Browsing by Author "Thompson, Luis"

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    A prospective, multi-center study of Candida bloodstream infections in Chile
    (2019) Santolaya de Pablo, María Elena; Thompson, Luis; Benadof, Dona; Tapia, Cecilia V.; Legarraga Raddatz, Paulette; Cortés, Claudia; Rabello, Marcela; Valenzuela, Romina; Cancino Rojas, Pamela; Rabagliati, Ricardo
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    Imported scrub typhus: first case in South America and review of the literature
    (2018) Weitzel, Thomas; Martínez Valdebenito, Constanza Pamela; Abarca Villaseca, Katia; Aylwin, Mabel; Jiang, Ju; Munita, Jose M.; Thompson, Luis; Richards, Allen L.
    Abstract Background Scrub typhus is a neglected vector-borne zoonosis causing life-threatening illnesses, endemic in the Asian-Pacific region and, as recently discovered, in southern Chile. Scrub typhus is rarely reported in travelers, most probably due to the lack of clinical experience and diagnostic tests in non-endemic countries. We report the first case of imported scrub typhus in South America. Case presentation A 62-year-old tourist from South Korea presented severely ill with fever, rash, and eschar in Santiago, Chile. Laboratory exams showed thrombocytopenia and elevated inflammation parameters, hepatic enzymes, and LDH. With the clinical suspicion of scrub typhus, empirical treatment with doxycycline was initiated and the patient recovered rapidly and without complications. The diagnosis was confirmed by IgM serology and by real-time PCR, which demonstrated infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi (Kawasaki clade). Conclusions Only due to the emerging clinical experience with endemic South American scrub typhus and the recent implementation of appropriate diagnostic techniques in Chile, were we able to firstly identify and adequately manage a severe case of imported scrub typhus in South America. Physicians attending febrile travelers need to be aware of this rickettsiosis, since it requires prompt treatment with doxycycline to avoid complications.Abstract Background Scrub typhus is a neglected vector-borne zoonosis causing life-threatening illnesses, endemic in the Asian-Pacific region and, as recently discovered, in southern Chile. Scrub typhus is rarely reported in travelers, most probably due to the lack of clinical experience and diagnostic tests in non-endemic countries. We report the first case of imported scrub typhus in South America. Case presentation A 62-year-old tourist from South Korea presented severely ill with fever, rash, and eschar in Santiago, Chile. Laboratory exams showed thrombocytopenia and elevated inflammation parameters, hepatic enzymes, and LDH. With the clinical suspicion of scrub typhus, empirical treatment with doxycycline was initiated and the patient recovered rapidly and without complications. The diagnosis was confirmed by IgM serology and by real-time PCR, which demonstrated infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi (Kawasaki clade). Conclusions Only due to the emerging clinical experience with endemic South American scrub typhus and the recent implementation of appropriate diagnostic techniques in Chile, were we able to firstly identify and adequately manage a severe case of imported scrub typhus in South America. Physicians attending febrile travelers need to be aware of this rickettsiosis, since it requires prompt treatment with doxycycline to avoid complications.
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    Micobacterias atípicas en cinco pacientes adultos sin evidencias de inmunosupresión. Construyendo una experiencia
    (2015) Fica, Alberto; Soto, Andrés; Dabanch, Jeannette; Dabanch, Jeannette; Porte, Lorena; Thompson, Luis; Balcells Marty, María Elvira
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    Treatment failure in community-adquired pneumonia: coccidioidomycosis in a traveler patient
    (SOC CHILENA INFECTOLOGIA, 2013) Cabello, Hernan; Labarca, Gonzalo; Fernandez Bussy, Sebastian; Cabello, Francisca; Pires, Yumay; Soto, Rodrigo; Thompson, Luis
    Treatment failure in community-acquired pneumonia is defined as a clinical condition with inadequate response to antimicrobial therapy. Resistant and unusual microorganisms and noninfectious causes are responsible for treatment failure. Coccidioides immitis is a fungus that causes pneumonia in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United States and northern Mexico. We report a case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis imported from Mexico to Chile. After a comprehensive study, histopathology was able to establish Coccidiodes immitis as the causative agent, achieving clinical and radiological improvement with antifungal therapy.