Two cases of tuberculous retropharyngeal abscess in adults

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an acute or chronic deep neck tissue infection. Tuberculous RPA is chronic and extremely rare in adults. A 20-year-old female patient visited the local hospital due to cough and sputum. The sputum smear was positive for acid-fast staining, and lung computed tomography (CT) indicated pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The patient received the standard regimen of isoniazid+rifampicin+pyrazinamide+ethambutol (HRZE) for 6 months. After HRZE, pulmonary symptoms improved, but some pharyngeal discomfort remained. In another case, a 25-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital because of a mass on the left side of his neck. Lymph node TB was considered after a puncture biopsy. Lung CT showed no obvious abnormality. After HRZE for 5 months, the mass had progressively enlarged. Both patients underwent B-ultrasonography-guided puncture, and Xpert® MTB/RIF of the abscess was positive and rifampin-sensitive. Tuberculous RPA was diagnosed and treated with isoniazid+rifampicin (HR) for 12 months. After combination anti-TB therapy and surgical drainage, both patients fully recovered. Tuberculous RPA is rare in adults; because of pharyngeal symptoms or progressive enlargement of a neck mass with anti-TB treatment, clinicians need to suspect tuberculous RPA in adults, which is treated with anti-TB therapy and surgery.

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Treatment outcomes of adults with new onset pulmonary tuberculosis in Pretoria, South Africa

Tropical Doctor ◽

10.1177/0049475519900736 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 130-134

Author(s):

Meisie A Nkoane ◽

Adegoke O Adefolalu ◽

Gboyega A Ogunbanjo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Treatment Success ◽

World Health ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Standard Regimen ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Complete Treatment ◽

Cure Rates

A persistently high burden of tuberculosis (TB) and low cure rates in South Africa call for frequent assessment of the effectiveness of the TB programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate treatment outcomes and associated factors among new TB patients taking standard regimen 1 TB treatment during 2010 in Pretoria, using the World Health Organization’s six treatment outcomes classification. The 85 participants (of whom 59% were female) had co-infection with HIV in 70%. A total of 52% completed treatment, but only 15% were officially cured; 13% died and only 35% had an end-of-treatment sputum test. The treatment success rate (cured and complete treatment) was 67%. Completion of TB treatment was associated with HIV status ( P = 0.02) and TB diagnosis using only sputum smear test ( P = 0.02). Our results suggest non-compliance with standard TB guidelines by healthcare workers. We therefore advise future interventions should target both patients and healthcare workers.

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Risk Factors for Unfavorable Treatment Outcomes among the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Tuberculosis Population in Tashkent City, Uzbekistan: 2013–2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094623 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4623

Author(s):

Sherali Massavirov ◽

Kristina Akopyan ◽

Fazlkhan Abdugapparov ◽

Ana Ciobanu ◽

Arax Hovhanessyan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Cd4 Cell Counts ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Positive Sputum Smear

Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection poses a growing clinical challenge. People living with HIV have a higher chance of developing TB, and once the disease has progressed, are at greater risk of having unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. Data on TB treatment outcomes among the HIV-associated TB population in Uzbekistan are limited. Thus, we conducted a cohort study among 808 adult patients with HIV-associated TB registered at the Tashkent TB referral hospital from 2013–2017 to document baseline characteristics and evaluate risk factors for unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. The data were collected from medical records and ambulatory cards. About 79.8% of the study population had favorable treatment outcomes. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage at the admission was 26.9%. Information on CD4-cell counts and viral loads were largely missing. Having extrapulmonary TB (aOR 2.21, 95% CI: 1.38–3.53, p = 0.001), positive sputum smear laboratory results on admission (aOR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.07–2.40), diabetes (aOR 5.16, 95% CI: 1.77–14.98), and hepatitis C (aOR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.14–2.46) were independent risk factors for developing unfavorable TB treatment outcomes. The study findings provide evidence for targeted clinical management in co-infected patients with risk factors. Strengthening the integration of TB/HIV services may improve availability of key data to improve co-infection management.

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Baseline Xpert MTB/RIF ct values predict sputum conversion during the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment in HIV infected patients in Kampala, Uganda: a retrospective study

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06220-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Juliet Namugenyi ◽

Joseph Musaazi ◽

Achilles Katamba ◽

Joan Kalyango ◽

Emmanuel Sendaula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Load ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Cd4 Cell Count ◽

Cut Point ◽

Ct Value ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Drug Concentrations ◽

Unit Increase ◽

Sputum Conversion

Abstract Background In resource-limited settings, sputum smear conversion is used to document treatment response. Many People living with HIV (PLHIV) are smear-negative at baseline. The Xpert MTB/RIF test can indirectly measure bacterial load through cycle threshold (ct) values. This study aimed to determine if baseline Xpert MTB/RIF could predict time to culture negativity in PLHIV with newly diagnosed TB. Methods A subset of 138 PLHIV from the ‘SOUTH’ study on outcomes related to TB and antiretroviral drug concentrations were included. Bacterial load was estimated by Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tubes (MGIT) culture time-to-positivity (TTP) and Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) colony counts. Changes in TTP and colony counts were analyzed with Poisson Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) and multilevel ordered logistic regression models, respectively, while time to culture negativity analysed with Cox proportional hazard models. ROC curves were used to explore the accuracy of the ct value in predicting culture negativity. Results A total of 81 patients (58.7%) were males, median age 34 (IQR 29 ̶ 40) years, median CD4 cell count of 180 (IQR 68 ̶ 345) cells/μL and 77.5% were ART naive. The median baseline ct value was 25.1 (IQR 21.0 ̶ 30.1). A unit Increase in the ct value was associated with a 5% (IRR = 1.05 95% CI 1.04 ̶ 1.06) and 3% (IRR = 1.03 95% CI 1.03 ̶ 1.04) increase in TTP at week 2 and 4 respectively. With LJ culture, a patient’s colony grade was reduced by 0.86 times (0R = 0.86 95% CI 0.74 ̶ 0.97) at week 2 and 0.84 times (OR = 0.84 95% CI 0.79 ̶ 0.95 P = 0.002) at week 4 for every unit increase in the baseline ct value. There was a 3% higher likelihood of earlier conversion to negativity for every unit increase in the ct value. A ct cut point ≥28 best predicted culture negativity at week 4 with a sensitivity of 91. 7% & specificity 53.7% while a cut point ≥23 best predicted culture negativity at week 8. Conclusion Baseline Xpert MTB/RIF ct values predict sputum conversion in PLHIV on anti-TB treatment. Surrogate biomarkers for sputum conversion in PLHIV are still a research priority.

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Prolonged hospitalisation for immigrants and high risk patients with positive smear pulmonary tuberculosis

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease ◽

10.4081/monaldi.2011.229 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

Author(s):

R. Luzzati ◽

M. Confalonieri ◽

A. Cazzadori ◽

P. Della Loggia ◽

R. Cifaldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Illegal Immigrants ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Prolonged Hospitalisation ◽

Early Outcome ◽

High Risk Patients ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Conversion Rates ◽

Risk Patients

Background and objective. Tuberculosis (TB) occurring in immigrants and resistance to drugs are major problems for TB control in Western countries. Directly observed therapy (DOT) reduces disease transmission, but this approach may have poor results among illegal immigrants. Our aim was to evaluate a prolonged hospitalisation programme to improve early outcome of TB treatment in high risk patients. Methods. All the consecutive adult patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB admitted to 2 Italian referral TB Centres were evaluated. Hospital-based DOT was provided to high risk patients up-to smear conversion. Demographic, microbiological and clinical conditions, as potential factors associated with confirmed smear conversion at 60 and 90 days of anti-tuberculous therapy were evaluated. Results. 122 patients were studied, 45.9% of them were immigrants (20% illegal) from high-prevalence TB countries. HIV testing was negative in all cases. Twelve patients had M. tuberculosis resistant to ≥ 1 first-line anti-tuberculous agents. The rate of defaulting from TB treatment was 7.3%. Sputum smear became negative in 84.4% cases after 60 days and 93.3% cases after 90 days. At such time, smear conversion rates were similar among different high risk subgroups such as illegal immigrants (95.9%), legal foreign-born (92.5%) and Italian persons (94.8%). Persistent sputum smear positivity was independently correlated with the extent of pulmonary lesions at 60 (p<0.0001) and 90 days (p=0.038) of hospital-based DOT. Conclusions. These findings suggest that prolonged hospitalisation for illegal immigrants and high risk TB patients, may positively influence the early outcome of TB treatment despite of drug resistance and legal status.

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Screening diabetes mellitus patients for pulmonary tuberculosis: a multisite study in Indonesia, Peru, Romania and South Africa

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/traa100 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bachti Alisjahbana ◽

Susan M McAllister ◽

Cesar Ugarte-Gil ◽

Nicolae Mircea Panduru ◽

Katharina Ronacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

South Africa ◽

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Economic Status ◽

World Health ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are three times more likely to develop tuberculosis (TB) than the general population. Active TB screening in people with DM is part of a bidirectional approach. The aim of this study was to conduct pragmatic active TB screening among DM patients in four countries to inform policy. Methods DM patients were recruited in Indonesia (n=809), Peru (n=600), Romania (n=603) and South Africa (n=51). TB cases were diagnosed using an algorithm including clinical symptoms and chest X-ray. Presumptive TB patients were examined with sputum smear and culture. Results A total of 171 (8.3%) individuals reported ever having had TB (South Africa, 26%; Indonesia, 12%; Peru, 7%; Romania, 4%), 15 of whom were already on TB treatment. Overall, 14 (0.73% [95% confidence interval 0.40 to 1.23]) TB cases were identified from screening. Poor glucose control, smoking, lower body mass index, education and socio-economic status were associated with newly diagnosed/current TB. Thirteen of the 14 TB cases diagnosed from this screening would have been found using a symptom-based approach. Conclusions These data support the World Health Organization recommendation for routine symptom-based screening for TB in known DM patients in high TB-burden countries. DM patients with any symptoms consistent with TB should be investigated and diagnostic tools should be easily accessible.

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The implementation of health istithaah to the pilgrims with tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study in Jakarta, Indonesia

Medical Journal of Indonesia ◽

10.13181/mji.oa.203517 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 198-203

Author(s):

Ibnu Mas'ud ◽

Ujainah Zaini Nasir ◽

Ceva Wicaksono Pitoyo ◽

Ikhwan Rinaldi

Keyword(s):

Secondary Data ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Sectional Study ◽

District Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Intensive Phase ◽

Health Team ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Mdr Tb

BACKGROUND Based on the regulation of the Indonesian Ministry of Health No. 15 of 2016 about health istithaah for the Hajj, patients with tuberculosis (TB) can be categorized into ineligible or temporarily ineligible pilgrims. This study aimed to know the characteristics of pilgrims with TB and determined their level of fitness for fulfilling the health istithaah. METHODS A cross-sectional study of pilgrims from Jakarta who were receiving TB treatment during the Hajj in 2018 was conducted with consecutive sampling. The secondary data was collected from the Hajj Integrated Computer Health System 2018, TB registered form, and six-minute walk test (the fitness level data) conducted by the District Hajj Health Team at district health centers in DKI Jakarta and Pondok Gede before the Hajj embarkation in June–July 2018. The questionnaire to the Indonesian Hajj Health Team during pilgrimage was also included as additional data. RESULTS Thirty-one pilgrims received TB treatment and completed the intensive phase of TB treatment, but 29 pilgrims had no symptoms. Among them, 2 patients had MDR-TB. Most of them were male aged ≥40 years old. Twelve pilgrims with TB have a sufficient fitness. All pilgrims were able to run the pillars of the Hajj. CONCLUSIONS Pilgrims with TB, including MDR-TB, who had completed the intensive phase with a negative sputum smear test were declared eligible for the Hajj with assistance.

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The Prevalence of Absolute and Functional Iron Deficiency Anemia in New Cases of Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Their Sputum Conversion Rate at the End of Intensive Tuberculosis Treatment Phase

Prague Medical Report ◽

10.14712/23362936.2020.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 121 (1) ◽

pp. 35-41

Author(s):

Maliheh Metanat ◽

Mohammad Ali Mashhadi ◽

Roya Alavi-Naini ◽

Leli Rezaie-Kahkhaie ◽

Nahid Sepehri-Rad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Treatment Phase ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Smear Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽

Sputum Conversion ◽

Positive Sputum Smear

About one third of the population is infected with tuberculosis (TB). On the other hand, iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. A number of studies have documented anemia in patients with TB, however, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in patients with acid-fast bacilli (AFB) sputum smear-positive, and sputum conversion in these two groups of patients with absolute and functional IDA at the end of the second month of anti-TB therapy in Zahedan, Iran. The results of this study revealed that 91 out of 198 (45.9%) sputum positive pulmonary TB patients were anemic, and among those 72 (79.1%) had iron deficiency anemia. The overall prevalence of IDA in this study was 36.3%. In 72 patients with IDA, 54 (75%) had functional while the remainder had absolute IDA 18 (25%). Twenty-one out of 72 (29.2%) of patients with IDA remained sputum positive and among 126 non IDA patients 47 (37.3%) had positive sputum smear at the end of intensive TB treatment phase (p=0.278). Approximately, less than half of patients with tuberculosis had anemia among them 79% had iron deficiency anemia. The frequency of functional IDA was three times more than absolute IDA. There was no statistically significant difference in sputum conversion between two groups of IDA and non-IDA patients after intensive phase of anti-TB therapy.

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Assessment of Neopterin Serum Level for Monitoring Therapy of Patients with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.5812/jjhs.113068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Shokrollah Salmanzadeh ◽

Razieh Mombeini ◽

Seyed Mohammad Alavi ◽

Morteza Abdullatif Khafaie

Keyword(s):

Serum Levels ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Monitoring Therapy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean ◽

First Time

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem worldwide. To date, the standard diagnostic method for TB is still the direct observation of Mycobacterium TB in a sputum smear or culture. Objectives: There is an urgent need for a method to detect the disease in a shorter time with acceptable sensitivity and specificity and help monitor the treatment. Methods: A panel of 34 adults newly diagnosed with smear-positive pulmonary TB was followed during their treatment period of five months. Neopterin (NPT) serum levels were measured three times (before treatment and two and five months after treatment) using the Brahms ELItest Neopterin kit, and the results were analyzed using descriptive and graphical methods. Results: The mean NPT for the first time before treatment was 27.47 ± 20.7 nmol/L. NPT was measured two months after the anti-TB treatment, and the associated mean was 16.97 ± 14.14 nmol/L. At the end of the fifth month, the mean NPT concentration reached 11.3 ± 10.5 nmol/L. The mean serum NPT before treatment had a statistically significant difference with the mean NPT at the end of the second and fifth months of the treatment (P = 0.001). Conclusions: According to the national protocol for treating TB, a sputum smear is still necessary for patients’ follow-up. It seems that the serum NPT level should be measured to monitor response to treatment in patients that, for any reason are not able to give sputum in TB treatment follow-up.

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Sex differences in TB treatment outcomes: Retrospective cohort study and meta-analysis

10.1101/2021.04.26.21256155 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vignesh Chidambaram ◽

Nyan Lynn Tun ◽

Marie Gilbert Majella ◽

Jennie Ruelas Castillo ◽

Samuel K. Ayeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sputum Smear ◽

Intensive Phase ◽

Tb Treatment

AbstractRationaleAlthough the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is higher in males compared to females, the relationship of sex with TB treatment outcomes has not been adequately studied.Objectives and MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study and a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies during the last 10 years to assess the sex differences in clinical and microbiological outcomes in tuberculosis.Measurements and Main ResultsIn our cohort of 2,894 patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB (1,975 males and 919 females), males had higher adjusted hazards of mortality due to all causes (HR 1·43,95%CI 1.03-1.98) and infections (HR 1.70, 95%CI 1.09-2.64) at 9 months and higher adjusted odds ratio for sputum culture (OR 1.56,95%CI 1.05-2.33) and similar odds ratio for smear positivity (OR 1.27, 0.71-2.27) at 2 months compared to females. Among 7896 articles retrieved, 398 articles were included in our systematic review with a total of 3,957,216 patients. The odds of all-cause mortality was higher in males compared to females in the pooled unadjusted (OR 1.26, 95%CI 1.19-1.34) and adjusted (OR 1.31, 95%CI 1.18-1.45) analyses. Relative to females, males had higher pooled odds of sputum culture (OR 1.44,95% CI 1.14-1.81) and sputum smear (OR 1.58,95%CI 1.41-1.77) positivity at the end of the intensive phase, and upon completion of treatment.ConclusionsDuring TB treatment, males have higher all-cause-, infection- and TB-related mortality, as well as higher rates of sputum smear and culture positivity, both after the intensive phase and at the completion of TB treatment, after adjusting for confounding factors.

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