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Background Stratification to categorize patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) as low or high risk for metastatic infection may direct diagnostic evaluation and enable personalized management. We investigated the frequency of metastatic infections in low-risk SAB patients, their clinical relevance, and whether omission of routine imaging is associated with worse outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study at 7 Dutch hospitals among adult patients with low-risk SAB, defined as hospital-acquired infection without treatment delay, absence of prosthetic material, short duration of bacteremia, and rapid defervescence. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients whose treatment plan changed due to detected metastatic infections, as evaluated by both actual therapy administered and by linking a adjudicated diagnosis to guideline-recommended treatment. Secondary outcomes were 90-day relapse-free survival and factors associated with the performance of diagnostic imaging. Results Of 377 patients included, 298 (79%) underwent diagnostic imaging. In 15 of these 298 patients (5.0%), imaging findings during patient admission had been interpreted as metastatic infections that should extend treatment. Using the final adjudicated diagnosis, 4 patients (1.3%) had clinically relevant metastatic infection. In a multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis, 90-day relapse-free survival was similar between patients without imaging and those who underwent imaging (81.0% versus 83.6%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.749; 95% confidence interval,.373–1.504). Conclusions Our study advocates risk stratification for the management of SAB patients. Prerequisites are follow-up blood cultures, bedside infectious diseases consultation, and a critical review of disease evolution. Using this approach, routine imaging could be omitted in low-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Kathryn S. Hensley, Marlou J. Jongkees, Daryl Geers, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel, Yvonne M. Mueller, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm, Grigorios Papageorgiou, Hanka Steggink, Alicja Gorska, Susanne Bogers, Jan G. [...]

Background Vaccines can be less immunogenic in people living with HIV (PLWH), but for SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations this is unknown. In this study we set out to investigate, for the vaccines currently approved in the Netherlands, the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in PLWH. Methods and findings We conducted a prospective cohort study to examine the immunogenicity of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines in adult PLWH without prior COVID-19, and compared to HIV-negative controls. The primary endpoint was the anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG response after mRNA vaccination. Secondary endpoints included the serological response after vector vaccination, anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response, and reactogenicity. Between 14 February and 7 September 2021, 1,154 PLWH (median age 53 [IQR 44-60] years, 85.5% male) and 440 controls (median age 43 [IQR 33-53] years, 28.6% male) were included in the final analysis. Of the PLWH, 884 received BNT162b2, 100 received mRNA-1273, 150 received ChAdOx1-S, and 20 received Ad26.COV2.S. In the group of PLWH, 99% were on antiretroviral therapy, 97.7% were virally suppressed, and the median CD4+ T-cell count was 710 cells/[mu]L (IQR 520-913). Of the controls, 247 received mRNA-1273, 94 received BNT162b2, 26 received ChAdOx1-S, and 73 received Ad26.COV2.S. After mRNA vaccination, geometric mean antibody concentration was 1,418 BAU/mL in PLWH (95% CI 1322-1523), and after adjustment for age, sex, and vaccine type, HIV status remained associated with a decreased response (0.607, 95% CI 0.508-0.725, p 300 BAU/mL, whilst in PLWH this response rate was 93.6%. In PLWH vaccinated with mRNA-based vaccines, higher antibody responses were predicted by CD4+ T-cell count 250-500 cells/[mu]L (2.845, 95% CI 1.876-4.314, p 500 cells/[mu]L (2.936, 95% CI 1.961-4.394, p 50 copies/mL was associated with a reduced response (0.454, 95% CI 0.286-0.720, p = 0.001). Increased IFN-[gamma], CD4+ T-cell, and CD8+ T-cell responses were observed after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides in ELISpot and activation-induced marker assays, comparable to controls. Reactogenicity was generally mild, without vaccine-related serious adverse events. Due to the control of vaccine provision by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, there were some differences between vaccine groups in the age, sex, and CD4+ T-cell counts of recipients. Conclusions After vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were reduced in PLWH compared to HIV-negative controls. To reach and maintain the same serological responses as HIV-negative controls, additional vaccinations are probably required. Trial registration The trial was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL9214). https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/9214., Author(s): Kathryn S. Hensley 1, Marlou J. Jongkees 1, Daryl Geers 2, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel 2, Yvonne M. Mueller 3, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm 3,4, Grigorios Papageorgiou 5, Hanka [...]

Background Steatotic liver disease is suggested to have a higher prevalence and severity in people with HIV (PHIV), including in those with a normal body mass index (BMI). In this study, we used data from the 2000HIV cohort to (1) assess the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis in lean versus overweight/obese PHIV and (2) assess associations in these subgroups between steatosis and fibrosis with traditional risk factors and HIV-specific characteristics. Methods The 2000HIV study cohort comprises 1895 virally suppressed PHIV that were included between 2019 and 2021 in 4 HIV treatment centers in the Netherlands. The majority (58.5%) underwent vibration-controlled transient elastography for the assessment of liver steatosis and fibrosis. The prevalence of steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter ≥263 dB/m) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement ≥7.0 kPa) was estimated. Multiple factors including HIV characteristics and antiretroviral drugs were tested in a logistic regression model for association with steatosis and fibrosis. Analyses were performed separately for lean (Asian descent: BMI < 23 kg/m2, other descent: BMI < 25 kg/m2) and overweight/obese (other BMI) participants. Results Of 1050 PHIV including 505 lean and 545 overweight/obese PHIV, liver steatosis was observed in 37.7% of the overall study population, 19.7% of lean, and 54% of overweight/obese PHIV, whereas fibrosis was observed in 9.0% of the overall study population, 5.9% of lean, and 12.0% of overweight/obese PHIV. All associations with fibrosis and most associations with steatosis concerned metabolic factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (overall population: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for steatosis: 2.3 [1.21-4.4], P =.011; aOR for fibrosis: 3.7 [1.82-7.53], P <.001). Furthermore, in lean PLHIV, liver steatosis was associated with CD4 and CD8 counts at enrollment, dual therapy, and history of treatment with raltegravir (aOR: 3.6 [1.53-8.47], P =.003), stavudine (aOR: 3.73 [1.69-8.2], P =.001), and indinavir (aOR: 3.86 [1.59-9.37], P =.003). These associations were not observed in overweight/obese PHIV. Conclusions Liver steatosis was highly prevalent, affecting approximately one-fifth of lean PHIV and half of overweight/obese PHIV. Fibrosis was observed in a minority. Both steatosis and fibrosis were associated with traditional metabolic risk factors. In addition, (prior) exposure to specific antiretroviral drugs was associated liver steatosis in lean, but not in overweight/obese PHIV. Implementing increased screening protocols could enhance the identification of steatotic liver disease in lean PHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVIH-study is a prospective SARS-CoV-2 vaccination study in 1154 people with HIV (PWH), of whom 14% showed a reduced or absent antibody response after primary vaccination. We evaluated whether an additional vaccination boosts immune responses in these hyporesponders.Methods: Consenting hyporesponders received an additional 100µg mRNA-1273 vaccination. The primary endpoint was the increase in antibodies 28 days thereafter. Secondary endpoints were the correlation between participant characteristics and antibody response, levels of neutralizing antibodies, S-specific T-cell and B-cell responses, and reactogenicity.Results: Of the 66 participants, 40 previously received two doses ChAdOx1-S, 22 two doses BNT162b2, and four a single dose Ad26.COV2.S. The median age was 63[IQR:60-66], 86% were male, pre-vaccination CD4+ T-cell count was median 650/μL[IQR:423-941] and 96% had HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL. The mean S1-specific antibody level increased from 35 BAU/mL (95%CI:24-46) to 4317 BAU/mL (95%CI:3275-5360) post-vaccination (p < 0.0001). Of all participants, 97% showed an adequate response (>300 BAU/mL) and the 45 antibody negative participants all seroconverted (>33.8 BAU/mL). A significant increase in the proportion of PWH with detectable ancestral S-specific CD4+ T-cells (p = 0.04) and S-specific B-cells (p = 0.02) was observed.Conclusion: An additional mRNA-1273 vaccination induced a robust serological response in 97% of PWH with a hyporesponse after primary vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: [18F]FDG-PET/CT scanning can help detect metastatic infectious foci and reduce mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), but it is unknown if patients with SAB and an indication for prolonged treatment because of possible endovascular, orthopaedic implant, or other metastatic infection still need [18F]FDG-PET/CT. Methods: In a retrospective single-center cohort study, we included all consecutive adult patients with SAB between 2013 and 2020 if an [18F]FDG-PET/CT scan was performed and antibiotic treatment was planned for ≥ 6 weeks prior to [18F]FDG-PET/CT. We aimed to identify patients for whom treatment was adjusted due to the results of [18F]FDG-PET/CT, and assessed concordance of [18F]FDG-PET/CT and clinical diagnosis for infected prosthetic material. Results: Among 132 patients included, the original treatment plan was changed after [18F]FDG-PET/CT in 22 patients (16.7%), in the majority (n = 20) due to diagnosing or rejecting endovascular (graft) infection. Antibiotic treatment modifications were shortening in 2, iv-oral switch in 3, extension in 13, and addition of rifampicin in 4 patients. Ninety additional metastatic foci based on [18F]FDG-PET/CT results were found in 69/132 patients (52.3%). [18F]FDG-PET/CT suggested vascular graft infection in 7/14 patients who lacked clinical signs of infection, but showed no infection of prosthetic joints or osteosynthesis material in eight patients who lacked clinical signs of such an infection. Conclusion: [18F]FDG-PET/CT can help refine treatment for SAB in patients with clinically suspected endovascular infection or vascular grafts, even if 6 weeks treatment is already indicated, but can be safely omitted in other patients who are clinically stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Our aim in this study was to develop quality indicators (QIs) for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) care that can be used as metrics for quality assessment and improvement. Methods A RAND-modified Delphi procedure was used to develop a set of QIs. Recommendations on appropriate OPAT care in adults were retrieved from the literature using a systematic review and translated into potential QIs. These QIs were appraised and prioritized by a multidisciplinary panel of international OPAT experts in 2 questionnaire rounds combined with a meeting between rounds. Results The procedure resulted in 33 OPAT-specific recommendations. The following QIs that describe recommended OPAT care were prioritized by the expert panel: the presence of a structured OPAT program, a formal OPAT care team, a policy on patient selection criteria, and a treatment and monitoring plan; assessment for OPAT should be performed by the OPAT team; patients and family should be informed about OPAT; there should be a mechanism in place for urgent discussion and review of emergent clinical problems, and a system in place for rapid communication; laboratory results should be delivered to physicians within 24 hours; and the OPAT team should document clinical response to antimicrobial management, document adverse events, and monitor QIs for OPAT care and make these data available. Conclusions We systematically developed a set of 33 QIs for optimal OPAT care, of which 12 were prioritized by the expert panel. These QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of care provided by OPAT teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy is developing a national antimicrobial stewardship registry. This registry will report both the quality of antibiotic use in hospitals in the Netherlands and the stewardship activities employed. It is currently unclear which aspects of the quality of antibiotic use are monitored by antimicrobial stewardship teams (A-teams) and can be used as indicators for the stewardship registry. In this pilot study we aimed to determine which stewardship objectives are eligible for the envisioned registry.Methods: We performed an observational pilot study among five Dutch hospitals. We assessed which of the 14 validated stewardship objectives (11 process of care recommendations and 3 structure of care recommendations) the A-teams monitored and documented in individual patients. They provided, where possible, data to compute quality indicator (QI) performance scores in line with recently developed QIs to measure appropriate antibiotic use in hospitalized adults for the period of January 2015 through December 2015 RESULTS: All hospitals had a local antibiotic guideline describing recommended antimicrobial use. All A-teams monitored the performance of bedside consultations in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and the prescription of restricted antimicrobials. Documentation and reporting were the best for the use of restricted antimicrobials: 80% of the A-teams could report data. Lack of time and the absence of an electronic medical record system enabling documentation during the daily work flow were the main barriers hindering documentation and reporting.Conclusions: Five out of 11 stewardship objectives were actively monitored by A-teams. Without extra effort, 4 A-teams could report on the quality of use of restricted antibiotics. Therefore, this aspect of antibiotic use should be the starting point of the national antimicrobial stewardship registry. Our registry is expected to become a powerful tool to evaluate progress and impact of antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Steatotic liver disease is suggested to have a higher prevalence and severity in people with HIV (PHIV), including in those with a normal body mass index (BMI). In this study, we used data from the 2000HIV cohort to (1) assess the prevalence of liver steatosis and fibrosis in lean versus overweight/obese PHIV and (2) assess associations in these subgroups between steatosis and fibrosis with traditional risk factors and HIV-specific characteristics., Methods: The 2000HIV study cohort comprises 1895 virally suppressed PHIV that were included between 2019 and 2021 in 4 HIV treatment centers in the Netherlands. The majority (58.5%) underwent vibration-controlled transient elastography for the assessment of liver steatosis and fibrosis. The prevalence of steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter ≥263 dB/m) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement ≥7.0 kPa) was estimated. Multiple factors including HIV characteristics and antiretroviral drugs were tested in a logistic regression model for association with steatosis and fibrosis. Analyses were performed separately for lean (Asian descent: BMI < 23 kg/m 2 , other descent: BMI < 25 kg/m 2 ) and overweight/obese (other BMI) participants., Results: Of 1050 PHIV including 505 lean and 545 overweight/obese PHIV, liver steatosis was observed in 37.7% of the overall study population, 19.7% of lean, and 54% of overweight/obese PHIV, whereas fibrosis was observed in 9.0% of the overall study population, 5.9% of lean, and 12.0% of overweight/obese PHIV.All associations with fibrosis and most associations with steatosis concerned metabolic factors such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (overall population: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for steatosis: 2.3 [1.21-4.4], P = .011; aOR for fibrosis: 3.7 [1.82-7.53], P < .001). Furthermore, in lean PLHIV, liver steatosis was associated with CD4 and CD8 counts at enrollment, dual therapy, and history of treatment with raltegravir (aOR: 3.6 [1.53-8.47], P = .003), stavudine (aOR: 3.73 [1.69-8.2], P = .001), and indinavir (aOR: 3.86 [1.59-9.37], P = .003). These associations were not observed in overweight/obese PHIV., Conclusions: Liver steatosis was highly prevalent, affecting approximately one-fifth of lean PHIV and half of overweight/obese PHIV. Fibrosis was observed in a minority. Both steatosis and fibrosis were associated with traditional metabolic risk factors. In addition, (prior) exposure to specific antiretroviral drugs was associated liver steatosis in lean, but not in overweight/obese PHIV. Implementing increased screening protocols could enhance the identification of steatotic liver disease in lean PHIV., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on upper respiratory tract (URT) samples is the primary method to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infections and guide public health measures, with a supportive role for serology. We reinforce previous findings on limited sensitivity of PCR testing, and solidify this fact by statistically utilizing a firm basis of multiple tests per individual. We integrate stratifications with respect to several patient characteristics such as severity of disease and time since onset of symptoms. Bayesian statistical modelling was used to retrospectively determine the sensitivity of RT-PCR using SARS-CoV-2 serology in 644 COVID-19-suspected patients with varying degrees of disease severity and duration. The sensitivity of RT-PCR ranged between 80% - 95%; increasing with disease severity, it decreased rapidly over time in mild COVID-19 cases. Negative URT RT-PCR results should be interpreted in the context of clinical characteristics, especially with regard to containment of viral transmission based on 'test, trace and isolate'. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, RT-PCR, serology, sensitivity, public health., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Since December 2019, the world is captivated by SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus that shows a lot of similaritieswith previous coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS. Although it was initially seen mainly in China and the surrounding countries, now it also reached Europe, where a large region in northern Italy, in particular, encountered many infections., Case Description: Here we describe the first Dutch patient with COVID-19, a 56-year-old man whose infection appeared to be related to a trip to Northern Italy one week before presentation. In the days that followed, the brother of the patient with whom he had traveled, his wife and daughter also tested positive., Conclusion: At the moment much is still unclear and it is particularly important to quickly identify patients with an increased risk of complications and to prevent unrestrained spread in the Netherlands.

Current guidelines recommend intravenous antibiotic therapy for at least 4 wk in patients with high-risk Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), because of the risk for metastatic infection. We evaluated the safety of a shorter duration of treatment in patients with high-risk SAB without signs of metastatic infection at presentation, using standard 18 F-FDG PET/CT and echocardiography. Methods: Retrospective analyses were performed of patients with SAB admitted between 2013 and 2017 in 2 medical centers. Patients with risk factors for complicated bacteremia (community acquisition, persistently positive blood cultures, >72 h of fever, or foreign body materials present), a normal echocardiography result, and 18 F-FDG PET/CT without signs of metastatic infection were included (cases) and compared with patients with uncomplicated bacteremia (absence of any of the risk factors and no known metastatic disease, controls). Primary outcomes were 3-mo SAB-specific mortality rate and recurrent infection. The secondary outcome was overall mortality. Results: We included 36 cases and 40 controls. Both groups had a similar treatment duration (15.9 vs. 15.4 d). No deaths occurred as a consequence of SAB in the cases, compared with 1 in the control group. One relapse occurred in the case group and 2 in the control group. Overall mortality did not differ between the groups (19.4% vs. 15.0%, P = 0.64). Conclusion: This study suggests that intravenous treatment for 2 wk in high-risk patients with SAB without endocarditis and absence of metastatic infection on 18 F-FDG PET/CT is safe. A diagnostic-driven approach using 18 F-FDG PET/CT to determine treatment duration in high-risk SAB seems feasible and allows tailoring treatment to individual patients., (© 2019 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography combined with computed tomography (F-FDG-PET/CT) in diagnosing native valve endocarditis (NVE)., Patients and Methods: All patients with bacteremia and suspicion of NVE between January 2013 and June 2016 were identified from the hospitals' register and retrospectively included if echocardiography and F-FDG-PET/CT were performed within 14 days. F-FDG-PET/CT scans were scored independently by two nuclear medicine physicians. F-FDG-PET/CT was compared with the modified-Duke criteria and a multidisciplinary consensus., Results: A total of 88 patients were included. In 10 patients with definite NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, three (30.0%) patients had increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves and seven (70.0%) patients had no increased F-FDG uptake. In patients without definite NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, 89.7% (70/78) of the patients had no increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves. Of all 20 patients with NVE according to multidisciplinary consensus, nine (45.0%) patients had increased F-FDG uptake in or around the heart valves and 11 (55.0%) patients had a normal F-FDG-PET/CT result., Conclusion: A negative F-FDG-PET/CT result should not be interpreted as an exclusion of NVE. In patients with possible or rejected NVE according to the modified-Duke criteria, F-FDG-PET/CT could be used in case of sustained suspicion of NVE owing to its high specificity in case of abnormal FDG uptake at the valve region. F-FDG-PET/CT is important for detecting metastatic infection which already warrants the need to perform F-FDG-PET/CT in all patients with suspected NVE.

Metastatic infection is an important complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). Early diagnosis of metastatic infection is crucial, because specific treatment is required. However, metastatic infection can be asymptomatic and difficult to detect. In this study, we investigated the role of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in patients with SAB for detection of metastatic infection and its consequences for treatment and outcome. Methods: All patients with SAB at Radboud University Medical Center were included between January 2013 and April 2016. Clinical data and results of 18 F-FDG PET/CT and other imaging techniques, including echocardiography, were collected. Primary outcomes were newly diagnosed metastatic infection by 18 F-FDG PET/CT, subsequent treatment modifications, and patient outcome. Results: A total of 184 patients were included, and 18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed in 105 patients, of whom 99 had a high-risk bacteremia. 18 F-FDG PET/CT detected metastatic infectious foci in 73.7% of these high-risk patients. In 71.2% of patients with metastatic infection, no signs and symptoms suggesting metastatic complications were present before 18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed. 18 F-FDG PET/CT led to a total of 104 treatment modifications in 74 patients. Three-month mortality was higher in high-risk bacteremia patients without 18 F-FDG PET/CT performed than in those in whom 18 F-FDG PET/CT was performed (32.7% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, 18 F-FDG PET/CT was the only factor independently associated with reduced mortality ( P = 0.005; odds ratio, 0.204; 95% confidence interval, 0.066-0.624). A higher comorbidity score was independently associated with increased mortality ( P = 0.003; odds ratio, 1.254; 95% confidence interval, 1.078-1.457). Conclusion: F-FDG PET/CT is a valuable technique for early detection of metastatic infectious foci, often leading to treatment modification. Performing 18 F-FDG PET/CT is a valuable technique for early detection of metastatic infectious foci, often leading to treatment modification. Performing 18 F-FDG PET/CT is associated with significantly reduced 3-mo mortality., (© 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)

Four patients diagnosed with haematological malignancies developed an isolated hyperbilirubinaemia following cytarabine- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The clinical picture was consistent with acalculous cholecystitis, but ultrasonography did not show the typical gallbladder wall thickening. All patients suffered from severe mucositis with neutropenic enterocolitis. We hypothesise that damage of the mucosa of the gallbladder induced by chemotherapy results in hyperpermeability of the mucosal barrier with bile leakage and isolated hyperbilirubinaemia., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Systemic sclerosis is a rare, systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by inflammation, vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The disease is associated with a significantly increased morbidity and mortality, and can be rapidly progressive. Interstitial lung disease, renal hypertensive crisis, cardiac involvement and pulmonary arterial hypertension are life-threatening complications. Early treatment with immunosuppressive drugs can prevent progression and decrease morbidity and mortality.

A 65-year-old woman had an eschar after a holiday to Spain. A skin biopsy showed findings consistent with an ulcer but tested negative for fungi, atypical mycobacteria and Leishmania parasites. Rickettsia conorii serology was negative. The diagnosis necrotic arachnidism was made based on the clinical picture.

Background: Abnormal organ sites may impede the interpretation of physical findings., Case Description: A 75-year-old man with hypertension had constipation and variable abdominal pain symptoms for a long time. He had no fever or abdominal pain at that time. Physical examination of the abdomen revealed high-pitched bowel sounds and hypertympanic percussion with absent liver dullness. An abdominal CT scan revealed coincidentally a left-sided liver, gallbladder and portal system. This was an explanation for the absent liver dullness., Conclusion: Rare abnormalities in the anatomical position of organs (such as situs inversus or situs ambiguus) may confuse clinicians in the interpretation of the physical examination. It may lead to an atypical presentation of typical disease pictures, as well as to unfounded alarm symptoms. As far as we know an isolated left-sided liver has not been described before.