Background: Nosocomial pneumonia in an intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with a high mortality rate. Diagnosing a respiratory tract infection in critically ill patients is still difficult but detailed information for the pathogens is needed to establish an adequate antimicrobial treatment. This study examined the causative organisms and their antimicrobial resistance using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from patients suspected of having pneumonia in the ICU. Methods: From January 2004 to June 2006, ICU patients with diffuse lung infiltration were prospectively enrolled. The BAL was used to diagnose the respiratory infection, with 104 > or = organisms considered a positive result. The most common organisms and their antimicrobial resistances were analyzed from the quantitative BAL cultures in the burn ICU and non-burn ICU. Results: A total 72 patients were included, 35 (M 29, F 6) in the burn ICU and 37 (M 26, F 11) in the non-burn ICU. 27 patients (77.1%) in the burn ICU and 22 patients (59.5%) in the non-burn ICU met the criteria for a positive BAL culture. The major pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All strains (100%) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from BAL (9 cases) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in the burn ICU, but 5 strains (71.4%, 7 cases) were MRSA in the non-burn ICU. Regarding Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the rate of resistance to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, cefepime, imipenem, ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam in the burn and non-burn ICU ranged from 45.5% to 90% and 25% to 50%, respectively. In addition, the rate of resistance of Acinetobacter species to the above drugs in the burn and non-burn ICU ranged from 81.8% to 100% and 62.5% to 100%, respectively. Conclusions: These results are expected to provide useful guidelines for choosing the effective empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients with lung infiltrations in the burn and non-burn ICU.
Acinetobacter ; Amikacin ; Bacteria* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage* ; Burns* ; Ceftazidime ; Ciprofloxacin ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Lung* ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 protein (TREM-1) is a cell surface molecule expressed on neutrophils and monocytes, and it plays an important role in myeloid cell-activated inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of soluble (s) TREM-1 in the patients who had pleural effusion from various causes. Methods: Forty-five patients with exudative pleural effusion were included in this study. The level of sTREM-1 was measured in both the serum and pleural fluids by immunoblot assay with using human-sTREM-1 antibody. Results: The pleural fluid sTREM-1 was significantly different in the three groups of exudative pleural effusion (p=0.011). Particularly, the patients with parapneumonic effusion were found to have significantly higher pleural fluid levels of sTREM-1 than patients with tuberculous (p<0.05) and malignant effusion, respectively (p<0.05). However, the serum sTREM-1 did not show a significant difference in the three groups. In order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of pleural fluid sTREM-1, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.818 (p=0.001). Using a cutoff value of 103.5 pg/mL for the pleural fluid sTREM-1, the sensitivity and specificity were 73% and 81%, respectively, for differentiating parapneumonic effusion from tuberculous or malignant effusions. Conclusion: Pleural fluid sTREM-1 can be an additional marker for making the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Monocytes ; Myeloid Cells* ; Neutrophils ; Pleural Effusion* ; ROC Curve

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that a host's genetic factors influence the outcome of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphism in NRAMP1 (natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1) gene is associated with the susceptibility or resistance to tuberculosis infection for patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis (DS-TB) and multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Methods: Eight genetic polymorphisms of the NRAMP1 gene were investigated in patients suffering with DS-TB (n=100) or MDR-TB (n=102), and in healthy normal controls (NC, n=96). The genetic polymorphisms of NRAMP1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The frequency of D543N A/G heterogygotes was significantly higher in the DS-TB subjects than the NCs (OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.00 to 4.41, p=0.049). The frequency of 823C/T T/C heterozygotes was significantly higher in the DS-TB subjects (OR=2.79, 95% CI: 1.11 to 7.04, p=0.029) and the MDR-TB subject (OR=3.30, 95% CI 1.33 to 8.18, p=0.010) than in the NCs. However, the frequency of these genotypes was not different between the DS-TB and MDR-TB subjects. Conclusion: A significant association was found between NRAMP1 823 C/T polymorphism and pulmonary tuberculosis. This result suggests that NRAMP1 polymorphism may be involved in the development of pulmonary tuberculosis in Koreans.
Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Background: This study examined the relationship between the pleural adenosine deaminase (ADA) level and the patterns of pleural enhancement in patients with a tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) shown on a CT scan. Methods: The charts and CT findings of 44 patients with TPE from February 2002 to October 2006 were reviesed retrospectively. A diagnosis of TPE was made by the pleural ADA level with a follow-up (24/44), sputum smear or culture of sputum (16/44), pleural fluid culture (3/44) or pleural biopsy (1/44). The patients were divided into two groups according to the ADA level(Group I [n=12]: 40-70, Group II [n=32]: >70 U/L). The presence or absence, maximal thickness and patterns of pleural enhancement were analyzed. The pattern of pleural enhancement was classified into diffuse or focal, smooth or irregular and interrupted or continuous. The difference in CT findings between groups I and group II were analyzed using an unpaired T test, Chi-square test and Z test. Results: All 44 patients showed diffuse pleural enhancement on the CT scans. The maximal pleural thickness of groups I and II was 1.83 +/- 1.03 mm (1-4 mm) and 3.63 +/- 1.78 mm (1-8 mm), respectively (p =0.0002). Pleural thickening > or = 5 mm was only demonstrated in 31.3% of patients in group II (10/32). Diffuse interrupted pleural thickening was noted in 91.7% (11/12) of patients in group I and 62.5% (20/32) in group II, respectively. Diffuse continuous pleural thickening was observed in 8.3% (1/12) of patients in group I and 37.5% (12/32) in group II, respectively (p=0.0748). Conclusion: Pleural thickening > or = 5 mm on the contrast enhanced CT is rare in patients with lymphocyte-dominant TPE in whom the pleural ADA level is between 40-70 U/L.
Adenosine Deaminase* ; Adenosine* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed* ; Tuberculosis

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in CT findings according to sputum smear- positive or -negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity. Methods: A total of 32 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity on CT were classified into two groups: smear-positive (n=19) and smear-negative (n=13). The CT findings were reviewed retrospectively. The presence of consolidation, the number of lobes showing consolidation, ground-glass opacity, micronodules and nodule, the maximum diameter of the cavity, and the shape and maximum thickness of the cavity wall were assessed. Result: The maximum diameter of the cavity was 33.84 +/- 13.65 mm and 27.08 +/- 9.04 mm in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively (p>0.05). The amount of consolidation and the number of lobes with consolidation were found to be 89.5% and 30.8% (p=0.01) and 1.37 +/- 0.90 and 0.31 +/- 0.48 (p=0.0002) in the smear-positive and -negative groups, respectively. Consolidations in two or more lobes were only noted in 31.6% of in the sputum smear- positive group (p< 0.05). There were no other significant differences between the two groups. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the presence of consolidation were 89.5%, 69.2%, 73.9%, and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusion: While the absence of consolidation on CT may be associated with sputum smear-negative results in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis having a single cavity, the presence of consolidation in two or more lobes on CT may be associated with spear-positive results in these patients.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

No abstract available.
Pleural Diseases*

No abstract available.
Tuberculosis*

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is an angiocentric and angiodestructive neoplastic proliferation of B and T lymphocytes commonly involving the lungs. Epstein-Barr virus is commonly detected in lesional cells. We report a case of a 54-year-old female with underlying monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance who presented with a 4 week history of dyspnea and cough. Computed tomography scan of the chest showed multiple lung nodules as well as endobronchial narrowing causing atelectasis at the left upper lobe. Bronchoscopic findings revealed obstruction at the lingula segment due to endobronchial mass as a rare presentation. Bronchoscopic biopsy was diagnosed with LYG grade 1. After treatment, the endobronchial mass and lung lesions were completely resolved. However, the patient eventually evolved to malignant lymphoma after 1 year.
Biopsy ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis* ; Middle Aged ; Paraproteinemias ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thorax

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitive disease showing various radiographic and clinical manifestations. Its clinical course has not been fully understood. Here I describe a case of a 23-year-old immunocompetent man with frequently relapsing ABPA. He was asthmatic. He visited our hospital because of a chronic cough. Laboratory examination showed eosinophilia with increased total and Aspergillus-specific IgE as well as positive skin reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus. Radiologic feature was a dense consolidation. Histology showed organizing pneumonia with eosinophilic infiltration. On the diagnosis of ABPA, he was treated with systemic steroid and itraconazole. Although treatment response was excellent, he suffered from recurrent ABPA three times thereafter in the form of fleeting mass-like consolidation.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary* ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Itraconazole ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Young Adult

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is related to decreased lung function throughout life. However, the pathology and radiology pattern of BPD of adults are not documented well yet. In this case report, we present BPD case of an adult monozygotic twin showing nearly identical lesions on chest computed tomography (CT). CT images showed mixed areas of ground-glass and reticular opacities in both lungs. They had common histories of pneumonias requiring mechanical ventilations in period of infants. Pulmonary function test of one patient showed a pulmonary insufficiency with airway obstruction. Pathologic findings showed bronchiolar hyperplasia and peribronchiolar fibrosis which was similar to classic BPD patients. Our twin case report might help provide distinguishing pathology and radiology pattern of an adult pulmonary sequelaes of BPD. It might be reasonable to make close follow-up for BPD patients to evaluate the long-term outcomes of BPD survivors.
Adult* ; Airway Obstruction ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Pathology* ; Pneumonia ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Survivors ; Thorax ; Twins, Monozygotic*