Treatment of Disseminated Mycobacterial Infection with High-Dose IFN-γ in a Patient with IL-12Rβ1 Deficiency

IFN-γ has been used in the treatment of IL-12Rβ1 deficiency patients with disseminated BCG infection (BCGosis), but the optimal dose to reach efficacy is not clear. We used IFN-γ in the treatment of a 2.7-year-old patient with IL-12Rβ1 deficiency and refractory BCG-osis. IFNγ was started at a dose of 50 μg/m2 3 times per week. The dose was upgraded to 100 mcg/m2 after 3 months, then to 200 mcg/m2 6 months afterwards. Serum mycobactericidal activity and lymphocytes number and function were evaluated throughout the study. There was no clinical response to IFN-γ with 50 or 100 μg/m2 doses. However, there was some response to the 200 μg/m2 dose with no additional adverse effects. The serum mycobactericidal activity was not significantly different during the whole treatment period. Lymphocytes proliferation in response to PHA was significantly higher after 3 months of using the highest dose as compared to the lowest dose. The tuberculin skin test reaction remained persistently negative. We conclude that in a patient with IL-12Rβ1 deficiency, IFN-γ at a dose of 200 μg/m2, but not at lower dosages, was found to have a noticeable clinical effect with no additional adverse effects

Pattern of helicobacter pylori sensitivity to various antimicrobial agents

To evaluate the pattern of Helicobacter pylori (<i> H. pylori</i> ) susceptibility to different antimicrobial agents, we prospectively studied 45 <i> H. pylori</i> isolates by disc diffusion method. These isolates were obtained from patients aged between 16-75 years, of both sexes who had no prior history of metronidazole ingestion. A total of 45 patients were included, of which 36 were males with a mean age of 42.9 years and nine females with a mean age of 36.4 years, 62&#x0025; of patients were Saudis. Almost all the <i>H. pylori</i> isolates were susceptible to clarithromycin, penicillin, erythromycin, ampicillin, tetracycline, clindamycin and cephradine. However, 64.4&#x0025; of the isolates were resistant to metronidazole. No significant difference was found either in susceptibility of isolates from Saudi, non-Saudi or male and female patients

National surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among Gram-positive bacteria in Saudi Arabia

Antimicrobial-resistant Gram-positive bacteria are important causes of serious infections