南 建輔

Strongyloidiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis that presents with a variety of nonspecific symptoms. Diagnosis is challenging unless physicians suspect this disease and perform sensitivity tests. We report a case of strongyloidiasis with protein-losing gastroenteropathy-like symptoms in a 92-year-old Japanese female with lower extremity edema and hypoalbuminemia. In this case, the patient refused invasive tests for a complete examination; however, an agar plate culture of a stool sample was used to diagnose strongyloidiasis. The patient was treated with ivermectin during the second visit. One month later, leg edema and hypoproteinemia improved. When the cause of the symptoms is unclear, physicians should be aware of the possibility of strongyloidiasis in a person residing in a tropical or subtropical environment, where human feces are used as fertilizer and individuals frequently go barefoot in agricultural settings.

Several studies across various countries have shown the benefit of infectious disease consultation in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). However, the effect of such consultation services in patients with SAB in Japan remains unknown. Accordingly, we aimed to examine the effectiveness of infectious disease consultation in SAB patients at an accredited hospital in Japan. We hypothesized that infectious disease consultation in SAB patients is associated with lower in-hospital mortality. We identified patients with SAB between January 2011 and January 2014. SAB was defined as the presence of at least one set of positive blood culture samples. The outcomes of patients who did and did not receive bedside infectious disease consultation were compared. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. We identified 183 patients with SAB. Eighty-seven patients (48%) received infectious disease consultation services, while 96 (52%) did not. There were no significant differences in in-hospital mortality between the infectious disease consultation and control groups (15.0% vs. 23.0%, p = 0.20). Logistic regression analysis showed that bedside infectious disease consultation (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.69; p = 0.01) was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, bedside infectious disease consultation may help reduce the in-hospital mortality in patients with SAB in Japan.

<h4>Background</h4>Prognostic factors for fatal outcomes of patients with necrotizing fasciitis remain unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>We retrospectively analyzed data of patients with necrotizing fasciitis from January 1998 to July 2019 using our hospital's medical database. Clinical characteristics of patients who died during hospitalization or had been discharged were evaluated. Sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, alcohol use, comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis obliterans, heart disease, obstructive arteriosclerosis, dialysis, cancer, skin disease, steroid use history), shock vital, physical findings, Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score, sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, fascial administration, tracheal intubation, and surgical treatment (dismemberment and/or debridement) were compared between the survivor (group S) and nonsurvivor (group N) groups.<h4>Results</h4>Fifty-five patients with necrotizing fasciitis were included (40 patients in group S and 15 patients in group N). Serum creatine was a significant prognostic factor (odds ratio [OR], 3.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.75; P = 0.0078), with a cutoff value of 1.56 mg/dL. Moreover, the estimated glomerular filtration rate was a significant prognostic factor (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10, P = 0.000548), with a cutoff value of 20.6 mL/min.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Renal dysfunction is a significant prognostic factor for fatal outcomes of patients with necrotizing fasciitis.<h4>Level of evidence</h4>Level IV, Case series.

<h4>Background</h4>Pyomyositis is typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and is rare in temperate climates, although its prevalence has been recently increasing. This infection often involves the thigh, and is associated with immunodeficiency.<h4>Case presentation</h4>We report the case of a healthy 20-year-old Japanese woman who experienced a fever and continuous pain for several days. She was admitted to our hospital and was diagnosed with pyomyositis after we discovered an abscess between the muscles of her dorsal distal left thigh using computed tomography. This is a rare case of thigh pyomyositis, as it was caused by group A streptococcus and occurred in an immunocompetent adult from a temperate climate.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our review of the literature revealed that group A streptococcus pyomyositis typically occurs in temperate climates, among young adults without any underlying disease, and is associated with a poorer prognosis, compared to general pyomyositis. We suggest that pyomyositis should be considered when immunocompetent adults present with apparently idiopathic inflammatory muscle lesions.