Streptococcus Gordonii Empyema: A Case Report and Review of Empyema.

( is a pioneer oral bacteria that is recognized as an agent of bacterial endocarditis. However, an extensive review of the literature revealed no reported case of causing empyema. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who presented with respiratory distress.

Other Slow-Growing Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

The list of clinically important slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) continues to expand as new species are identified and older ones are found to be pathogenic. Based on pigment production, the strains may be classified as photochromogenic, scotochromogenic, or unpigmented. Some of these organisms are not newly discovered but have heretofore been considered virtually nonpathogenic.

Education and Communication in an Interprofessional Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

Context: Interprofessional education/interprofessional practice (IPE/IPP) is an essential component in medical education and training. A collaborative interprofessional team environment ensures optimal patient-centered care.

Objective: To describe the implementation of 2 interprofessional antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) teams using IPE/IPP and to assess the acceptance rate by the primary medical and surgical teams of ASP recommendations for antimicrobial interventions.

Cirrhosis-induced defects in innate pulmonary defenses against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Background: The risk of mortality from pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is increased in patients with cirrhosis. However, the specific pneumococcal virulence factors and host immune defects responsible for this finding have not been clearly established. This study used a cirrhotic rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia to identify defect(s) in innate pulmonary defenses in the cirrhotic host and to determine the impact of the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin on these defenses in the setting of severe cirrhosis.

Effect of ethanol on fluoroquinolone efficacy in a rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia.

This investigation compared the effect of ethanol on fluoroquinolone antibiotic efficacy and pharmacodynamics in an ethanol-fed rat model of pneumococcal pneumonia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a liquid diet containing 36% of total calories as ethanol. Paired controls (pair-fed controls) were fed a liquid diet without ethanol or received rat chow.