title: Beaded necklace-like image observed by real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiograhy as evidence of bacterial vegetations in a dialysis catheter.
abstract: We present images observed in a patient with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia from a hemodyalisis catheter and demonstrate the superiority of real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT3D-TEE) over 2D-TEE at identifying catheter-associated infected vegetations. Other studies have reported RT3D-TEE as an improved modality to identify and characterize intracardiac structures. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports describing the specific characteristics of bacterial vegetations in a dialysis catheter. RT3D-TEE could have a central role in the diagnosis of catheter-related blood stream infections, especially given the increased number of hemodyalisis-dependent patients and increased incidence of infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. sgponce@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Sonia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ponce
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roldan
mesh_terms: D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003199:Computer Systems; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology