Background: Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, commonly found in the Americas, and Histoplasma duboisii, located in Africa. In the United States, H. capsulatum is prevalent in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. In rare circumstances, central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis infection can be caused by shunt placement. We present a case report of a 45-year-old woman in whom CNS histoplasmosis developed after having a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placed for communicating hydrocephalus. A review of the literature on fungal infections after CNS shunt placement as well as treatment options for this subset of patients was undertaken.

Methods: The PubMed database current to 1958 was filtered and limited to English-language articles. Fifty-eight articles were selected for review based on evidence of information regarding the fungal organism responsible for shunt infection, symptoms, treatment, and/or outcomes. Also included in this review is our case study.

Results: A thorough analysis of the PubMed database revealed 58 reported cases of CNS shunt-related fungal infections in the English-language medical literature as well as 7 therapeutic agents used to treat patients in whom postshunt fungal infections developed.

Conclusions: We describe the steps in diagnosis of histoplasmosis after shunt placement, provide an effective therapeutic regimen, and review the present understanding of CNS fungal infections. The medical literature was surveyed to compare and analyze various CNS fungal infections that can arise from shunt placement as well as treatments rendered.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2012.12.016DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

fungal infections
20
shunt placement
16
fungal
8
ventriculoperitoneal shunt
8
cns histoplasmosis
8
placement well
8
pubmed database
8
medical literature
8
cns fungal
8
shunt
7

Similar Publications

Phototoxic reaction to oral terbinafine due to Tinea capitis in a child.

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat

November 2024

Prof. Ana Bakija-Konsuo, MD, PhD, Clinic for Dermatovenerology CUTIS, Vukovarska 22, Dubrovnik, Croatia;

We report the case of an 18-month-old boy who developed a phototoxic skin reaction to terbinafine on his scalp, ears, and face in the form of disseminated erythematous plaques, which resembled subacute lupus erythematosus (SCLE) in their clinical presentation. Skin changes appeared a short time after the boy was exposed to sunlight during the period of time when he was treated with oral terbinafine due to Microsporum canis fungal scalp infection. Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection primarily affecting prepubertal children (1).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the incidence of infections in elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients undergoing induction therapy with venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents and to compare these findings with those from patients receiving standard or low-dose chemotherapy.

Methods: Medical records of 169 elderly (≥60 years old) AML patients diagnosed via MICM (morphology, immunology, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics) at the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC between June 2019 and June 2022 were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups: venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents group (targeted therapy group), standard chemotherapy group, and low-dose chemotherapy group.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Skin problems, typically overlooked in elderly patients hospitalized for systemic diseases, can no longer be ignored.

Objectives:  This study aimed to investigate the presence and management of dermatological problems in hospitalized elderly patients.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study involved dermatology consultations for 712 elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) hospitalized between October 2022 and October 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Correlation of Sensitization with Mucus Plugging in COPD.

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis

January 2025

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Background: Both sensitization and mucus plugs are associated with poor clinical outcomes in COPD. However, little is known about the association between hypersensitivity and mucus plugging in patients with COPD.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled COPD patients who had visited Peking University Third Hospital and received measurement of the specific IgE ( sIgE) from Oct 1, 2018 to Sep 30, 2023.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) of the shoulder complicate approximately 0.7% of primary and 15.4% of revision shoulder arthroplasties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!