Factors associated with mortality among patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis requiring intensive care

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The aim of this study was to identify patient characteristics and risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients with active PTB admitted to the ICU at Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, between January 2005 and December 2010.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 2,155 patients with active PTB diagnosed, of whom 83 (3.9%) patients were admitted to the ICU, but eight were excluded because their admission to the ICU was unrelated to PTB. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (n = 23, 30.7%) and immunocompromised host (n = 25, 33.3%). A few (n = 4, 5.3%) of the patients had HIV coinfection. A majority (n = 67, 89.3%) of patients required mechanical ventilation and the mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 8.05 ± 14.43 days. Mean duration of ICU stay and hospital stay were 10.23 ± 15.8 days and 33.7 ± 50.7 days, respectively. In-hospital mortality was 62.7% (n = 47), and 36 of these patients died while in the ICU (ICU mortality, 48.0%). Univariate analysis identified ischaemic heart disease, low albumin, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock and multiorgan failure as significantly associated with mortality. Multivariate analysis showed that low albumin on the day of ICU admission was the only significant independent predictor of death (p = 0.033).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In-hospital mortality from active PTB requiring ICU admission was 62.7%, and low albumin was an independent predictor of mortality in this study.</p>

Tuberculosis trends over a five-year period at a tertiary care university-affiliated hospital in Singapore

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Tuberculosis (TB), a potentially fatal infectious disease, poses significant health problems. The objective of this study was to analyse trends among newly diagnosed TB patients seen at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was a retrospective case record review of notified TB patients at SGH between 2006 and 2010 (inclusive).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1,979 cases of TB were notified over the five years. The number increased from 368 in 2006 to 407 in 2010 (p = 0.51), in tandem with the increasing number of patients seen at the hospital and the rising population in Singapore. Singaporean residents accounted for 82.8% of the cases, while non-Singaporean residents and non-residents made up the remainder. The year-to-year percentage of non-Singaporean residents and non-residents notified remained stable throughout the five years (p = 0.783). The number of male Singaporean residents (70.7%) notified was more than twice that of female Singaporean residents (29.3%). The majority of patients infected with TB (31.9%) were elderly patients aged > 65 years. Although testing for the human immunodeficiency virus increased from 43.8% (2006) to 64.2% (2010), the number detected with coinfection remained stable (14 and 12 patients in 2006 and 2010, respectively). Mortality rates also remained stable at 12.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We cannot afford complacency, as there was no downward trend in the number of notified TB cases at SGH from 2006 to 2010. As the elderly contribute significantly to the TB burden, increased efforts are required to manage this vulnerable population.</p>

Use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study assessed the clinical utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the diagnosis of suspected granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for suspected granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy at Singapore General Hospital between December 2008 and December 2011 inclusive.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Over a period of 3 years, a total of 371 patients underwent EBUS-TBNA of whom 33 (9%) had the procedure performed for evaluation of suspected granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy - 18 for suspected tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lymphadenitis, and 15 for suspected sarcoidosis. EBUS-TBNA was diagnostic in 9 of the 13 patients with a final diagnosis of TB/NTM. EBUS-TBNA cultures were positive in 6 of them (46%), 1 showed acid-fast bacilli (AFB) although cultures were negative, and 2 had necrotising granulomatous inflammation from EBUS-TBNA biopsies and sputum cultures grew TB. EBUS-TBNA was diagnostic in 9 of the 14 patients with a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis through histology showing non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. The sensitivities of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosis of TB/NTM, sarcoidosis and overall granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy were 69%, 64%, 64%; the negative predictive values were 56%, 17%, 33%; and accuracies were 78%, 67%, 70%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EBUS-TBNA can be useful in the diagnosis of suspected granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy with sensitivities and accuracies of >60%.</p>