Fiebre Q aguda sintomática: 87 casos en un área de Mallorca / Symptomatic acute Q fever: A series of 87 cases in an area of Mallorca

INTRODUCCIÓN: La fiebre Q (FQ) es una zoonosis de distribución mundial causada por Coxiella burnetii ( C . burnetii). La infección aguda puede cursar asintomática o producir síndrome febril, hepatitis o neumonía y la infección crónica se suele presentar como endocarditis. Los datos sobre FQ en las islas Baleares son escasos. Métodos Se presenta una serie de casos con información retrospectiva desde marzo de 2003 a diciembre de 2011 de los casos con serología y cuadro clínico compatible con FQ aguda en el Hospital Son Llàtzer de Palma de Mallorca. Se consideró FQ aguda cuando, en un paciente con sospecha clínica, el título de IgM en fase II fue positivo (≥ 1/40), con IgG positiva (≥ 1/80) o cuando existió en fase de convalecencia seroconversión del título de IgG a C. burnetii. Se diagnosticaron 87 casos de FQ aguda. La mediana de edad fue de 50 años (rango intercuartílico: 21-89) y 69 (79,3%) eran hombres. La fiebre y la cefalea fueron los síntomas más frecuentes. El diagnóstico fue de: neumonía en 39 (44,8%) pacientes, síndrome febril aislado en 21 (24,1%), hepatitis aguda en 19 (21,8%) y el resto otras entidades. En 52 casos (59,8%) existió alguna elevación de enzimas hepáticas. El tratamiento con doxiciclina (solo o en combinación) fue prescrito en 29 (33,4%). El seguimiento se realizó en 57 (65,5%) de los pacientes. La evolución fue favorable en la mayoría, solamente un paciente con FQ aguda presentó durante el seguimiento títulos compatibles con FQ crónica. CONCLUSIÓN: La FQ aguda sintomática es frecuente en nuestro medio. La afectación pulmonar fue predominante. Solo un tercio de los pacientes fueron tratados con doxiciclina. No hubo ningún seguimiento tras la primera determinación serológica en 30 pacientes (34,5%). No se evidenciaron complicaciones significativas en el curso de la infección

INTRODUCTION: Q fever is a widespread zoonotic infection caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). Acuteinfection varies from a self-limited flu-like illness to pneumonia or hepatitis. METHODS: A retrospective case study from March 2003 to December 2011 was conducted in the Hospital Son Llàtzer in Palma de Mallorca. Acute Q-fever was diagnosed in a patient with clinical suspicion and IgMin phase II positive (≥ 1/40), with a positive IgG (≥1/80), or when IgG seroconversion was observed during convalescence. A total of 87 cases of acute Q fever were diagnosed. The median age was 50 years (range21-89), and 69 (79.3%) were male. Fever and headache were the most common symptoms. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 39 (44.8%) patients, febrile episode in 21 (24.1%), and acute hepatitis in 23 (25.6%).Increased serum transaminases were observed in 19 (21.8%). Doxycycline was prescribed in 29 cases(33.4%). There were 30 (34.5%) patients lost to follow up after hospital discharge. A favorable outcome was observed in all other cases. Only one new case progressed to chronic Q fever. RESULTS: A total of 87 cases of acute Q fever were diagnosed. The median age was 50 years (range 21-89), and 69 (79.3%) were male. Fever and headache were the most common symptoms. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 39 (44.8%) patients, febrile episode in 21 (24.1%), and acute hepatitis in 23 (25.6%). Increased serum transaminases were observed in 19 (21.8%). Doxycycline was prescribed in 29 cases (33.4%). There were 30 (34.5%) patients lost to follow up after hospital discharge. A favorable outcome was observed in all other cases. Only one new case progressed to chronic Q fever. CONCLUSION: Acute Q fever acute is common our environment. Pneumonia was the most common clinical presentation. Even although doxycycline was prescribed in a small number of patients, a favorable outcome was observed in all cases

[Symptomatic acute Q fever: a series of 87 cases in an area of Mallorca]. / Fiebre Q aguda sintomática: 87 casos en un área de Mallorca.

INTRODUCTION: Q fever is a widespread zoonotic infection caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). Acute infection varies from a self-limited flu-like illness to pneumonia or hepatitis. METHODS: A retrospective case study from March 2003 to December 2011 was conducted in the Hospital Son Llàtzer in Palma de Mallorca. Acute Q-fever was diagnosed in a patient with clinical suspicion and IgM in phase ii positive (≥ 1/40), with a positive IgG (≥1/80), or when IgG seroconversion was observed during convalescence. A total of 87 cases of acute Q fever were diagnosed. The median age was 50 years (range 21-89), and 69 (79.3%) were male. Fever and headache were the most common symptoms. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 39 (44.8%) patients, febrile episode in 21 (24.1%), and acute hepatitis in 23 (25.6%). Increased serum transaminases were observed in 19 (21.8%). Doxycycline was prescribed in 29 cases (33.4%). There were 30 (34.5%) patients lost to follow up after hospital discharge. A favorable outcome was observed in all other cases. Only one new case progressed to chronic Q fever. RESULTS: A total of 87 cases of acute Q fever were diagnosed. The median age was 50 years (range 21-89), and 69 (79.3%) were male. Fever and headache were the most common symptoms. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 39 (44.8%) patients, febrile episode in 21 (24.1%), and acute hepatitis in 23 (25.6%). Increased serum transaminases were observed in 19 (21.8%). Doxycycline was prescribed in 29 cases (33.4%). There were 30 (34.5%) patients lost to follow up after hospital discharge. A favorable outcome was observed in all other cases. Only one new case progressed to chronic Q fever. CONCLUSION: Acute Q fever acute is common our environment. Pneumonia was the most common clinical presentation. Even although doxycycline was prescribed in a small number of patients, a favorable outcome was observed in all cases.

Use of Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube ® test for detecting latent tuberculosis in patients considered as candidates for anti-TNF therapy in routine clinical practice

Background/methods Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube® test (QFT-G-IT) may have advantages if combined with TST when screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) prior to initiating anti-TNF therapy in an area of intermediate tuberculosis incidence such as Spain. In a small-scale prospective study, we evaluate the use of QFT-G-IT in combination with the screening recommended in Spain (Tuberculin-Skin Test, TST retest, clinical data, and Chest X-Ray (CXR)) for LTBI in patients considered as candidates for anti-TNF a treatment. Results From June 2008 to October 2010, 123 patients from a 300-bed hospital in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) were included in the study. The majority of patients were under immunosuppressive therapy. A positive TST and TST booster were found in 22 and 17 patients, respectively. Thus 39 (31.7%) of the 123 patients had a positive TST. QFT-G-IT was positive in 16 patients (13.6%), indeterminate in 4 (3.2%), and negative in 103 (83.7%). One of the two tests was positive and LTBI was diagnosed in 34.1% of patients. The agreement between TST and QFT-G-IT among vaccinated patients was low and not statistically significant (Kappa=0.15) and was almost perfect among non-BCG vaccinated patients (K=0.81). TST positive responses were significantly related to BCG-vaccination (p<0.05) and QFT-G-IT positive response rates were related to older age (p<0.05).Conclusion QFT-G-IT may have advantages when combined with TST in immune suppressed patients especially in older patients with a negative TST; in BCG vaccinated patients with a positive TST, QFT-G-IT could avoid unnecessary treatments and toxicities related to a false-positive TST result (AU)

Introducción/método Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube® (QFT-G-IT) en combinación con la Prueba de la tuberculina (PT) puede ser útil para el diagnóstico de infección tuberculosa latente (ITL) en pacientes candidatos a tratamiento con anti-TNF en un país de incidencia intermedia de tuberculosis como España. Se evalúa en un estudio piloto prospectivo QFT-G-IT en combinación con las pruebas recomendadas en España (PT, PT-booster, datos clínicos y radiografía de tórax) para el diagnóstico de ITL en pacientes con enfermedades inmunológicas candidatos a tratamiento con fármacos anti-TNFa. Resultados Se incluyeron 123 pacientes desde junio de 2008 a octubre de 2010 en el hospital Son Llàtzer de Palma de Mallorca. La PT inicial y la PT booster fueron positivas en 22 y 17 pacientes, respectivamente, el 31,6% tuvo una PT positiva, QFT-G-IT fue positivo en 16 (13,6%), indeterminado en 4 (3,2%) y negativo en 103 pacientes (83,7%). En 34,1% al menos uno de los dos tests fue positivo y se diagnosticó ITL. La concordancia entre PT y QFT-G-IT fue baja en pacientes vacunados con BCG (Kappa=0,15) y excelente en no vacunados con BCG (K=0,81). La positividad de la PT se relacionó con la vacunación con BCG (p<0.05) y la de QFT-G-IT con una mayor edad (p<0.05).Conclusión El uso de QFT-G-IT puede optimizar el diagnóstico de ITL en estos pacientes especialmente en los más añosos con una PT negativa. En pacientes vacunados de BCG con una PT positiva, QFT-G-IT podría evitar tratamientos innecesarios de ITL relacionados con un falso positivo (AU)

Use of Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube(®) test for detecting latent tuberculosis in patients considered as candidates for anti-TNF therapy in routine clinical practice.

BACKGROUND/METHODS: Quantiferon-TB-Gold in Tube(®) test (QFT-G-IT) may have advantages if combined with TST when screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) prior to initiating anti-TNF therapy in an area of intermediate tuberculosis incidence such as Spain. In a small-scale prospective study, we evaluate the use of QFT-G-IT in combination with the screening recommended in Spain (Tuberculin-Skin Test, TST retest, clinical data, and Chest X-Ray (CXR)) for LTBI in patients considered as candidates for anti-TNFα treatment. RESULTS: From June 2008 to October 2010, 123 patients from a 300-bed hospital in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) were included in the study. The majority of patients were under immunosuppressive therapy. A positive TST and TST booster were found in 22 and 17 patients, respectively. Thus 39 (31.7%) of the 123 patients had a positive TST. QFT-G-IT was positive in 16 patients (13.6%), indeterminate in 4 (3.2%), and negative in 103 (83.7%). One of the two tests was positive and LTBI was diagnosed in 34.1% of patients. The agreement between TST and QFT-G-IT among vaccinated patients was low and not statistically significant (Kappa=0.15) and was almost perfect among non-BCG vaccinated patients (K=0.81). TST positive responses were significantly related to BCG-vaccination (p<0.05) and QFT-G-IT positive response rates were related to older age (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: QFT-G-IT may have advantages when combined with TST in immunosuppressed patients especially in older patients with a negative TST; in BCG vaccinated patients with a positive TST, QFT-G-IT could avoid unnecessary treatments and toxicities related to a false-positive TST result.

Valor de QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test in Tube en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar y extrapulmonar / Quantiferon-TB-gold in tube test in the diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

Introducción Los test de detección in vitro de Interferón-gamma frente a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) podrían ser una herramienta útil en el diagnóstico de enfermedad tuberculosa activa. Métodos Se realiza el test QuantiFERON-TB-Gold test in Tube (QFG-IT) en la sangre de 118 pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar activa y se compara el resultado con la prueba de tuberculina. Resultados El estudio de QFG-IT fue positivo en 94 casos (79,7%), negativo en 17 (14,4%) e indeterminado en 7 (5,9%). QFG-IT negativo o indeterminado fue más frecuente en pacientes más ancianos (p=0,017) y en los casos de baciloscopia (..) (AU)

Introduction: The Interferon-gamma in vitro detection tests could be a useful tool in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis compared to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Methods: The QuantiFERON-TB-Gold in Tube (QFG-IT) test was performed on the blood of 118 patients with active tuberculosis and the results compared with the tuberculin test. Results: The QFG-IT test was positive in (..) (AU)

[Quantiferon-TB Gold In-Tube test in the diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Valor de QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test in Tube en el diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar y extrapulmonar.

INTRODUCTION: The Interferon-γ in vitro detection tests could be a useful tool in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis compared to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). METHODS: The QuantiFERON-TB-Gold in Tube (QFG-IT) test was performed on the blood of 118 patients with active tuberculosis and the results compared with the tuberculin test. RESULTS: The QFG-IT test was positive in 94 cases (79.7%), negative in 17 (14.4%) and indeterminate in 7 (5.9%). A negative or indeterminate QFG-IT test was more common in older patients (P=0.017) and in cases with negative smear tests (P=0.041). The kappa agreement between the tuberculin and QFG-IT tests was 74.5% with a kappa value of 0.45 (SE:0.136). Thirteen of the patients studied were infected with HIV and the tuberculin was positive in 5 of the 12 cases (38.5%) in whom it was performed, with the QFG-IT being positive in 9/13 (69.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The QFG-IT test may be a useful complimentary tool to the tuberculin test in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.