[Molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis]. / Place de la biologie moléculaire dans le diagnostic de la tuberculose.

Tuberculosis is caused by the M. tuberculosis complex. Its slow growth delays the bacteriological diagnosis based on phenotypic tests. Molecular biology has significantly reduced this delay, notably thanks to the deployment of the Xpert® MTB/RIF test (Cepheid), which detects the M. tuberculosis complex and rifampicin resistance in 2hours. Other tests detecting isoniazid and second-line antituberculous drugs resistance have been developed. However, the performances of molecular tests are significantly reduced if the acid-fast bacilli microscopy screening is negative. It is therefore crucial to limit their indication to strong clinical suspicions. Resistance detection tests only explore certain characterized positions; however, not all drug-resistance mutations are known. Moreover, the performances vary for different antituberculous drugs. The advent of genomic sequencing is promising. Its integration into routine workflow still needs to be evaluated and the data analysis remains to be standardized. The rise of molecular biology techniques has revolutionized the diagnosis of tuberculosis and drug resistance. However, they remain screening tests; results still have to be confirmed by phenotypic reference methods.

A case of tuberculous endophthalmitis successfully treated with vitrectomy followed by antituberculous agents.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous endophthalmitis is very rare with only 18 reports published worldwide and only a few cases in Japan. We report a case of tuberculous endophthalmitis successfully treated with vitrectomy followed by antituberculous agents. FINDINGS: An 81-year-old man was referred to us due to the exacerbation of vitreous opacity on his left eye(OS) after he had received the corticosteroid therapy. His best corrected visual acuity was light perception OS, and he had severe intraocular inflammation with fibrin formation in the anterior chamber and dense vitreous opacity. A chest CT showed miliary nodules indicating miliary tuberculosis, and pars plana vitrectomy was performed. Intraoperative observation showed that the vitreous cavity was filled by fibrin, and large elevated subretinal yellow-white lesions were present at the mid-periphery. The patient immediately received triple antituberculous agents orally, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in vitreous fluids. The intraocular inflammation gradually decreased, and the subretinal mass regressed within 2 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We encountered a case of tuberculous endophthalmitis successfully treated with vitrectomy followed by antituberculous agents. If endophthalmitis is suspected in a patient with systemic tuberculosis infection, prompt vitrectomy along with the administration of antituberculous agents may be necessary.

[Fixed drug eruption after taking ethambutol]. / Érythème pigmenté fixe secondaire à la prise d'éthambutol.

INTRODUCTION: Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a specific skin reaction and the only exclusively medicinal dermatosis. Among the drugs usually responsible are the antituberculous antibiotics including rifampicin and, less often, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. FDE after taking ethambutol is rarely described. CASE REPORT: A 32-year old HIV negative patient presented a FDE localized to the internal surface of the lips and the interdigital folds during the 4th month of antituberculous treatment comprising rifampicin, isoniazid and ethambutol. The diagnosis was supported by the characteristic appearances of the lesions of FDE and their early reappearance in the same areas after accidental reintroduction of antituberculous triple therapy including ethambutol. Double-agent therapy with rifamicin and isoniazid was tolerated well. CONCLUSION: Discovery of FDE requires a rigorous search for the responsible medicine. During antituberculous treatment, the practitioner has to bear in mind the potential role of ethambutol, which is possibly potentiated by rifampicin.

Drug sensitivity of thirty-four reference slowly growing mycobacteria to first and second line antituberculous agents / 中国人兽共患病学报

Slowly growing mycobacteria (SGM ) are distributed in the environment ,for example in soil and dirty water . SGM can cause human infections ,especially lung diseases .In this article ,first and second line antituberculous agents were ex‐amined in order to identify the optimum drugs for the treatment of SGM disorders .The fewest SGM in our study (4/34) were susceptible to isoniazid .Rifampicin (13/34) and ethambutol (14/34) were effective against similar numbers of strains .Ofloxa‐cin (23/34) ,kanamycin (26/34 ) , tobramycin (26/34 ) and streptomycin (27/34 ) were active against most of the tested strains .Ciprofloxacin (31/34) ,levofloxacin (31/34) ,amikacin (33/34) and capreomycin (33/34) showed an excellent range of activity .Moxifloxacin (34/34) showed the widest range of activity against the SGM species .Among the tested SGM spe‐cies ,M .simiae and M .af ricanum were resistant to the highest number of drugs .M .szulgai and M .duvalii were susceptible to all the first and second line antituberculous agents tested .Overall ,the second‐line antituberculous agents were good candi‐dates for the treatment of infection by SGM species and can be widely used in the therapy of SGM diseases .

Appropriateness of Adenosine Deaminase-Guided Management for Patients with Pericardial Effusion / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prognostic impact of empirical anti-tuberculous management according to adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in patients exhibiting pericardial effusion (PE) has not been established. We evaluated the appropriateness of ADA-guided anti-tuberculous medication for patients with PE. METHODS: From 2001 to 2010, 47 patients with PE and who were diagnosed with either tuberculous pericarditis (TbP) or idiopathic pericarditis (IP) were enrolled. The diagnosis of definite TbP was made by the presence of Tb bacilli or caseous granuloma in pericardial tissue or effusion. The diagnosis of probable TbP was made by the presence of one or more of the following: (1) elevated ADA (> or = 40 IU/L) in pericardial fluid, (2) positive Tb interferon test, or (3) extracardiac presence of Tb. All clinical information was collected by medical record review and telephone contact. RESULTS: Among the 47 patients with PE, 12 were diagnosed with definite TbP; 17, with probable TbP; and 18, with IP. The mean ADA level was significantly higher in patients with definite TbP than in patients with IP (74.97 +/- 36.79 vs. 20.14 +/- 7.39 IU/L; p < 0.001). The optimal ADA cutoff value for diagnosis of definite TbP was 64 IU/L. The median follow-up time was 12.1 months (range, 0.17-100 months). In patients with low levels of ADA (< 40 IU/L), the incidence of death or recurrence did not different between patients who were prescribed anti-tuberculous medication and those who were not. CONCLUSIONS: The ADA level in pericardial fluid was useful for making a rapid diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis. Even in tuberculosis-endemic areas, patients with ADA < 40 IU/L may have a good prognosis without empirical anti-tuberculous treatment.

Tuberculosis en pacientes con infección por VIH en el Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, 2002-2006 / Tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection at the Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, 2002-2006

Introducción. La prevalencia de coinfección por VIH y tuberculosis es alta en los países en vías de desarrollo. El objetivo del estudio fue describir la incidencia, las características clínicas, el tratamiento y el resultado del mismo en pacientes con coinfección por tuberculosis y VIH/sida en el Hospital Universitario de SanIgnacio en Bogotá, Colombia, durante los años 2002 a 2006. Materiales y métodos. Se seleccionaron pacientes con coinfección VIH/sida y tuberculosis. La revisión de las historias clínicas se hizo mediante un instrumento diseñado para la recolección de variables demográficas, clínicas, radiográficas y de la respuesta al tratamiento antituberculoso y antirretroviral. Resultados. Se identificaron 24 pacientes en el programa, de los cuales, 79% eran hombres, con una edad promedio de 30 años. La incidencia anual osciló entre 0,62% y 3,5%. La principal forma de diagnóstico fue por anatomía patológica, en 63% de los casos. Se identificó tuberculosis pulmonar en 37%, extrapulmonar en 42% y diseminada en 21%. El recuento de CD4 en el momento del diagnóstico fue inferior a 200 en 79% de las ocasiones, con un promedio de 113 por mm³. A todos los pacientes se les suministró tratamiento antituberculoso con cuatro medicamentos y se registró una mortalidad de 20% en el grupo de pacientes con seguimiento completo. La mortalidad no se modificó sino a partir del segundo mes de tratamiento (p < 0,04). Discusión y conclusiones. La mortalidad en pacientes con coinfección por tuberculosis y VIH fue alta, con un diagnóstico complicado debido a la baja sensibilidad de la baciloscopia de esputo y del cultivo. Es posible que se requieran medidas de quimioprevención en pacientes con recuentos de CD4 menores de 200.

Background HIV and tuberculosis coinfection prevalence is high in developing countries. The objective of the present study was to describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment and the clinical outcomes in patients with HIV/aids and tuberculosis coinfection at the Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio in Bogotá Colombia, between the years 2002 and 2006. Materials and methods.We selected patients with HIV/aids and tuberculosis coinfection and reviewed the medical charts. Data was collected using a sheet for demographic, clinical and radiographical information, and outcomes of the antituberculous and antiretroviral treatment. Results 24 patients were identified, 79% were male, with an average age of 30 years. Annual incidence had a range between 0.62% and 3.5%. The main diagnostic method was pathological results in 63% of the cases. The anatomical localization was pulmonary in 37%, extrapulmonary in 42% and milliary in 21%. The CD4 count was less than 200 in 79% of the cases, and the average CD4 count was 113 cells per mm3. All the patients had antituberculous treatment with four drugs and the mortality was 20% for the group of patients with a complete follow up. Mortality was not modified until the second month of treatment ( p < 0.04). Discussion and conclusions. Mortality in patients with tuberculosis was high and the diagnosis was difficult due to the low sensitivity of sputum smear and Mycobacterium culture. Patients with CD4 count less than 200 may require chemoprophylaxis.