Gardening can seriously damage your health

With signs of overwhelming sepsis, including tachycardia, hypotension, pyrexia, and worsening renal function, we prescribed an inorrope (norepinephrine) and activated protein C and referred the patient to a regional specialist unit, for probable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Unlike mos...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2008-06, Vol.371 (9629), p.2056-2056
Main Authors: Russell, Katherine, MBBS, Broadbridge, Carl, FRCA, Murray, Sebastian, FRCA, Waghorn, David, Dr, Mahoney, Allan, FRCA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aspergillosis - diagnosis
Aspergillosis - etiology
Aspergillosis - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Drug therapy
Fatal Outcome
Gardening
Gardens & gardening
General aspects
Health
Humans
Internal Medicine
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Occupational hazards
Oxygenation
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Renal function
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Summary:With signs of overwhelming sepsis, including tachycardia, hypotension, pyrexia, and worsening renal function, we prescribed an inorrope (norepinephrine) and activated protein C and referred the patient to a regional specialist unit, for probable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Unlike most patients with acute, invasive aspergillosis, our patient did not seem to be immunosuppressed;1 however, smoking and welding could have damaged his lungs, increasing his vulnerability.2 Since he died so quickly, we cannot exclude the possibility that he had an undetected immunodeficiency.1 Acute aspergillosis after contact with decayed plant matter is rare, but may be considered an occupational hazard for gardeners.3,4 Prompt treatment with an appropriate intravenous antifungal agent is essential.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60877-6