Septic Pulmonary Embolism: Analysis of Twenty-Eight Cases
摘要
Septic pulmonary embolism (SPE) is an uncommon disease with a diverse epidemiology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of SPE in northern Taiwan. A retrospective review of hospitalized patients with SPE from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2005 was conducted in a medical center in northern Taiwan. The clinical presentations, radiographic findings, microbiological data, treatment and outcomes were analyzed. Twenty-eight patients were included in the final analysis. Their mean age was 44 years, and 16 patients were men. The most common septic source was infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve (n=14), followed by liver abscess (n=5). Staphylococcus aureus was the causative microorganism in 16 patients, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae in 9 patients. Bacteremia occurred in 19 patients. All patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics and 4 had a valve replacement for infective endocarditis, 1 had a fasciotomy for necrotizing fasciitis, and 1 had percutaneous drainage of a liver abscess. Respiratory failure developed in 5 patients and 3 patients died. Tricuspid valve endocarditis and liver abscess were the main contributing risk factors in patients with SPE in northern Taiwan, while Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the causative pathogens in these 2 conditions, respectively.