Hamdi, Ahmed M

Abstract Background Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative, opportunistic infection that is usually hospital-acquired and associated with high morbidity and mortality. The reported increase in S. maltophilia infections is presumed to be due to an increase in the population at risk. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 10-year data for S. maltophilia bacteremia in hospitalized adults at our institution to determine the population at risk, sources of infection, common complications, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and clinical outcome trends over the past decade. Results Among the 98 patients analyzed, the most common source of infection was catheter-related (62, 63.3%). Most isolates (61, 65%) were resistant to ceftazidime; fewer were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX; 2, 2.1%) and levofloxacin (22, 23.4%). All-cause in-hospital mortality was 29.6% (29 patients). The highest mortality, 53.8%, was observed in pulmonary sources of bacteremia. Conclusions Although TMP-SMX continues to have reliable activity in our cohort, we noted resistance to TMP-SMX in patients with recent TMP-SMX exposure, including a case with developing resistance to TMP-SMX while on therapy.

Nocardia species are found worldwide and are opportunistic pathogens of both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. Recent updates to the taxonomy of this genus have indicated that there are more than 90 recognized species of Nocardia with 54 species reported to be clinically relevant.

Abstract Human herpesviruses 6 (HHV-6) A and B cause encephalitis in patients with hematologic malignancies, especially those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In this cohort of 10 patients, persistent neurologic deficits associated with moderate to severe bilateral hippocampal atrophy were characteristic long-term findings, despite prolonged antiviral treatment.