Category Archives: JCCM 2018, Vol. 4, Issue 2

Endotracheal Tube Biofilm and its Impact on the Pathogenesis of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Olguța Diaconu1, Ianis Siriopol1, Laura Iulia Poloșanu2, Ioana Grigoraș1,3

1 Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
2 Microbiology Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
3 Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department, Regional Institute of Oncology, Iași, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2018-0011

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious nosocomial infection in mechanically ventilated patients and results in high mortality, prolonged intensive care unit- (ICU) and hospital-length of stay and increased costs. In order to reduce its incidence, it is imperative to better understand the involved mechanisms and to identify the source of infection. The role of the endotracheal tube (ET) in VAP pathogenesis became more prominent over the last decades, along with extensive research dedicated to medical device-related infections and biofilms. ET biofilm formation is an early and constant process in intubated patients. New data regarding its temporal dynamics, composition, germ identification and consequences enhance knowledge about VAP occurrence, microbiology, treatment response and recurrence.
This paper presents a structured analysis of the medical literature to date, in order to outline the role of ET biofilm in VAP pathogenesis and to review recommended methods to identify ET biofilm microorganisms and to prevent or decrease VAP incidence.

Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Full text: PDF

Incidental Finding of a Left Atrial Myxoma while Characterising an Autoimmune Disease

Rafael Garcia-Carretero1, Gema Naranjo-Mansilla1, Esther Luna-Heredia1,
Paloma Arias-Baldo2, Blanca-Nieves Beamonte-Vela1

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Mostoles University Hospital, Spain
2 Department of Radiology, Mostoles University Hospital, Spain

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2018-0009

Although cardiac tumours are uncommon, cardiac myxomas account for more than fifty percent of all cases and are the most frequent primary cardiac tumour. They have a broad clinical spectrum, usually related to cardiac symptoms, peripheral embolic events or systemic manifestations. We present a case report of a 68-year-old man who presented with systemic symptoms and analytical features suggestive of an autoimmune disease. In the ensuing diagnostic procedures, a cardiac myxoma was found, and after surgical resection, both the systemic manifestations and the analytical abnormalities disappeared.

Keywords: , ,
Full text: PDF

Resistance to Antimicrobians – A Global Problem with Sectoral Resolution

Sorin Rugină

Ovidius University of Constanța, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2018-0010

Mankind has been and still is constantly threatened by infectious diseases. Antimicrobials, used to treat infections, are considered one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century because they saved millions of lives from diseases that had a high mortality rate. Mankind has been and is still constantly threatened by infectious diseases. Antimicrobials, used to treat infections, are considered one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century because they saved millions of lives from diseases that had a high mortality rate. Current infectious pathology is worryingly extending due mainly to “globalization”, which confirms the current concept of “Infections Without Borders”. In this context, both the consumption of antimicrobial substances and, inherently, the resistance of the main pathogens involved have increased. Unfortunately, antimicrobials have become victims of their success because their abusive use in humans and animals has led to the emergence of resistance among clinically important pathogens. Each dose of antibiotic creates selective evolutionary pressures, resulting in pandemic spread of highly resistant bacterial clones. Resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest threats to human health. A return to the pre-antibiotic era would not only make possible the development of epidemics caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, a major threat to the population, but would also jeopardize some of the most valuable therapies in modern medicine, such as transplantation and immunosuppressive chemotherapy programmes –dependent on supportive antimicrobial treatments. [More]

Keywords:
Full text: PDF

Perioperative Stress-Induced (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy in Liver Transplant Recipients

Alexander A. Vitin1, Leonard Azamfirei2, Dana Tomescu3

1 Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Department of Surgery, Transplant Surgery Division, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle WA, USA
2 Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
3 Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, “Carol Davila “University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2018-0006

A comprehensive analysis of published cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, occurred in liver transplant recipients in the perioperative period, has been attempted in this review. Predisposing factors, precipitating events, potential physiological mechanisms, acute and post-event management have been discussed.

Keywords: , , ,
Full text: PDF

Severe Fatal Systemic Embolism Due to Non-Bacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis as the Initial Manifestation of Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Case Report

Anca Moţăţăianu1,2, Smaranda Maier1,2, Anita Gothard2, Zoltán Bajkó1,2, Rodica Bălaşa1,2

1 Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu Mureş, Romania
2 1st Neurology Clinic, Mureş County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/jccm-2018-0008

Introduction: Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), also known as marantic endocarditis, is a rare, underdiagnosed complication of cancer, in the context of a hypercoagulable state. NBTE represents a serious complication due to the high risk of embolisation from the sterile cardiac vegetations. If these are not properly diagnosed and treated, infarctions in multiple arterial territories may occur.
Case presentation: The case of a 47-year-old male is described. The patient was diagnosed with a gastric adenocarcinoma, in which the first clinical manifestation was NBTE. Subsequently, a hypercoagulability syndrome was associated with multi-organ infarctions, including stroke and eventually resulted in a fatal outcome.
Conclusions: NBTE must be considered in patients with multiple arterial infarcts with no cardiovascular risk factors, in the absence of an infectious syndrome and negative blood cultures. Cancer screening must be performed to detect the cause of the prothrombotic state.

Keywords: , , ,
Full text: PDF