Intra-abdominal abscesses mostly derive from the intra-abdominal viscera. Campylobacter spp. are Gram-negative rods which are known to cause oral infections but rarely have been documented to cause extra-intestinal infections resulting in abscesses. We report an atypical case of Campylobacter rectus (C. rectus) and Peptostreptococcus spp. bacteria isolated from a perinephric abscess presenting as abdominal pain. Abscesses originating from outside the gastrointestinal tract have been reported in other similar case reports infecting the head, brain, and thoracic wall amongst others. The potential source and development of such a Campylobacter infection could be due to multiple hypotheses. This is a first case report of perinephric abscess development. Studies have suggested person-to-person (fecal-oral) transmission along with insects serving as primary reservoirs. Seeding of bacteria through infections in the oral cavity or through infections in the bowel microperforations has also been considered as plausible reasons. Since C. rectus has been isolated in such rare instances, it should be kept in mind when considering differential diagnosis of potential causative agents for extra-oral infections such as invasive abscess formations.

A 54-year-old male, five months postorthotopic heart transplantation, presented with intermittent fevers, headaches, and “soupy” stools. Prior to presentation, he had low-level cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia for two straight weeks. Given his immunosuppression, diarrhea, and low-level CMV viremia, he was presumed to have cytomegalovirus and/or C. difficile colitis and treated empirically for both on hospital day one. However, he developed neck pain/stiffness, diaphoresis, and worsening fevers on hospital day three. Blood cultures eventually grew Listeria monocytogenes; MRI of the brain with gadolinium showed left brain meningoencephalitis with early cerebral abscess formation. Lumbar puncture revealed elevated opening pressure, CSF neutrophilic pleocytosis, and elevated CSF protein and lactate but negative gram stain and cultures. First-line agent for Listeria meningoencephalitis is ampicillin. However, he reported amoxicillin allergy. Desensitization to ampicillin failed because ampicillin was too unstable per the allergist. He was therefore treated with penicillin monotherapy for eight weeks with complete resolution of his brain lesions and without any residual neurologic deficits.

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine surveillance of pretreatment HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) in children <18 months of age diagnosed with HIV through early infant diagnosis (EID). In 2016, 262 children <18 months of age were diagnosed with HIV in Namibia through EID. Levels of HIVDR in this population are unknown. Methods In 2016, Namibia surveyed pretreatment HIVDR among children aged <18 months following WHO guidance. Reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase regions of HIV-1 were genotyped from remnant dried blood spot specimens from all infants diagnosed with HIV in Namibia in 2016. HIVDR was predicted using the Stanford HIVdb algorithm. Results Of 262 specimens genotyped, 198 HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase sequences and 118 HIV-1 integrase sequences were successfully amplified and analyzed. The prevalence of efavirenz/nevirapine (EFV/NVP), abacavir (ABC), zidovudine, lamivudine/emtricitabine (3TC/FTC), and tenofovir (TDF) resistance was 62.6%, 17.7%, 5.6%, 15.7%, and 10.1%, respectively. No integrase inhibitor resistance was detected. Conclusions The high level of EFV/NVP resistance is unsurprising; however, levels of ABC and TDF resistance are amongst the highest observed to date in infants in sub-Saharan Africa. The absence of resistance to dolutegravir (DTG) is reassuring but underscores the need to further study the impact of ABC and 3TC/FTC resistance on pediatric protease inhibitor and DTG-based regimens and accelerate access to other antiretroviral drugs. Results underscore the need for ART optimization and prompt management of high viral loads in infants and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

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