Citations

Abstract Background Mycobacterium marinum is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium responsible for skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs), tenosynovitis, and osteomyelitis (OM). We conducted a retrospective study describing the risk, clinical course, and outcome of M. marinum infection. Methods Adult patients with culture-confirmed M. marinum infections were identified from the mycology laboratory at Mayo Clinic, Rochester from January 1998 to December 2018. M. marinum infection was defined as uncomplicated (limited to SST) and complicated (tenosynovitis, OM, or disseminated). Results Forty-six cases of culture-confirmed infection with M. marinum were included (Table 1). Only 16 cases (35%) reported a water exposure and 22 (48%) involved finger and/or hand trauma. The median time to diagnosis was 3.6 months. Most patients (76%) presented with uncomplicated M. marinum infection with skin lesions mainly localized in the upper limb (Table 2). QuantiFERON and PPD were positive in 4 (8%) and 2 (4%) cases, respectively. Granulomatous inflammation and positive special stains were noted in 34 (74%) and 11 (24%) cases, respectively. Cases with complicated M. marinum infection had a longer duration of symptoms and length of treatment (P < 0.05) (Table 3). Prior to diagnosis, 63% of patients received at least one antibiotic for bacterial SSTIs. More than 50% of the patients diagnosed with M. marinum received a one drug regimen and 8% did not initiate therapy. Median treatment duration was 4.4 months. Twenty-six cases (56%) had susceptibilities performed and treatment modifications were made in 10 cases (38%). From the patients that started therapy, 73% completed therapy and 33% were lost to follow up. Cured was achieved in 87% of cases that completed therapy, 2 cases (6%) had a recurrence, and only one patient with active malignancy had a positive blood culture and died. Twelve (44%) and 10 cases (37%) were cured with one and two-drug regimens, respectively. Conclusion Most patients with M. marinum infection present as an uncomplicated infection in the upper limb. Classical exposure was only suspected in a third of the cases. Patients with complicated M. marinum infection had a prolonged duration of symptoms and lengthy treatment. Most patients were successfully treated with a one and two-drug regimen. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) often are subject to antibiotic and diagnostic test overuse. We sought to improve appropriate use of antimicrobials and diagnostic tests for patients with FN. We used a blended quality approach with Lean Six Sigma tools and iterative improvement of a clinical decision aid to guide providers through empirical antimicrobial selection and diagnostic evaluation of patients with FN during a yearlong period. We evaluated the incidence of nonadherence to best practice before, during, and after rollout of a clinical decision aid in conjunction with an educational initiative. At baseline, 71% of patients with FN had at least one critical deviation from best practice. During the project, the percentage decreased to 27.3%; 4 months after the project was completed, the percentage was 33.3% ( P = .04). A clinical decision aid can improve adherence to best practices for the empirical management of FN.

Abstract Babesiosis is an emerging health risk, and clinicians need to be aware of its different clinical manifestations. In our cohort of 38 patients, almost half did not recall a tick bite, and diagnosis was delayed due to the nonspecific nature of symptoms. Sixty-eight percent of patients required hospitalization, with 21% requiring intensive care unit stay. Coinfection with Lyme, anaplasma, or both Lyme and anaplasma was seen in 24%, 5%, and 8% of the patients, respectively. None of the patients in our cohort died from their disease.

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.

AbstractHistoplasma capsulatum is an endemic fungus that most oftenly causes a self‐limiting illness but can result in severe infections in immunocompromised patients including pulmonary or extra‐pulmonary disease. Rarely it can also cause a chronic progressive infection of the larynx. Herein, we report a case of laryngeal histoplasmosis in a kidney transplant patient who presented with progressive symptoms of several weeks of hoarseness, dysphagia and odynophagia. Laryngoscopic examination revealed thick plaques in the oropharynx with surrounding hyper‐erythema and histopathology showed numerous intracellular yeasts forms consistent with H capsulatum. Patient was initiated on treatment with itraconazole. Infection of the larynx due to H capsulatum is highly uncommon and therefore can result in an inappropriate or delayed diagnosis. A review of literature showed four previously reported cases of laryngeal histoplasmosis in patients with solid organ transplant. This is the first case series of laryngeal histoplasmosis in transplant recipients.