Month: June 2017

Microbiology Case Study: An 18 Year Old with Vaginal Discharge

Case Presentation

An 18 year old girl presents to her pediatrician with her mother for her pre-college check-up. She has no past medical history. After her mother leaves the room for the social history component, the girl admits to having sex with her boyfriend for the first time two weeks ago and complains of a yellow green malodorous vaginal discharge that started a week ago. She endorses mild pelvic pain. A pelvic exam is performed and mild cervical tenderness is noted. The cervix is pink, nulliparous, inflamed and is covered by small red punctate spots. A thin yellow green frothy discharge of fishy odor is also detected. A wet prep is made and reveals squamous cells and numerous motile organisms.

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Figure 1.  Trichomonas vaginalis in a Pap test. The protozoa are often found next to squamous cells. (ThinPrep)

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Figure 2.  Collection of Trichomonas vaginalis parasites eating at a squamous cell in a Pap (ThinPrep)

Discussion

Our patient was diagnosed with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). TV is a flagellated parasitic protozoan for which humans are the only known host. It is 10-20 um long and 2-14 um wide with multiple flagella projecting from the anterior and posterior sides. It has a single trophozoite stage and does not survive well outside of its host. TV is a predatory obligate parasite that eats bacteria, vaginal epithelial cells, and red blood cells. It uses fermentative metabolism to produce the carbohydrates needed for fuel. TV is a sexually transmitted disease; however, because it is not reportable to local health departments, the true epidemiologic incidence rate is unknown. Its prevalence is highly variable by population and location. For example, some studies cite a prevalence of 3.1% of American pre-menopausal women (2.3% of adolescents) [1], while in certain high-risk populations the rate might be as high as 47% [2]. Most affected patients are asymptomatic; about a third of females become symptomatic within six months of infection. Symptoms for females include vulvar and vaginal irritation and itching, pain with urination and a diffuse, malodorous, yellow-green vaginal discharge. The cervix becomes reddened in a punctuated fashion causing the well-known strawberry cervix seen on colposcopy. In males, urethritis can develop. TV is often diagnosed via wet mount microscopy, where the protozoa can be seen moving around (Video 1). However, the sensitivity is relatively low, especially among males. Detection by nucleic acid probe from urine, endocervical, and vaginal swabs are considered more sensitive. TV can also be incidentally discovered on Pap tests (Figures 1 and 2). Treatment typically consists of a single dose of metronidazole [1,2]. It is critical that partners be treated as well, because otherwise reinfection may occur.

 

References

  1. Kissinger P. Trichomonas vaginalis: a review of epidemiologic, clinical and treatment issues. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2015; 15(307): 1-8.
  2. Meites E et al. A review of evidence-based care of symptomatic trichomoniasis and asymptomatic Trichomonas vaginalis infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015; 61(S8): S837-48.

 

AM

-Amanda Strickland, MD, is a 2nd year Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Resident at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

–Erin McElvania TeKippe, PhD, D(ABMM), is the Director of Clinical Microbiology at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas Texas and an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

 

Chemistry Case Study: Unexplained Metabolic Acidosis

Case Workup

A 24-year-old female at 34 weeks of gestation was transferred from an outside hospital with history of nephrolithiasis and right side pyelonephritis, for which she underwent stent placement 2 weeks ago. She started experiencing severe pain and muscle spasms in her hip and was unable to move her leg due to the pain. She had decreased appetite and also noted vomiting. Her bilirubin and aminotransferases were found to be elevated. Additionally, her blood gas analysis showed a bicarbonate of 9 mEq/L, pH of 7.2 with 99% SpO2. Our clinical chemistry team was consulted on her low pH.

Patient’s laboratory workup is shown in the table below. We first ruled out some common causes of metabolic acidosis, including lactic acidosis and diabetic ketoacidosis. Ingestion of toxic alcohols was ruled out based on normal osmolality and osmolar gap. Normal BUN, creatinine, and their ratio ruled out renal failure.

Positive urinary ketones were noted, with an elevated anion gap. Serum beta-hydroxybutyrate was therefore measured and a result of 3.0 mmol/L (ref: <0.4 mmol/L) confirmed ketoacidosis. Patient had no history of diabetes and no recent alcohol consumption. On the basis of excluding other causes, and also considering her decreased appetite and recurrent vomiting, it is believed that ketoacidosis was caused by “starvation.”

Test Result Ref * Test Result Ref *
Albumin 2.0 3.5 – 5.0 g/dL pH 7.24 7.32-7.42
ALK 139 35 – 104 U/L pCO2 (V) 21 45-51 mmHg
ALT 177 5 – 50 U/L pO2 (V) 46 25-40 mmHg
AST 159 10 – 35 U/L O2 Sat (V) 72 40 – 70 %
Total Bili 2.0 0.0 – 1.2 mg/dL Glucose 74 65-99 mg/dL
Direct Bili 1.5 0.0 – 0.3 mg/dL Urine ketones 2+ Negative
Lactic acid 0.9 0.5 – 2.2 mmol/L Urine protein 2+ Negative
Protein 6.0 6.3 – 8.3 g/dL Chloride 104 98-112 mEq/L
Sodium 138 135-148 mEq/L CO2 9 24-31 mEq/L
Potassium 4.6 3.5-5.0 mEq/L Anion gap 25 7-15 mEq/L
Creatinine 0.6 0.5 – 0.9 mg/dL eGFR >90  >90 mL/min/1.73 m2
BUN 8 6 – 20 mg/dL Osmolality 286 275 – 295 mOsm/kg

* Reference ranges are for normal adults, not for pregnant women.

Discussion

With optimal glucose level and sufficient insulin secretion, glucose is converted by glycolysis to pyruvate, which is then converted into acetyl-CoA and subsequently into the citric acid cycle to release chemical energy in the form of ATP. When glucose availability becomes limited, fatty acid is used as an alternative fuel source to generate acetyl-CoA. Ketone bodies are generated in this process, and their accumulation result in metabolic acidosis. In healthy individual, fasting is seldom suspected to be the cause of metabolic acidosis. Sufficient insulin secretion prevents significant free fatty acid accumulation. However, under certain conditions when there is a relatively large glucose requirement or with physiologic stress, 12 to 14 hour fast could lead to significant ketone bodies formation, resulting in overt ketoacidosis (1-3).

Ketoacidosis is most commonly seen in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Similar metabolic changes are seen with poor dietary intake or prolonged fasting and resulting acidosis is referred to as “starvation ketoacidosis” (2). During pregnancy, especially in late pregnancy, there is an increased risk for starvation ketoacidosis, due to reduced peripheral insulin sensitivity, enhanced lipolysis, and increased ketogenesis. In this setting, short period of starvation can precipitate ketoacidosis (1-2, 4). Other cases described with starvation ketoacidosis include patients on strict low-carbohydrate diet (5-6), young infants after fasting (7), and patients with prolonged fasting before surgery (3).

Although starvation ketoacidosis is rare, healthcare provider should be aware of this entity especially in pregnant patients, because late recognition and delay in treatment are associated with a greater risk for impaired neurodevelopment and fetal loss (2). Moreover, given the popularity of low-carbohydrate diet nowadays, starvation ketoacidosis should be considered when assessing patient’s acid-base imbalance in conjunction with their dietary lifestyles.

References

  1. Frise CJ,Mackillop L, Joash K, Williamson C. Starvation ketoacidosis in pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013 Mar;167(1):1-7.
  2. Sinha N,Venkatram S, Diaz-Fuentes G. Starvation ketoacidosis: a cause of severe anion gap metabolic acidosis in pregnancy. Case Rep Crit Care. 2014;2014:906283.
  3. Mostert M, Bonavia A. Starvation Ketoacidosis as a Cause of Unexplained Metabolic Acidosis in the Perioperative Period. Am J Case Rep. 2016; 17: 755–758.
  4. Mahoney CA. Extreme gestational starvation ketoacidosis: case report and review of pathophysiology. Am J Kidney Dis. 1992 Sep;20(3):276-80.
  5. Shah P,Isley WL. Ketoacidosis during a low-carbohydrate diet. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jan 5;354(1):97-8.
  6. Chalasani S, Fischer J. South Beach Diet associated ketoacidosis: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:45. Epub 2008 Feb 11.
  7. Toth HL, Greenbaum LA. Severe acidosis caused by starvation and stress. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(5):E16.

 

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-Xin Yi, PhD, DABCC, FACB is a board-certified clinical chemist. She currently serves as the Co-director of Clinical Chemistry at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Microbiology Case Study: A 58 Year Old Female with Lung Nodules

Case History

A 58 year old female with past medical history significant for Type II diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic diastolic heart failure, and hypothyroidism was hospitalized for following a fall and was found to have compression fractures. The hospitalization was complicated by flash pulmonary edema requiring intubation. CT chest obtained during this hospitalization demonstrated lung nodules, which were biopsied and cultured.

Laboratory Identification

The bacterial and mycobacterial cultures grew gram positive bacilli which were positive on Modified Kinyoun stain. They were negative for Auramine/Rhodamine. The organism grew on several media, including 7H11, Chocolate, and Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE). They formed chalky, white-pink colonies. The organism was confirmed as Nocardia nova by a reference laboratory.

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Image 1. Modified acid fast bacilli on Modified Kinyoun stain.

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Image 2. Chalky white-pink colonies on BCYE agar.

Discussion

Nocardia nova is a weakly acid fast, aerobic filamentous, beaded, gram positive bacilli with right-angled branching. It is identified by a Modified Kinyoun stain. Nocardia grows best on BCYE agar; however it also can grow within 3-5 days on blood and chocolate agar. It forms chalky white-pink colonies. Molecular testing is performed to speciate Nocardia, primarily 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, as well as mass spectrometry. Most infections can be treated with sulfonamides for 6-12 months, however, the CDC recommends performing speciation and susceptibility testing on every isolate due to specific susceptibility profiles and drug resistant strains. Our patient was treated with high dose sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and meropenem.

Nocardia nova is commonly found in soil and is one of several pathogenic Nocardia species. Nocardia is often inhaled and presents as a chronic pulmonary infection with cough, shortness of breath, and fever. Nocardia can also cause pleural effusions, empyema, pericarditis, abscesses, or dissemination to deep organs, especially the brain. Nocardia can also be contracted though trauma, causing cutaneous diseases such as a mycetoma or cellulitis. Because of its low virulence, Nocardia generally affects immunocompromised patients, however those with preexisting pulmonary disease can also be susceptible to infection.

 

-Mustafa Mohammad, MD is a 3rd year anatomic and clinical pathology resident at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

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-Christi Wojewoda, MD, is the Director of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Vermont Medical Center and an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont.