Cachexia ; etiology ; Cough ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; etiology ; therapy ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

Background: Pneumococcal pneumonia is the commonest type of bacterial pneumonia worldwide. In Malaysia, the reported incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia is low. This may be due to poor sensitivity of conventional methods. The use of BinaxNOW, a urinary antigen test for Streptococcus pneumoniae can aid in the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia. Objective: To determine the detection rate of pneumococcal pneumonia using BinaxNOW kit and to compare this with the conventional culture method for blood and sputum. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving patients 18 year-old and above admitted for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or health-care associated pneumonia (HCAP) to UKMMC between December 2011 and June 2012. BinaxNOW test, serology for Mycoplasma, Legionella and Chlamydia and cultures from blood/sputum/other respiratory tract samples and other routine investigations were performed. Results: A total of 102 patients were recruited; 89 (87.3%) with CAP, 13 (12.7%) with HCAP. 57 (55.9%) had pneumonia of unknown aetiology, 11 patients (10.8%) had positive blood cultures, 8 patients (7.8%) had a positive urine BinaxNOW test and 6 patients (5.9%) had positive sputum cultures. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the commonest isolate accounting for 9 cases (8.8%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae in 7 cases (6.9%). 8 out of 9 patients with positive urine BinaxNOW test had negative cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae. One patient grew Streptococcus pneumoniae from the tracheal aspirate however the urine BinaxNOW test was negative. Conclusion: The use of urine BinaxNOW kit in UKMMC increased the detection rate of pneumococcal pneumonia in hospitalized patients.

A 36-year-old lady presented with four episodes of right sided pneumothorax during pregnancy requiring multiple chest drain insertion. It was complicated with persistent air leak despite low pressure high volume suction applied to the chest drainage. She delivered safely through spontaneous vaginal delivery with chest drainage. Further imaging by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of thorax done revealed bilateral scattered pulmonary cysts and sub pleural bullae and was later followed up with respiratory unit. She had no further episodes of pneumothorax postpartum. This case highlights the vital importance of prompt recognition and management of pneumothorax in pregnancy as the patient involved is at higher risk for acute respiratory failure leading to maternal and/or foetal mortality. It is essential for early involvement of obstetric team and to expedite the delivery for a better perinatal and maternal outcome.
Pneumothorax ; Pregnancy

Hemangiosarcoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Sarcoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Shoulder Pain ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

Clinical pathways have been implemented in many healthcare systems with mix results in improving the quality of care and controlling the cost. CP is a methodology used for mutual decision making and organization of care for a well-defined group of patients within a well-defined period. In developing the CPs for a medical centre, several meetings had been carried out involving expert teams which consist of physicians, nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists. The steps used to develop the pathway were divided into 5 phases. Phase 1: the introduction and team development, Phase II: determining the cases and information gathering, Phase III: establishing the draft of CP, Phase IV: is implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of CP while Phase V: evaluating, improving and redesigning of the CP. Four CPs had been developed: Total Knee Replacement (TKR), ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (AMI), Chronic Obstructive Airways Diseases (COAD) and elective Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). The implementation of these CPs had supported the evidence-based medicine, improved the multidisciplinary communication, teamwork and care planning. However, the rotation of posts had resulted in lack of document ownership, lack of direction and guidance from senior clinical staff, and problem of providing CPs prior to admission. The development and implementation of CPs in the medical centre improved the intra and inter departmental communication, improved patient outcomes, promote patient safety and increased patient satisfaction. However, accountability and understanding of the CPs must be given more attention.
Critical Pathways ; Quality of Health Care ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Health Care Costs ; Interdisciplinary Communication

Pneumocystis pneumonia is an important human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated opportunistic infection, and especially so in pregnant HIV-positive patients. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman in her first trimester of pregnancy who initially presented with acute gastroenteritis symptoms but due to a history of high-risk behaviour and the observation of oral thrush, she was worked up for HIV infection. Her retroviral status was positive and her CD4+ T cell count was only 8 cells/mL. She was also worked up for pneumocystis pneumonia due to the presence of mild resting tachypnoea and a notable drop in oxygen saturation (from 100% to 88%) following brief ambulation. Her chest radiograph revealed bilaterally symmetrical lower zone reticular opacities and Giemsa staining of her bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for Pneumocystis jirovecii cysts. However, real-time P. jirovecii polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on the same BAL specimen revealed the presence of the organism. A course of oral co-trimoxazole plus prednisolone was commenced and her clinical condition improved.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway which is often misdiagnosed and undertreated. Early diagnosis and vigilant asthma control are crucial to preventing permanent airway damage, improving quality of life and reducing healthcare burdens. The key approaches to asthma management should include patient empowerment through health education and selfmanagement and, an effective patient-healthcare provider partnership.

In the past, many case series have reported the effectiveness of autologous blood patch pleurodesis (ABPP) in recurrent secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), particularly in those who were unfit for surgery. We describe two cases of persistent air leak in pneumoconiosis and pulmonary fibrosis with bronchiectasis, whereby the techniques employed had improved the success rate of ABPP. The determining factors that lead to the success of ABPP were determined by the volume of autologous blood instilled, Trendelenburg position post instillation, and early chest physiotherapy with mobilisation by application of pneumostat.

Background: Regarding the long-term safety issues with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and the clinical predominance of dual bronchodilators in enhancing treatment outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ICS is no longer a “preferred therapy” according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease except on top of a dual bronchodilator. This has necessitated a change in the current therapy for many COPD patients. Objective: To determine a standardised algorithm to reassess and personalise the treatment COPD patients based on the available evidence. Methods: A consensus statement was agreed upon by a panel of pulmonologists in from 11 institutes in Malaysia whose members formed this consensus group. Results: According to the consensus, which was unanimously adopted, all COPD patients who are currently receiving an ICS-based treatment should be reassessed based on the presence of co-existence of asthma or high eosinophil counts and frequency of moderate or severe exacerbations in the previous 12 months. When that the patients meet any of the aforementioned criteria, then the patient can continue taking ICS-based therapy. However, if the patients do not meet the criteria, then the treatment of patients need to be personalised based on whether the patient is currently receiving long-acting beta-agonists (LABA)/ICS or triple therapy. Conclusion: A flowchart of the consensus providing a guidance to Malaysian clinicians was elucidated based on evidences and international guidelines that identifies the right patients who should receive inhaled corticosteroids and enable to switch non ICS based therapies in patients less likely to benefit from such treatments.

Background and objective: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19) was first reported in Malaysia in March 2020. We describe here the clinical characteristics and computed tomography (CT) patterns in asymptomatic young patients who had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study where 25 male in-patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz. Demographics, clinical data and CT images of these patients were reviewed by 2 senior radiologists. Results: In total there were 25 patients (all males; mean age [±SD], 21.64±2.40 years; range, 18-27 years). Patients with abnormal chest CT showed a relatively low normal absolute lymphocytes count (median: 2.2 x 109/L) and absolute monocyte count (median: 0.5 x 109/L). Lactate dehydrogenase was elevated in 5 (20%) of the patients. The procalcitonin level was normal while elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, platelet and C-reactive protein were common. Baseline chest CT showed abnormalities in 6 patients. The distribution of the lesions were; upper lobe 3 (12%) lower lobe 3 (12%) with peripheral distribution 4 (16%). Of the 25 patients included, 4 (16%) had ground glass opacification (GGO), 1 (4%) had a small peripheral subpleural nodule, and 1 (4%) had a dense solitary granuloma. Four patients had typical CT features of COVID-19. Conclusion: We found that the CT imaging showed peripheral GGO in our patients. They remained clinically stable with no deterioration of their respiratory symptoms suggesting stability in lung involvement. We postulate that rapid changes in CT imaging may not be present in young, asymptomatic, non-smoking COVID-19 patients. Thus the use of CT thorax for early diagnosis may be reserved for patients in the older age groups, and not in younger patients.