Infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa en pacientes con bronquiectasias no fibrosis quística / Chronic infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasias

Resumen Introducción: La infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) es frecuente en pacientes con bronquiectasias (BQ) y representa un quiebre en la historia natural de la enfermedad, asociándose a mal pronóstico y mayor severidad. Objetivo: Caracterizar la población portadora de BQ no fibrosis quística (BQ no-FQ) del Instituto Nacional del Tórax (INT) infectados crónicamente con PA comparándolos con pacientes que mantienen cultivos de expectoración negativos para este germen. Metodología: Revisión retrospectiva de fichas clínicas de pacientes portadores de BQ del INT entre julio de 2007 y abril de 2017. Se caracterizó la población y se comparó score de FACED y otros índices de gravedad. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 55 ± 17,3 años, 81% de los pacientes fue de género femenino. De acuerdo a aislamiento de Pseudomonas en cultivo esputo se clasificaron como infectados crónicamente (BQ con PA; n = 61) y no infectados con PA (BQ sin PA; n = 59). No hubo diferencias entre los grupos en edad y sexo. El VEF1 fue más bajo en el grupo con PA los que tienen más hospitalizaciones. Se calculó el índice de riesgo FACED siendo mayor en los pacientes colonizados. La etiología más frecuente es la postinfecciosa, principalmente secuelas de TBC, con 30,8% de etiología no identificada. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con bronquiectasias con infección crónica por Pseudomonas aeruginosa tienen una enfermedad más severa, con VEF1 más bajo, y con mayor índice de severidad de FACED. Destaca en nuestro grupo la etiología postinfecciosa.

Introduction: Chronic airways infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a common situation in patients with Bronchiectasis (BQ) and constitutes a breakdown in the natural history of the latter. Moreover, BQ is also associated with a poor prognosis and an increased severity of the disease. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the population diagnosed with non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis (non-CFB) who are chronically infected with PA, and to perform a comparison with patients with negative sputum cultures. Methodology: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical files of patients diagnosed with non-CFB who were attended at the 'Instituto Nacional del Tórax' (Chile) between July 2007 and April 2017. The characteristics of the population were described and the FACED scores and other severity indexes were compared. Results: The average age of patients was 55 ± 17.3 years-old, and 81% of them were female. According to PA isolation in sputum culture, they were classified as "chronically infected" (non-CFB with PA, n = 61) and "not infected with PA" (non-CFB without PA, n = 59). There were no differences in age and gender between the two groups. On the other hand, FEV1 was lower in the non-CFB PA group. The calculated FACED score was higher in colonized patients. The most frequent etiology was post-infectious, mainly TB sequels, with a 30.8% unidentified etiology. Conclusions: Patients with bronchiectasis chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa show increases in the severity of the disease, with a lower FEV1 and a higher FACED score. The postinfectious etiology is highlighted in our group.

Bronquiectasias: ¿no es más una enfermedad huérfana? / Bronchiectasis: is it no longer considered an orphan disease?

Bronchiectasis, so far considered an orphan disease, currently is diagnosed with a higher frequency due to several reasons such as renewed awareness of the disease, better diagnosis including imagenology, the development of patients registries, as well as a higher number of clinical research studies. The pathological basis of bronchiectasis is widely variable. Also the clinical expression is variable, from absence of symptoms in some patients up to chronic sputum production in others. Furthermore, a group of patients often develop recurrent exacerbations. Despite the etiologies of bronchiectasis are diverse, the main etiology is previous pulmonary infection. On the other hand, bronchiectasis could also be the expression of diverse systemic diseases. Even around one quarter of patients the etiology would not be established. The development of large registries of patients has allowed the building of classifications systems with accurate prognostic criteria. Chronic infection is the most relevant issue in bronchiectasis. Infection with P. aeruginosa has been associated with poor prognosis and their eradication must be attempted always. Effective secretions drainage techniques, oral and nebulized antibiotics, as well as mucolytic therapy are the mainstay of treatment in bronchiectasis.

Las bronquiectasias, consideradas hasta un tiempo atrás una enfermedad huérfana, se diagnostican actualmente con mayor frecuencia debido a un renovado interés en esta patología, a una mejoría de técnicas de diagnóstico, existencia de mejores registros, acceso a mejores imágenes y aumento de los estudios clínicos. El sustrato anátomo-patológico es notablemente variable, al igual que la expresión clínica, que va desde la ausencia de síntomas hasta la presencia de broncorrea crónica. A su vez, un grupo de pacientes tiende a presentar exacerbaciones frecuentes. Las etiologías de las bronquiectasias son múltiples, siendo la más frecuente la existencia de infecciones pulmonares previas. También pueden formar parte de enfermedades crónicas sistémicas. Sin embargo, en 25% de los casos no es posible identificar la etiología. El desarrollo de registros de pacientes ha permitido construir modelos de clasificación de gravedad, lo que hace posible establecer criterios pronósticos. La infección crónica es un hecho frecuente en bronquiectasias y la presencia de P aeruginosa confiere mal pronóstico a la enfermedad. La erradicación de Pseudomonas debe ser intentada siempre en estos pacientes. El uso de técnicas de drenaje, los antibióticos orales y nebulizados y las terapias mucolíticas constituyen los pilares centrales en el manejo de la enfermedad.

Estudio microbiológico y anatomopatológico de bronquiectasias sangrantes en piezas de resección pulmonar / Microbiological and pathological study of leeding bronchiectasis removed by pulmonary resection

La hemoptisis periódica o recurrente en los pacientes con bronquiectasias sangrantes, secuelas de tuberculosis pulmonar, sigue siendo un factor de alto riesgo de muerte, por el desconocimiento de la comunidad médica de que existen otros agentes oportunistas que producen el sangrado, ajenos a la tuberculosis pulmonar. Determinar los verdaderos agentes causales de la infección de las bronquiectasias sangrantes. Determinar las causas del sangrado que puede ser mortal. Se han estudiado las piezas operatorias de 24 pacientes con hemoptisis por bronquiectasias sangrantes por secuelas de tuberculosis pulmonar, a quienes se le ha realizado previamente los siguientes estudios: radiografía de tórax standard y tomografía axial computarizada, examen directo y cultivo de BK, broncofibroscopia para observación directa de lesiones intraluminales sangrantes, y para determinar el nivel del sangrado con el fin de que el paciente sea sometido a cirugía para la extirpación del segmento o lóbulo sangrante. Los hallazgos del acto operatorio, han sido tomados en cuenta y las piezas operatorias han sido sometidas a un estudio anatomo-patológico y microbiológico en búsquedade hongos, tuberculosis, gérmenes comunes y neoplasia pulmonar. Se demostró la presencia del hongo Aspergillus en el 83,3% de los casos de pacientes con bronquiectasias o cavernas; el estudio de gérmenes comunes aerobios y de tuberculosis, concomitante, fue negativo en el 100% de los casos. El reporte operatorio y el estudio anatomo patológico, demuestran la presencia de micetoma y lesiones cicatriciales altamente sangrantes que hacen un acto operatorio de tiempo prolongado...

Periodical bleeding in patients with bronchiectasia, sequel of lung tuberculosis, carries a high death risk due to the fact that the medical community is not aware that other opportunistic agents, apart from tuberculosis, can produce hemorrhages. To establish the pathogenic agents of the infection in bleeding bronchiectasia from samples obtained through surgical resection. We have studied the surgical specimens obtained from 24 patients with bleeding bronchiectasia. Before operation the patients were subjected to standard radiological and computerized tomography of the lungs, directed sputum examination and culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as fiber optic bronchoscope to observe the bleeding intraluminary lesions and to establish the level of the hemorrhage, so that the patient may be operated expend to remove the bleeding segment or lobe. The surgical specimens were examined pathologically and microbiologically to detect tuberculosis, fungi, common bacteria and neoplasia. Aspergillum was found in 83.3% of the bronchiectasia or caverns. The investigation of common aerobic microbes and mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative in 100% of the specimens. Mycetoma and highly weeding ears were documented by the surgical report and pathological examination. These bleeding lesions required prolonged operative procedures. In bleeding bronchiectasia the only infective agent found was Aspergillum. There was not concomitant tuberculosis or other pathogenic agents. The invaded scar tissue was highly vascularizado causing moderate to severe bleeding, a death risk for patients.

Bronquiectasias en adultos: características clínicas: experiencia de 5 años 1998-2003 / Retrospective evaluation of bronchiectasis characteristics in adults at a chilean general hospital: a 5 years experience (1998-2003)

In order to know the actual characteristics of bronchiectasis in an adult population, we reviewed 18 cases with this pathology confirmed by spiral CT at a general hospital (Hospital Regional de Concepción, Chile), between 1998-2003. Ten patients were males and 8 females, their mean age was 44 +/- 13.9 years old. Most common etiologies of bronchiectasis were pulmonary tuberculosis (44.4 percent) and acute pneumonia (38.8 percent); main sypmtoms were chronic cough (88.8 percent), persistent sputum (77.7 percent) and hemoptysis (44.4 percent). Spirometry detected airway obstruction in smokers (FEV1/FVC = 58 percent) and in non smokers (FEV1/FVC = 68 percent). Microbiological sputum exams showed Hemophilus influenzae (16.6 percent), Neisseria catharralis (15 percent), Pseudomona aeruginosa (13 percent), Streptococcus pneumoniae (15.4 percent) and Candida albicans (4 percent). Spiral CT showed the following distribution of bronchiectasis: unilobular lesion 11.1 percent, bilobar 72 percent and multilobar 16.6 percent. The clinical picture of bronchiectasis in our hospital according to this up to date review, shows that our reality is essentially similar to that previously reported in literature.

Para conocer las características actuales de las bronquiectasias en adultos en nuestro medio se revisan los 18 casos de esta patología comprobados por TAC helicoidal de tórax en el Hospital Regional de Concepción entre 1998-2003. La edad promedio de los pacientes fue de 44 +/ - 13,9 años; 10 hombres y 8 mujeres. Las etiologías más frecuentes de bronquiectasias fueron tuberculosis pulmonar (44,4 por ciento) y neumonía aguda (38,8 por ciento). Los síntomas más relevantes fueron tos crónica (88,8 por ciento), expectoración persistente (77,7 por ciento) y hemoptisis (44,8 por ciento). La espirometría reveló alteración ventilatoria obstructiva tanto en fumadores (VEF1/CVF = 58 por ciento) como en no fumadores (VEF1/CVF = 68 por ciento). La bacteriología de expectoración detectó Hemophilus influenzae (16,6 por ciento), Neisseria catharralis (15 por ciento), Pseudomona aeruginosa (13 por ciento), Streptococcus pneumoniae (15,4 por ciento) y Candida albicans (4 por ciento). La TAC de tórax demostró lesiones bilobares (72 por ciento), multilobares (16,6 por ciento) y unilobares (11,1 por ciento). La realidad de las bronquiectasias en nuestro medio es que no difiere significativamente de lo descrito en la literatura.

Infection with the Mycobacterium avium complex in patients without predisposing conditons: a case report and literature review

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), especially Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC), has been considered responsible for human disease, especially in HIV patients. Nevertheless, it has been diagnosed in immunocompetent elderly men, frequently with previous pulmonary disease: chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), complications of tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis and bronchiectasis. We relate the case of a female patient, 51 years old, with continuously acid fast bacilli (AFB) smears and with three previous treatments, which were conducted at the multiresistant tuberculosis (MRTB) service. MAC was identified in the sputum culture, and she received treatment for one year. The posterior sputum exams were negative. The cavity lesions observed in the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were reduced, and some of the nodule lesions became bronchiectasis, even after the end of treatment. We agree with the literature reports that indicate that MAC is the cause of bronchiectasis. It is necessary to identify the type of mycobacteria in immunocompetent individuals with positive AFB smears that do not become negative with tuberculosis treatment.

Bronchiectasis in northern Iraq clinical and bacteriological characteristics during acute exacerbation

Bronchiectasis is a relatively common disease in developing countries. The pathogens responsible for its acute exacerbations vary from one area to another. To study the characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis in Northern Iraq, and to identify the types of pathogens responsible for the acute exacerbations. Case series study. Respiratory Care Unit and general medical wards in Ibn-Sina Teaching Hospital in Mosul, during the years 2002-2004. Fifty patients with bronchiectasis [16 males and 34 females] presenting during an acute exacerbation underwent clinical and radiological evaluation with sputum Gram [Gm] stain and culture. The cause of the disease was readily identifiable in 36 percent of patients. Tuberculosis was the predominant aetiology. Streptococcus pneumoniae and klebsiella pneumoniae were the commonest pathogens. Gm negative bacilli were responsible for 36 percent of cases overall, and were especially important in those with long standing disease [

Clustering of cases of Mycobacterium fortuitum infection investigated by molecular typing

Organisms of the Mycobacterium fortuitum complex are recognised but uncommon causes of pulmonary disease, primary cutaneous disease and a wide spectrum of nosocomial infections. M fortuitum was isolated from 20 patients over a 15 month period, with an apparent clustering of isolates occurring from January to March 1994. The molecular epidemiology of this clustering was investigated using an arbitrary primer polymerase chain reaction method (AP-PCR). 21 isolates were studied, which yielded 13 distinct profiles. Multiple isolates from a single patient yielded identical profiles. All of seven isolates recovered during the six week period from January to March 1994 shared a common profile which was distinct from all other isolates, suggesting that a single strain was isolated from specimens from all seven patients. The source of this cluster is uncertain. We can find no epidemiological basis for an episode of cross-infection within the hospital environment, and it is assumed that contamination of the specimens during collection, transport or processing was responsible for the [quot ]pseudo-outbreak[quot ] of M fortuitum.

Bronquiectasias en pacientes HIV positivos / Bronchiectasis in patients infected with HIV

Entre el 1 de julio de 1995 y 30 de junio de 1997 se internaron 295 pacientes con serología positiva para HIV. En 25 de ellos (18 hombres y 7 mujeres) se hizo diagnóstico de bronquiectasias (BE). La edad media fue de 32 años, en su mayoría adictos endovenosos, en todos los casos se detectó antecedentes de infección pulmonar previa (neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii en 14 pacientes, tuberculosis en 9, neumonía recurrente en 6) y compromiso de la inmunidad celular (CD4 media = 64.8 mm3). La presencia de expectoración purulenta habitual, infecciones respiratorias bajas reiteradas y radiología patológica se correlacionó con el hallazgo de BE en la tomografía computada de tórax (TC). Hemos observado que la frecuencia de BE en esta población fue notoriamente mayor a la de la población general adulta (sin factores de riesgo para HIV) que se internó en nuestro Hospital en el mismo período de tiempo, utilizando la misma metodología diagnóstica (8.5 por ciento vs 0.12 por ciento); por lo tanto la BE constituyen una patología relativamente frecuente en los pacientes con HIV, son motivo de internaciones repetidas por infección respiratoria baja bacteriana, y de aumento de morbimortalidad en estos pacientes.

Mycotic infection in various cavitary lung diseases

This study was conduced on 50 cases from Chest Clinic in Benha University Hospital with various cavitary lung abscess, 5 bronchiectasis and 4 bronchogenic carcinoma for the presence of mycotic infection. Patients were investigated clinically and radiologically. Sputum samples were collected and examined by direct microscopic examination using 20% [KOH] and by culture on different media selective for Aspergillus and the isolated fungi were identified by conventional methods. The sera of the patients were also tested for antiaspergillar antibodies by double immunodiffusion [DID]. Aspergillus niger was isolated from sputum of 6 patients [12%] and Aspergillus flavus from one patient only [2%], while aspergillus fumigatus was not detected at all by culture. Candida species were isolated from 21 cases [42%]. The precipitation test [DID] was positive only in one patient [2%] denoting the presence of antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus

Immunological and bacteriological studies in patients with bronchiectasis

30 patients with bronchiectasis, were included in this work to study serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM and complement C3 concentration levels, and other immunological markers [C-reactive protein, rheumatoid and antinuclear factors] and also to look for the associated bacterial pathogen. 30 normal individuals were selected as a control group. It was found that 80% of patients had a significant elevation in at least one of immunoglobulin level which was related mainly to the degree of severity of the disease. On the other h and, a nonsignificant change in complement C3 was observed. 60% of the cases were seropositive for C-reactive protein, 33.3% showed positive rheumatoid factor, while 6.6% were seropositive for antinuclear factors. Gram-negative organisms were found in the sputum of 70% of patients. These immunological changes are supposed to be due to persistent antigenic stimulation and hyperimmune responses or the endotoxin of Gram-negative organisms isolated may be of aetiological significance in the development of autoantibodies and elevation of immunoglobulin levels