Paranasal Infection Research Articles

Multiple brain abscesses with tetralogy of fallot (TOF): a case report

Introduction: Patients with multiple brain abscesses and a secondary diagnosis of tetralogy of fallot (TOF) rarely occur fatal complications. Brain abscess is a very uncommon but potentially fatal infection of the brain parenchyma that can affect 5%-18.7% of the CHD population. The degree of right-to-left shunt is responsible for brain tissue hypoxia, which can lead to cerebral infarction, which is a precursor to cerebral abscess. Therefore, this study aimed to report on a patient with several brain abscesses and TOF. Case description: A 30-year-old cyanotic male with a chief complaint of gradually decreased consciousness since 2 weeks ago without a history of vomiting. The patient has a clubbing finger. The patient has a TOF history without a prior infection, such as toothache, ear discharge, paranasal infection, cough, or flu. Physical examination revealed the Glasgow Coma Scale of E4VxM6 (global aphasia), right hemiparesis, increased physiological reflexes and positive pathological reflexes in the right of the body. Laboratory results showed slight leucocytosis and hyponatremia and elevated CRP. Head MRI spectroscopy was performed 3 days later, revealing multiple brain abscesses. The patient was given therapy antibiotics, namely ceftriaxone injection and metronidazole injection intravenously. Conclusion: A brain abscess should be suspected in patients with TOF who arrive with a fever and an acute neurological condition. Besides antibiotics, patients should be encouraged to have corrective surgery as soon as possible to avoid future deadly consequences.

Emerging Syndemic: Black Fungus–A Post-COVID-19 Mucormycosis

Novel coronavirus has created a havoc in India; about 30 million cases have been reported and 0.4 million deaths are recorded till now due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). But nowadays, some patients of COVID-19 in India are battling a very rare but fatal disease, that is, mucormycosis or “black fungus” disease. The consciousness about the black fungus disease in many people of India is due to its rising cases of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) mostly among the people who have recovered from COVID-19. Following recovery from COVID-19, thousands of cases of several complications of patients regarding CAM are reported especially during the second wave of COVID-19 in India. Mucormycosis or “black fungus” is a rare disease caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. It is a disease observed following infection with the novel coronavirus in India and has already taken the form of a pandemic in many states.[1] [2] Therefore, scientists have chosen to name the disease as a syndemic since this is synergistically created with the pandemic. The ubiquitous molds of mucormycosis having a worldwide dispersal, including the Rhizopus, Apophysomyces, Mucor, and Lichtheimia species, are found in plants, soil, decaying fruits and vegetables, and even in air. If contact occurs with airborne spore, then it germinates into hyphae and is regarded a very rare occurrence. This preferentially takes place inside the bucconasal cavity. After germination, it can invade the neighboring tissue and blood vessels that results in characteristic hemorrhage followed by black color development. The visualization of these dark necrotic tissues on skin and blood vessels of the affected person is termed as black fungus disease. Till now five major forms of mucormycosis have been identified, for example, rhinocerebral (44–49%), cutaneous (10–16%), pulmonary (10–11%), disseminated (6–11.6%), and gastrointestinal (2–11%) forms. Among these, the most common rhinocerebral form usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals. It exhibited a “pattern paranasal infection” with a porch into the oral cavity often. It is a quickly emerging angioinvasive infection, with rhinoorbital-cerebral and pulmonary manifestations. According to the Indian government, there are over 11,700 reported cases and over 126 casualties as of May 2021.[3] There is a surge in terms of infection rates. Though mucormycosis is generally regarded as harmless to an immunocompetent host, it may be fatal in some cases in its combination form with factors like indiscriminate use of steroids or other immunosuppressants, even in subjects presenting with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Immunocompromised patients like people with hematological malignancies, damaged mucosal layer, uncontrolled diabetes, ketoacidosis, and viral induced lymphopenia are the prime victims of this deadly fungus.[4] It is a fatal disease if unnoticed as it is invasive to blood vessels, distant organs, nose, mouth, eyes, sinus, and even brain. If untreated, the infection usually develops speedily, and leads to death within a few days of contamination.

Transferable Architecture for Segmenting Maxillary Sinuses on Texture-Enhanced Occipitomental View Radiographs

Maxillary sinuses are the most prevalent locations for paranasal infections on both children and adults. Common diagnostic material for this particular disease is through the screening of occipitomental-view skull radiography (SXR). With the growing cases on paranasal infections, expediting the diagnosis has become an important innovation aspect that could be addressed through the development of a computer-aided diagnosis system. As the preliminary stage of the development, an automatic segmentation over the maxillary sinuses is required to be developed. This study presents a computer-aided detection (CAD) module that segments maxillary sinuses from a plain SXR that has been preprocessed through the novel texture-based morphological analysis (ToMA). Later, the network model from the Transferable Fully Convolutional Network (T-FCN) performs pixel-wise segmentation of the maxillary sinuses. T-FCN is designed to be trained with multiple learning stages, which enables re-utilization of network weights to be adjusted based on newer dataset. According to the experiments, the proposed system achieved segmentation accuracy at 85.70%, with 50% faster learning time.

Successful outcome of mucormycosis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Invasive fungal infections may cause morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients with hematologic and oncologic malignancies treated with intensive protocols. We present a case of mucormycosis in an 8-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In our patient, the suspicion for an oculoorbital and paranasal infection only due to mild pain in the orbital area without any abnormal pathologic findings in the ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic examination, led us to an early diagnosis. Despite the use of antifungal therapy, the lesion persisted and fever subsided after surgical drainage of the periorbital abscess. Antifungal treatment continued during chemotherapy. He has been in remission for four years. Mucormycosis should be in the differential diagnosis in infections in children with cancer, especially leukemia, according to clinical and radiologic findings. A high degree of suspicion and prompt systemic empirical antifungal therapy, as well as surgical debridement, are crucial for the survival of patients. Beside antifungals, early surgery plays an important role in patients with mucormycosis.

A rare cause of ptosis in emergency medicine practice: acute sinusitis case report

Objective: Paranasal sinus infections are one of the most frequent causes of emergency service admissions. With increased incidence, complications are often local and classified according to the effecting side. Early identification of complication leads to reduce mortality and morbidity. Case: A 22 year old male patient was admitted to our emergency department with ptosis on his right eyelid. Firstly he was admitted to the family doctor and received oral cephalosporin treatment for upper respiratory tract infection. Within three days, the ptosis was progressively occurred. No additional systemic sign was detected. The eyelid has slightly edema, not have redness, conjunctival hyperemia and loss of brow not observed. Eye movements were naturally, display pain in the outward view. For differential diagnosis central nervous system imaging was performed. Patient referred to otorhinolaryngology surgeon with prediagnosis of orbital cellulite and acute sinusitis. The patient was admitted to the otorhinolaryngology clinic for operation because of complicated sinusitis. Conclusion: In the presence of acute sinusitis, infections may enter the orbital periosteum and spread to neighboring tissues. Computed tomography is a highly effective imaging modality for the evaluation of both paranasal infections and their complications. Patients with orbital complications must be hospitalized and immediate intravenous antibiotic therapy should be started.

Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of clinical isolates of Aspergillus flavus from Iran reveals the first cases of Aspergillus minisclerotigenes associated with human infection.

BackgroundAspergillus flavus is intensively studied for its role in infecting crop plants and contaminating produce with aflatoxin, but its role as a human pathogen is less well understood. In parts of the Middle East and India, A. flavus surpasses A. fumigatus as a cause of invasive aspergillosis and is a significant cause of cutaneous, sinus, nasal and nail infections.MethodsA collection of 45 clinical and 10 environmental A. flavus isolates from Iran were analysed using Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat (VNTR) markers with MICROSAT and goeBURST to determine their genetic diversity and their relatedness to clinical and environmental A. flavus isolates from Australia. Phylogeny was assessed using partial β-tubulin and calmodulin gene sequencing, and mating type was determined by PCR. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed on selected isolates using a reference microbroth dilution method.ResultsThere was considerable diversity in the A. flavus collection, with no segregation on goeBURST networks according to source or geographic location. Three Iranian isolates, two from sinus infections and one from a paranasal infection grouped with Aspergillus minisclerotigenes, and all produced B and G aflatoxin. Phylogenic analysis using partial β-tubulin and calmodulin sequencing confirmed two of these as A. minisclerotigenes, while the third could not be differentiated from A. flavus and related species within Aspergillus section flavi. Based on epidemiological cut-off values, the A. minisclerotigens and A. flavus isolates tested were susceptible to commonly used antifungal drugs.ConclusionsThis is the first report of human infection due to A. minisclerotigenes, and it raises the possiblity that other species within Aspergillus section flavi may also cause clinical disease. Clinical isolates of A. flavus from Iran are not distinct from Australian isolates, indicating local environmental, climatic or host features, rather than fungal features, govern the high incidence of A. flavus infection in this region. The results of this study have important implications for biological control strategies that aim to reduce aflatoxin by the introduction of non-toxigenic strains, as potentially any strain of A. flavus, and closely related species like A. minisclerotigenes, might be capable of human infection.

Paranasal sinus pathogens in children with cystic fibrosis: Do they relate to lower respiratory tract pathogens and is eradication successful?

BackgroundThe study aims were to assess the association of microflora between the paranasal sinus and the lower airways of children attending a regional paediatric cystic fibrosis centre and to determine the performance of an eradication treatment protocol for positive paranasal sinus samples. MethodPaired nasal lavage and lower airway samples (cough swabs or sputum) were taken from 54 children with cystic fibrosis (median age 11years). Positive paranasal sinus samples received eradication treatment, using oral and sinonasal nebulised antibiotics. ResultsA correlation between paranasal sinus and lower airways was detected in 33/54 paired timed samples (p<0.02). Of 4/54 children who reported sinus symptoms, only 2 had paranasal sinus positive samples. 28 positive nasal lavage samples cultured 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), 8 Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and 12 other bacterial pathogens. Eradication using sinonasal nebulised antibiotics and oral antibiotics showed a success of 14/21 (67%) treated paranasal sinus positive samples at 1month & 3months after treatment. Success rate was 75% in the PA group and 71% in the SA group. Ongoing monitoring with nasal lavage will continue. ConclusionThere was agreement between pathogens or lack of them found in the paranasal sinus and lower airways. Paranasal infection is often asymptomatic in children with cystic fibrosis. The eradication protocol for paranasal sinus pathogens had a good success rate.

Fusobacterium necrophorum, an emerging pathogen of otogenic and paranasal infections?

Fusobacterium necrophorum is a rare causative agent of otitis and sinusitis. Most commonly known is the classic Lemièrre's syndrome of postanginal sepsis with suppurative thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein. We report five patients diagnosed recently with a complicated infection with F. necrophorum originating from otitis or sinusitis. Two patients recovered completely, one patient died due to complications of the infection, one patient retained a slight hemiparesis and one patient had permanent hearing loss. Diagnosis and management are discussed. A possible factor in the emergence of F. necrophorum is proposed.

Concomitant Zygomycosis and Aspergillosis of the rhinocerebral region in a post renal transplant patient

Invasive fungal infections are associated with morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Infection of rhinocerebral region are mainly due to opportunistic fungal pathogens. Although zygomycosis and aspergillosis are two major causes of paranasal infections, reports of combined mucormycosis and aspergillosis infections of rhinocerebral region are limited. We report a case of combined rhinocerebral fungal infection in post renal transplant diabetic patient. Identification of two fungal pathogens helps in appropriate management of patient with clinical cure.

Skull base osteomyelitis and potential cerebrovascular complications in children

Skull base osteomyelitis is an aggressive, life-threatening infection that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. It occurs predominantly in elderly immunocompromised patients, but it has also been reported in children with normal immunological status. Typical skul base osteomyelitis arises as a complication to ear infection mainly involving the temporal bone and is usually caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Atypical or central skul base osteomyelitis originates from paranasal infections, is primarily centred on the clivus and is usually caused by Aspergillus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella or Staphylococcus species. Potential complications include retropharyngeal abscesses, cranial neuropathies, meningitis, intracranial abscesses, sinovenous thrombosis, and carotid artery involvement with or without ischemic infarcts. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the spectrum of imaging findings and potential complications of skul base osteomyelitis.

Hyalohyphomycosis of maxillary antrum

Fungal infection of the paranasal sinuses is an increasingly recognized entity, both in normal and immunocompromised individuals. The recent increase in mycotic nasal and paranasal infections is due to both improved diagnostic research and an increase in the conditions that favor fungal infection. Although fungal infections of the paranasal sinus are uncommon, 3–5% of incidence is reported. Aspergillus, Candida, and Mucor species are the most common causative agents of fungal sinusitis, but infection with lesser known species have been reported across the world infrequently. This article reviews and presents a case report of chronic fungal sinusitis in an immunocompetent adult male infected with two species of Hyalohyphomycosis group namely, Paecilomyces and Scopulariopsis which are opportunistic soil saprophytes, uncommon to humans.

Can the electronic nose diagnose chronic rhinosinusitis? A new experimental study

In otorhinolaryngologist's experience the nasal out-breath of people affected by chronic nasal or paranasal infections may be characterized by peculiar odours. In a previous study we showed that an electronic nose (EN), examining nasal out breath was able to distinguish subjects affected by chronic rhinosinusitis from healthy subjects. The present study is aimed at analysing the intensity and the quality of the odorous components present in the air expired by patients affected by rhinosinusitis, using a new EN based on gas-chromatography and surface acoustic wave analysis. In the gas-chromatographic tracings of the pathologic subjects there were six peaks, which were not present in control group cases. These peaks correspond to odorous components, whose chemical composition ranges from C6 to C14. Peaks obtained were compared with other tracings revealed from specific bacterial and fungal cultures analyses and we appreciated some analogies.

Allergische Pilzsinusitis, Fungusball und invasive Mykose der Nasennebenhöhlen – drei distinkte, pilzinduzierte Krankheitsbilder

Three different fungal-related clinical pictures have to be differentiated in the paranasal sinuses: allergic fungal sinusitis, fungus ball and invasive sinonasal mycosis. A morphological reevaluation of fungal-related diseases of the paranasal sinuses as well as a retrospective analysis of their clinical parameters was performed. 86 patients with patho-histological proven fungal-related disease of the nasal sinuses were enclosed in this study. Reevaluation and correlation of clinical and histological parameters were conducted on routine material (HE, PAS and Grocott) according to the modern morphological definitions. Invasive sinonasal mycosis was seen in 22 cases, eleven male and eleven female, mean age 57 years (22 to 84 years). It was significantly related (nine out of 22 patients, 41%) to immunocompromising conditions: three patients had diabetes mellitus type II, five had have a radiation therapy due to carcinoma and one patient suffered from bacterial endocarditis. A fungus ball was diagnosed in 60 patients, 26 male, 34 female, mean age 54 years (22-88 years). An immunocompromising condition was seen in nine out of 60 patients (15%). Causes for immune impairment were diabetes mellitus (two patients), radiation therapy due to carcinoma (four patients), myocarditis (one patient) and chronic hepatitis (two patients). Allergic fungal sinusitis was recorded in four patients, three male, one female, mean age 43 years (17-63 years). No immunosuppression was diagnosed. Despite the fact that allergic fungal sinusitis is the most common fungal disease of the paranasal sinuses, it is not well known among physicians and pathologists and therefore underrepresented within the diagnoses of paranasal infections. The term "aspergilloma" is imprecise and does not represent a clear diagnosis. A further differentiation in "fungus ball" (without invasion) and "invasive sinonasal mycosis" is required. The three groups of fungal-related sinusitis occur at different ages. Allergic fungal sinusitis is common among young adults. An immunocompromising condition is a prerequisite for an invasive sinonasal mycosis.

Isolated turbinitis and pneumatization of the concha inferior in a child

Concha bullosa of the inferior turbinate is an extremely rare anatomic malformation with 11 reports of this condition in the literature. The inferior turbinate is an independent bone originating from the lateral nasal wall. Although inferior concha bullosa is generally asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally by computed tomography, nasal obstruction, headache, and epiphora are some of the possible symptoms. Isolated turbinitis with no additional paranasal infection is also very rare. Although there is only 1 reported case of pediatric inferior concha bullosa before, this case is the first pneumatized inferior concha with associated isolated turbinitis.

Abscess of the orbit arising 48 h after root canal treatment of a maxillary first molar

To discuss a rare, but severe complication arising following routine root canal treatment. An orbital abscess is reported that occurred following routine root canal treatment. A young, healthy female patient, with no history of chronic paranasal infection had undergone root canal treatment of the right maxillary first molar. On hospital admission, she presented with extensive periorbital swelling and discreet diplopia. Computed tomography imaging identified massive purulent sinusitis and subsequent involvement of the orbit via the inferior and medial orbital wall within 48 h after completion of root canal treatment. Immediate surgical drainage of the maxillary sinus and the orbit was established and a high dose of perioperative antibiotics (Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, Gentamycin, Metronidazole) were administered. Vision remained undisturbed and mobility of the globe recovered within 10 days. Rapid exacerbation of a periapical inflammation may occur following root canal treatment and may even involve the orbit. A typical speed of disease progression or ophthalmic symptoms should alert the clinician to at least consider unusual early orbital spread of odontogenic infection. When extra-alveolar spread and especially orbital spread is suspected, immediate referral to a maxillofacial or other specialized unit is mandatory.

Infections after endoscopic polypectomy using nasal steroids

Background Topical nasal steroids such as beclomethasone dipropionate and fluticasone propionate have been widely used in the treatment of rhinitis and polyposis. An increase in infection has occurred with the use of fluticasone propionate after endoscopic polypectomy. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of nasal and paranasal infections with the use of topic nasal steroids after endoscopic polypectomy and to compare the recurrence rates of the polyposis. Design and setting We conducted a prospective, comparative, open, experimental, longitudinal study at an academic tertiary referral medical center. Methods One hundred sixty-two patients in whom endoscopic polypectomy had been indicated were randomly divided into 3 groups of 54 patients each. The patients from the first group were treated with saline lavage only. Patients from the second group also received fluticasone propionate 400 μg/day in nasal spray after lavage. Patients from the third group received beclomethasone dipropionate 600 μg/day after lavage. The prevalence of infections and recurrence of polyposis was compared in the 3 groups. Results Three patients, 2 in the placebo group and 1 in the beclomethasone group, developed infections during the first 3 months after surgical procedure. The recurrence of polyps in the group without steroids was 44%. In contrast, 15% from the patients treated with fluticasone showed recurrence of polyposis; furthermore, 26% of the patients treated with beclomethasone showed recurrence of polypsosis, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Conclusions The use of nasal steroids does not seem to increase the prevalence of infections after endoscopic polypectomy.

Antifungal therapy in 'bone marrow failure'.

Antifungal therapy in 'bone marrow failure'.

Impact of surgical treatment on paranasal fungal infections in bone marrow transplant patients.

Invasive fungal sinusitis can develop in immunosuppressed patients. A more complex problem is immunosuppressed patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation. For a prolonged period, they are both neutropenic and thrombocytopenic. Survival in these patients is poor, and the role for extensive surgical intervention for sinus disease has to be weighed against the risk and the potential that this is a systemic disease. Between January 1983 and June 1993, 29 bone marrow transplant recipients with documented invasive fungal infections of the sinuses and paranasal tissues required surgical intervention. This represents 1.7% of the total 1692 bone marrow transplants performed. There were 22 allogeneic, 6 autologous, and 3 unrelated donor transplants, with two patients receiving two separate grafts. Underlying diseases included 24 hematologic malignancies and 5 other disorders, including 1 aplastic anemia and 1 solid tumor. The mortality rate from the initial fungal infection was 62%. Twenty-seven percent resolved the initial infections but subsequently died of other causes. All patients received medical management, such as amphotericin, rifampin, and colony-stimulating factors, in addition to surgical intervention. Surgical management ranged from minimally invasive procedures to extensive resections including medial maxillectomies. Sixty-one percent of the patients who died of the initial infection had undergone extensive surgical procedures versus 55% of those who resolved the infection. Recovery of neutrophil counts was required to clear the infection but did not necessarily predict a good outcome because 50% of those who died of the infection had experienced neutrophil recovery. White blood cell counts at the time of surgery were not significantly different between the two groups. Prognosis was poor when cranial and orbital involvement and/or bony erosion occurred.

Inflammatory Sinus Diseases Affecting the Orbit

Paranasal infections and inflammatory processes involving the orbits have been described, as have primary orbital conditions that may mimic acute sinus disease. Most common are bacterial and fungal sinus infections with secondary orbital spread, diseases for which the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon must be skilled in diagnosis and management in order to minimize sequelae. Optic neuritis arising from such infections requires prompt recognition and aggressive treatment if vision is to be preserved. The most common causes of unilateral proptosis, Graves' orbitopathy, and pseudotumor may in their early stages mimic orbital spread of paranasal infections. Recognition of these entities and ophthalmologic consultation are critical to their appropriate management.

Mucormycosis in an apparently normal host: Case study and literature review

Mucormycosis refers to an opportunistic fungal infection most often related to predisposing conditions, especially uncontrolled diabetes. It can occur as a rapidly extending rhinocerebral infection presenting a high mortality rate. The same micro-organism has, however, been identified in benign paranasal infections in the absence of a general debilitating condition, suggesting that host factors are of the utmost importance in the outcome of paranasal mucormycosis.