With the urine nitrite test we detect the presence of nitrites in the urine. These appear due to the presence in the urine of a high concentration of bacteria possessing the enzyme nitrate reductase, which is capable of reducing the nitrates present in the urine to nitrites. This enzyme is active in most of the bacteria that most frequently cause urinary tract infection, such as many Gram-negative bacilli. Other microorganisms, relatively frequent causes of urinary tract infection, do not possess this enzyme and do not reduce nitrates, such as enterococci, staphylococci and yeasts. As the Gram stain indicates that the bacteria are grouped in chains, as this is typical of enterococcus, we suggest the need to cover this group of bacteria with antibiotic treatment. Staphylococci are typically seen on Gram stain as Gram-positive cocci forming clusters and yeasts, although with the same staining, have a different typical morphology than Gram-positive cocci.

A 62-year-old man comes to the hospital emergency department with a fever of 38.3″C and chills. He is tachycardic and tachypneic. Blood tests: leukocytosis with left shift. Blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg. No murmurs are heard on cardiac auscultation and chest X-ray rules out pneumonia. As history of interest she refers repeated urinary tract infections. A week ago the primary care physician prescribed cefuroxime, a drug he is currently taking. Two blood cultures were taken and urine was sent for sediment examination and microbiological culture. The sediment was pathological, with intense pyuria, but negative nitrites. After 24 hours, the microbiology laboratory reported that both the urine and the blood cultures were positive, and the results showed gram-positive cocci grouped in chains, pending identification and antibiogram. Pending the definitive result, what would you recommend?

Continue with cefuroxime while awaiting the definitive result, since the patient has undergone multiple treatments and we should not make a mistake in his current treatment.

Change to ertapenem, considering the possibility of multiresistant microorganisms.

Switch to a broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment that covers Enterococcus spp.

Switch to broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy containing imipenem, considering the possibility of Staphylococcus aureus, since our hospital has a high incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

[Spectrum of microbial colonisation and resistance of a surgical ICU in a systematic comparison of the 10-year time period 1996-2005 using routine microbiological testing].

Knowledge on potentially pathogenic microbes including characteristics of their antibiotic resistance in septic patients as well as on the ward- and department-specific microbial spectrum can be considered essential for an efficient initiation of an adequate antimicrobial treatment, which turns out to become pivotal for patient outcome. Permanent changes in microbial patterns and antibiotic resistance can only be identified by a continuous investigation of various microbiological specimens. Based on the retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data on microbiological investigations of the surgical ICU in 1996, 2002, 2004 and 2005, the short- and long-term changes by trend of microbial spectrum and antibiotic resistance following reorganisation and restructuring of the University Hospital from the more traditional pavillon-based system to a multidisciplinary complex building in 2003 were investigated. Twice a week, routine microbiological testing of blood and urinary cultures as well as swabs from wound areas and endotracheal swabs were initiated in septic patients (suspect, manifestation) or in case of their clinical impairment. The microbial spectrum was sub-divided according to Gram-staining (Gram-positive/ -negative), various species and fungi with descriptive absolute and relative data values. -Various groups and time periods were statistically compared using χ² test as appropriate. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. In total (n (Total) = 4 899), microbiological testing resulted in the detection of microbes in 699 and 833 blood and urinary cultures (14.3 % and 17 %, respectively) as well as 1 232 wound swabs (25.1 %) together with 2 135 samples from the endotracheal sites (43.6 %). During the short- (2002 vs. 2004) and long-term analyses (1996 vs. 2005), the proportion of Gram-positive microbes increased. Al-though Gram-positive bacteria can be considered the most frequent microbes for bacteriemia, there was a shift onto urinary and wound infections as well as pneumonias through the observation period. Despite the decreasing incidence of Enterococcus and the consistent proportion of MRSA, the increase of resistant Enterococcus strains (0 % vs. 43.2 %; P < 0.05) is critical. However, in the Gram-negative microbial spectrum there was an increase of the bacteraemia rate but a fall of the detection rate in wound and endotracheal swabs. In parallel, an increase of the detection rate of E. coli in blood (6.5 % vs. 45.5 %; P < 0.05) and endotracheal swabs (9.2 % vs. 16.2 %; P < 0.05) is associated with an increase of multiresistant Enterobacteriaceae strains (0 % vs. 30.7 %; P < 0.05). The portion of multiresistant strains of Pseudomonas with 31 % stayed the same through the 10-year time period. While Candida-based colonisation showed a decreased incidence (25 % vs. 15 %; P < 0.05) during the whole investigation period, there was a relative rise in the frequency of candidemia. ICU relocation from the pavillon-based system to a new complex clinic building was not associated with any significant alteration of the microbial spectrum on the surgical ICU. Increasing incidences of resistant Enterococcus and Gram-negative problematic microbes may indicate a general spread of multi-resistant microbes under the steady selecting pressure of a not always adequately initiated antibiotic / antimicrobial therapeutic regimen and underline the required but specific and selected microbiological screening.

Use of microbiology reports by physicians in prescribing antimicrobial agents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of microbiologic reports by physicians in prescribing antimicrobial agents in a community hospital setting. Patients were identified by daily review of all blood, urine, and sputum cultures that grew pathogen(s) during a 7-week period. Appropriateness of antibiotic therapy was based on results of antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolated pathogen(s). The physician response to culture results was evaluated on changes made in antimicrobial therapy. Seventy-one patients with 73 cultures (infections) were identified; 70% of the infections were community acquired. The frequency of each infection during the study period was: bacteremia (N = 12), pneumonia (N = 18), definite urinary tract infection (N = 26) and probable urinary tract infection (N = 17). Initial treatment was appropriate in 49 of 73 (67%) episodes; the organism(s) isolated were resistant to initial therapy in 24 of 85 (33%) episodes. After culture results were available, 34 of 73 (47%) regimens were changed, but only 50% of the changes were considered appropriate. Overall, there was no significant difference in the proportion of all treatment regimens considered appropriate before (67%) and after (56%) culture results were known. We conclude that results of cultures and antibiotic susceptibility data had little influence on appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in the hospital setting.

Considerations in the choice and administration of agents for empiric antimicrobial therapy.

Infections remain a common problem for critically ill patients and often are responsible for early mortality, especially following inadequate antibiotic therapy. The choice of empiric therapy has become increasingly difficult because of the increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A retrospective review of the literature over the last two decades was conducted to assess the importance of adequate empiric antibiotic therapy and which factors should be considered in choosing the "best" empiric therapy. Current diagnostic and treatment guidelines suggest that all seriously ill patients in whom infection is suspected undergo a comprehensive work-up (e.g., blood, urine, sputum cultures) to confirm the etiology prior to initiation of antibiotic therapy. Whereas the selection of the most appropriate antimicrobial agent(s) must consider the likely etiologies and anticipated resistance patterns, the lack of rapid and sensitive culture techniques has made this process difficult. Recent literature has concluded that empiric therapy for many nosocomial infections must be directed at multi-drug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), especially in patients with a history of prolonged hospitalization and recent antibiotic use. There is also growing evidence that inadequate or prolonged antibiotic administration may encourage the emergence of resistant bacteria. New antibiotics directed against multi-drug-resistant, gram-positive pathogens include daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline. Initial empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is necessary for treatment of patients with serious infections following a thorough evaluation of possible sources, including culture and susceptibility testing. Clinicians may need to tailor antibiotic therapy based on the patient's initial response after the organism is confirmed, and susceptibility test results are available.

A CLEAR CASE OF MRSA SEPSIS, OF AN UNEXPECTED ORIGIN.

A 56-year-old man with a history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hypertrophy and history of recent knee and elbow abscess presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and fevers. Two days prior, he presented to the ER and was diagnosed with acute presumed prostatitis and urinary retention. He was discharged on ciprofloxacin and an indwelling Foley catheter with urology follow-up. After being unable to tolerate oral medications, he presented again to the emergency department, at which time, he was febrile and tachycardic. Physical exam was benign except for a boggy and tender prostate and bilateral CVA tenderness. Labs demonstrated leukocytosis, elevated HbA1C, and pyuria on urinalysis. Urine cultures collected at the patient's earlier emergency department visit demonstrated no growth. Computed tomography indicated an enlarged prostate with patchy areas of low density. He was admitted with sepsis secondary to prostatitis. Blood cultures on day one showed gram-positive cocci , methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA isolate) and persistent bacteremia for three days despite therapy with vancomycin. After adequate dosing of vancomycin, sterilization of the blood was achieved, yet urine culture demonstrated growth of MRSA. Transthoracic rchocardiogram (TTE) showed no signs of endocarditis with good visualization of valves. He was successfully treated with 14 days of vancomycin.

[The distribution of microorganisms and antibiotic resistance profile in pulmonary critical care unit patients: A single-centre study].

The patients in the intensive care unit have a higher risk of infections because of the poor general condition of these patients and the frequent application of invasive procedures with longer hospitalization length. Also, this group of patients tend to have resistant infections due to empirically widespread and uncontrolled use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Hence, data are needed to determine appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy in intensive care patients. In this study, it was aimed to assess the distribution of microorganisms and antibiotic resistance profile from the samples taken from the patients in the intensive care unit. Patients who were hospitalized in Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Chest Diseases Intensive Care Unit for more than 24 hours between December 2016 and December 2017 were included in our study. Demographic characteristics, comorbid diseases, clinical findings, results of sputum, tracheal aspirate, blood, urine, gaita and pus culture samples and antibiotic susceptibility test results were recorded prospectively. A total of 287 patients, 150 males and 137 females, were included in the study. The mean age of all patients was 69.96 ± 14.4 years. Two hundred twenty-three positive cultures were detected in 1053 samples taken from 287 patients. Gram-negative bacilli constituted 55.1% of the 223 positive cultures. The most common microorganisms were Acinetobacter (16.6%), Staphylococcus (14.8%) and Klebsiella (10.8%). Colistin resistance was found to be 8.3% in the Acinetobacter strains and resistance rates of 97-100% were observed to other antibiotic groups. Thirty-three staphylococcus were isolated, 17 were S. aureus and 16 were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. While 29.4% of S. aureus were resistant to methicillin (MRSA), vancomycin resistance was not detected. Meanwhile, the MRSA ratio was 62.5%, there was no vancomycin resistance among the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Klebsiella was the third most common microorganism and beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella strain was 62.5%. Gentamycin was found to be the most susceptible antibiotic in Klebsiella strains with a resistance rate of 20.8%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa constituted 9.4% of the cultures. While the resistance to colistin was not detected, resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam 42.8%, tobramycin, imipenem and meropenem 50% and ceftazidime 61.9%. The duration of hospitalization in patients with Acinetobacter isolated (23 [10-34] days vs 12.5 [5-24] days, p= 0.011) and the mortality rate (62.5% vs 37.5%, p= 0.008) were significantly higher than those who were not Acinetobacter isolated. In conclusion, gram-negative bacilli constitute the majority of the patients in intensive care unit. Acinetobacter, the most common microorganism, has a high resistance rate and has been associated with prolonged hospitalization and mortality.

Antibiotic sensitivity testing

Specimens for antibiotic sensitivity testing are ideally collected before treatment is started. A sample may be taken from the site of a suspected infection; such as a blood culture sample when bacteria are suspected to be present in the bloodstream (bacteraemia), a sputum sample in the case of a pneumonia, or a urine sample in the case of a urinary tract infection. Sometimes multiple samples may be taken if the source of an infection is not clear. These samples are transferred to the microbiology laboratory where they are added to culture media, in or on which the bacteria grow until they are present in sufficient quantities for identification and sensitivity testing to be carried out.

Pneumonia

In people managed in the community, determining the causative agent is not cost-effective and typically does not alter management. For people who do not respond to treatment, sputum culture should be considered, and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be carried out in persons with a chronic productive cough. Microbiological evaluation is also indicated in severe pneumonia, alcoholism, asplenia, immunosuppression, HIV infection, and those being empirically treated for MRSA of pseudomonas. Although positive blood culture and pleural fluid culture definitively establish the diagnosis of the type of micro-organism involved, a positive sputum culture has to be interpreted with care for the possibility of colonisation of respiratory tract. Testing for other specific organisms may be recommended during outbreaks, for public health reasons. In those hospitalized for severe disease, both sputum and blood cultures are recommended, as well as testing the urine for antigens to

Pyelonephritis

Diagnosis Laboratory examination Analysis of the urine may show signs of urinary tract infection. Specifically, the presence of nitrite and white blood cells on a urine test strip in patients with typical symptoms are sufficient for the diagnosis of pyelonephritis, and are an indication for empirical treatment. Blood tests such as a complete blood count may show neutrophilia. Microbiological culture of the urine, with or without blood cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing are useful for establishing a formal diagnosis, and are considered mandatory.

Clinical, etiological and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of pediatric urinary tract infections in a tertiary care hospital of Nepal.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of most common pediatric infections. The study was designed to assess the clinical profile, common bacterial microorganisms causing UTI and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) hospital. This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases for 6 months (January to June 2018). A total of 1962 non-repetitive urine specimens (midstream, nappy pad, catheter aspirated) of pediatric patients (0-14 years age) suspected of UTI were obtained in the Microbiology laboratory. Clinical data was obtained from requisition form and hospital software. Culture and bacterial identification was done by using standard microbiological guidelines. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method following clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines. Resistance to methicillin and vancomycin were confirmed by calculating minimum inhibitory concentration using broth dilution method. Among 1962 samples, 314 (16%) were positive for bacterial infection. Fever, irritability and poor feeding was the most common symptoms in neonates while older children presented with fever and urinary symptoms. E. coli was reported the most common etiological agent (53%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7%) and Staphylococcus aureus (7%). Multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates accounted for 32% of isolates, while 5% were extensively drug resistant (XDR). Fourty percentage of gram-negative bacilli were ESBL producer, 38% of S. aureus were methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 5% E. faecalis were vacomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). E coli was highly resistant to Ampicillin (87%), Ceftriaxone (62%) and Ofloxacin (62%). Amikacin (11% resistance) and Nitrofurantoin (5% resistance) are the most effective drugs for gram-negative bacilli (GNB) while vancomycin and linezolid are functional against gram-positive cocci. High-level antimicrobial resistance was observed in pediatric UTI with alarming incidence superbugs like MDR, XDR, ESBL and MRSA. Regular surveillance should be carried out to determine the local prevalence of organisms and antimicrobial susceptibilities in order to guide the proper management of children.

InternalMed_Harrison

The initial antibacterial regimen should be refined on the basis of culture results (Fig. 104-2). Blood cultures are the most relevant basis for selection of therapy; surface cultures of skin and mucous membranes may be misleading. In the case of gram-positive bacteremia or another gram-positive infection, it is important that the antibiotic be optimal for the organism isolated. Once treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics has begun, it is not desirable to discontinue all antibiotics because of the risk of failing to treat a potentially fatal bacterial infection; the addition of more and more antibacterial agents to the regimen is not appropriate unless there 491 is a clinical or microbiologic reason to do so. Planned progressive therapy (the serial, empirical addition of one drug after another without culture data) is not efficacious in most settings and may have unfortunate consequences. Simply adding another antibiotic for fear that a gram-negative infection is present is a

A 30-Day-Old Infant with Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Perineal Region Involving the Scrotum Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Fournier's gangrene is an idiopathic form of necrotizing fasciitis involving the genital and perineal regions; it is associated with high complication and mortality rates. Rarely, perineal infection may be caused by hospital-acquired antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This report is of a 30-day-old infant with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae necrotizing fasciitis involving the perineal region. CASE REPORT A 30-day-old male infant presented to the Emergency Department with rapidly progressive white discoloration of scrotal skin since 3 days prior to admission, progressing from 2-3 white spots to covering two-thirds of the scrotal skin. Pain upon urination was noted, with normal appetite and bowel movements. He had a history of diaper rash 6 days earlier accompanied by fever, and the rash was treated with topical antifungal and corticosteroid ointment. He was born at term by caesarean delivery, with birth weight 2900 g. Laboratory examinations revealed leukocyte count 23 000/µL and CRP 26.8 mg/dL. Hemoglobin was 10.6 g/dL, serum sodium was 134 mEq/L, blood glucose was 80 mg/dL, serum urea was 15 mg/dl, and creatinine was 0.27 mg/dL. Chest and abdominal X-rays were normal. He received broad-spectrum antibiotics and underwent surgical debridement, and necrotic tissue was obtained for biopsy and culture. Histology examination showed non-specific granulation tissue consistent with Fournier gangrene. Soft- tissue culture isolated MRSA and ESBL-K. Antibiotics were changed according to the sensitivity report. Blood and urine cultures were negative. CONCLUSIONS Immediate surgery and antibiotics are essential in treating Fournier gangrene to avoid life-threatening complications. Initial symptoms are non-specific. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, confirmed by intraoperative macroscopic findings.

Yield and clinical impact of blood cultures in patients admitted to an internal medicine ward.

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the yield and clinical impact of blood cultures in a 78-bed Internal Medicine ward of a medium-sized Italian acute care hospital. During a two-month study period, 154 (mean age: 75.2 ++ 12.2 years; 94 males) out of 620 (24.8%) hospitalized patients underwent 174 blood cultures and were enrolled in the study. The rate of true-positive cultures was 11.5% (20/174) and the rate of false-positive (contaminants) was 5.7% (10/174). A total of 23 microorganisms (5 multidrug resistant strains), most frequently Escherichia coli (n = 10), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 3), were isolated. The positivity rate was significantly higher in patients with urinary tract infection (31%) and abdomen infection (26.1%) than in patients with pneumonia (4.9%; p<0.01). Although the positivity rate in patients exposed to antibiotics was lower than in those not exposed, the difference was not statistically significant. Therapy changes due to blood culture positivity were observed in 7.1% of the patients overall. In-hospital death was observed in nine of the 136 patients with negative blood cultures (6.6%) and in none of the 18 patients with positive blood cultures. These results indicate that the yield and clinical impact of blood cultures is quite low in patients admitted to an Internal Medicine ward and suggest the need to improve the adequacy of the indications to perform the test.

[Blood culture results from 1967 to 1975 and drug sensitivity of bacteria isolated by blood culture in the last three years (1974-1976) (author's transl)].

The blood culture results of patients of S. M. Nuova Hospital of Florence (Italy) have been examined in a period of nine years (1967-1976). We can attest from this results that in the last years of this period we have had an increase of the number of Enterobacteriaceae from blood culture. In the meanwhile we have had a decrease of positive results that is not due to an increase of the number of blood culture; in fact it has been doubled, but this decrease is mostly due to a larger number of examinated patients that to an increase of blood culture for each patient. Introduction in the routine of a diphasic culture system (Castañeda) commercially available has allowed contaminants' decrease. Antibiotic resistance of most important bacteria isolated in the last three years (1974-1976) were carry out.

Bacterial spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of bloodstream infections in children with febrile neutropenia: experience of single center in southeast of Turkey.

Empirical antimicrobial therapy is usually started in febrile neutropenic patients without having culture results. The aim of this study was to help determine the policies of empirical antibiotic usage in febrile neutropenic children by detecting the antimicrobial susceptibility profile in this group of patients. In this study 811 blood cultures taken from neutropenic children hospitalized at the Department of Oncology of Gaziantep Children Hospital November 2007 and February 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Blood cultures were routinely collected in aerobic and anaerobic media and incubated using the BACTEC system. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates to antimicrobial agents was performed using the Vitek2(®) system according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Of 811 isolates analyzed, 128 (56.4%) were gram positive cocci, 43 (18.9%) were gram negative bacilli and fungi accounted for 56 (24.7%). The main isolated Gram-positive bacteria from blood were coagulase-negative staphylococcus (56.7%), followed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (14.1%). S. aureus and Streptococcus spp. were all susceptible to linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin. S aureus was still susceptible to few other antimicrobial agents such as tetracycline (82.4%), chloramphenicol (55.6%). Seven E. faecium, 7 E. fecalis and 1 E. hirae was isolated from blood cultures. Vancomycin resistance was detected in 6 out of 15 (40%) Enterococcus spp. isolates. Among gram-negative bacteria E. coli (30.2%) was followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.9%) and Proteus spp. (18.6%). Imipenem (89.2%), meropenem (86.6%), chloramphenicol (88.9%), amicasin (82.4%) and fosfomycin (81.3%) showed highest susceptibility in vitro activity against all Gram-negative isolates. To know the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the pathogens frequently isolated from febrile neutropenic children and to consider this profile before starting an empirical antibiotic therapy would help the clinics which have any role in the treatment of these patients to determine the empirical antibiotic usage policies.

Gram-Positive Bacteria -- History and Physical

It is important to identify patients with sepsis and order necessary blood cultures and labs.

Intravenously administered cloxacillin-induced neutropenia with eosinophilia in a patient with infective endocarditis: a case report.

Bacteremia following Staphylococcus aureus is a serious clinical condition which is often associated with distant metastatic infections. One of the most dreaded complications of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is infective endocarditis. Cloxacillin is a common antibiotic prescribed for suspected staphylococcal infections and confirmed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections. Prolonged use of cloxacillin may lead to neutropenia. A 38-year-old Sinhalese man presented to Teaching Hospital Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, complaining of a 3-week history of fever; he was found to have a pansystolic murmur over the apex of his heart. He had leukocytosis with predominant neutrocytosis. His C-reactive protein was 231 mg/l and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 100 mm/first hour. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography revealed prolapsed mitral valve with 7 × 13 mm vegetation over the posterior mitral valve. On the following day, three blood cultures became positive and were subsequently identified as Staphylococcus aureus. Intravenously administered cloxacillin 3 g 6 hourly was started. Following day 24 of intravenously administered cloxacillin, our patient developed high spike fever. His total white blood cells were: 990/mm<sup3</sup with 34% neutrophils and 22% eosinophils. His hemoglobin concentration was 9.5 g/dL and platelet count remained normal (202 × 10<sup6</sup/mm<sup3</sup). His C-reactive protein was 78 mg/l, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 95 mm/first hour, and he was otherwise comfortable, showing no signs of sepsis beside the high grade fever. His serum was negative for filarial and Toxoplasma antibodies while stool was negative for oocytes and amoebic cysts. Further, his serum was negative for dengue virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B antibodies. He was clinically well on day 6 after stopping cloxacillin with 44% neutrophils and 18% eosinophils. His C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate became normal, and there was no further plan for cardiothoracic intervention or administration of antimicrobials. He was discharged from hospital and remained well 6 months later. This case report signifies the potential fatal adverse effect of cloxacillin in methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections. Leukopenia is associated with prolonged use of high doses of cloxacillin. In addition to transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography and inflammatory markers, sequential white blood cells and differential counts would help clinicians to assess the prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis.

[Specifics of urinary tract infection investigated in hospitalized patients].

Urinary tract infections investigated in hospital show a series of clinical and etiological features, especially concerning antibiotic sensitivity, determined by the recurrent pattern of these disease, which often determines severe urinary or general complications. We considered 36,136 urine samples belonging to patients admitted in hospital with history or symtomatology of urinary infection. We noted the following: Urine bacteriological investigation is one of the most asked for laboratory examinations in hospital, having a diagnostic significance (more than 10(5) cfu/ml) in only 15,45% of cases. The etiological patterns, though similar to those registered in ambulatory investigations, present a series of characteristics like: decreased percent of isolation of Enterobacteriaceae - 76.14%, compared to 98.90%, increased proportion of some groups of Gram-negative bacilli highly-resistant to antibiotics, such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter and of some groups of Gram-positive cocci--especially group D streptococcus. Accordingly, the sensitivity patterns denote the decrease of the proportion of strains that are sensitive to "regular" antibiotics, this phenomenon implying the use of recent antibiotics, more costly. Once again we point out to the necessity of conducting antibiotherapy by means of evaluating sensitivity during therapy.

COVID-19 Coinfection with <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> in a Patient with Multiple Myeloma.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic causing multiple fatalities and morbidities worldwide. We report a case of severe pneumonia causing acute respiratory distress syndrome due to a coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and <iMycobacterium abscessus</i in an elderly patient with multiple myeloma in Florida, USA. <iCase Presentation</i. An 84-year-old male with a medical history significant for multiple myeloma not in remission was sent to the emergency department to rule out COVID-19 infection prior to continuing his chemotherapy sessions. At presentation, he had nonspecific mild symptoms and an unremarkable physical examination. He had significant blood test findings including serum lactate dehydrogenase 373 U/L, high sensitive C-reactive protein 17.40 mg/l, and ferritin 415 ng/ml. Xpert-SARS-CoV-2 was positive. Chest radiograph revealed patchy areas of interstitial infiltrates in mid to lower lung zones. During his hospitalization course, his oxygenation deteriorated, requiring mechanical intubation. Repeat chest radiograph showed worsening bilateral infiltrates. He was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics and eventually weaned off mechanical intubation and extubated. On the 11<supth</sup day of admission, he was found to be bradycardic and in shock, and he was reintubated. His labs showed worsening inflammatory markers along with kidney dysfunction to the point of requiring renal replacement therapy. He received both convalescent plasma and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Eventually, repeat blood cultures came back positive for the growth of acid-fast beaded bacilli. While awaiting final culture and sensitivity reports, his antibiotics were upgraded to cover possible nocardia infection. Repeat blood and sputum cultures resulted in growth of AFB bacilli <iMycobacterium abscessus</i 1 week after. This case report highlights the importance of keeping a broad differential and considering multiple coinfections, including atypical ones during this COVID-19 pandemic, such as the one that was discussed above, <iMycobacterium abscessus</i, in order to provide goal-directed therapy.

[Study on bacteremia in the service of Internal Medicine of a group 2 hospital. Analysis of recent three years].

Bacteremia remains one of the most relevant problems in infectious disease. The interest of this study was to know the presentation and development pattern of bacteremia in our environment, in order to best prevent and treat this entity. A retrospective, no interventional study, on significant bacteremia detected in the Service of Internal Medicine of a secondary level hospital over three years was carried out. Through the study length, from January 1 2001 until December 31 2003, 4,719 blood cultures were processed by the Service of Microbiology; of these, 1964 (41.6%) were submitted by the Service of Internal Medicine. Results were positive in 336 (17.1%); of these, 18 (24.1%) correlated with episodes of true bacteremia, and 255 (75.9%) were deemed as contaminations. Overall, 81 episodes of true bacteremia were studied, from 77 patients (4 patients presented with 2 episodes). An incidence rate of 28.25 episodes per 1000 hospital admissions was estimated. Mean age was 72 years (95% CI: 68.62-75.38). Males over 60 years-old were predominant (51.9%). Bacteremia was community-acquired in 75.3% of cases, and nosocomial in 24.7%. Commonest baseline diseases were elevated arterial blood pressure and diabetes mellitus. Bacteremia development was mostly related to genitourinary and vascular handling. Most of them were nephrourological (42.0%), respiratory (19.8%) and abdominal (13.6%) in origin. In our environment, Escherichia coli (33.0%) and Staphylococcus coagulase-negative (15.9%) were the most commonly isolated pathogens. Empiric antibiotic therapy was correct in 86.2% of cases; third generation cephalosporins were the most used. Overall mortality rate was 16% (13 patients), and bacteraemia-related mortality was 61%. A high incidence of bacteremia episodes is noteworthy, as compared with series from other centers. The percentage of episodes due to Staphylococcus coagulase-negative was significant, as it is the rule in recent years; thus, a thoroughly assessment of potential contaminants, as well as staff training in extraction techniques becomes necessary.

[Microbiologic study of the bile culture and antimicrobial susceptibility in patients with biliary tract infection].

Bacterial infection of biliary tract may cause severe inflammatory response or sepsis. An immediate bile culture and appropriate antibiotic administration are important to control the biliary tract infection. The objective of the study was to identify organisms in bile and the features of antibiotic susceptibility in patients with biliary tract infection. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 212 patients whose bile had been cultured for variable biliary tract diseases at Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital from Jan. 2000 to Feb. 2007. Bile samples were obtained from percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD, n=89), percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD, n=14) or endoscopic naso-biliary drainage (ENBD, n=49). The overall positive rate of bile culture was 71.7% (152 cases). The organisms cultured were Escherichia coli (25.0%), Enterococcus spp. (13.4%), Klebsiella spp. (11.1%), Pseudomonas spp. (11.1%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (9.7%) in decreasing order. Effective antibiotics for Gram-negative organisms were amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, amikacin, imipenem, and piperacillin/tazobactam in order of effectiveness. Of the cultured blood samples from 160 patients, fifty (31.2%) showed positive bacterial growth. The organisms isolated from blood were similar to those found in the bile. A broad spectrum penicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor is a recommendable antimicrobial for empirical treatment for biliary tract infection. However, Gram-positive bacteria such as Enterococcus spp. or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are emerging as causative microorganisms. If these organisms are isolated, antimicrobial drugs should be replaced by narrower-spectrum antimicrobials.

[Blood cultures when fever?].

A 78-year-old man was referred from his residency where he lives to the emergency division due to general deterioration and frequent falls in the last week. His personal history is remarkable for arterial hypertension and diabetes. Two weeks before he needed a vesical catheterism that was traumatic and profilactic ciprofloxacin was prescribed. On physical exploration he appears disoriented, blood pressure is 9/40 mm Hg, cardiac rythm 120 beats per minute, temperature 37,3 °C and 24 respirations per minute. He appears to have pain on his upper left abdomen cuadrant. When the nurse gets a peripheral vein she asks, ¿should I obtain hemocultures?

[Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungemia in an elderly patient following probiotic treatment].

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, known as baker's yeast, is also used as a probiotic agent to treat gastroenteritis by modulating the endogenous flora and immune system. However, since there have been increasing reports of fungemia due to S.cerevisiae and its subspecies S.boulardii, it is recommended that probiotics should be cautiously used in immunosuppressed patients, people with underlying diseases and low-birth weight babies. To emphasize this phenomenon, in this report, a case of S.cerevisiae fungemia developed in a patient given probiotic treatment for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, was presented. An 88-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with left hip pain, hypotension, and confusion. Her medical history included hypertension, chronic renal failure, left knee replacement surgery, and recurrent urinary tract infections due to neurogenic bladder. She was transferred to the intensive care unit with the diagnosis of urosepsis. After obtaining blood and urine samples for culture, empirical meropenem (2 x 500 mg) and linezolid (1 x 600 mg) treatment were administered. A central venous catheter (CVC) was inserted and after one day of inotropic support, her hemodynamic parameters were stabilized. The urine culture obtained on admission yielded extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Urine culture was repeated after three days and no bacteria were isolated. On the 4th day of admission she developed diarrhea. Toxin A/B tests for Clostridium difficile were negative. To relieve diarrhea, S.boulardii (Reflor 250 mg capsules, Sanofi Aventis, Turkey) was administered twice a day, without opening capsules. Two days later, her C-reactive protein (CRP) level increased from 23.2 mg/L to 100 mg/L without fever. Her blood culture taken from the CVC yielded S.cerevisiae. Linezolid and meropenem therapies were stopped on the 13th and 14th days, respectively, while prophylactic fluconazole therapy was replaced with caspofungin 1 x 50 mg on the fifth day. After seven days of therapy CRP and serum creatinine levels decreased to 9.1 mg/L and 1.2 mg/dl, respectively; and she was discharged from the hospital with improvement. The probiotic capsules were used unopen, thus, it was proposed that S.cerevisiae fungemia originated from translocation from the intestinal mucosa. Since it was not possible to investigate the molecular genetics of the strain isolated from the blood culture and the strain present in the probiotic, a definite conclusion about the origin of the strain could not be reached. It was thought that old age and underlying disease of the patient were the related predisposing factors for S.cerevisiae fungemia. This case emphasized that clinicians should be cautious in case of probiotic application even though in encapsulated form, even in immunocompetent patients with a history of long-term hospital stay and use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials since there may be a risk of S.cerevisiae fungemia development.

[Changes in antibiotic resistance of organisms isolated from blood cultures in a recently built hospital].

The change in antimicrobial resistance of organisms isolated from blood cultures was studied in a university hospital that opened in July 1977 and had 550 beds by December 1982. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were studied by an automatic microdilution technique. Analysis of MICs in the different groups of organisms in relation with time demonstrated no enhancement of resistance during these first 5 1/2 years, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa that became significantly more resistant (p less than 0.05) to five of the seven antibiotics tested. However, comparison of the two periods July 1977-December 1980 and january 1981-December 1982 evidenced a trend towards a decrease in Enterobacteriaceae (p. less than 0.001) and increase in P. aeruginosa (p less than 0.01) and S. aureus (p less than 0.001). This suggests that the selective pressure from hospital use of antibiotics caused no increase in resistance of different organisms but rather a modification of their relative frequency.

Hematuria

The first step in evaluation of red or brown colored urine is to confirm true hematuria with urinalysis and urine microscopy, where hematuria is defined by three of more red blood cells per high power field. Although a urine dipstick test may be used, it can give false positive or false negative results. In gathering information, it is important to inquire about recent trauma, urologic procedures, menses, and culture-documented urinary tract infection. If any of these are present, it is appropriate to repeat a urinalysis with urine microscopy in 1 to 2 weeks or after treatment of the infection. If the results of the urinalysis and urine microscopy reveal a glomerular origin of hematuria (indicated by proteinuria or red blood cell casts), consultation of a nephrologist should be made. If the results of the urinalysis indicate a non-glomerular origin, a microbiological culture of the urine should be performed, if it has not been done already. If the culture is positive, treatment of the

[Trends in resistant bacteria isolated from a tube smear in intubated patients in intensive care].

Long standing antibiotics therapy has resulted in growing bacteria resistance. We took a tube smear and prepared culture with antibiogram from the fifty intubated patients in the Intensive care unit in the war period. Gram-negative germs were the dominant ones in total sum, and among them the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (No 21), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (No 18), Klebsiella pneumoniae (No 18), were isolated most frequently. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed high resistance to Gentamicin (64%), Amikacin (35%), Trimethoprim (66%), Pefloxacin (20%), Ofloxacin (25%), Ciprofloxacin (25%). Klebsiella pneumoniae is resistant to Gentamicin (68%), Amikacin (22%), Cephalosporin (100%), Trimethoprim (31%), but it showed no resistance to chinolones. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus is resistant to Gentamicin (73%), Amikacin (36%), Cephalosporin (100%), Trimethoprim (63%), Pefloxacin (33%), Ofloxacin (67%), Ciprofloxacin (46%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent among Gram-positive germs and it was resistant to Penicillin (100%), Gentamicin (40%), Lincocin (18%), Trimethoprim (5%), Pefloxacin (13%), Methicillin (21%), Cephalosporin (8%). The appearance of resistance on the antibiotics demands attentive follow-up aiming to influence the empirical application of antibiotics schemes depending on resistance.

Enteric fever: a retrospective 6-year analysis of 82 paediatric cases in a teaching hospital.

To evaluate the clinical and laboratory properties, to see the response to therapy, incidence of antimicrobial resistance and complications of Enteric Fever in children. This is a retrospective study of 82 cases of enteric fever admitted in department of pediatrics, Manipal Teaching hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. Study period was six years from (Jan 2000 to Dec 2005). Total of 82 cases of Salmonella infections were admitted .There were 50 (60%) males and 32 (40%) females. Most of the patients were above the age of five. The leading clinical feature were Fever (100%) , GI symptoms (73%), followed by splenomegaly (60%), hepatomegaly (58%), chills & rigor (41%), headache(33%),coated tongue(17%), lymphadenopathy (13%), Respiratory signs (13%), toxic look (7%). The laboratory reports revealed leucopenia in 26% and leukocytosis in 16%. Widal test was positive in 83%, Blood culture was positive in 37 %.Bone marrow was done in 8 cases, out of which 5(62.5%) were culture positive. Out of 35 culture positive cases 32 were Salmonella typhi and 3 were Salmonella paratyphi A. Regarding the treatment 55% were treated with ciprofloxacin, 29 % with ceftriaxone, 7% with ampicillin, 6% with cefotaxime and 2.4 % with chloramphenicol. Response to therapy was assessed by day of defervescence after antibiotics. Best response was observed with ciprofloxacin (4.7 days) followed by ceftriaxone (5 days), ampicillin (5.5 days), cefotaximee (6.4 days), chloramphenicol (10 days) respectively. In the antibiogram resistance was 43% with chloramphenicol, 37% with ampicillin, 31% with trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole, 5.7%with ciprofloxacin and 4% with cefotaxime. Resistance was 0% with ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, and ofloxacin. Gentamycin was found to show high sensitivity (91%). The complications observed were anemia in 10%, 5% had neurologic signs like clouding of consciousness and 3.7% had CNS irritability. It is important to include Enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of febrile patients with abdominal symptoms. Though blood culture is the definite test, Widal test plays supportive role in diagnosis of enteric fever, especially when patients come after a course of antibiotics. Sometimes when both blood culture and Widal tests are negative Bone marrow can be the diagnostic tool for the diagnosis. Based on this analysis ciprofloxacin is still a good drug for the treatment of Enteric Fever. Ceftriaxone, Cefuroxime and Ofloxacin can be considered as first line treatment for Enteric fever since resistance was nil with these drugs on culture reports.

[Changes in the spectrum of the causative agents of community-acquired pneumonias (1982-1992)].

The picture of pneumonia acquired out of hospital is continually changing. Microbial aetiology as well as predisposing factors, course and prognosis of this disease were prospectively analysed over a period of 10 years. In three prospective studies, undertaken between 1982 and 1992, data from 448 patients with out-of-hospital acquired pneumonia were analysed. Microbiological evidence was obtained through blood cultures, from purulent sputum or bronchial secretions, as well as by determining serum antibodies or antigens in urine. Proof of causative organism was achieved in 282 patients (64.1%), with identification of 337 different ones. The spectrum of causative microbes shifted during the study period from predominantly gram-positive bacteria to largely atypical organisms (from 12.5% during 1982/1983, to 36.7% in 1991/1992). Although pneumococci continued to dominate, Chlamydia pneumoniae appeared as an important cause of pneumonia, at 11.4% the most important atypical organism in 1991/1992. -Most patients (74.3%) had a chronic underlying disease. The death rate remained relatively constant at 12.9% during the 10-year period. The observed changes in microbial spectrum should be taken into account when specific antibiotic treatment is given. History as well as clinical, radiological and laboratory findings are of only limited value as pointers to the possible microbial cause.

A Clinical Challenge in the Emergency Department: A Case of Klebsiella Infective Endocarditis Presenting With Splenic Abscess.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious bacterial infection of the endocardium and/or heart valves that carries considerable morbidity and mortality. Often presenting with very non-specific symptoms, this disease presents many challenges to the emergency medicine practitioner. A 47-year-old male with no pertinent medical history presented to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath. He stated that his symptoms had been persistent for the last three weeks and were associated with malaise and fatigue. CT of the abdomen/pelvis with IV contrast revealed a 7-cm hypodensity of the spleen concerning for abscess versus infarct. He denied any trauma or IV drug use. Follow-up ultrasound was ordered, which characterized the hypodensity as a splenic abscess. An echocardiogram was recommended for possible IE, and cardiology was consulted. The transthoracic echocardiogram was performed on hospital day 2, which showed minimal mitral valve thickening with mild mitral regurgitation. The interventional radiology (IR) service was consulted for the splenic abscess in order to perform CT-guided drainage. An IR drain was successfully placed on hospital day 3. On the same day, blood cultures grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. On hospital day 5, that patient was transferred to the ICU for possible empyema formation with signs of respiratory distress. The patient underwent CT of the chest that showed the development of a left-sided effusion. The patient had also been persistently tachycardic and febrile, with high leukocytosis since admission and worsening respiratory status. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was scheduled but put on hold due to worsening respiratory status. Repeat TEE was scheduled five days later, which showed mitral regurgitation and increased size of the vegetation despite antibiotic therapy. Two days later, he was scheduled for mitral valve repair. When reviewing our case, the patient had both common and uncommon aspects of splenic abscess or IE. First, despite having respiratory symptoms for two weeks, the primary reason he came to the hospital was due to the new onset of fevers. He was febrile, tachycardic, and with significant leukocytosis. He continued to have fevers despite antibiotic therapy and IR drainage of the abscess. With no history of IV drug use history, negative transthoracic echocardiography, lack of immunocompromising condition, and blood cultures with gram-negative rods, IE became less likely of a diagnosis.  Establishing the diagnosis of IE proved to be exceptionally complicated, especially in the setting of a COVID-19 pandemic. The most notable challenge was having a high index of suspicion despite any risk factors. The patient was a previously healthy 47-year-old male with no medical problems. IE continues to be a clinical challenge for physicians, especially in the emergency department, due to the lack of diagnostic criteria such as positive blood cultures or vegetations visualized on echocardiographic studies. IE has a wide gamut of presentations with different levels of acuity. Diagnosis is more straightforward when patients present with obvious risk factors, but, in many cases, such as this one, those risk factors may be absent. A high index of suspicion is required, especially in patients with additional findings such as splenic abscess, embolic phenomenon, focal neurologic deficit, mycotic aneurysm, decompensated heart failure, new murmurs, or pleural effusions.

[Gram-negative bacteria in a medical resuscitation unit. Distribution of species and antibiotic sensitivity].

The distribution of Gram-negative bacilli species and their susceptibility to various antibiotics were surveyed over a 18-month period in an intensive care unit. Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from blood cultures (65), urine cultures (191), respiratory tract samples (176) or miscellaneous samples (69). The bacilli most frequently isolated from blood cultures were enterobacteriaceae (95%), including Escherichia coli (46%), Proteus (22%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (12%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was predominant in respiratory tract samples, and Serratia marcescens was more frequently isolated from urine cultures than from other samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using a standard disc diffusion method. In view of the susceptibility of blood isolates to the second-generation cephalosporins we consider that these are preferable to third-generation cephalosporins for first-line antibiotic therapy of septicaemia due to Gram-negative bacilli, except for hospital-acquired infections. More than 50% of the bacilli were resistant to ampicillin; ticarcillin and mezlocillin were not very active against Klebsiella. Nalidixic acid was very active on urine isolates and therefore seems to be a good first-line antibacterial for lower urinary tract infections.

Omadacycline

Omadacycline, sold under the brand name Nuzyra, is a broad spectrum antibiotic medication belonging to the aminomethylcycline subclass of tetracycline antibiotics. In the United States, it was approved in October 2018, for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute skin and skin structure infections. In vitro studies In vitro studies have shown that omadacycline has activity against a broad range of Gram-positive and select Gram-negative pathogens. Omadacycline has potent in vitro activity against Gram-positive aerobic bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), penicillin-resistant and multi-drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Omadacycline also has antimicrobial activity against common Gram-negative aerobes, some anaerobes, and atypical bacteria such as Legionella and Chlamydia. This activity translated to potent efficacy for omadacycline in an in vivo systemic infection model in mice.

[A case of septic pulmonary embolism showing the rapid appearance of multiple cavities in both lung fields induced by urinary tract infection].

A 69-year-old man who had benign prostatic hypertrophy and hypertension was admitted to our hospital because of urinary retention and high grade fever. Chest radiograph showed the appearance of multiple cavitating nodules in both lung fields within a few days after admission. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in blood and sputum cultures, though there were no pathogens in urine culture. Abdominal CT demonstrated bilateral hydronephrosis. Since we could not detect any other infectious focuses such as bacterial endocarditis, septic thrombophlebitis etc., we reached the diagnosis of septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) induced by urinary tract infection (UTI). After diagnosis, the patient was given intravenous meropenem, ciprofloxacin, sulbactam/ampicilin, and recovered. Although several cases of SPE induced by UTI in diabetes mellitus patients have been reported, the present case who had no severe underlying disorder is very rare.

[Interest of real-time PCR Xpert MRSA/SA on GeneXpert(®) DX System in the investigation of staphylococcal bacteremia].

Recently, a rapid, fully automated real-time PCR test has become available for detection of Staphylococcus aureus in positive blood cultures, Xpert MRSA/SA blood culture. This study was defined to evaluate the use of this product in our hospital setting to assist in optimizing antibiotic treatment. Over a period of 18months (from February 2008 to July 2009), 51 positive blood cultures were examined for Staphylococcus using the Xpert MRSA/SA assay on the GeneXpert(®) System. The PCR results were transferred to the clinician as soon as available. The presence of empirical antibiotic therapy was noted and modified if necessary after discussions between the clinician and the infectious disease specialist. Twenty-three blood bottles were positive for S. aureus, two were resistant to methicillin. Twenty-eight were coagulase negative staphylococci. No discrepancy between identification (S. aureus) and methicillin resistance was observed. Thirty-two samples had clinically significant bacteremia (23 S. aureus and nine coagulase negative staphylococci). Sixteen (50%) of these patients had received inappropriate antibiotic therapy (11 without antibiotic therapy, five with betalactam antibiotics). For these patients, an appropriate antibiotic therapy was prescribed according to these results. Sixteen patients had adequate empirical antibiotic therapy at the time of receiving the PCR result. Among these 16 patients, eight switches were performed from broad-spectrum treatment to a more restrictive antistaphylococcal treatment. Of the 19 patients with a nonclinically relevant coagulase negative staphylococci infection, four were already on antibiotics for other infections and these treatments were not modified. Empirical treatment could be avoided in 13 patients who had a clinical presentation consistent with staphylococcal bacteremia (multiple sores, history of carrying methicllin-resistant or susceptible S. aureus infection, presence of intravascular material or prosthesis). The real-time PCR Cepheid Xpert MRSA/SA on GeneXpert(®) DX System has become an essential tool in our laboratory enhancing the reports of positive blood cultures for staphylococci. This test is fast (50min) and reliable. It allows optimization of antibiotic therapy in hospital.


According to ICD-10 the criteria for diagnosing Somatization Disorder (F45.0) are: A. History of multiple physical symptoms, which begins before age 30, persists for several years, and compels seeking medical attention or causes significant impairment socially, occupationally, or in other important areas of the individual's activity. B. All of the following criteria must be met, and each symptom can occur at any time during the disturbance: 1. Four painful symptoms: history of pain related to at least four areas of the body or four functions (e.g., head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest, rectum; during menstruation, sexual intercourse, or urination). Two gastrointestinal symptoms: history of at least two gastrointestinal symptoms other than pain (e.g., nausea, bloating, vomiting [not during pregnancy], diarrhea, or intolerance to different foods). 3. A sexual symptom: history of at least one sexual or reproductive symptom other than pain (e.g., sexual indifference, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, irregular menses, excessive menstrual leakage, vomiting during pregnancy). 4. A pseudoneurological symptom: History of at least one symptom or deficit suggestive of a neurological disorder not limited to pain (conversion symptoms of the type of impaired psychomotor coordination or balance, localized muscle paralysis or weakness, difficulty swallowing, lump-in-throat sensation, aphonia, urinary retention, hallucinations, loss of tactile and painful sensation, diplopia, blindness, deafness, seizures; dissociative symptoms such as amnesia; or loss of consciousness other than fainting). C. Either of the following two characteristics: 1. Upon adequate examination, none of the symptoms in Criterion B can be explained by the presence of a known medical illness or by the direct effects of a substance (e.g., drugs or medication). 2. If a medical illness is present, the physical symptoms or social or occupational impairment are excessive compared to what would be expected from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings. D. The symptoms are not intentionally produced and are not simulated (unlike in factitious disorder and simulation). Everything fits with what is described in the statement. Conversive or dissociative disorder is ruled out because these are usually related to psychological factors, associated with the symptom or deficit (not deliberate). The onset or exacerbation of the condition is preceded by conflicts or other triggers, which is not mentioned in the statement. Neither would it be a hypochondriacal disorder because this implies a preoccupation and fear of having, or the conviction of having, a serious illness based on the personal interpretation of somatic symptoms. But it does not involve physical signs or symptoms.

According to ICD-10 the criteria for diagnosing Somatization Disorder (F45.0) are: A. History of multiple physical symptoms, which begins before age 30, persists for several years, and compels seeking medical attention or causes significant impairment socially, occupationally, or in other important areas of the individual's activity. B. All of the following criteria must be met, and each symptom can occur at any time during the disturbance: 1. Four painful symptoms: history of pain related to at least four areas of the body or four functions (e.g., head, abdomen, back, joints, extremities, chest, rectum; during menstruation, sexual intercourse, or urination). Two gastrointestinal symptoms: history of at least two gastrointestinal symptoms other than pain (e.g., nausea, bloating, vomiting [not during pregnancy], diarrhea, or intolerance to different foods). 3. A sexual symptom: history of at least one sexual or reproductive symptom other than pain (e.g., sexual indifference, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, irregular menses, excessive menstrual leakage, vomiting during pregnancy). 4. A pseudoneurological symptom: History of at least one symptom or deficit suggestive of a neurological disorder not limited to pain (conversion symptoms of the type of impaired psychomotor coordination or balance, localized muscle paralysis or weakness, difficulty swallowing, lump-in-throat sensation, aphonia, urinary retention, hallucinations, loss of tactile and painful sensation, diplopia, blindness, deafness, seizures; dissociative symptoms such as amnesia; or loss of consciousness other than fainting). C. Either of the following two characteristics: 1. Upon adequate examination, none of the symptoms in Criterion B can be explained by the presence of a known medical illness or by the direct effects of a substance (e.g., drugs or medication). 2. If a medical illness is present, the physical symptoms or social or occupational impairment are excessive compared to what would be expected from the history, physical examination, or laboratory findings. D. The symptoms are not intentionally produced and are not simulated (unlike in factitious disorder and simulation). Everything fits with what is described in the statement. Conversive or dissociative disorder is ruled out because these are usually related to psychological factors, associated with the symptom or deficit (not deliberate). The onset or exacerbation of the condition is preceded by conflicts or other triggers, which is not mentioned in the statement. [HIDDEN] because this implies a preoccupation and fear of having, or the conviction of having, a serious illness based on the personal interpretation of somatic symptoms. But it does not involve physical signs or symptoms.

A patient presents with a long history of multiple physical symptoms: memory loss, headache, dizziness, vomiting, genital pain, limb pain, abdominal distention, and menstrual irregularities. The various medical examinations have ruled out any medical illness. Which of the following is most likely to be the case?

Somatic symptom disorder

In people who have been diagnosed with a somatic symptom disorder, medical test results are either normal or do not explain the person's symptoms (medically unexplained physical symptoms), and history and physical examination do not indicate the presence of a known medical condition that could cause them, though the DSM-5 cautions that this alone is not sufficient for diagnosis. The patient must also be excessively worried about their symptoms, and this worry must be judged to be out of proportion to the severity of the physical complaints themselves. A diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder requires that the subject have recurring somatic complaints for at least six months.

Somatic symptom disorder

History Somitisation disorder was first described by Paul Briquet in 1859 and was subsequently known as Briquet's syndrome. He described patients who had been sickly most of their lives and complained of multiple symptoms from different organ systems. Symptoms persist despite multiple consultations, hospitalisations and investigations. Definition Somatic symptom disorders are a group of disorders, all of which fit the definition of physical symptoms similar to those observed in physical disease or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause. As such, they are a diagnosis of exclusion. Somatic symptoms may be generalized in four major medical categories: neurological, cardiac, pain, and gastrointestinal somatic symptoms.

Medical explanations of bewitchment

Hysteria and psychosomatic disorders The symptoms displayed by the afflicted in Salem are similar to those seen in classic cases of hysteria, according to Marion Starkey and Chadwick Hansen. Physicians have replaced the vague diagnosis of hysteria with what is essentially its synonym, psychosomatic disorder. Psychological processes known to influence physical health are now called "psychosomatic". They include: "several types of disease known as somatoform disorders, in which somatic symptoms appear either without any organic disorder or without organic damage that can account for the severity of the symptoms. ... A second type, conversion disorders, involves inexplicable malfunctions in motor and sensory systems. The third type, pain disorder, involves sensation either in the absence of an organic problem or in excess of actual physical damage."

Somatic symptom disorder

Controversy Somatic symptom disorder has been a controversial diagnosis, since it was historically based primarily on negative criteria; that is, the absence of a medical explanation for the presenting physical complaints. Consequently, any person suffering from a poorly understood illness can potentially fulfill the criteria for this psychiatric diagnosis, even if they exhibit no psychiatric symptoms in the conventional sense. Misdiagnosis In the opinion of Allen Frances, chair of the DSM-IV task force, the DSM-5's somatic symptom disorder brings with it a risk of mislabeling a sizable proportion of the population as mentally ill. “Millions of people could be mislabeled, with the burden falling disproportionately on women, because they are more likely to be casually dismissed as ‘catastrophizers’ when presenting with physical symptoms.”

Factitious disorder

Differential diagnosis Factitious disorder should be distinguished from somatic symptom disorder (formerly called somatization disorder), in which the patient is truly experiencing the symptoms and has no intention to deceive. In conversion disorder (previously called hysteria), a neurological deficit appears with no organic cause. The patient, again, is truly experiencing the symptoms and signs and has no intention to deceive. The differential also includes body dysmorphic disorder and pain disorder.

Neurology_Adams

Hysteria in its fullest form is a polysymptomatic disorder, implicating at some time and in some patients, almost every organ system. In a study of 50 unmistakable cases of hysteria (as compared with a control group of 50 healthy women), the most frequent symptoms reported by Purtell and colleagues were headache, blurred vision, lump in the throat, loss of voice, dyspnea, palpitation, anxiety attacks, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual food allergies, severe menstrual pain, urinary retention, painful intercourse, paresthesias, dizzy spells, nervousness, and easy crying.

ICHD classification and diagnosis of migraine

Menstrual migraines may also be linked to oestrogen withdrawal. Under the category of headache attributed to a substance or its withdrawal, the ICHD specifies the diagnostic criteria for oestrogen-withdrawal headache (8.4.3, and ), and suggests that both that diagnosis and one of the menstrual migraine diagnoses be used in case of migraines related to oestrogen withdrawal occurring mainly at menstruation. Abdominal migraine Abdominal migraine is a recurrent disorder of unknown origin, principally affecting children. Sometimes early on, it can be misdiagnosed in an ER setting as appendicitis. Episodes feature nausea, vomiting, and moderate-to-severe central, abdominal pain. The child is well between episodes. The International Classification of Headache Disorders definition is: Most children with abdominal migraines will develop migraine headache in adult life; the two propensities might co-exist during the child's adolescence.

Somatic symptom disorder: a diagnostic dilemma.

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a diagnosis that was introduced with publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) in 2013. It eliminated the diagnoses of somatisation disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, hypochondriasis and pain disorder; most of the patients who previously received these diagnoses are now diagnosed in DSM-5 with SSD. The main feature of this disorder is a patient's concern with physical symptoms for which no biological cause is found. It requires psychiatric assessment to exclude comorbid psychiatric disease. Failure to recognise this disorder may lead the unwary physician or surgeon to embark on investigations or diagnostic procedures which may result in iatrogenic complications. It also poses a significant financial burden on the healthcare service. Patients with non-specific abdominal pain have a poor symptomatic prognosis with continuing use of medical services. Proven treatments include cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness therapy and pharmacological treatment using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. The authors describe the case of a 31-year-old woman with an emotionally unstable personality disorder and comorbid disease presenting to the emergency department with a 3-week history of left-sided abdominal and leg pain. Despite a plethora of investigations, no organic cause for her pain was found. She was reviewed by the multidisciplinary team including surgeons, physicians, neurologists and psychiatrists. A diagnosis of somatoform symptom disorder was subsequently rendered. As patients with SSD will present to general practice and the emergency department rather than psychiatric settings, this case provides a cautionary reminder of furthering the need for appropriate recognition of this condition.

Gynecology_Novak

Epidemiology Somatization is believed to be among the most common and most difficult psychological conditions in office practice. It is estimated that 60% to 80% of the general population experiences one or more somatic symptoms in a given week, providing an ample substrate for the patient preoccupied with her health (167). Somatization disorder occurs almost exclusively in women; menstrual symptoms may be an early sign. Lifetime prevalence in women is 0.2% to 2.0%. Conversion disorder occurs 2 to 10 times more frequently in women than in men (there is no difference for gender in children), and it is more common in rural and disadvantaged populations with little medical sophistication (167). Cases have become relatively rare. Conversion disorder may develop into somatization disorder. Reported rates of somatization disorder range from 11 to 300 per 100,000. Pain disorder is extremely common in both genders. Hypochondriasis is equally distributed between men and women; prevalence in

Somatic symptom disorder

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Somatic symptom disorders used to be recognized as Somatoform disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. The following were conditions under the term Somatoform Disorders: Conversion disorder: A somatic symptom disorder involving the actual loss of bodily function such as blindness, paralysis, and numbness due to excessive anxiety Somatization disorder Hypochondriasis Body dysmorphic disorder: wherein the afflicted individual is concerned with body image, and the disorder is manifested as excessive concern about and preoccupation with a perceived defect of their physical appearance. Pain disorder Undifferentiated somatic symptom disorder – only one unexplained symptom is required for at least six months. In the newest version of DSM-5 (2013) somatic symptom disorders are recognized under the term somatic symptom and related disorders:

Factitious Disorder -- History and Physical

Patients with factitious disorder may present to any specialty with self-induced, feigned, or exaggerated symptoms. Some patients with factitious disorder present with simple but serious symptoms such as chest pain, as they know this is more likely to result in hospital admission. [1] Other patients may present with much more complex and elaborate symptoms. A good history and physical exam is essential in making the diagnosis. Many clues may raise a clinician's suspicion, including: [3] [4]

Somatic Symptom Disorder -- History and Physical

The presence of SSD may be suggested by a vague and often inconsistent history of present illness, symptoms that are rarely alleviated with medical interventions, patient attribution of normal sensations as medical illness, avoidance of physical activity, high sensitivity to medication adverse effects, and medical care from multiple providers for the same complaints.

Menstrual disorder

Dysmenorrhea Especially painful or persistent menstrual cramping that occurs in the absence of any underlying pelvic disease. Pain radiating to the low back or upper thighs with onset of menstruation and lasting anywhere from 12–72 hours. Headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue may also accompany the pain. Pain may begin gradually, with the first several years of menses, and then intensified as menstruation becomes regular. Patients who also have secondary amenorrhea report symptoms beginning after age 20 and lasting 5–7 days with progressive worsening of pain over time. Pelvic pain is also reported.

Somatization disorder

DSM-IV-TR The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria are: A history of somatic complaints over several years, starting prior to the age of 30. Such symptoms cannot be fully explained by a general medical condition or substance use or, when there is an associated medical condition, the impairments due to the somatic symptoms are more severe than generally expected. Complaints are not feigned as in malingering or factitious disorder. The symptoms do not all have to occur at the same time, but may occur over the course of the disorder. A somatization disorder itself is chronic but fluctuating that rarely remits completely. A thorough physical examination of the specified areas of complaint is critical for somatization disorder diagnosis. Medical examination would provide object evidence of subjective complaints of the individual.

DSM-5

Somatic symptom and related disorders Somatoform disorders are now called somatic symptom and related disorders. Patients that present with chronic pain can now be diagnosed with the mental illness somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain; or psychological factors that affect other medical conditions; or with an adjustment disorder. Somatization disorder and undifferentiated somatoform disorder were combined to become somatic symptom disorder, a diagnosis which no longer requires a specific number of somatic symptoms. Somatic symptom and related disorders are defined by positive symptoms, and the use of medically unexplained symptoms is minimized, except in the cases of conversion disorder and pseudocyesis (false pregnancy). A new diagnosis is psychological factors affecting other medical conditions. This was formerly found in the DSM-IV chapter "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention".

Neurology_Adams

The mental examination of the patient with hysteria demonstrates a lack of precision in relating the details of the illness. Questions regarding the chief complaint usually elicit a narration of a series of incidents or problems, many of which prove to have little or no relevance to the question. Memory defects (amnesic gaps) are apparent while the history is being taken; the patient appears to have forgotten important segments of the history, some of which he had clearly described in the past and are part of the medical record. The description of symptoms is dramatic and not in accord with the facts as elicited from other members of the family. Often, a rather casual demeanor is manifest, the patient insisting that everything in her life is quite normal and controlled, when, in fact, her medical record is checkered with instances of dramatic and unexplained illness. This calm attitude toward a turbulent illness and seemingly disabling physical signs is so common that it has been

Somatic anxiety

Somatic anxiety, also known as somatization, is the physical manifestation of anxiety. It is commonly contrasted with cognitive anxiety, which is the mental manifestation of anxiety, or the specific thought processes that occur during anxiety, such as concern or worry. These different components of anxiety are especially studied in sports psychology, specifically relating to how the anxiety symptoms affect athletic performance. "Symptoms typically associated with somatization of anxiety and other psychiatric disorders include abdominal pain, dyspepsia, chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, and headache." These symptoms can either happen alone or multiple can happen at once. Although commonly overlooked, scientists are starting to study somatic anxiety more. Studies are actually starting to show that some medically overlooked cases that could not relate physical pain to any type of organ dysfunction typically could have been somatic anxiety.

Neurology_Adams

her medical record is checkered with instances of dramatic and unexplained illness. This calm attitude toward a turbulent illness and seemingly disabling physical signs is so common that it has been singled out as an important characteristic of hysteria, la belle indifference. Other patients, however, are obviously tense and anxious and report frank anxiety attacks. Emotional reactions are superficial and scenes that are disturbing to others are quickly forgotten. Claims of early life sexual or physical abuse are common and often prove to be true, or sometimes are not valid; when present, they probably play a role in the genesis of some cases (see further on).

Chronic fatigue syndrome

In 1970, two British psychiatrists, McEvedy and Beard, reviewed the case notes of 15 outbreaks of benign myalgic encephalomyelitis and concluded that it was caused by mass hysteria on the part of patients, or altered medical perception of the attending physicians. Their conclusions were based on previous studies that found many normal physical test results, a lack of a discernible cause, and a higher prevalence of the illness in females. Consequently, the authors recommended that the disease should be renamed "myalgia nervosa". This perspective was rejected in a series of case studies by Dr. Melvin Ramsay and other staff of the Royal Free Hospital, the center of a significant outbreak. The psychological hypothesis posed by McEvedy and Beard created great controversy, and convinced a generation of health professionals in the UK that this could be a plausible explanation for the condition, resulting in neglect by many medical specialties. The specialty that did take a major interest in

New daily persistent headache

Notes: Headache may be unremitting from the moment of onset or very rapidly build up to continuous and unremitting pain. Such onset or rapid development must be clearly recalled and unambiguously described by the patient. Otherwise it is coded as 2.3 chronic tension-type headache. History and physical and neurological examinations do not suggest any of the disorders listed in groups 5-12 (including 8.2 medication overuse headaches and its subforms), or history and/or physical and/or neurological examinations do suggest such disorder but it is ruled out by appropriate investigations, or such disorder is present but headache does not occur for the first time in close temporal relation to the disorder. Criteria revision

Accessory pancreas

Accessory pancreas is a small cluster of pancreas cells detached from the pancreas and sometimes found in the wall of the stomach or intestines. Diagnosis Pancreatic disorders are often accompanied by weakness and fatigue. The past Medical history may reveal previous disorders of the biliary tract or duodenum, abdominal trauma or surgery, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. The medication history should be detailed and specifically include the use of thiazides, furosemide, estrogens, corticosteroids, sulfonamides, and opiates. Note a family history of pancreatic disorders. In the review of systems, obtain a complete description of any pain in the upper abdomen or epigastric area. Symptoms that may be important in relation to pancreatic disorders are pruritus, abdominal pain, dyspnea, nausea, and vomiting. The functional assessment includes data about the patient’s dietary habits and use of alcohol.

Abdominal migraine

Abdominal migraine is a psychogenic pain disorder. It primarily affects children. It mainly causes episodes of abdominal pain without an accompanying headache. It is caused by psychological stress, with risk factors including other mental disorders and psychological trauma from abuse. It is difficult to confirm the diagnosis, as its symptoms are not specific, and it can take time before a diagnosis is made. Short term treatment involves analgesia and avoiding bright light. Long term treatment involves treating the underlying psychogenic cause. The condition is rare in adults. The mean age of diagnosis is 7 years. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms of abdominal migraine may include: Abdominal pain. Nausea. Vomiting. Headache. Photosensitivity. Loss of appetite. Pallor. These occur in distinct episodes. This can have a significant effect on day-to-day life. It usually does not occur with a headache. Body mass index is usually unaffected, and physical development is normal.

Neurology_Adams

There is a significant overlap of hysteria and other medical and neurologic diseases. On record are numerous studies in which patients with an initial diagnosis of hysteria by general physicians were followed for many years. Up to one-third of them (far less in most series) turned out eventually to have an “organic condition” that, in retrospect, explained the initial symptoms (Couprie et al). This emphasizes that the original clinical diagnosis of hysteria is sometimes erroneous, although numerous other surveys emphasize the opposite, as noted below. When the diagnostic criteria in these cases are closely analyzed, it becomes apparent that the diagnosis was made solely by the “discrepancy method”—that is, the patient’s symptoms or signs were not deemed to be credible manifestations of disease, based mainly on the clinical experience of the examiner. Of course, this assumes that the examiner has a wide experience; unfortunately for the novice, many syndromes are unknown or

Eating disorder

their diet, choose to consume their trigger foods to promote weight loss. On the other hand, individuals with good dietary management may develop anxiety, food aversion and eating disorders because of concerns around cross contamination of their foods. Some authors suggest that medical professionals should evaluate the presence of an unrecognized celiac disease in all people with eating disorder, especially if they present any gastrointestinal symptom (such as decreased appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, distension, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation), weight loss, or growth failure; and also routinely ask celiac patients about weight or body shape concerns, dieting or vomiting for weight control, to evaluate the possible presence of eating disorders, specially in women.

[The importance of the anamnesis and the clinical and paraclinical examination methods in the diagnosis of internal diseases].

Data are available on the studies into the significance of case history, clinical and paraclinical examinations for a valid diagnosis of internal diseases. Clinical cases are presented where neglect of the disease history and detailed clinical examination brought about misdiagnosis. The role of paraclinical methods in diagnostic investigations is considered. It is emphasized that students should be better trained in patients' interviewing and clinical examination.

Anorexia nervosa

the importance of strictly following their diet, choose to consume their trigger foods to promote weight loss. On the other hand, individuals with good dietary management may develop anxiety, food aversion and eating disorders because of concerns around cross contamination of their foods. Some authors suggest that medical professionals should evaluate the presence of an unrecognized celiac disease in all people with eating disorder, especially if they present any gastrointestinal symptom (such as decreased appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, distension, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation), weight loss, or growth failure; and also routinely ask celiac patients about weight or body shape concerns, dieting or vomiting for weight control, to evaluate the possible presence of eating disorders, especially in women.

Factitious illness in gynecology.

Factitious or self-induced illness has rarely been mentioned in gynecologic literature. Described herein are 4 nonpregnant women, 3 of whom had vaginal bleeding of unknown origin and 1 who had recurrent fevers and an acute abdomen. In gynecologic practice, factitious illness should be suspected whenever a patient presents with a protracted illness that has eluded diagnosis. Furthermore, the index of suspicion for factitious illness should be high whenever a patient has an abnormal psychiatric history or has worked in a paramedical field.

In addition to a thorough history, a full review of systems (not only at the location of the symptom) and a comprehensive physical exam is required to evaluate physical causes of somatic complaints. Given frequent comorbid psychiatric disease, a mental status examination should be performed, noting appearance, mood, affect, attention, memory, concentration, orientation, the presence of hallucinations or delusions, and suicidal or homicidal ideation. [8] Ultimately, the physical examination may provide a baseline for monitoring over time, assure patients that their complaints are acknowledged, and help validate the primary care provider’s concern that the patient does not have a physical medical illness. If a disease is present, the exam may provide information on severity.

Medically unexplained physical symptoms

The term medically unexplained symptoms is in some cases treated as synonymous to older terms such as psychosomatic symptoms, conversion disorders, somatic symptoms, somatisations or somatoform disorders; as well as contemporary terms such as functional disorders, bodily distress, and persistent physical symptoms. The plethora of terms reflects imprecision and uncertainty in their definition, controversy, and care taken to avoid stigmatising sufferers. Risk factors for medically unexplained symptoms are complex and include both psychological and organic features, and such symptoms are often accompanied by other somatic symptoms attributable to organic disease. As such it is recognised that the boundary defining symptoms as medically unexplained is increasingly becoming blurred.

Functional neurologic disorder

Patients with functional movement disorders and limb weakness may experience symptom onset triggered by an episode of acute pain, a physical injury or physical trauma. They may also experience symptoms when faced with a psychological stressor, but this isn't the case for most patients. Patients with functional neurological disorders are more likely to have a history of another illness such as irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain or fibromyalgia but this cannot be used to make a diagnosis. FND does not show up on blood tests or structural brain imaging such as MRI or CT scanning. However, this is also the case for many other neurological conditions so negative investigations should not be used alone to make the diagnosis. FND can, however, occur alongside other neurological diseases and tests may show non-specific abnormalities which cause confusion for doctors and patients.

Excess medical care of women with somatization disorder.

We compared 50 women with somatization disorder to 25 women with major depression. The somatizers had three times as many operations and hospitalizations as the depressed women. Hospitalizations for headache and backache, abdominal and pelvic operations, and radiologic studies for abdominal complaints occurred frequently in the somatizers. Important factors in the excess medical care of these women were the difficulty in diagnosis and the unwillingness of physicians to use the diagnosis of somatization disorder to limit medical care. Even though somatization disorder has been well described in the medical literature for 30 years, somatizers still receive excess medical care.

Conversion disorder

Sensory symptoms or deficits: Impaired vision (hysterical blindness), double vision Impaired hearing (deafness) Loss or disturbance of touch or pain sensation Conversion symptoms typically do not conform to known anatomical pathways and physiological mechanisms. It has sometimes been stated that the presenting symptoms tend to reflect the patient's own understanding of anatomy and that the less medical knowledge a person has, the more implausible are the presenting symptoms. However, no systematic studies have yet been performed to substantiate this statement. Diagnosis Definition Conversion disorder is now contained under the umbrella term functional neurological symptom disorder. In cases of conversion disorder, there is a psychological stressor. The diagnostic criteria for functional neurological symptom disorder, as set out in DSM-5, are: