ABSTRACT
Breast tuberculosis (BTB) is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis (TB), and it is more common in countries with a high incidence of TB. We describe a case of a 36-year-old Angolan woman, who had a history of breast reduction surgery, presenting with right breast enlargement, pain, purulent discharge through multiple skin openings, fever, and abdominal pain, progressively worsening in the past year. She had already undergone several surgical drainages and six months of treatment with ciprofloxacin, with no improvement. Breast ultrasound and MRI were performed, which revealed a large fluid collection, with several small abscesses and surrounding adenopathies, complicated by multiple fistulae. The fluid was drained through needle aspiration, which was found to be sterile for bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi. A lymph node biopsy showed necrosis without granulomas, and the biopsy culture was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mt). This case shows how a rare manifestation can simulate bacterial breast abscesses or cancer, and hence a high index of suspicion is necessary to reach the correct diagnosis and ensure appropriate treatment delivery in these patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: To analyze the prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with lived experience of mental illness integrated into community-based psychosocial rehabilitation structures in Portugal. Methods: One hundred and thirty-nine people with lived experience of mental illness integrated into community-based psychosocial rehabilitation structures in Portugal answered an online survey that included dimensions related to COVID-19 pandemic prevalence, routine/lifestyle, social support, access to health care, mental health and well-being during the pandemic and confinement, and life satisfaction and postpandemic future expectations. Results: The results point to a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in this sample. High levels of resilience and mental well-being were identified in the individuals. We also found that participants were satisfied with the social support during this phase and their routine/lifestyle. Conclusions: The study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic seems not to have had a significant negative impact on people with experience of mental illness integrated into community-based psychosocial rehabilitation structures in Portugal. However, more research in this field should be done in the future.