- Volume 6, Issue 2, 2024

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) commonly manifest as cervical lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. Only a few species, such as Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), cause infection in children. With recent advances in gene sequencing, Mycobacterium interjectum has been identified as a rare cause of adenitis in children, with at least ten cases reported since 1993. Curative treatment for NTM lymphadenitis, particularly when caused by MAC, usually involves complete surgical excision of the affected lymph nodes. This case report highlights successful treatment of submandibular lymphadenitis caused by M. interjectum in a paediatric patient, despite multi-drug resistance in vitro.

Introduction. Brucellosis is a pervasive zoonotic disease causing considerable human morbidity worldwide. This report focuses on a case of neurobrucellosis in a rural Indian patient, emphasizing the need for timely microbiological confirmation given its nonspecific clinical presentation.

Case Presentation. A 55-year-old rural Indian farmer presented with a 3 week history of insidious, low-grade fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. He developed acute right-sided weakness and neurological symptoms, including disorientation and neck rigidity. Laboratory tests indicated abnormal blood counts, elevated inflammatory markers, and liver dysfunction. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed pleocytosis with lymphomononuclear cells and elevated protein levels. Blood cultures eventually grew Gram-negative coccobacilli. Serological tests confirmed neurobrucellosis. Prompt antibiotic therapy led to clinical and laboratory improvement.

Conclusion. This case underscores the importance of recognizing neurobrucellosis, particularly in endemic areas, given its nonspecific clinical presentation. Early microbiological diagnosis, supported by positive blood cultures and serological tests, was crucial. The patient’s rapid response to appropriate antibiotics emphasizes the significance of timely recognition and management.

Background. Streptococcus pneumoniae , a prominent human pathogen linked to various systemic diseases, includes non-typeable pneumococci marked by the absence of a detectable capsule. However, the majority of invasive infections are attributed to encapsulated strains. This case report details the first documented instance of invasive disease caused by non-typeable S. pneumoniae in Argentina since 2017.

Case Presentation. A 19-year-old woman presented with haemorrhagic injuries attributed to chronic oral mucosa irritation. Subsequent hospitalization revealed bone marrow aplasia, leading to antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, and immunosuppressive treatments, culminating in her discharge. Two weeks later, she was readmitted with sepsis related to a respiratory focus, exhibiting a negative COVID-PCR test. After ten days, ICU admission revealed additional infections: positive COVID-PCR test, fungal sinusitis, and S. pneumoniae bacteremia. Targeted treatments led to improvement, and the patient was subsequently discharged.

S. pneumoniae characterization. Verification of the capsule’s absence utilized traditional methods such as the Quellung reaction, transmission electron microscopy, molecular assays, and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). The isolate, identified as ST18335, displayed genetic features and antibiotic resistance patterns, concordant between WGS and the agar dilution method. It demonstrated non-susceptibility to penicillin and cefotaxime, based on meningitis breakpoints, as well as meropenem and cotrimoxazole.

Conclusion. This case underscores the clinical significance of non-typeable S. pneumoniae , emphasizing the necessity for a comprehensive approach to identification and characterization. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions regarding the challenges posed by non-typeable strains in vaccine development, understanding clinical impacts, and addressing antibiotic resistance. As the pneumococcal epidemiological landscape evolves, this case serves as a valuable addition to the evolving knowledge surrounding non-typeable S. pneumoniae , highlighting the continued need for surveillance and research in infectious diseases.

Background. Infections caused by Nocardia spp. can occur in immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent individuals. Although nocardiosis is rare, it is being increasingly recognized owing to the rise in occurrence rate over the years. The documentation of pleural involvement in nocardiosis is rare in India.

Case. We report a case of pulmonary nocardiosis in an immunocompromised individual caused by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum.

Discussion. Pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum may go unnoticed without clinical suspicion. Correct and timely identification is the key to proper patient management.

Conclusion. Coordination between clinicians and microbiologists is necessary for early diagnosis and appropriate management of nocardiosis.

The infratemporal fossa (ITF) is an anatomically complex cavity that houses a variety of muscular and neurovascular structures at the base of the skull. Infections involving the ITF, though uncommon, can be fatal due to the difficulties of accessing this anatomical space and its proclivity to evolve into a cavernous venous thrombosis (CVT). As a result, a multi-disciplinary approach involving several surgical and medical subspecialists is often warranted. We present a case of an infratemporal fossa abscess (IFA) after wisdom teeth extraction with a very complicated clinical course and a distinct microbiologic profile.

Bacillus pumilus (B. pumilus) is a ubiquitous spore-forming bacteria that has rarely been implicated in extraintestinal infections, mostly in immunocompromised hosts. The authors report a case of B. pumilus cellulitis with bacteremia in a person who injects drugs living with human immunodeficiency virus–hepatitis C virus (HIV–HCV) co-infection. Although similar cases have been reported for some species of the genus, namely Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), this case reinforces the importance of considering other Bacillus spp. as potential pathogens in skin and soft tissue infections and bloodstream infections related to intravenous drug use.