Dínimo Bolivar-Saénz , Nohora Patricia Bonilla Solano , Georgina González Tarazona , José Antonio Villamizar Silva , Yohana Alfonso Guerra , Juan Camilo Arango Brand , Andrea Torres Contreras
{"title":"Intestinal tuberculosis diagnosed by clinical presentation, imaging, and endoscopy, associated with pulmonary tuberculosis: A case report and narrative literature review","authors":"Dínimo Bolivar-Saénz , Nohora Patricia Bonilla Solano , Georgina González Tarazona , José Antonio Villamizar Silva , Yohana Alfonso Guerra , Juan Camilo Arango Brand , Andrea Torres Contreras","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) represents an atypical clinical manifestation of tuberculosis, constituting a significant proportion of extrapulmonary cases. This study, combining a case report and a narrative literature review, aims to deepen the understanding of ITB and its clinical characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Case presentation</h3><div>We present a clinical case of a young patient with concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. Imaging studies revealed intestinal wall thickening in the ileum and cecum, findings corroborated by colonoscopy, which showed multiple ulcers and an inflammatory response on biopsy, albeit without direct identification of the bacillus. The patient responded favorably to standard anti-tuberculosis treatment.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Our findings, coupled with the literature review, suggest that ITB can present with nonspecific clinical features, hindering early diagnosis. Coexistence with pulmonary tuberculosis is common, and complications such as intestinal obstruction may necessitate surgical intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Intestinal tuberculosis poses a diagnostic challenge due to the variability of its clinical manifestations and the lack of specific diagnostic tests. A high index of clinical suspicion, particularly in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or risk factors, is crucial for early diagnosis, appropriate management, and consequently enhance the prognosis of the disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 4-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144230342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rare discrepancy in the result of enzyme immunoassay in a patient infected by Clostridioides difficile","authors":"Tatsuya Hioki , Hiroyuki Takenaka , Takumi Umemura , Yoshimi Ishihara , Masayoshi Ajioka , Yoshikazu Mutoh","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Clostridioides</em> (<em>Clostridium</em>) <em>difficile</em> produces glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in large amounts, which is frequently used to screen <em>C. difficile</em> infection (CDI). Generally, the sensitivity of GDH–enzyme immunoassay (GDH–EIA) is significantly higher than that of the toxin EIA. In this report, we describe an extremely rare case of discrepancy in EIA with GDH-negative and toxin-positive results. Nucleic acid amplification revealed toxin B gene, binary toxin gene, and <em>tcdC</em> deletion. Additionally, the growth of <em>C. difficile</em> was monitored by culture method, which showed positive result for GDH. These findings indicate that laboratory diagnosis of CDI is challenging. Therefore, the results should be carefully interpreted considering the patient’s clinical course.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"52 ","pages":"Pages 1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144211997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonio Vitiello , Andrea Silenzi , Andrea Zovi , Rosario Sorrentino
{"title":"Long-term complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Long COVID)","authors":"Antonio Vitiello , Andrea Silenzi , Andrea Zovi , Rosario Sorrentino","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant health, social, and economic challenges, with an estimated 65 million people affected by long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID-19. Symptoms include psychiatric, neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic disorders, including chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune conditions. Risk factors include female sex, lack of vaccination, pre-existing comorbidities, and smoking. A longer duration or increased severity of symptoms is associated with reduced quality of life, physical performance, and the ability to work or attend school. Diagnostic and therapeutic innovations are being adopted, including digital medicine and artificial intelligence. Recovery from long COVID varies widely among individuals, and probiotics have been proposed as effective remedies for fatigue, memory loss, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Further research and data are needed to fully understand the complexity and multi-organ nature of the disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 52-54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Soomro , Ramlla Hatif , Muzeer Ahmed , Ayesha Saleem , Muhammad Ateeb Sheikh , Sara Ismail , Abdul Nafey Kazi , Muhammad Junaid Patel
{"title":"Extensively drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi encephalopathy: A rare clinical presentation","authors":"Sara Soomro , Ramlla Hatif , Muzeer Ahmed , Ayesha Saleem , Muhammad Ateeb Sheikh , Sara Ismail , Abdul Nafey Kazi , Muhammad Junaid Patel","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mortality from <em>Salmonella Typhi</em> fever is very high among <strong>South-Asian</strong> countries including Pakistan. With the emergence of the extensively drug-resistant <em>Salmonella Typhi</em> strain, mortality has increased among all age groups. <em>Salmonella Typhi</em> usually presents with abdominal symptoms and complications; however, literature has reported its extreme rare clinical presentation with neurological symptoms. We report a case of a young male whose initial presentation was altered mentation and seizures and later diagnosed as having extremely drug-resistant <em>Salmonella Typhi</em> encephalopathy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 48-51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106303","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdessamad Amrani , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Amjad Idrissi , Yasser Akil , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb
{"title":"Unusual cause of appendiceal peritonitis: Comamonas kerstersii– A case report and literature review","authors":"Abdessamad Amrani , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Amjad Idrissi , Yasser Akil , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Comamonas kerstersii</em> is a non-fermentative Gram-negative bacterium recently described, and its role in serious human infections has been recognized since 2013. In this article, we report the case of a 53-year-old male admitted to the emergency room for acute abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa. Laboratory tests revealed an inflammatory syndrome with CRP at 399.02 mg/L and Procalcitonin at 5.21 ng/mL. An urgent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was realized, revealing appendiceal peritonitis. The patient underwent an appendectomy and fluid aspiration. The microbiological analysis of the peritoneal fluid led to the identification of <em>Comamonas kerstersii</em> by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The recent discovery of <em>C. kerstersii</em> and the limits of classical phenotypic methods in its detection are probably leading to an underestimated prevalence. More recently, acquired resistance in this bacterium has been reported, requiring systematic susceptibility testing and the rapid adaptation of therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 42-47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ismail Faiz , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Samir Kaddouri , Elmostafa Benaissa , Yassine BenLahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb
{"title":"Morganella morganii: an opportunistic multidrug-resistant pathogen isolated in ascitic fluid in an old man, case report and literature review","authors":"Ismail Faiz , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Mohammed Lahmer , Samir Kaddouri , Elmostafa Benaissa , Yassine BenLahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Morganella morganii</em> is commonly found in nature and is also part of the normal intestinal flora in humans and animals. Although typically an opportunistic pathogen, it is rarely isolated in human infections. Infections caused by this bacterium primarily include postoperative wound infections, urinary tract infections, sepsis, abscesses, chorioamnionitis, and cellulitis. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains poses a significant public health concern, as these strains can lead to severe or even fatal infections in vulnerable patients. We report the case of a 94-year-old immunocompromised patient admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea, significant ascites, and prolonged fever. A C-TAP scan revealed chronic liver disease with large-volume ascites. Laboratory tests showed a mild inflammatory response (CRP: 14 mg/L), low prothrombin time (PT: 56%), hypoalbuminemia (19 g/L), pancytopenia, and macrocytic anemia. Cytobacteriological analysis of the ascitic fluid revealed a significant neutrophilic response and the growth of <em>Morganella morganii</em>. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed susceptibility to carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, co-trimoxazole, and chloramphenicol, while resistance was observed against penicillins (aminopenicillins, carboxypenicillins, ureidopenicillins), cephalosporins, fosfomycin/trometamol, and aminoglycosides. The multidrug-resistant strain of <em>Morganella morganii</em> in this case demonstrated concerning resistance to most <em>β</em>-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fosfomycin/trometamol. Given its increasingly opportunistic nature, multidrug resistance, and potential to cause severe nosocomial infections, clinicians must consider this bacterium during the diagnostic process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 31-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143916215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abir Yahyaoui , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb
{"title":"Purulent pericarditis caused by Kytococcus schroeteri: Case report and literature review","authors":"Abir Yahyaoui , Abderrazak Saddari , Said Ezrari , Elmostapha Benaissa , Yassine Ben Lahlou , Mostafa Elouennass , Adil Maleb","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Kytococcus schroeteri</em> is a Gram-positive Cocci, considered a saprophyte of human skin, which can cause severe infections. Diagnosis is difficult due to non-specific clinical manifestations that vary according to the host's immune status and the presence or absence of implantable devices. It appears that this pathogen has the potential to acquire resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, which only exacerbates the challenge of curing it. We report a rare case of <em>K. schroeteri</em> purulent pericarditis in a 40-year-old woman who underwent surgery to implant an implantable catheter chamber in order to receive chemotherapy for her left breast tumor, associated with a pericardial effusion requiring emergency drainage. Microbiological identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) demonstrated the exclusive presence of <em>K. schroeteri</em> from the subculture of the aerobic enrichment broth of the pericardial fluid. Prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy adapted to the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility testing led to clinical and biological improvement, marked by normalization of inflammatory indicators. This case sheds light on an emerging microbiological pathogen with the potential to affect a variety of tissues, putting the vital prognosis at risk, and underlines the need for heightened clinical suspicion and an adapted therapeutic approach in immunocompromised patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 21-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scratching the surface: The rise of antifungal-resistant dermatophytes","authors":"Jeremy A.W. Gold, Shawn R. Lockhart","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dermatophytosis (also called ringworm or tinea infection) is a common, contagious superficial infection of the skin, hair, or nails caused by dermatophyte molds. Historically, clinicians have considered dermatophytosis as a mild, easy-to-treat condition; however, the epidemiology of dermatophytosis has changed dramatically in the past decade because of the emergence of dermatophyte strains causing increasingly severe and difficult-to-treat infections. We review three recently emerged dermatophytes of public health concern: <em>Trichophyton indotineae</em>, which is causing outbreaks of frequently terbinafine-resistant and difficult-to-treat tinea in South Asia, with cases also reported across six continents; <em>Trichophyton mentagrophytes</em> genotype VII (TMVII), associated with oral and anogenital tinea infections particularly among men who have sex with men in France and the United States; and terbinafine-resistant <em>Trichophyton rubrum</em>, noted as a cause of difficult-to-treat tinea infections, although data are limited. We discuss practical considerations for identifying these pathogens, which relies on DNA sequencing or MALDI-ToF rather than on morphological characteristics. Additionally, we highlight the importance of antifungal susceptibility testing and practical laboratory considerations. Finally, we emphasize the importance of increased adoption of diagnostic testing for suspected dermatophyte infections, as well as the development of rapid, accurate, and affordable dermatophyte testing methods to help improve diagnostic accuracy and judicious antifungal use. Overall, the emergence of severe and antifungal-resistant dermatophyte infections poses a global public health concern. Clinical microbiologists can play a crucial role in addressing this threat by familiarizing themselves with techniques for identifying emerging dermatophyte species and performing antifungal susceptibility testing to guide patient management, monitor trends, and inform future public health interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 26-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Filipe Cerqueira , Kristen L. Jurcic Smith , Kara J. Levinson , Diana R. Hernández , Andrea M. Prinzi
{"title":"The need for clinical, public health, industry partnerships and collaborations","authors":"Filipe Cerqueira , Kristen L. Jurcic Smith , Kara J. Levinson , Diana R. Hernández , Andrea M. Prinzi","doi":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2025.04.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39211,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Microbiology Newsletter","volume":"51 ","pages":"Pages 15-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}