Chest
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We evaluated the clinical features of 32 patients with pulmonary infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Most of the patients were elderly, postoperative, and had severe underlying diseases. Chest radiograph typically showed bilateral and multilobar involvement. ⋯ We also performed an epidemiologic study of MRSA infections by chromosomal DNA analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Thirty-two strains were classified into 20 different types by chromosomal DNA pattern, and 5 epidemic strains were observed. These strains were considered to be transmitted among patients by hospital personnel.
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The treatment of lipoid pneumonia, an uncommon chronic lung condition, is generally conservative. We describe a patient with idiopathic lipoid pneumonia who was successfully treated with oral steroids with improvement of chest radiographic abnormalities.
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Dehiscence of the bronchial stump, particularly following pneumonectomy, is one of the most serious complications in lung surgery. Various approaches to this problem have been tried. Two patients with postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula were treated successfully by using a pedicle of the greater omentum.
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Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is an infiltrative disease of eosinophils affecting multiple organs, including the lung. Hypereosinophilic syndrome differs from acute and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia clinically and usually necessitates treatment with alkylating agents and/or corticosteroids. ⋯ One of our patients developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome thought to be a complication of the HES. Aggressive treatment of HES in both cases combined with intensive support in the patient with ARDS resulted in prolonged survival.