A 62-year-old patient developed a rare abscess (collection of pus) within the diaphragm muscle one year after gallbladder removal surgery. The abscess was caused by residual gallstones that triggered inflammation and infection. Surgeons successfully removed the pus using a combination of abdominal and chest surgery approaches, and the patient recovered fully without complications at follow-up.
A dog from Colorado developed a severe respiratory infection that was initially mistaken for a bacterial pneumonia. After antibiotics failed to help, advanced testing revealed the dog had a fungal infection caused by Blastomyces helicus, a rare fungus found in western North America. The dog was successfully treated with an antifungal medication called itraconazole and made a complete recovery within six months, demonstrating the importance of considering fungal infections when standard treatments fail.
This research develops a new, faster way to diagnose fungal eye infections caused by Candida or Aspergillus fungi. Instead of waiting days for traditional culture tests, doctors can now use specially designed membranes to collect fungal material from the eye surface and identify the infection within hours using a simple fluorescent staining technique. This faster diagnosis allows doctors to choose the most effective treatment immediately, potentially improving vision outcomes for patients with fungal eye infections.
A 21-year-old woman came to the hospital with fever, jaundice, and abdominal pain that persisted despite antibiotics. Although her monospot test for mononucleosis came back negative, blood tests for a virus called Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) confirmed she had infectious mononucleosis. Imaging scans revealed multiple areas of dead tissue (infarcts) in her spleen caused by blocked blood vessels. She recovered well with rest and supportive care, highlighting how mononucleosis can sometimes cause serious complications even when the initial screening test is negative.
Necrotizing orbital infections are serious, fast-spreading infections around the eye caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. These infections can cause vision loss and can be life-threatening, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Quick diagnosis and aggressive treatment with antibiotics or antifungal medications, combined with surgery to remove infected tissue, are essential to save sight and prevent death.
A dog developed severe pneumonia from an emerging fungal infection called Blastomyces helicus after traveling to Utah and Idaho. Initial blood tests incorrectly suggested a different fungus, but laboratory culture and genetic testing identified the true culprit. The dog was successfully treated with an antifungal medication called itraconazole and made a complete recovery with careful monitoring over 6 months.
Two penguins at an aquarium showed respiratory problems and were suspected of having a serious fungal infection called aspergillosis. Doctors used CT scans to identify fluid in their air sacs and collected samples for testing. The tests showed the penguins did not have the fungal infection, so they did not need antifungal medications. Both penguins recovered naturally, demonstrating that combining imaging with fluid analysis can help identify the real cause of respiratory problems and avoid unnecessary medication.