Purpura fulminans (PF) is a dermatological manifestation of a life-threatening condition characterized by disseminated intravascular coagulation and endovascular thrombosis. The idiopathic/infectious form is the most common and usually associated with infection by Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae. We describe a case of Morganella morganii-induced bacteriaemia complicated with PF in an individual who had undergone a recent urinary tract infection intervention. The patient presented with purpuric skin lesions, fever and hypotension but had no alterations in coagulation parameters or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Aggressive early resuscitation, intravenous antibiotics and wound care were essential to a favourable response.
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies dysgalactiae (SDSD), also known as Lancefield group C streptococcus, is a pathogen found in animals. It is known to cause pyogenic infections in animals and is one of the most common pathogens that can cause mastitis in cattle. Very few reports of SDSD causing human diseases to have been reported in the literature, but we report a case of community-acquired meningitis and pyogenic ventriculitis caused by SDSD. This report is the first case of SDSD causing a central nervous system (CNS) infection in humans and aims to raise awareness about the role of SDSD in CNS infections. It also seeks to promote the recognition of this bacteria as a potential cause of invasive diseases.
Hemichorea is a rare clinical manifestation of type 2 diabetes (DMT2). The patient presents with non-ketotic hyperglycemia, hemichorea (characterized by rapid and involuntary movements of a specific part of the body) and the CT imaging reveals the presence of alterations involving the ganglia of the base.
Vertebroplasty involves injecting a cement polymer, often polymethylmethacrylate (PMA), into the vertebral body under imaging guidance to increase stability. However, the high vascularization and anatomical network of the paravertebral and extradural venous plexuses can allow the migration of cement particles into the systemic venous circulation regardless of whether spinal compression or fractures occur during or are present prior to the treatment. This case report presents a 42-year-old female patient who visited the emergency room with symptoms of cough, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and dyspnea and had a history of follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma under rituximab treatment. Imaging revealed a cement embolism in the pulmonary artery tree, most likely caused by prior vertebroplasty. Anticoagulation was started despite the lack of hypoxemia due to the inorganic character of the embolic substance and the patient’s immunosuppressed status. The embolic debris was still present on subsequent imaging, but the patient’s condition remained stable, with some signs of illness remission. This case highlights the importance of considering cement embolism as a possible vertebroplasty complication and the importance of properly assessing and managing such cases, particularly in patients with underlying medical issues, as well as the need for the development of a standard protocol of sequential chest X-rays after the procedure and possible alternatives to PMA.
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