Pleural empyema with endobronchial mass due to Rhodococcus equi infection after renal transplantation: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation is the best option for patients with end-stage renal disease.However,the need for lifelong immunosuppression results in renal transplant recipients being susceptible to various infections.Rhodococcus equi(R.equi)is a rare opportunistic pathogen in humans,and there are limited reports of infection with R.equi in post-renal transplant recipients and no uniform standard of treat-ment.This article reports on the diagnosis and treatment of a renal transplant recipient infected with R.equi 21 mo postoperatively and summarizes the charac-teristics of infection with R.equi after renal transplantation,along with a detailed review of the literature.Here,we present the case of a 25-year-old man who was infected with R.equi 21 mo after renal transplantation.Although the clinical features at the time of presentation were not specific,chest computed tomography(CT)showed a large volume of pus in the right thoracic cavity and right middle lung atelectasis,and fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed an endobronchial mass in the right middle and lower lobe orifices.Bacterial culture and metagenomic next-generation sequen-cing sequencing of the pus were suggestive of R.equi infection.The immunosup-pressive drugs were immediately suspended and intravenous vancomycin and azithromycin were administered,along with adequate drainage of the abscess.The endobronchial mass was then resected.After the patient’s clinical symptoms and chest CT presentation resolved,he was switched to intravenous ciprofloxacin and azithromycin,followed by oral ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.The patient was re-hospitalized 2 wk after discharge for recurrence of R.equi infection.He recovered after another round of adequate abscess drainage and intravenous ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.CONCLUSION Infection with R.equi in renal transplant recipients is rare and complex,and the clinical presentation lacks specificity.Elaborate antibiotic therapy is required,and adequate abscess drainage and surgical excision are necessary.Given the recurrent nature of R.equi,patients need to be followed-up closely.

Assessment of the Effects of Manual Chest Compression Technique on Atelectasis in Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of manual chest compression (MCC) in the variables of oxygenation, hemodynamic and respiratory effeteness in infants suffering from respiratory diseases with atelectasis. Methods: Controlled clinical trial, in which 38 infants were evaluated,19 ineach study group (group A: atelectasis and group B: control). Data were measured before, immediately after and 10 minutes after the end of the technique’s application. Results: The average age was of 5.05 months. There was an increase of RR in group A immediately after the application of the technique and signs of respiratory distress with a decrease in the oxygen saturation. Conclusion: There was a reduction in SpO2, an increase of RR and a worsening of clinical signs of respiratory distress. Given this, one may consider that there is a controversy about the benefits, mechanism of action, physiological and therapeutic effects of MCC when applied to infants.

Acute traumatic subclavian artery thrombosis and its successful repair via resection and end-to-end anastomosis

Subclavian artery thrombosis is a rare complication of clavicle fractures. We reported a 20-yearold man who was admitted to the emergency room after a road traffic accident. He was a pedestrian who was initially hit by a bus and after he fell down on the road, he was run over by a car. On evaluation, he was found to have multiple facial and rib fractures, distal fight humerus and right clavicle fracture. Significantly, right radial pulse was absent. After further evaluation including Doppler studies and an angiography which revealed complete obstruction of right subclavian artery just distal to its 1 st portion, the patient was urgently taken to the operation room. A midclavicular fracture was adjacent to the injured vessel. We established proximal and distal control, removed damaged part. After mobilizing the subclavian artery, an end-to-end anastomosis was made. Then open reduction and internal fixation of right distal humerus was performed. The rest of the postoperative course was unremarkable. To prevent complications of subclavian artery thrombosis, different treatment modalities can be used, including anticoagulation therapy, angioplasty, stenting and bypass procedures.