Epidural Empyema Research Articles

Increase of pyogenic bacterial infections after relaxation of social distancing measures linked to COVID-19 pandemic.

After the relaxation of COVID-19 mitigation measures, we observed a dramatic increase in pyogenic infections. Based on this observation, we retrospectively analysed all cases of invasive bacterial infections of brain, lung and complicated ear-nose-throat (ENT) infections, in the period from 1 August to 31 March from the years 2018-2019 to 2022-2023. The study was conducted in two Paediatric Emergency Departments, at IRCCS 'Burlo Garofolo' of Trieste and at Treviso Hospital. Electronic medical records were searched for all cases with a definitive diagnosis at discharge of mastoiditis, suppurative cervical lymphadenitis, retropharyngeal, parapharyngeal and peritonsillar abscess (ENT group), bacterial brain abscesses, epidural empyema, subdural empyema (central nervous system group), thoracic empyema and necrotising pneumonia (lung group). In 2022-2023, we observed an increase in infections compared to the previous years. Total number of cases were 22, 29, 8, 27 and 63 in 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, respectively. The greater increase occurred in thoracic empyema, with a peak incidence of +120% in 2022-2023 in respect of 2021-2022. We reported an important increase in paediatric bacterial complicated infections in two North East Italian regions, possibly correlated with the relaxation of COVID-19 social distancing measures.

Variation of practice in the treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a European Association of Neurosurgical Societies Spine Section study.

The incidence of spondylodiscitis is rising across Europe, but the ideal treatment approach remains controversial. The choice between conservative and surgical therapies is ambiguous due to a lack of consensus. This European survey aimed to explore prevailing treatment paradigms for primary spondylodiscitis. Spine neurosurgeons were invited through the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies Spine Section's mailing list to participate in an online survey featuring 7 spondylodiscitis case vignettes. Along with general management queries, specific patient treatment questions were posed. Data analysis was performed using R software (version 4.0.4). The index of qualitative variation (IQV) was calculated to quantify the variability in responses. A total of 130 responses were collected, comprising 86.9% board-certified neurosurgeons and 13.1% neurosurgeons in training, with an average of 11 years of practice. Most respondents performed 50-100 spine surgeries annually, with 66.7% specializing in spine surgery. An epidural empyema causing pronounced neurological deficits influenced 95.4% toward a surgical intervention, and mild neurological deficits and challenges in pathogen identification prompted 72.3% and 80%, respectively, to consider a surgical approach. Vertebral body destruction and spinal deformity directed 60% and 66.2%, respectively, toward surgery, whereas advanced age and comorbidities had a much smaller impact-5.4% and 9.2%, respectively. Clinical vignettes highlighted a predominant preference for conservative treatment in specific cases, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The IQV values evaluated for each question ranged from 0.88 to 0.99, indicating low agreement across all questions among respondents. When examining the average IQV by country, intercountry variations in IQV were substantial, as illustrated by the diverse range of overall mean IQV values (0.15-0.85). The findings reveal a significant variability in the treatment of spondylodiscitis among European neurosurgeons, with most neurosurgeons opting for conservative treatment. These diverse strategies, both between and within countries, highlight an imperative for evidence-backed guidelines and consensus statements for this grave condition.

Case report: a rare combination of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and cervical septic spondylodiscitis

Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine is a rare pathology with still unclear etiopathogenesis, although some authors associate it with metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Another rare disorder whose etiopathogenesis is also closely related to immunological disorders in diabetes is spinal epidural empyema. We present a case of a 62-year-old man with comorbidities of arterial hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus, with complaints of dysphagia and throat discomfort one and a half years prior to hospitalization. About a month before hospitalization, the patient reports pain with limited cervical mobility, followed by episodes of fever up to 38°C, with developing upper extremity muscle weakness and self-care incapacity. After imaging and laboratory studies, the patient was diagnosed with Forestier disease according to Resnick and Niwayama criteria, with ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament and spondylodiscitis with epidural empyema in the cervical compartment. The patient was started on empiric antibiotic therapy and emergency surgery was undertaken for osteophytectomy, median corpectomy with medullar decompression and vertebrodesis. Postoperatively, the patient had improvement in dysphagia and upper extremity muscle strength - MRC 5/5 at the 6-month follow-up. Timely diagnosis and operative treatment with adequate decompression, anterior vertebrodesis and subsequent targeted antibiotic therapy are essential for a good outcome in the management of patients with this combined pathology.

The impact of concomitant infective endocarditis in patients with spondylodiscitis and isolated spinal epidural empyema and the diagnostic accuracy of the modified duke criteria.

The co-occurrence of infective endocarditis (IE) and primary spinal infections (PSI) like spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) has been reported in up to 30% of cases and represents a life-threatening infection that requires multidisciplinary management to be successful. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the clinical phenotypes of PSI patients with concomitant IE and furthermore to assess the accuracy of the modified Duke criteria in this specific population. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in consecutive SD and ISEE patients treated surgically at our University Spine Center between 2002 and 2022 who have undergone detailed phenotyping comprising demographic, clinical, imaging, laboratory, and microbiologic assessment. Comparisons were performed between PSI patients with IE (PSICIE) and without IE (PSIWIE) to identify essential differences. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was the most common causative pathogen in PSICIE group (13 patients, 54.2%) and aortic valve IE was the most common type of IE (12 patients, 50%), followed by mitral valve IE (5 patients, 20.8%). Hepatic cirrhosis (p < 0.011; OR: 4.383; 95% CI: 1.405-13.671), septic embolism (p < 0.005; OR: 4.387; 95% CI: 1.555-12.380), and infection with Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. (p < 0.003; OR: 13.830; 95% CI: 2.454-77.929) were identified as significant independent risk factors for the co-occurrence of IE and PSI in our cohort. The modified Duke criteria demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 66.7% for the detection of IE in PSI patients. Pathogens were detected more frequently via blood cultures in the PSICIE group than in the PSIWIE group (PSICIE: 23, 95.8% vs. PSIWIE: 88, 62.4%, p < 0.001). Hepatic cirrhosis (PSICIE: 10, 41.7% vs. PSIWIE: 33, 21.6%, p = 0.042), pleural abscess (PSICIE: 9, 37.5% vs. PSIWIE: 25, 16.3%, p = 0.024), sepsis (PSICIE: 20, 83.3% vs. PSIWIE: 67, 43.8%, p < 0.001), septic embolism (PSICIE: 16/23, 69.6% vs. PSIWIE: 37/134, 27. 6%, p < 0.001) and meningism (PSICIE: 8/23, 34.8% vs. PSIWIE: 21/152, 13.8%, p = 0.030) occurred more frequently in PSICIE than in PSIWIE patients. PSICIE patients received longer intravenous antibiotic therapy (PSICIE: 6 [4-7] w vs. PSIWIE: 4 [2.5-6] w, p < 0.001) and prolonged total antibiotic therapy overall (PSICIE: 11 [7.75-12] w vs. PSIWIE: 8 [6-12] w, p = 0.014). PSICIE patients spent more time in the hospital than PSIWIE (PSICIE: 43.5 [33.5-53.5] days vs. PSIWIE: 31 [22-44] days, p = 0.003). We report distinct clinical, radiological, and microbiological phenotypes in PSICIE and PSIWIE patients and further demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of the modified Duke criteria in patients with PSI and concomitant IE. In the high-risk population of PSI patients, the modified Duke criteria might benefit from amending pleural abscess, meningism, and sepsis as minor criteria and hepatic cirrhosis as major criterion.

The importance of the bacterial spectrum in the clinical diagnostics and management of patients with spontaneous pyogenic spondylodiscitis and isolated spinal epidural empyema: a 20-year cohort study at a single spine center

BackgroundPersonalized clinical management of spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) is challenging due to limited evidence of microbiologic findings and their clinical impact during the clinical course of the disease. We aimed to characterize clinico-microbiological and imaging phenotypes of SD and ISEE to provide useful insights that could improve outcomes and potentially modify guidelines.MethodsWe performed chart review and collected data on the following parameters: bacterial antibiogram-resistogram, type of primary spinal infection, location of spinal infection, source of infection, method of detection, clinical complications (sepsis, septic embolism, and endocarditis), length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, relapse rate, and disease-related mortality in patients with proven pyogenic SD and ISEE treated surgically in a university hospital in Germany between 2002 and 2022.ResultsWe included data from 187 patients (125 SD, 66.8% and 62 ISEE, 33.2%). Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) were overall more frequently detected than gram-negative bacteria (GNB) (GPB: 162, 86.6% vs. GNB: 25, 13.4%, p < 0.001). Infective endocarditis was caused only by GPB (GPB: 23, 16.5% vs. GNB: 0, 0.0%, p = 0.046). Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated strain (MSSA: n = 100, 53.5%), occurred more frequently in the cervical spine compared to other bacteria (OB) (MSSA: 41, 41.0% vs. OB: 18, 20.7%, p = 0.004) and was most frequently detected in patients with skin infection as the primary source of infection (MSSA: 26, 40.6% vs. OB: 11, 16.7%, p = 0.002). Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. (SE: n = 31, 16.6%) were more often regarded as the cause of endocarditis (SE: 8, 27.6% vs. OB: 15, 11.4%, p = 0.037) and were less frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (SE: 19, 61.3% vs. OB: 138, 88.5%, p < 0.001). Enterobacterales (E: n = 20, 10.7%) were identified more frequently in urinary tract infections (E: 9, 50.0% vs. OB: 4, 3.6%, p < 0.001). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS: n = 20, 10.7%) were characterized by a lower prevalence of sepsis (CoNS: 4, 20.0% vs. OB: 90, 53.9%, p = 0.004) and were more frequently detected in intraoperative specimens (CoNS: 20, 100. 0% vs. OB: 137, 82.0%, p = 0.048). Moreover, CoNS-associated cases showed a shorter length of ICU stay (CoNS: 2 [1–18] days vs. OB: 6 [1–53] days, median [interquartile range], p = 0.037), and occurred more frequently due to foreign body-associated infections (CoNS: 8, 61.5% vs. OB: 15, 12.8%, p = 0.008). The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prolonged hospital stay by 56 [24–58] days and ICU stay by 16 [1–44] days, whereas patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa spent only 20 [18–29] days in the hospital and no day in the ICU 0 [0–5] days.ConclusionsOur retrospective cohort study identified distinct bacterial-specific manifestations in pyogenic SD and ISEE regarding clinical course, neuroanatomic targets, method of pathogen detection, and sources of infection. The clinico-microbiological patterns varied depending on the specific pathogens.

Identification of Mycoplasma hominis Infection by Nanopore 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing in Epidural Empyema After Neurovascular Surgery.

Identification of Mycoplasma hominis Infection by Nanopore 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing in Epidural Empyema After Neurovascular Surgery.

Spinal epidural empyema – an unusual cause of focal back pain in a teenager

Spinal epidural empyema – an unusual cause of focal back pain in a teenager

A 20-Year Study of Intracranial Pyogenic Complications of Sinusitis in Children.

Intracranial pyogenic complications of sinusitis in children can lead to serious sequelae. We characterize the clinical, epidemiologic and microbiologic characteristics of children with such complications over a 20-year period. Single-center retrospective chart review. Cases were identified based on International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 depending on the year and by reviewing all intracranial microbiologic samples. A total of 104 cases of complicated sinusitis were included after review of 1591 charts. Median age was 12 (IQR 9-14); 72 were male (69%). The most frequent complications were epidural empyema (n = 50, 48%), subdural empyema (n = 46, 44%) and Pott's puffy tumor (n = 27, 26%). 52% (n = 54) underwent neurosurgery and 46% (n = 48) underwent otolaryngologic surgery. The predominant pathogen isolated from sterile site specimens was Streptococcus anginosus (n = 40, 63%), but polymicrobial growth was common (n = 24; 38%). The median duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy was 51 days (IQR 42-80). Persistent neurologic sequelae (or death, n = 1) were found in 24% (n = 25) and were associated with the presence of cerebritis and extensive disease on neuroimaging ( P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Intracranial complications of sinusitis continue to cause significant morbidity in children. Polymicrobial infections are common, which reinforces the need for broad-spectrum empiric antibiotic therapy and cautious adjustment of the antibiotic regimen based primarily on sterile site cultures. The association of neurologic sequelae with the presence of cerebritis and extensive intracranial involvement on neuroimaging suggest that delayed diagnosis may be a contributor to adverse outcome.

Rare Presentation of Morganella morganii Microorganism as Epidural and Subdural Empyema

Abstract Background Morganella morganii is a gram-negative bacterium that rarely infects the central nervous system (CNS). Few reports described such an infection in the CNS. We present a case of extremely invasive M. morganii infection in the CNS. In addition, we performed a literature review of M. morganii infection in the CNS. Case report A 53-year-old male was admitted to the hospital due to fever, general weakness, and left-sided facial muscle twitching. He had a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, brain tumor, and epilepsy. Multiple left frontal scalp ulcers were revealed. In addition, a computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a left side epidural abscess and subdural empyema. Moreover, the patient had left frontal bone osteomyelitis. The next day, the patient underwent craniectomy, was transferred to the intensive care unit and started an empirical antibiotic course. Morganella morganii was identified from the infected scalp ulcers. On the 13th day, the patient passed away due to uncontrolled status epilepticus. Conclusion M. morganii can cause isolated or multiple types of CNS infections, including brain abscess, meningitis, and subdural empyema. The mortality rate may differ according to age and to the use of surgical evacuation.

The Efficacy of Daily Local Antibiotic Lavage via an Epidural Suction-Irrigation Drainage Technique in Spondylodiscitis and Isolated Spinal Epidural Empyema: A 20-Year Experience of a Single Spine Center.

Various treatment modalities are available for local antibiotic therapy in spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE), but there is no evidence-based recommendation. Postoperative epidural suction-irrigation drainage (ESID) is thought to reduce bacterial load, which may prevent the development of relapse, wound healing, hematogenous spread, and systemic complications. We evaluated the efficacy of postoperative ESID over 20 years on disease progression and outcome in SD and ISEE. Detailed demographic, clinical, imaging, laboratory, and microbiological characteristics were examined in our cohorts of 208 SD and ISEE patients treated with and without ESID at a university spine center in Germany between 2002 and 2022. Between-group comparisons were performed to identify meaningful differences for the procedure. We included data from 208 patients (142 SD, 68.3% vs. 66 ISEE, 31.7%) of whom 146 were ESID patients (87 SD, 59.6% vs. 59 ISEE, 40.4%) and 62 were NON-ESID patients (55 SD, 88.7% vs. 7 ISEE, 11.3%). ESID patients with SD showed more frequent SSI (ESID: 22, 25.3% vs. NON-ESID: 3, 5.5%, p = 0.003), reoperations due to empyema persistence or instability (ESID: 37, 42.5% vs. NON-ESID: 12, 21.8%, p = 0.012), and a higher relapse rate (ESID: 21, 37.5% vs. NON-ESID: 6, 16.7%, p = 0.037) than NON-ESID patients with SD. The success rate in NON-ESID patients with SD was higher than in ESID patients with SD (ESID: 26, 29.9% vs. NON-ESID: 36, 65.6%, p < 0.001). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that ESID therapy (p < 0.001; OR: 0.201; 95% CI: 0.089-0.451) was a significant independent risk factor for treatment failure in patients with SD. Our retrospective cohort study with more than 20 years of experience in ESID technique shows a negative effect in patients with SD in terms of surgical site infections and relapse rate.

A 9-year-old boy with a nonmalignant forehead tumor – a rare case of pediatric Pott’s puffy tumor

BackgroundPott’s puffy tumor (PPT) is a rare and potentially deadly complication of frontal sinusitis consisting of subperiosteal abscess and osteomyelitis of the frontal bone.Case presentationWe report the case of a 9-year-old boy who presented with fever and soft tissue swelling of the forehead. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) depicted an abscess in the subcutaneous tissue frontally and an epidural empyema, while a cranial computed tomography (CT) scan revealed bone erosion as a sign of osteomyelitis. The patient was treated accordingly.ConclusionsThis rare condition is essential to keep in mind as it needs a multidisciplinary approach and relevant imaging to start proper treatment and thus decrease the risk of intracranial complications.

Spinal epidural empyema in a colobus monkey

AbstractA 10‐year‐old, male colobus monkey presented with a kyphotic appearance. Lumbar spinal pain was suspected, and the colobus was started on a course of meloxicam. With no improvement noted, it was sedated for examination. Haematology revealed a neutrophilia. An empirical course of clavulanate potentiated amoxicillin was started. With no improvements seen after a 10‐day course, clinical examination was repeated. Abdominal ultrasound and abdominal radiographs revealed an abdominal effusion near the lumbar vertebrae, and haematology revealed a neutrophilia with toxic neutrophils. An enrofloxacin course was started. Three days later, the colobus presented with acute paraplegia with neurolocalisation to the T3–L3 spinal cord segments. A magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column was performed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal osteolytic vertebral body lesions, compression fractures of multiple vertebral bodies and ventral spinal cord compression. Differential diagnosis included infectious osteomyelitis with spinal epidural empyema or less likely, neoplasia. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected.

Diagnostic Sensitivity of Blood Culture, Intraoperative Specimen, and Computed Tomography-Guided Biopsy in Patients with Spondylodiscitis and Isolated Spinal Epidural Empyema Requiring Surgical Treatment.

the successful treatment of spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) depends on early detection of causative pathogens, which is commonly performed either via blood cultures, intraoperative specimens, and/or image-guided biopsies. We evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of these three procedures and assessed how it is influenced by antibiotics. we retrospectively analyzed data from patients with SD and ISEE treated surgically at a neurosurgery university center in Germany between 2002 and 2021. we included 208 patients (68 [23-90] years, 34.6% females, 68% SD). Pathogens were identified in 192 cases (92.3%), including 187 (97.4%) pyogenic and five (2.6%) non-pyogenic infections, with Gram-positive bacteria accounting for 86.6% (162 cases) and Gram-negative for 13.4% (25 cases) of the pyogenic infections. The diagnostic sensitivity was highest for intraoperative specimens at 77.9% (162/208, p = 0.012) and lowest for blood cultures at 57.2% (119/208) and computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsies at 55.7% (39/70). Blood cultures displayed the highest sensitivity in SD patients (SD: 91/142, 64.1% vs. ISEE: 28/66, 42.4%, p = 0.004), while intraoperative specimens were the most sensitive procedure in ISEE (SD: 102/142, 71.8% vs. ISEE: 59/66, 89.4%, p = 0.007). The diagnostic sensitivity was lower in SD patients with ongoing empiric antibiotic therapy (EAT) than in patients treated postoperatively with targeted antibiotic therapy (TAT) (EAT: 77/89, 86.5% vs. TAT: 53/53, 100%, p = 0.004), whereas no effect was observed in patients with ISEE (EAT: 47/51, 92.2% vs. TAT: 15/15, 100%, p = 0.567). in our cohort, intraoperative specimens displayed the highest diagnostic sensitivity especially for ISEE, whereas blood cultures appear to be the most sensitive for SD. The sensitivity of these tests seems modifiable by preoperative EAT in patients with SD, but not in those with ISEE, underscoring the distinct differences between both pathologies.

Clinical phenotyping of spondylodiscitis and isolated spinal epidural empyema: a 20-year experience and cohort study.

The incidence of spondylodiscitis (SD) and isolated spinal epidural empyema (ISEE) has been increasing in the last decades, but the distinct differences between both entities are poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the clinical phenotypes and long-term outcomes of SD and ISEE in depth. We performed a chart review and analyzed data from our cohorts of consecutive SD and ISEE patients who were treated and assessed in detail for demographic, clinical, imaging, laboratory, and microbiologic characteristics at a university neurosurgical center in Germany from 2002 to 2021. Between-group comparisons were performed to identify meaningful differences in both entities. We included 208 patients (72 females: age 75 [75 32-90] y vs. 136 males: 65 [23-87] y, median [interquartile range], p < 0.001), of which 142 (68.3%) had SD and 66 (31.7%) had ISEE. Patients with SD were older than ISEE (ISEE: 62 y vs. SD: 70 y, p = 0.001). While SD was more common in males than females (males: n = 101, 71.1% vs. females: n = 41, 28.9%, p < 0.001), there was no sex-related difference in ISEE (males: n = 35, 53.0% vs. females: n = 31, 47.0%, p = 0.71). Obesity was more frequent in ISEE than in SD (ISEE: n = 29, 43.9% vs. SD: n = 37, 26.1%, p = 0.016). However, there were no between-group differences in rates of diabetes and immunodeficiency. In the entire study population, a causative pathogen was identified in 192 (92.3%) patients, with methicillin-susceptible staphylococcus aureus being most frequent (n = 100, 52.1%) and being more frequent in ISEE than SD (ISEE: n = 43, 65.2% vs. SD: n = 57, 40.1%, p = 0.003). SD and ISEE occurred most frequently in the lumbar spine, with no between-group differences (ISEE: n = 25, 37.9% vs. SD: n = 65, 45.8%, p = 0.297). Primary infectious sources were identified in 145 patients (69.7%) and among this skin infection was most common in both entities (ISEE: n = 14, 31.8% vs. SD: n = 25, 24.8%, p = 0.418). Furthermore, epidural administration was more frequent the primary cause of infection in ISEE than SD (ISEE: n = 12, 27.3% vs. SD: n = 5, 4.9%, p < 0.001). The most common surgical procedure in SD was instrumentation (n = 87, 61%) and in ISEE abscess evacuation (n = 63, 95%). Patients with ISEE displayed lower in-hospital complication rates compared to SD for sepsis (ISEE: n = 12, 18.2% vs. SD: n = 94, 66.2%, p < 0.001), septic embolism (ISEE: n = 4/48 cases, 8.3% vs. SD: n = 52/117 cases, 44.4%, p < 0.001), endocarditis (ISEE: n = 1/52 cases, 1.9% vs. SD: n = 23/125 cases, 18.4%, p = 0.003), relapse rate (ISEE: n = 4/46, 8.7% vs. SD: n = 27/92, 29.3%, p = 0.004), and disease-related mortality (ISEE: n = 1, 1.5% vs. SD: n = 11, 7.7%, p = 0.108). Patients with SD showed prolonged length of hospital stay (ISEE: 22 [15, 30] d vs. SD: 38 [29, 53] d, p < 0.001) and extended intensive care unit stay (ISEE: 0 [0, 4] d vs. SD: 3 [0, 12] d, p < 0.002). Our 20-year experience and cohort analysis on the clinical management of SD and ISEE unveiled distinct clinical phenotypes and outcomes in both entities, with ISEE displaying a more favorable disease course with respect to complications and relapse rates as well as disease-related mortality.

A Systematic Review of Intracranial Complications in Adults with Pott Puffy Tumor over Four Decades

The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors of intracranial complications in adult patients with Pott Puffy Tumor (PPT). A systematic review was conducted of clinical studies from January 1983 to December 2022 that reported on PPT adult patients. The full-text articles were reviewed for the patients' ages, sex, cultured organisms, surgical procedures, clinical sequalae, and underlying diseases that may affect the onset of intracranial complications in PPT adult patients. A total of 106 studies were included. Medical data were reviewed for 125 patients (94 males, 31 females). The median age was 45 years. A total of 52% had comorbidities, mostly head trauma (24.5%), sinus/neurosurgical operations (22.4%), immunosuppression conditions (13.3%), diabetes mellitus (9.1%), cocaine use (7.1%), or dental infections (6.1%). A total of 28 cultures revealed Streptococcus (22.4%), 24 contained staphylococci (19.2%), and 22 cultures contained other pathogens (17.6%). An amount of 30.4% developed intracranial complications, with the most common being epidural abscesses or empyemas (55.3%), as well as subdural (15.7%) and extradural lesions (13.2%). Age, DM, and immunosuppression conditions are significantly associated with intracranial complications (p < 0.001, p = 0.018 and p = 0.022, respectively). Streptococcus infection is associated with intracranial complications (p = 0.001), although Staphylococcus and other microorganisms are not. Surgical intervention, mainly ESS, and broad-spectrum antibiotics remain the cornerstones of treatment.

Brevundimonas vesicularis isolation from a Labrador Retriever with Bacteremia, Endocarditis, Spinal Epidural Empyema, and Polyarthritis.

A 7 yr old spayed female Labrador retriever was evaluated for progressive nonambulatory tetraparesis, obtundation, joint pain, and pyrexia. The dog was diagnosed with spinal epidural empyema, bacteremia, endocarditis, and polyarthritis based on magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, joint fluid analysis, and blood culture. Blood culture isolated a rare and atypical pathogen, Brevundimonas vesicularis in conjunction with Escherchia coli. The patient was treated with a 10 mo antibiotic course, and clinical signs quickly resolved. This is the first report of B vesicularis in association with bacteremia, endocarditis, spinal empyema, and polyarthritis in a dog.

Clinical Presentation, MRI Characteristics, and Outcome of Conservative or Surgical Management of Spinal Epidural Empyema in 30 Dogs.

Spinal epidural empyema (SEE) represents a neurological emergency in veterinary medicine, but information on this condition is limited to date. This retrospective case series study describes the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features, and the outcome of conservative or surgical management of SEE in 30 dogs diagnosed with SEE from September 2015 to March 2020 at one referral neurology centre. The most frequent clinical sign was pain 28/30 (93%), and 22/30 (73%) showed neurological signs with ambulatory paraparesis/tetraparesis 15/30 (50%), monoparesis 1/30 (3.3%), non-ambulatory paraparesis 3/30 (10%), or paraplegia 3/30 (10%). MRI was valuable for the diagnosis and in the follow-up. In this group of dogs, 24/30 (80%) were conservatively treated and 6/30 (20%) were surgically treated. The outcome was considered favourable in all dogs: 20/30 (66.6%) achieved full recovery (3 surgically treated and 17 medically treated) and 10/30 (33.3%) dogs had an improvement in the neurological signs with residual ambulatory paresis (3 surgically treated and 7 medically treated). Surgical treatment showed better short-term (7 days) outcomes than medical treatment in non-ambulatory paraparetic or paraplegic dogs (33%). Nevertheless, this study suggests that a good recovery may be achieved with conservative treatment even for non-ambulatory or paraplegic dogs. Further prospective studies, with a standardised protocol of diagnostic tests and a homogeneous distribution of conservatively and surgically treated dogs, are needed to establish treatment guidelines.

Complications of Frontal Sinusitis. Bibliographic Review

Introduction and objective: Frontal rhinosinusitis usually resolves with medical therapy. However, when the sinonasal infection persists, the anatomy of this region can lead to severe and life-threatening complications due to infection spreading beyond the sinus namely to the intracranial compartment. This review aims to highlight the more recent developments on the management of frontal rhinosinusitis and its complications, from a practical perspective that is essential to accurately diagnose these complications. Method: A review of the literature was performed by the authors. PubMed database was searched with relevant terms, which included the following: «frontal sinusitis complications», «pediatric frontal sinusitis» and «frontal sinusitis imaging». Relevant scientific treaties were also used as ancillary to this review. A comprehensive review of the English and Portuguese literature was carried out, including papers published between 2000 and 2021. Our inclusion criteria included clinical trials, expert opinion papers, literature reviews, systematic reviews and clinical guidelines. Duplicate articles, case reports or very small sample studies were excluded prior general screening. Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of them concerned the adult population, with four papers directly addressing the pediatric population. Two clinical guidelines, one large retrospective cohort study and two systematic reviews were selected. Twelve clinical review articles and small retrospective studies were selected, comprising most of the papers addressed. Four clinical textbooks were also consulted for this review. Discussion: Morbidity and mortality from complicated sinusitis are mainly related to intracranial involvement. Although the mortality rate was higher before the era of antibiotic therapy, intracranial abscess still carries high mortality. Frontal sinusitis can be complicated by periorbital cellulitis, abscess formation, both periorbital and subperiosteal in the frontal bone anterior wall (Pott puffy tumor), and, rarely, cavernous sinus thrombosis. Intracranial complications include subdural and epidural empyema, meningitis, and intracerebral abscess. These complications will be reviewed in this paper. Conclusions: Complications of frontal sinusitis can be severe and life threatening, mainly due to the proximity of the frontal sinus with the intracranial compartment. Due to its high availability, CT frequently is the first imaging technique performed in the emergency setting. The excellent bone and high-spatial resolution make CT the preferred imaging examination in presurgical planning. However, contrast-enhanced MRI is far superior in soft-tissue evaluation and should be considered whenever an orbitary or intracranial complication is suspected. These complications are mostly treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage procedures. Early aggressive intervention has decreased morbidity and shortened hospital stay, although significant morbidity and mortality from complications can still occur.

Pediatric Brain Abscesses, Epidural Empyemas, and Subdural Empyemas Associated with Streptococcus Species - United States, January 2016-August 2022.

In May 2022, CDC learned of three children in California hospitalized concurrently for brain abscess, epidural empyema, or subdural empyema caused by Streptococcus intermedius. Discussions with clinicians in multiple states raised concerns about a possible increase in pediatric intracranial infections, particularly those caused by Streptococcus bacteria, during the past year and the possible contributing role of SARS-CoV-2 infection (1). Pediatric bacterial brain abscesses, epidural empyemas, and subdural empyemas, rare complications of respiratory infections and sinusitis, are often caused by Streptococcus species but might also be polymicrobial or caused by other genera, such as Staphylococcus. On June 9, CDC asked clinicians and health departments to report possible cases of these conditions and to submit clinical specimens for laboratory testing. Through collaboration with the Children's Hospital Association (CHA), CDC analyzed nationally representative pediatric hospitalizations for brain abscess and empyema. Hospitalizations declined after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, increased during summer 2021 to a peak in March 2022, and then declined to baseline levels. After the increase in summer 2021, no evidence of higher levels of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality, genetic relatedness of isolates from different patients, or increased antimicrobial resistance of isolates was observed. The peak in cases in March 2022 was consistent with historical seasonal fluctuations observed since 2016. Based on these findings, initial reports from clinicians (1) are consistent with seasonal fluctuations and a redistribution of cases over time during the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC will continue to work with investigation partners to monitor ongoing trends in pediatric brain abscesses and empyemas.

Spinal epidural empyema in a dog as a suspected consequence of a post‐neutering infection

AbstractAn 8‐month‐old, male German shepherd dog presented for acute collapse following orchiectomy. Pyrexia, scrotal inflammation and purulent discharge from the surgical incision were found and medical therapy including antimicrobials was initiated for suspected septic shock. The dog was referred 2 days later paraplegic with absent nociception. Blood work revealed neutrophilia. Magnetic resonance imaging supported a presumptive diagnosis of C7–T2 spinal epidural empyema, while computed tomography imaging showed signs associated with scrotal inflammation with multifocal lymphadenopathies and splenic lymphoid hyperplasia. Histopathology of the epidural material obtained through decompressive surgery revealed a neutrophilic to pyogranulomatous inflammation. Blood, urine and epidural material cultures were negative. The dog failed to improve and was euthanased. This study suggests that spinal epidural empyema could result from routine procedures. Prompt recognition of specific constellation of clinical signs (i.e., pyrexia and spinal pain) and biochemical abnormalities (i.e., neutrophilia) as a neurological emergency and appropriate intervention may alter prognosis.