Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: an overview.
(41/160)
In the 1980s, after a steady decline during preceding decades, there was a resurgence in the rate of tuberculosis in the United States that coincided with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. Disease patterns since have changed, with a higher incidence of disseminated and extrapulmonary disease now found. Extrapulmonary sites of infection commonly include lymph nodes, pleura, and osteoarticular areas, although any organ can be involved. The diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis can be elusive, necessitating a high index of suspicion. Physicians should obtain a thorough history focusing on risk behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis. Antituberculous therapy can minimize morbidity and mortality but may need to be initiated empirically. A negative smear for acid-fast bacillus, a lack of granulomas on histopathology, and failure to culture Mycobacterium tuberculosis do not exclude the diagnosis. Novel diagnostic modalities such as adenosine deaminase levels and polymerase chain reaction can be useful in certain forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. In general, the same regimens are used to treat pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and responses to antituberculous therapy are similar in patients with HIV infection and in those without. Treatment duration may need to be extended for central nervous system and skeletal tuberculosis, depending on drug resistance, and in patients who have a delayed or incomplete response. Adjunctive corticosteroids may be beneficial in patients with tuberculous meningitis, tuberculous pericarditis, or miliary tuberculosis with refractory hypoxemia. (+info)
Comparison of various microbiological tests including polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis.
(42/160)
PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for diagnosing osteoarticular tuberculosis (TB). METHODS: Clinical samples (synovial tissue and synovial fluid) obtained from 23 cases of suspected osteoarticular tuberculosis were subjected to Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear examination, radiometric BACTEC culture and PCR test for tuberculosis by amplifying 65 kDa antigen coding region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) genome. RESULTS: PCR test was found to be much sensitive than the ZN smear examination and BACTEC culture (p<0.05) in the diagnosis of osteoarticular TB. In synovial fluid samples, PCR was positive in 73.9%, ZN smear examination in 17.39% and BACTEC culture in 39.13% of cases. The positivities were relatively lower with synovial tissue samples, the corresponding figures being 60.8, 8.6 and 26.08% respectively. Moreover, on combining the results of synovial fluid and tissues, the corresponding figures further increased to 78.2, 21.7 and 43.3% respectively. Further, sensitivity and specificity for PCR employing BACTEC culture as the "gold standard" was 100% respectively. Using BACTEC culture, the earliest positivity was seen in three days using synovial tissue specimen and 13 days with synovial fluid, the average detection times being 23.2 days and 32.6 days respectively. On the other hand, PCR test gave a positive result within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: PCR test was shown to be much more sensitive than ZN smear examination and BACTEC culture test for diagnosing osteoarticular tuberculosis. (+info)
Delayed diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis.
(43/160)
Monoarticular tuberculosis (TB) affecting the knee is rare in all forms of TB (0.1-0.3%). We present the case of a patient with tuberculous arthritis in whom the diagnosis was belated due to a lack of familiarity with the disease; here, we emphasize the difficulties associated with the diagnosing joint TB. A 20-year-old man was referred to our department due to swelling of the right knee and the presence of persistent, mild pain for 4 years. The lack of systemic evidence of this disease, the indolent course of disease, and the presence of non-specific symptoms renders early recognition of this disease difficult. Furthermore, in cases in which a diagnosis cannot be reached simply by culturing the synovial fluid, synovial biopsy cultures should be considered in the diagnostic process, due to the high rate of positivity of such cultures. The diagnosis and treatment of articular TB are both urgent matters; surgical debridement and strict adherence to antituberculous chemotherapy tend to yield a satisfactory functional outcome. (+info)
The use of immunomodulators as an adjunct to antituberculous chemotherapy in non-responsive patients with osteo-articular tuberculosis.
(44/160)
We studied 51 patients with osteo-articular tuberculosis who were divided into two groups. Group I comprised 31 newly-diagnosed patients who were given first-line antituberculous treatment consisting of isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. Group II (non-responders) consisted of 20 patients with a history of clinical non-responsiveness to supervised uninterrupted antituberculous treatment for a minimum of three months or a recurrence of a previous lesion which on clinical observation had healed. No patient in either group was HIV-positive. Group II were treated with an immunomodulation regime of intradermal BCG, oral levamisole and intramuscular diphtheria and tetanus vaccines as an adjunct for eight weeks in addition to antituberculous treatment. We gave antituberculous treatment for a total of 12 to 18 months in both groups and they were followed up for a mean of 30.2 months (24 to 49). A series of 20 healthy blood donors served as a control group.Twenty-nine (93.6%) of the 31 patients in group I and 14 of the 20 (70%) in group II had a clinicoradiological healing response to treatment by five months. The CD4 cell count in both groups was depressed at the time of enrolment, with a greater degree of depression in the group-II patients (686 cells/mm(3) (sd 261) and 545 cells/mm(3) (sd 137), respectively; p < 0.05). After treatment for three months both groups showed significant elevation of the CD4 cell count, reaching a level comparable with the control group. However, the mean CD4 cell count of group II (945 cells/mm(3) (sd 343)) still remained lower than that of group I (1071 cells/mm(3) (sd 290)), but the difference was not significant. Our study has shown encouraging results after immunomodulation and antituberculous treatment in non-responsive patients. The pattern of change in the CD4 cell count in response to treatment may be a reliable clinical indicator. (+info)
Role of transarticular screw fixation in tuberculous atlanto-axial instability.
(45/160)
Prospective study of 27 consecutive cases of tuberculous atlanto-axial instability operated between 1998 and 2003. Early surgical stabilization of tuberculous atlanto-axial instability has gained popularity. This is largely due to success of chemotherapy in rapid control of infection. Although selective atlanto-axial fusion techniques are advocated in other indications, their role in tuberculosis remains confined to atlanto-axial wiring techniques that are mechanically unsound. The role of three-point rigid fixation using trans-articular screws (TAS) remains unclear. The objectives of this study are: (1) To define the role of trans-articular screws in tuberculous atlanto-axial instability based on radiological criteria. (2) To attempt to separate patients that can be treated by selective atlanto-axial fixation as against the standard occipito-cervical fusion (OCF). (3) Compare the clinical and radiological outcome parameters between the two groups. Twenty-seven consecutive patients of tuberculous atlanto-axial instability were operated between 1998 and 2003. The pattern of articular surface destruction and the reducibility of the atlanto-axial complex were assessed on plain radiographs and MRI. The reducibility of the C1-C2 joint was graded as reducible, partially reducible and irreducible. Pattern of the C1-C2 articular mass destruction was grouped as minimal, moderate and severe. The patients were divided into two surgical groups based on radiological findings and were treated with TAS (n=11) and OCF (n=16) fusion. The three-point fixation provided by the TAS allowed early brace free mobilization by 3 months with fusion rate of 100%. Fusion occurred in 83.16% in the OCF group. Implant failure occurred in two patients who underwent OCF. The patient satisfaction rate in the TAS group and the OCF group was 90.90 and 62.50%, respectively. Results in 27 consecutive patients demonstrate improved patient fusion and satisfaction rates in the TAS group. Judicious selection of patients for TAS fixation is possible with relatively few complications in tuberculosis of the atlanto-axial complex. This, however, requires a thorough understanding of the MRI pattern of involvement of the atlanto-axial complex that is difficult in non-endemic areas. (+info)
Against all odds: molecular confirmation of an implausible case of bone tuberculosis.
(46/160)
We report the use of typing based on a variable number of tandem repeats of genetic elements called "mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units" to clarify a puzzling situation involving a patient with an exceptional case of spondylodiskitis that initially led to the suspicion of a possible event of laboratory cross-contamination with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (+info)
Sacroiliac joint tuberculosis.
(47/160)
Infections of the sacroiliac joint are uncommon and the diagnosis is usually delayed. In a retrospective study, 17 patients who had been treated for tuberculosis sacroiliitis between 1994 and 2004 were reviewed. Two patients were excluded due to a short follow-up (less than 2 years). Low back pain and difficulty in walking were the most common presenting features. Two patients presented with a buttock abscess and spondylitis of the lumbar spine was noted in two patients. The Gaenslen's and FABER (flexion, abduction and external rotation) tests were positive in all patients. Radiological changes included loss of cortical margins with erosion of the joints. An open biopsy and curettage was performed in all patients; histology revealed chronic infection and acid-fast bacilli were isolated in nine patients. Antituberculous (TB) medication was administered for 18 months and the follow-up ranged from 3 to 10 years (mean: 5 years). The sacroiliac joint fused spontaneously within 2 years. Although all patients had mild discomfort in the lower back following treatment they had no difficulty in walking. Sacroiliac joint infection must be included in the differential diagnosis of lower back pain and meticulous history and clinical evaluation of the joint are essential. (+info)
Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis: a report of three cases.
(48/160)
Tuberculosis of the bone is a well-recognized clinical condition that can be diagnosed and managed by physicians and orthopaedic surgeons, often with an excellent outcome. However, the occurrence of multifocal skeletal involvement in immunocompetent patients is rare, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Patients with multifocal skeletal tuberculosis may present with multiple vague somatic symptoms. We report three cases of multifocal skeletal tuberculosis in non-immunocompromised patients. All three patients were effectively treated with antituberculous drugs. (+info)