Pulmonary functional assessment: longitudinal study after treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

Even when treated adequately, pulmonary tuberculosis can lead to pulmonary sequelae. Patients treated for PTB between 2012 and 2016 answered a standardized questionnaire and underwent chest radiography and spirometry, measurement of absolute pulmonary volume, Diffusing Capacity for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) and the 6-min walk test (6MWT) on two occasions: within the first year after the end of treatment (follow-up 1), and one and two years after follow-up 1 (follow-up 2). A total of 55 patients they underwent spirometry, 23 (41.82%) had obstructive ventilatory disorder (OVD) and eight (14.5%) had moderate OVD. In total, 29 patients underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and 24 patients underwent the 6MWT on two occasions. The functional changes after PTB treatment appear not to have varied between one and two years of follow-up. There was a correlation between low FEV1 and low DLCO (p<0.001); low DLCO and low 6MWT (p<0.001) and radiographic abnormalities and low FEV1 (p=0.033). The most frequently observed change in spirometry was found in patients with OVD

a multicenter study

(1) Background: The Commercial Kit SIRE Nitratase® PlastLabor, is a drug susceptibility test kit used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to first-line TB treatment drugs. The present study aimed at evaluating its performance in a multicenter study. (2) Methods: To determine its accuracy, the proportion methods in Lowenstein Jensen medium or the BACTECTMMGITTM960 system was used as a gold standard. (3) Results: The study revealed that the respective accuracies of the kit with 190 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates, using the proportion methods in Lowenstein Jensen medium or BACTECTMMGITTM960 system as a gold standard, were 93.9% and 94.6%, 96.9% and 94.6%, 98.0% and 97.8%, and 98.0% and 98.9%, for streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol, respectively. (4) Conclusion: Thus, the kit can rapidly screen resistance to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol. Additionally, it does not require sophisticated equipment; hence, it can be easily used in the laboratories of low and middle income countries.publishersversionpublishe

Lymphadenitis caused by infection with an isoniazid- and rifampin-resistant strain of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in an infant with IFN-γ/IL-12 pathway defect

We report a rare case in a female infant (age, 3.5 months) with primary immunodeficiency (IFN-γ/IL-12 pathway defect) who presented with suppurative lymphadenitis after Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination. The strain of M. bovis BCG identified was found to be resistant to isoniazid and rifampin. The patient was treated with a special pharmacological regimen involving isoniazid (in a limited, strategic manner), ethambutol, streptomycin, and IFN-γ, after which there was complete resolution of the lesions

Uveíte por tuberculose em um centro de referência no Sudeste do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Descrever a ocorrência de uveíte por tuberculose (UTB) em um centro de referência em Minas Gerais, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Um total de 16 pacientes (idade > 15 anos) atendidos consecutivamente de janeiro de 2001 a julho de 2004 no Centro de Referência de Uveíte do Estado de Minas Gerais para avaliação diagnóstica de uveíte foi selecionado para este estudo. Foram coletados dados demográficos e clínicos, assim como dados sobre avaliação para toxoplasmose, sífilis e doenças reumatológicas, teste tuberculínico e sorologia anti-HIV. RESULTADOS: Dos 16 pacientes, 11 (69%) tinham UTB. História prévia de contato com tuberculose pulmonar foi relatada por 72% (8/11) dos pacientes do grupo com UTB e por 20% (1/5) dos pacientes do grupo sem UTB. Embora a razão de chances para essa associação tenha sido de 10,67 (IC95%: 0,59-398,66), o valor de p apresentou significância limítrofe (0,078). Não houve diferença quanto ao quadro ocular inflamatório e ao resultado do teste tuberculínico entre os pacientes com UTB e os sem UTB. Todos os pacientes tinham sorologia negativa para o HIV e foram acompanhados por 2 anos. CONCLUSÕES: Neste estudo, a história prévia de contato com tuberculose pulmonar foi de grande ajuda para o diagnóstico da UTB

Characteristics of tuberculosis in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: 2002-2009

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the profile of tuberculosis cases reported between 2002 and 2009 in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics, as well as to comorbidities and mortality. METHODS: This was a descriptive, epidemiological study based on data obtained from the Brazilian Case Registry Database and the Brazilian Mortality Database for the 2002-2009 period. RESULTS: There were 47,285 reported cases of tuberculosis, corresponding to a mean incidence of 22.3/100,000 population. The individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis were predominantly in the 20- to 49-year age bracket and male (62.4% and 67.0%, respectively). Individuals with a low level of education accounted for 18.5% of the cases. New cases, cases of recurrence, and cases of retreatment accounted for 83.7%, 5.7%, 5.7%, respectively. The rates of cure and treatment noncompliance were 66.2% and 11.2%, respectively; multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was identified in 0.2% of the cases; and the mortality rate was 12.9%. The directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) strategy was applied in 21.8% of the cases. Sputum smear microscopy and culture were performed in only 73.9% and 12.9% of the cases, respectively. Chest X-rays were performed in 90.5% of the cases. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the predominant form (in 83.9%). Comorbidity with alcoholism, HIV infection, and diabetes mellitus were identified in 17.2%, 8.3%, and 3.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During the study period, the numbers of new cases, cases of treatment noncompliance, and deaths were high, comorbidities were common, and there was a failure to perform adequately basic tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Multidisciplinary approaches, expanded use of the DOTS strategy, better knowledge of the distribution of tuberculosis, and improvements in the databases are needed in order to achieve better control of the disease in the state of Minas Gerais