with a peak leukocyte count greater than 50 x 10(9)/L died, compared with eight deaths (10.3%) among the remaining 78 patients whose peak leukocyte count was less than 50 X 10(9)/L. CONCLUSION: Patients with C difficile colitis and a leukocyte count greater than 35 x 10(9)/L have a poor prognosis with a much higher mortality rate than patients who have C difficile colitis without a leukemoid reaction.

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PubMed2004

Community-acquired pneumonia due to Pasteurella multocida.

Most cases of community-acquired pneumonia result from infection with predictable common pathogens. However, rare patients develop pneumonia from unusual bacterial species such as Pasteurella multocida, a Gram-negative oral commensal of most dogs and cats. The majority of P. multocida infections involve skin and soft tissue and complicate a bite or scratch. I report the case of an elderly man who owned 16 cats and developed bacteremic pneumonia with P. multocida. .

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PubMed2003

The refeeding syndrome and hypophosphatemia.

The refeeding syndrome is an underappreciated entity characterized by acute electrolyte derangements--notably hypophosphatemia--that occur during nutritional repletion of patients with significant suboptimal caloric intake. Adverse effects of hypophosphatemia include cardiac failure, muscle weakness, immune dysfunction, and death. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia commonly complicate refeeding syndrome as well; however, this report briefly reviews the clinical manifestations of refeeding-induced hypophosphatemia.

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PubMed2002

Characteristics of centenarians admitted to a community teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: The "oldest old" are the most rapidly growing segment of society, and clinicians will increasingly encounter this age group in this century. METHODS: To describe the characteristics of a special subgroup of the oldest old, the centenarians, we conducted a retrospective case series analysis of all patients 100 years of age and above admitted to a large community teaching hospital. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with a mean age of 101.3 years were admitted a total of 57 times during the 5-year study period. The main reasons for admission were hip fracture, stroke, and urinary tract infection. Patients admitted from nursing facilities were taking more medications than community dwelling patients, and patients who were confused on admission were more likely to be readmitted. Only 2 patients died. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy is common in centenarians, especially in institutionalized patients, and confusion may be a useful predictor of subsequent readmission. In-hospital mortality, however, is low in this population.

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