Search

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a medical emergency. It is the most devastating manifestation of tuberculosis (TB). The outcome depends on early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Empirical antituberculous therapy should be started if clinical suspicion is high. All patients should be tested for HIV. The choice of antituberculous drugs is extrapolated from pulmonary TB regimen, and many drugs have poor cerebrospinal fluid penetration. More evidence is required to guide on drug therapy in TBM. Steroids should be used as adjunctive therapy and response may be modulated by host genotype. Active monitoring should be done for complications such as hydrocephalus, hyponatremia, and stroke.

Disseminated tuberculosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It results from a lymphohematogenous dissemination of mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) and its atypical clinical presentation often delays the diagnosis. Diagnosis is established by identifying MT obtained from a biopsy sample in culture or acid-fast smear. Evidence suggests an initial two-month phase of four-drug therapy followed by a two-drug phase for six to nine months. A 61-year-old man presented with back lumbar pain. He presented two masses, a left parasternal and a left axillary masses with approximately 6 cm each. He referred a 21% weight loss, anorexia and asthenia. His computed tomography revealed recent lumbar fractures and a left paravertebral space-occupying lesion; hilum and upper lobe masses; inflammatory/infectious micronodules; mediastinal adenomegaly, hypodense lesions in the spleen, sternum and left scapula. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lumbar vertebral fractures, an anterior epidural collection, left iliac psoas muscle liquid collection. A mass puncture and biopsy were performed, resulting in a positive detection of MT in nucleic acid amplification (NAA). The patient started on quaternary antibacillary therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Bronchofibroscopy revealed an hypervascularized and infiltrated submucosa. Later, histopathology was compatible with chronic granulomatous inflammatory process and bronchial lavage molecular test was positive for MT. At the moment, he is under two-drug antibacillary therapy with isoniazid and rifampin and masses are regressing.

BACKGROUND Intermediate uveitis is a form of uveitis localised to the vitreous and peripheral retina. Primary sites of inflammation include the vitreous of which other such entities as pars planitis, posterior cyclitis and hyalitis are encompassed. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic features and clinical outcomes in patients with intermediate uveitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS 39 patients were included in our study for the institution of antituberculous therapy. After obtaining informed consent, they underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. All patients of presumed tuberculous aetiology underwent Mantoux skin testing, ESR, chest x-ray and QuantiFERON gold TB testing when necessary. All patients were started on antituberculous therapy along with oral prednisolone. Reduction in vitritis by two grades or improvement in BCVA by two lines was considered as response to therapy along with reduction in recurrence of inflammation. Patients were reviewed periodically. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was 35.4 years. The patients presented with symptoms like defective vision and the commonest sign was vitritis. The commonest complication encountered in our study was cystoid macular oedema. The recurrences were found to be lower when compared to the episodes before the institution of antituberculous therapy and was found to be statistically significant (p

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is still a serious and significant health concern, more so with the emergence of multidrug-resistant-TB. The inability of mankind to control this infection stems from the fact that the vaccines and drugs that were once effective against TB are no longer efficacious. This has led to a search for new antituberculous agents and adjuvant therapy. Vitamins are being revisited for their role in pathogenicity as well as for their antimycobacterial properties. Vitamins such as biotin and thiamin are essential for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and are required for establishment of infection. On the other hand, vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin D have been shown to possess antimycobacterial properties. To combat M. tuberculosis, innovative strategies need to be devised, keeping in mind the efficacy of the agent to be used. Vitamins can prove to be useful agents capable of modifying the life cycle and biology of M. tuberculosis. We present here a brief overview of the available knowledge on thiamin, biotin, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D, keeping TB treatment and control in perspective.

This case report presents a 35-year-old female who presented with HIV-associated multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Resistant tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients with immunodeficiency is extremely difficult for effective treatment. Nevertheless, our clinical case showed that the cure of tuberculosis is possible in the late stages of HIV infection with the correct choice of treatment tactics, taking into account the resistance of MBT with the subsequent use of antiretroviral therapy. The progression of HIV infection, against the background of the effective antituberculous therapy, was associated with the patient's refusal to treat the underlying disease.

Optic nerve tuberculomas are rarely reported and their natural history, prognosis, and duration of required treatment remain unclear. A 40-year-old immunocompetent male presented with complete loss of vision in his right eye, which had evolved over 6 weeks. He had optic atrophy on examination. Initial imaging showed right optic nerve swelling and thickening suggesting an infiltrative inflammatory optic neuropathy (infectious or noninfectious). Serial imaging revealed appearance of ring enhancement with a necrotic centre. Biopsy and culture of the coexistent parietal lobe lesion revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Persistent optic nerve granuloma with evidence of radiological improvement was noted at 18 months follow-up with antituberculous therapy (ATT). Visual recovery could not be achieved. The salient features in this case include the clinical presentation initially mimicking an infiltrative or compressive optic neuropathy, rapid radiological evolution into a tuberculoma, subtle paradoxical radiological worsening after initiation of ATT and persistence of granuloma on follow up scan. The challenges involved in early diagnosis and during the treatment course will be discussed.

Background/Purpose The early diagnosis and appropriate management of spinal tuberculosis (TB) is challenging for clinicians. This study aimed to characterize the clinical features and factors affecting treatment outcomes. Methods A retrospective study of patients with spinal TB over a 7-year period at a medical center in southern Taiwan was conducted. Clinical features, underlying diseases, laboratory results, imaging findings, therapy, treatment duration and outcomes were analyzed. Results Forty-eight patients (24 men and 24 women) were diagnosed with spinal TB. Their mean age was 64.3 years. The most common presenting symptoms were backache, neurological deficits, and fever. The most common vertebral area involved was lumbar spine (41.7%). The mean number of vertebra involved was 2.46. Surgery was carried out on 30 patients (62.5%). Patients who had a longer duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis were more likely to have surgery ( p = 0.03), and patients who received surgery had a more favorable outcome ( p = 0.063). The mean treatment course was 11.4 ± 3.7 months. A long course treatment did not contribute to favorable outcomes. Twenty-six patients had a favorable outcome and 11 had an unfavorable outcome. Factors associated with an unfavorable outcome included older age, limb weakness, incontinence, spinal kyphotic deformity, and spinal cord compression. Conclusion For elderly patients with chronic back pain in Taiwan, the differential diagnosis of spinal TB should be considered. Image studies and computed tomography-guided aspiration are helpful for early detection. Combined surgical intervention tended to have a more favorable outcome and longer treatment periods had no additional benefit.

Purpose.The predictive factor of response to antituberculous therapy has not been fully elucidated. Airway acidity has been thought to be a potential indicator of the bactericidal activity. Therefore, we hypothesized that monitoring airway acidity by measuring sputum pH could predict response to therapy.Methods.A total of 47 patients having newly diagnosed, smear-positive, active pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled between October 2011 and March 2014. Sputum samples were serially analyzed before and after treatment. Eligible patients who initiated a standard 6-month treatment were monitored for the length of time to sputum smear and culture conversion.Results.There were 39 patients who completed a 2-month intensive phase of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol therapy followed by a 4-month continuation phase of isoniazid and rifampicin. Although factors including age, cavitation, sputum grade, and use of an acid-suppressant were associated with initial low sputum pH in univariate analysis, multivariate analysis revealed that only age ≥61 years was a statistically important factor predicting low pH value (p= 0.005). Further outcome analysis showed that initial low sputum pH before treatment was the only factor significantly associated with shorter length of time to both sputum smear and culture conversion (p= 0.034 and 0.019, respectively) independent of the effects of age, sputum bacterial load, extent of lung lesion, and cavitation. Thus, initial low sputum pH indicated favorable response to anti-tuberculosis therapy.Conclusions.Measuring sputum pH is an easy and inexpensive way of predicting response to standard combination therapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

This article revealed two valuable case reports about two young females suffered tuberculous meningitis after cesarean section. After antituberculous therapy, the condition of one patient improved and the other one became deteriorated.

The Central nervous system can be affected in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The intracranial tuberculoma occurrence is a rare entity occurrence; most often occur in the form of discrete small multiple lesions. Rarely a large sized tuberculoma is observed with mass effects and usually managed surgically to provide rapid relief of mass effect, histopathological confirmation of diagnosis, reduction of pathological mass thereby increasing efficacy of medical therapy. Author reports an extremely rare case of giant tuberculoma occurring in a pediatric patient, which was managed with antituberculous medication along with cerebral decongestant. The patient was also advised surgical therapy in view of giant size of tuberculoma associated with significant mass effect; however, the parents were unwilling for any form of surgical intervention and finally choose to continue medical treatment alone. After 6 months of antitubercular medical therapy, magnetic resonance imaging brain showed completely vanishing of lesion and also amelioration of mass effect with marked subsidence of perilesional edema correlated very well with marked improvement in the clinical status. He received antituberculous therapy for 24 months. To the best knowledge of authors, the current case represents first case of its kind in the pediatric age group with giant intracerebral tuberculoma responding favorably with medication. Management of such rare case and pertinent literature is reviewed briefly.

Tracheoesophageal fistula and bronchoesophageal fistula (BEF) usually result from malignancy. BEF caused due to benign conditions is rare. Here, we report a case of BEF due to tuberculosis. A 65-year-old lady presented with 15 days history of dysphagia, cough, and fever. Esophagoscopy revealed an ulcerated lesion at 22 cm. Further evaluation with contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed mid-esophageal wall thickening, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy, along with BEF. Endoscopic tissue biopsy from ulcer revealed tuberculosis. The patient was put on antituberculous drugs and showed good response to therapy.

We present a case of human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV- 2) infection with acquired immune deficiency syndrome with immune reconstitution and inflammatory syndrome due to disseminated tuberculosis. We address here the drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and antituberculous treatment (ATT), choice of ATT, and duration of ATT when rifampicin is omitted as in our case. Though this problem is encountered rarely, we felt that it is important to report the issue to counter drug resistance in tuberculosis and HIV.

Background: Tuberculosis is the commonest infection detected in HIV-infected individuals worldwide. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, bacteriologic and radiological spectrum of tuberculosis (TB) in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a tertiary care centre in Mumbai. Methods: A total of 8640 HIV-infected individuals were screened for tuberculosis routinely from January 1998 to December 2003, using clinical examination, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography, sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and culture on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Results: TB was detected in 8078 (93.5%) patients of whom 3393 (42%) had pulmonary, 3514 (43.5%) had extrapulmonary TB and 1171 (14.5%) had disseminated disease. One thousand two hundred thirty eight patients (36.5%) showed AFB in sputum, while 1154 (34%) showed growth on culture medium and 4174 had radiographic involvement. In 781 (67%) individuals disseminated disease coexisted with pulmonary involvement. All 8078 coinfected patients were treated with anti-TB therapy (ATT), of whom 6422 patients (79.5%) showed one or more adverse events. Gastritis was the commonest complaint followed by hepatitis and skin rashes. ATT resistance was detected in 482 individuals. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection (OI) in HIV positive patients in India, showing a higher prevalence of extrapulmonary and disseminated TB and adverse events due to ATT. Early recognition of concurrent OIs and their adequate treatment and prophylaxis is essential.