Part 1 of 2 | MCQ in 2nd Part 2:
23M active IV heroin user p/w 4 d fever/headache/seizure. Temp 39.3, supple neck. Initial head CT (-). CSF: WBC 30 (60% L), TP 90, gluc n/l. Developed R arm/leg hemiparesis hospital day 5. MRI: large L>R b/l basal ganglia enhancing lesions (👇) Image
|Part 2 of 2 |
Routine CSF viral PCRs/bacterial/AFB/fungal Cxs (-). Blood Cxs, HIV, RPR, TEE (-). Lives in Missouri, no travel/other exposures. Continued to be highly febrile on cefepime/vancomycin/metronidazole. What is the most likely cause of his clinical presentation?
1/9
Only 37% got the correct answer, Mucor.

Learning points:

✔️ High risk of cerebral mucormycosis among people who inject drugs (PWID)
✔️ Unique basal ganglia involvement seen in these cases

Picture in MCQ taken from:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P… Image
2/9
We've recently discussed some of the infections seen among PWID 👇

Isolated cerebral mucromycosis is one these infections clinicians need to be aware of. \

This MCQ was inspired by a case presented in our #idgrandrounds in 2015.
3/9
Common Mucor risk factors:
▪️ DM in DKA, steroids, hematologic malignancies, transplantation, neutropenia, trauma/burns

Common forms:
▪️ Rhino-orbito-cerebral | pulmonary | disseminated > GI
▪️ Cutaneous (trauma/burn)

Isolated Mucor:
▪️ Renal & cerebral seen in PWID
4/9
Isolated cerebral Mucor in PWID:

1⃣ Predilection for the basal ganglia (uni-/bi lateral)

Case series: 20 of 22 patients have basal ganglia involvement
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7888545

68 patients w/ isolated cerebral Mucro 👉 82% PWID, 71% ➕basal ganglia
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30415043
5/9
Why the basal ganglia?
Mucor, highly angioinvasive. Tissue infarction/necrosis, path hallmarks.

academic.oup.com/cid/article/45…
Contaminated injection ➕ microvascular injury from injected drug 👉 seeding to highly vascularized area (small penetrating arterioles/collaterals) Image
6/9
2⃣ Need to have a high index of suspicion (can lead to early dx & tx)

▪️ Can present like typical meningitis (fever, mental status change, headache); but almost 50%,➕hemiparesis
▪️ Rapidly progressive course despite abx
▪️ Brain biopsy is diagnostic (only 38% had ➕culture)
7/9
3⃣ High mortality rate

▪️ 65% mortality rate, survival a/w receipt of amphotericin & stereotactic aspiration ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30415043

Among 70 patients: delay in antifungals (>6 days after dx) led to a 2-fold mortality increase academic.oup.com/cid/article/47…
8/9
Other answers:

✔️ CNS Toxo is highly unusual in people w/o HIV/immunosuppression
✔️ Although VZV PCR can miss intracranial VZV vasculopathy, most lesions are in gray-white matter junction
✔️ Case lacks findings c/w rabies: hydrophobia, aerophobia, exposure, etc
9/9
In summary:

▪️ Need to be aware of isolated cerebral Mucor among PWID (high index of suspicion, rapid course, stroke-like presentation, basal ganglia lesions)
▪️ Early suspicion, early Tx and Dx 👉 life saving!
9/9 EXTRA

In patients w/ cerebral Mucor (like in this featured case), would you use high dose ampho (10 mg/kg/day)?
academic.oup.com/jac/article/70…

@FungalDoc @GermHunterMD @ShohamTxID @CarlosdelRio7 @PaulSaxMD @RazonableMD @DocWoc71 @BradCutrellMD @Cortes_Penfield
@FungalDoc @GermHunterMD @ShohamTxID @CarlosdelRio7 @PaulSaxMD @RazonableMD @DocWoc71 @BradCutrellMD @Cortes_Penfield Thank you for your response @FungalDoc @BradSpellberg @TxID_Edu @jdcooperid @FarhanFazal10.

I remember, this patient unfortunately expired despite higher dose ampho. By the time brain biopsy done & showed molds, might have been too late already.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with WuidQ: Washington University ID Questions

WuidQ: Washington University ID Questions Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @WuidQ

Jan 6, 2021
38/M w/ progressive loss of scalp, axilla, and chest hairs. Recently dx w/ HIV 6 mos ago when he developed dissem cryptococcosis. He has now been taking TDF/FTC, raltegravir, TMP/SMX, azithromycin, & fluconazole x 6 mos. Drug-induced alopecia is suspected. Most likely culprit?
1/8 Nice job! 52% got the right answer, fluconazole.

In animals/humans, fluconazole has been shown to induce telogen effluvium bit.ly/2MMnF9j, one of the most common causes of nonscarring hair loss (see Table 👇 bit.ly/38rTXyN).

@LParraRod @NNolanMD Image
2/8
Normal hair cycle: anagen (growth) 👉catagen (transformation) 👉telogen (resting) 👉 shedding. Cycle is asynchronous (no mass hair shedding). At any given time, 90% of hair are in anagen, 1% in catagen, 10% in telogen.

@ID_fellows @PBMazi @LeMiguelChavez @gayathri25788
Read 9 tweets
Sep 24, 2020
32/M, h/o HSV encep 1 mo ago (s/p 21 d ACV), on ceftri/metronidazole for sacral OM, p/t ER +delusion, fever, seizure. CSF: WBC 25 (L>N), ⬆️TP, n/l gluc,(-)HSV. Septic w/u all(-). MRI:
b/l temporal lobe enhancement ⬆️ from prior. Whch of the ff is the best Tx for this condition?
1/11
The group is split b/n steroids & d/c metronidazole. The answer here is Tx w/ steroids. Indeed, this is a case of autoimmune post-HSV encephalitis (anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis post-HSV). Good job @LemuelNonMD
@LeMiguelChavez @adilrashid83 @Orchid10Tree @KhalafSuha
2/11
Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy is predominated by cerebellar Sx w/ a distinct involvement of the dentato-rubro-olivary pathway on imaging. We’ve talked about it here before. Refer👇for further discussion
Read 12 tweets
Sep 19, 2020
67/M w/ poor control DM, BPH, +10 d dysuria. T38.1, BP 120/80, +tender R CVA. WBC 14. U/A: 21 WBC, UCx: (-)bacteria, +Candida glabrata (fluc-R) x 2 samples. BCx(-), CT: +prostate hypertrophy. Has had no response to ceftriaxone. Has no Foley cath. Which of the ff is indicated?
1/15
The vote is split b/n micafungin and ampho deoxycholate! Thank you for all your responses!

Although micafungin may be a reasonable option, the correct answer here is ampho deoxycholate.

In this tweetorial, we will talk about Candida UTI and its treatment.
@ID_fellows
2/15
Candiduria can be challenging as it can potentially indicate: colonization, UTI, or candidemia/disseminated infxn.

Candiduria from a clean-voided urine sample is uncommon (<1%); more commonly seen in hospitalized patients w/ an indwelling bladder cath.
Read 16 tweets
Sep 16, 2020
ID Miscellany|physical Exam|Signs|Humanities #idmesh
1/20
𝙁𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍 𝙋𝘼𝙏𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙉𝙎: 𝘼 𝙇𝙊𝙎𝙏 𝘼𝙍𝙏?

Great! Three quarters find inquiring about fever patterns still useful. We will review some of the most important fever patterns.

@ID_fellows

2/20
For centuries, physicians have relied upon meticulous observations to dx infections. For many years, observation of the fever pattern provided physicians w/ important diagnostic clues. However, the advent of abx & advanced dx & imaging has changed this landscape. #idmesh
3/20
Swift initiation of abx & antipyretics make it impossible to verify historical descriptions of certain fever patterns. Hence, inquiry into fever patterns loses its clinical significance bit.ly/33iXCLs.
Read 21 tweets
Sep 11, 2020
29M w severe persistent asthma p/w recurrent exacerbations despite optimal LABA/intranasal steroids. Abs eos 1250, total Ig E 1500, CT +mucus plugging, central bronchiectasis upper-middle lobes. Originally from Mexico, now in Texas. Which of the ff tests is indicated?
1/10
Great job! The majority got the right answer, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).

Recurrent asthma exacerbations despite optimal asthma therapy & eosinophilia a/w mucus plugging and multilobar central bronchiectasis should raise suspicion for ABPA.
2/10
Aspergillosis, classified as saprophytic (aspergilloma), allergic (ABPA, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic sinusitis), or invasive (pulmonary, other organs).

ABPA: hypersensitivity to A. fumigatus; can also occur from other fungi (referred as ABPM, M for mycosis).
Read 11 tweets
Jul 31, 2020
48M +cirrhosis, underwent routine large volume paracentesis. +Abd fullness, (-)fever, abd pain/tenderness, confusion. Ascitic fluid: light yellow, 100 PMNs, SAAG 1.5, Cx +pan-susc E. coli. WBC 8, Crea 0.8, bili 1.8. Which of the ff is best management for this patient?
1/5
Only 21% got this right: no abx, repeat para in 48H.

The dx of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) rests on finding >/= 250 PMNs/mm3 in the ascitic fluid. Most patients with SBP are symptomatic (only 13% with no symptoms bit.ly/3gp5nEU)
2/5
The patient in our case is asymptomatic (no fever, abdominal pain, mental status change 👉most common SBP symptoms) and the ascitic fluid is <250. This is a variant of SBP known as:

▪️Monomicrobial nonneutrocytic bacterascites (MNB)
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(