ObjectiveTo examine the characteristics of Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) infection for better awareness of this disease.MethodsThe clinical data of a patient with pulmonary abscess caused by R. equi after renal transplantation were reported. We also reviewed the reports of infections caused by R. equi.ResultsThe clinical manifestations and laboratory examination of the patient were consistent with the characteristics of R. equi infection. The growth of R. equi was found in sputum and blood culture. The follow-up data showed that the treatment was effective. Literature search identified 23 similar patients. In all the 24 patients (containing this one), the time of infection after renal transplantation ranged from 4 months to 11 years. There were 21 patients with cumulative pulmonary infection, and 10 patients had a clear epidemiological history of direct or indirect contact with horses. Eighteen patients improved after regular antibacterial treatment or surgical treatment.ConclusionsOpportunistic infections caused by R. equi mainly affect transplant recipients and other patients with lower immunity. Infections caused by R. equi may affect many organ systems with various manifestations. The optimal therapy is not established due to the rarity of this infection. Clinicians should select antibiotic agents rationally based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing and treatment response of patients.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic cefepime in the treatment of acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infection. Methods A randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial was performed. The positive control was imported cefepime. The dosages of cefepime were 1g for moderate infection and 2g for severe infection, twice a day intravenously. The duration of the treatment was 7-10 days. Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the trial, of whom 30 were evaluable (15 in the triagroup and 15 in the control group). No significant differences were observed between the trial group and the control group with respect to the cure rate (40% vs. 27%), the effective rate (80% vs. 87%), the bacterial clearance rate (92% vs. 100%), and the incidence of adverse drug reactions (12.5% vs. 13%) (Pgt;0.05). Conclusion Domestic cefepime injection is effective and safe in the treatment of acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infection.
ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of chest high-resolution CT in common-type coronavirus disease 2019 patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 35 patients in the Fever Clinic of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 21 to February 23, 2020. According to the nucleic acid test results, the patients were divided into a nucleic acid positive group of 14 cases, and a nucleic acid negative group of 21 cases. The clinical characteristics and high-resolution CT results (including lesion distribution, morphology, density, paving stone sign, air bronchial sign, vascular thickening sign, pleural effusion and enlarged lymph nodes, etc.) of the patients in each group were compared.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the ratio of males to females, age distribution, clinical symptoms, or absolute lymphocyte values between the nucleic acid positive group and the nucleic acid negative group (P>0.05). The difference in epidemiological history between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The proportions of abnormal lymphocytes and white blood cell counts in the nucleic acid negative group were higher than those in the nucleic acid positive group (66.7% vs. 28.6%, P=0.041; 42.9% vs. 7.1%, P=0.028). The proportion of air bronchial signs in the nucleic acid negative group was higher than that in the nucleic acid positive group (47.6% vs. 7.1%, P=0.023). There was no significant difference in other high-resolution CT imaging findings between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsCommon-type coronavirus disease 2019 patients have certain positive findings on chest high-resolution CT imagings. In clinical practice, high-resolution CT and other factors can be combined to assist in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019.