Ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy for pulmonary tuberculosis with unusual radiographic appearances.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis can produce unusual radiographic appearances and negative results of sputum and bronchoscopic examinations are common. This study assessed the value of ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis with unusual radiographic appearances. METHODS: Thirteen patients, ultimately diagnosed as having tuberculosis, underwent a chest ultrasonographic examination between June 1984 and August 1991. All had sputum available for examination and nine were also examined by bronchoscopy. Ten patients who had a negative sputum smear and negative bronchoscopic brushing smears underwent ultrasound guided aspiration or biopsy. Percutaneous aspiration was performed with a 22 gauge needle. If the smear did not reveal acid fast bacilli, a biopsy sample was taken with a 16 gauge Tru-cut needle to obtain a histological diagnosis. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic examination delineated the more complex nature of the lesions better than the chest radiograph. Ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy provided the diagnosis in nine of 10 patients, while the sputum smear and culture provided diagnosis in five of 13, and bronchoscopy in four of nine. In terms of rapid diagnosis, ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy gave the diagnosis in eight of 10 cases. No patient developed a major complication. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography can direct the needle to the most suitable part of a lesion to obtain the relevant specimens. The diagnostic yield is high and the procedure is relatively safe. It is especially helpful in patients with negative results of sputum and bronchoscopic examinations.     

Clinical value of the measurement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antibody in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: A serological test that could help to diagnose tuberculosis, especially smear negative disease, would contribute to patient management. METHODS: Levels of antibody to distinct antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were assessed for their value in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary tuberculosis. Serum was taken from 52 patients who were smear positive, from 27 patients who were smear negative but with evidence of active tuberculosis (sputum culture positive in 16, response to antituberculosis chemotherapy in 11), from 11 patients with old healed tuberculosis (pre-antibiotic era), and from 39 healthy subjects vaccinated with BCG. RESULTS: In smear positive tuberculosis an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using a single 38 kDa antigen gave a diagnostic sensitivity of 80% with a 100% specificity. In smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis, however, combination of the 19 kDa antigen, lipoarabinomannan (ML 34 epitope), and hsp 65 (TB 78 epitope) was needed to achieve a sensitivity of 64% with a specificity of 95%. Recurrent and extensive radiographic disease with a poor prognosis was associated with high anti-38 kDa and low anti-14 kDa antibody levels in patients with active disease. Patients with less pulmonary cavitation had high anti-19 kDa titres. Bacteriological relapse during treatment was indicated by a rise in anti-14 kDa (TB68 epitope) antibodies. Four patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection showed no anti-38 kDa antibody. CONCLUSION: Antigen or epitope specific serology may help in the diagnosis, assessment of prognosis, and monitoring of chemotherapy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Rapid diagnosis of sputum negative miliary tuberculosis using the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope.

Acid fast bacilli are seldom identified by direct staining of sputum smears in patients with miliary tuberculosis, so that delays in diagnosis are common. We report 41 patients with miliary tuberculosis who had negative sputum smears and who underwent bronchoscopy, bronchial brushing, and transbronchial biopsy. In two patients the procedure was repeated. A definitive diagnosis was obtained from bronchoscopy in 34 patients (83%). Bronchial brushings yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 24 of 42 bronchoscopies (57%), 13 from direct smear and a further 11 from culture only. Transbronchial biopsies were diagnostic in 30 of 41 procedures (73%), 28 from histological appearances, one from direct smear of the biopsy specimen, and another exclusively from culture. A rapid diagnosis was established in most patients (27/34), either by direct smear of brushings or biopsy specimens only (5), by histological examination only (14), or by both direct smear of brushings and biopsy specimens only (5), by histological examination only (14), or by both direct smear of brushings and histological examination (8). The diagnosis was confirmed later in a further seven patients by culture of brushings or specimens; in five of these non-caseating granulomas were initially found by histological examination. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is a valuable technique for rapidly establishing the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis.     

Use of the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope in diagnosis of sputum-negative pulmonary tuberculosis

In four years' use of the flexible fibreoptic bronchoscope in diagnosing sputum-negative pulmonary tuberculosis, of 275 patients with tuberculosis suspected from chest radiographic appearances, 89 (32.4%) were shown to have active disease. In 60 (67.4%) of these patients the diagnosis was made from samples obtained through the fibreoptic bronchoscope (56 from bronchial brushings, four from transbronchial biopsy samples). Of the 56 positive bronchial brushings, 35 were positive on direct smear and 21 only on culture. Transbronchial biopsy exclusively accounted for only four of the 60 positive diagnoses. In the remaining 29 patients, the diagnosis was made from further sputum or biopsy specimens in 15, from the response to treatment in 12, and at necropsy in two. In six of 10 patients with military tuberculosis, bronchial brushings were positive on direct smear.     

The diagnostic yield of prebronchoscopy sputa and bronchial washings in patients with biopsy-proven pulmonary tuberculosis

We report on a series of 35 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed by flexible fibre-optic bronchoscopy and transbronchial lung biopsy after 3 sputum specimens had been microscopy-negative. This study re-evaluates this invasive procedure. Additional prebronchoscopy specimens of expectorated sputum yielded the diagnosis in 7 of 16 cases (43.8%) on microscopy. Sputum culture results were positive in 12 of 33 (36.4%). Pleural fluid culture was diagnostic in 1 case, and in another miliary tuberculosis was demonstrated on bone marrow trephine biopsy. The availability of these results could therefore have obviated the need for bronchoscopy in 14 of the 35 patients (40%). Bronchial washings were positive for acid-fast bacilli on microscopic examination in 13 of 34 cases (38.2%) and culture-positive in only 18 of 34 (52.9%), and should therefore not be the sole procedure utilised when bronchoscopy is performed. Transbronchial lung biopsy remains a valuable procedure to confirm pulmonary tuberculosis in patients whose sputum is culture-negative for mycobacteria.     

The ligase chain reaction as a primary screening tool for the detection of culture positive tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: The ligase chain reaction Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay uses ligase chain reaction technology to detect tuberculous DNA sequences in clinical specimens. A study was undertaken to determine its sensitivity and specificity as a primary screening tool for the detection of culture positive tuberculosis. METHODS: The study was conducted on 2420 clinical specimens (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, pleural fluid, urine) submitted for primary screening for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to a regional medical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were tested in parallel with smear, ligase chain reaction, and culture. RESULTS: Thirty nine patients had specimens testing positive by the ligase chain reaction assay. Thirty two patients had newly diagnosed tuberculosis, one had a tuberculosis relapse, three had tuberculosis (on antituberculous therapy when tested), and three had healed tuberculosis. In the newly diagnosed group specimens were smear positive in 21 cases (66%), ligase chain reaction positive in 30 cases (94%), and culture positive in 32 cases (100%). Using a positive culture to diagnose active tuberculosis, the ligase chain reaction assay had a sensitivity of 93.9%, a specificity of 99.8%, a positive predictive value of 83.8%, and a negative predictive value of 99.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest clinical trial to date to report the efficacy of the ligase chain reaction as a primary screening tool to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The authors conclude that ligase chain reaction is a useful primary screening test for tuberculosis, offering speed and discrimination in the early stages of diagnosis and complementing traditional smear and culture techniques.     

广西HIV感染者呼吸道非结核分枝杆菌定植情况和临床特点分析

目的呼吸道非结核分枝杆菌定植是HIV感染者发生播散性非结核分枝杆菌感染的危险因素,并可能对肺结核的诊断造成干扰。我国HIV感染者中非结核分枝杆菌呼吸道定植情况和临床特点目前尚无较大样本的研究报道。本文分析HIV感染者痰培养中非结核分枝杆菌的阳性率和相关因素,从而总结其临床特点。方法 2006年8月至2008年7月,对广西省4个诊疗机构中CD4〈350的HIV感染者进行临床症状、胸片、痰涂片,痰分枝杆菌培养和血液分枝杆菌培养在内的结核筛查。结果 1073例HIV感染者在结核筛查时进行了痰分枝杆菌培养,检出非结核分枝杆菌87例（8.1%）,129例（12.0%）为结核分枝杆菌。在痰培养阳性的标本中,43%为非结核分枝杆菌。非结核分枝杆菌在呼吸道的定植率随着患者CD4水平降低而逐渐升高,在CD4计数〉200/μl、100～200/μl、50～100/μl和〈50/μl的患者组中分别为2.8%、6.4%、7.1%和9.8%。痰涂片抗酸杆菌阳性的患者中12.0%为非结核分枝杆菌,非结核分枝杆菌呼吸道定植的患者中8.5%痰涂片结果为抗酸杆菌阳性。与痰培养阴性的患者相比,有呼吸道非结核分枝杆菌定植的患者CD4水平较低,除体重下降更多见外,其他临床症状如发热、咳嗽、盗汗、乏力等,以及胸片异常表现均未增加。结论我国HIV感染者中痰培养非结核分枝杆菌的阳性率较高,尤其是在CD4〈200的患者中,需要加强临床观察。在未有进行细菌培养的情况下,非结核分枝杆菌在呼吸道的定植可能造成结核的误诊,应给予重视。     

初治涂阳肺结核合并糖尿病标准治疗与短程治疗的临床评价

目的比较初治涂阳肺结核合并糖尿病标准治疗与短程治疗的临床疗效,为有效治疗措施提供理论依据。 方法自1997年1月至2007年1月,将1 286例初治涂阳肺结核合并糖尿病患者作为研究对象,根据自愿原则,将所有患者分为标准治疗方案组（观察组）724例和短程治疗方案组（对照组）562例。观察两组患者不同时间段血糖、痰菌转阴率以及X线病灶吸收好转情况。 结果与对照组比较,观察组患者在T1～3时间段的FPG、2 h PG均显著降低,痰菌转阴率分别为78.31%、96.54%和98.76%（χ² = 3.86、6.64、6.91,P = 0.049、0.015、0.038）以及X线病灶吸收好转率分别为23.07%、55.11%和95.17%,且差异均具有统计学意义（χ²= 12.36、13.17、14.25,P = 0.004、0.001、0.027）。 结论标准治疗可较好地改善初治涂阳肺结核合并糖尿病患者的血糖,提高痰菌转阴率,促进X线病灶吸收好转。     

血液结核分枝杆菌液体培养在HIV感染者结核筛查中的应用评价

目的评价血液结核分枝杆菌液体培养对HIV感染者活动性结核病的诊断价值。方法 2006年8月至2008年7月,对广西省4个诊疗机构中HIV感染者进行包括临床、胸片、痰涂片、痰快速结核分枝杆菌培养和血液快速结核分枝杆菌培养在内的综合筛查以诊断活动性结核。分析结核分枝杆菌血培养在HIV感染者中的总体阳性率和在不同CD4水平患者中的阳性率,总结血培养阳性的结核病患者的临床特点,探讨血培养对结核的诊断价值。结果 602例HIV感染者在结核筛查时进行了血液结核分枝杆菌培养,7例检出结核分枝杆菌菌血症,血结核分枝杆菌培养在HIV感染者中的总体阳性率为1.2%。在CD4计数〈200/μl、〈100/μl和〈50/μl患者组中,血培养阳性率分别为1.4%、1.8%和2.4%,逐渐增高。共诊断活动性结核133例,其中结核分枝杆菌菌血症的阳性率为5.3%。血培养阳性的结核患者中位CD4仅为17/μl,均有明确的肺部影像学改变,2例有粟粒样表现,6例同时行痰结核分枝杆菌培养,其中5例（83%）阳性,5例患者伴有明确的肺外结核。与无结核分枝杆菌菌血症的结核/HIV合并感染者相比,有结核分枝杆菌菌血症的患者BMI和CD4计数较低,盗汗症状更常见。结论血液快速结核分枝杆菌培养在广西HIV感染者中的阳性率总体较低,但随着患者免疫缺陷的加重,阳性率逐渐增高。本研究中有结核分枝杆菌菌血症的HIV感染者均有明显肺部病变,且痰培养的阳性率高,提示结核分枝杆菌血培养对提高HIV感染者中结核的诊断率作用可能有限。     

Pulmonary tuberculosis among political asylum seekers screened at Heathrow Airport, London, 1995-9

BACKGROUND: Over 50% of cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the UK occur in people born overseas, and new entrants to the country are screened for TB. A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and disease characteristics of pulmonary TB in new entrants to the UK seeking political asylum. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the results of screening 53 911 political asylum seekers arriving at Heathrow Airport between 1995 and 1999 was performed by studying Airport Health Control Unit records and hospital medical records. Outcome measures were chest radiograph abnormalities, sputum smear, culture, and drug resistance data for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of active TB in political asylum seekers was 241 per 100 000. There were large variations in prevalences of TB between asylum seekers from different regions, with low rates from the Middle East and high rates from the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa. The frequency of drug resistance was high; 22.6% of culture positive cases were isoniazid resistant, 7.5% were multidrug resistant (resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin), and 4% of cases diagnosed with active disease had multidrug resistant TB. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of TB in political asylum seekers entering the UK through Heathrow Airport is high and more M tuberculosis isolates from asylum seekers are drug resistant than in the UK population. Extrapolating these figures, it is estimated that 101 political asylum seekers with active pulmonary TB enter the UK every year, of whom about 25 would have smear positive disease.     

Current evidence on diagnostic accuracy of commercially based nucleic acid amplification tests for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Even though commercial nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have become the most frequently used molecular tests for laboratory diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), published studies report variable estimates of their diagnostic accuracy. We analysed the accuracy of commercial NAATs for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in smear positive and smear negative respiratory samples using culture as a reference standard. METHODS: English language studies reporting data sufficient for calculating sensitivity and specificity of commercial NAATs on smear positive and/or smear negative respiratory samples were included. Meta-regression was used to analyse associations with reference test quality, the prevalence of TB, sample and test type. Predictive values for different levels of pre-test probability were quantified using Bayes' approach. RESULTS: Sixty three journal articles published between 1995 and 2004 met the inclusion criteria. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 and 0.85 among smear positive samples and 0.66 and 0.98 among smear negative samples. The number of culture media used as reference test, the inclusion of bronchial samples, and the TB prevalence were found to influence the reported accuracy. The test type had no effect on the diagnostic odds ratio but seemed to be correlated with sensitivity or specificity, probably via a threshold effect. CONCLUSIONS: Commercial NAATs can be confidently used to exclude TB in patients with smear positive samples in which environmental mycobacteria infection is suspected and to confirm TB in a proportion of smear negative cases. The methodological characteristics of primary studies have a considerable effect on the reported diagnostic accuracy.     

Cellular profiles in asthmatic airways: a comparison of induced sputum, bronchial washings, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

BACKGROUND: Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid has improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma. Safety issues and access to expert resources limit this techniques as a research tool. Induced sputum is a non-invasive method of collecting airway fluid which is applicable to subjects with a range of severity of airflow obstruction. The method of sputum collection and processing differs between groups. A study was undertaken to compare induced sputum with bronchoscopically collected fluid. METHODS: Sixteen patients with mild stable asthma underwent both sputum induction and bronchoscopic examination with bronchial washings and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in random order, with each procedure being separated by an interval of 12 days. Airway fluid was processed and stained for differential cell counting. RESULTS: Induced sputum was relatively rich in neutrophils and eosinophils compared with bronchial washings and BAL fluid (mean (SE) 1.3 (0.4)%, 5.0 (2.7)%, and 36.4 (3.7)% neutrophils and 0.6 (0.1)%, 1.6 (0.6)%, and 3.3 (1.1)% eosinophils in BAL fluid, bronchial washings, and induced sputum, respectively). The proportions of cells obtained at sputum induction correlated with those in bronchial washings but not BAL fluid (r = 0.6 and 0.7 for neutrophils and eosinophils, respectively, p < 0.05). By contrast, induced sputum had a lower proportion of lymphocytes and macrophages than bronchial washings or BAL fluid, without any correlation. CONCLUSION: Induced sputum is rich in neutrophils and eosinophils and poor in lymphocytes, suggesting an origin in the larger airways. Induced sputum adequately reflects the findings in fluid collected by direct bronchoscopy.


     

Aspergillosis in 25 renal transplant patients. Epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.

In immunocompromised renal transplant patients, aspergillosis can be a life-threatening opportunistic infection. During an 8-year period, 25 renal transplant recipients at the University of Minnesota Hospitals developed unequivocal invasive aspergillosis that occurred in epidemic-like patterns in immunocompromised patients throughout the hospital. The premortem diagnosis was made in only 14 of the 25 patients. Seventeen patients died, and three of the eight survivors lost their allografts. The prognosis was dependent upon the clinical pattern of illness: three clinical patterns emerged: (1) cavitary lung disease, (2) diffuse pulmonary disease, and (3) central nervous system disease. All patients in the latter two categories died. The best results were with those patients treated with both amphotericin B and excision of cavitary lung lesions. All three patients treated in this manner survived with functioning grafts. Traditionally, sputum cultures have been thought to be unreliable because Aspergillus is a common colonizer of the upper respiratory tract and a contaminant in laboratories. In this study, false positive sputum cultures were common. A positive sputum culture can be helpful, however, all patients with two positive sputum cultures proved to have invasive aspergillosis. In addition, 86% of patients with positive sputum cultures who were clinically ill proved to have invasive infection. Bronchoscopy is a useful technique to follow up a positive sputum culture or investigate negative sputum cultures with typical clinical patterns. Routine bronchoscopy, unfortunately, also yields a high incidence of false positive cultures. Since the use of covered brush bronchoscopy technique, however, no false positive transbronchial cultures have been found. Transbronchial biopsy is a useful adjunct and is proof of the presence of invasive disease when the results are positive. However, false negative results are also found. Overall, the highest diagnostic yield is obtained both with transbronchial lung biopsy and covered brush bronchoscopy culture. All eight patients with both these procedures were correctly identified as having invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.     

High resolution computed tomographic findings in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Although chest radiographs usually provide adequate information for the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis, minimal exudative tuberculosis can be overlooked on standard chest radiographs. The aim of the present study was to assess the findings of active pulmonary tuberculosis on high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scans, and to evaluate their possible use in determining disease activity. METHODS: Thirty two patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis and 34 patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis were examined. The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis was based on positive acid fast bacilli in sputum and bronchial washing smears or cultures and/or changes on serial radiographs obtained during treatment. RESULTS: With HRCT scanning centrilobular lesions (n = 29), "tree-in-bud" appearance (n = 23), and macronodules 5-8 mm in diameter (n = 22) were most commonly seen in cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis. HRCT scans showed fibrotic lesions (n = 34), distortion of bronchovascular structures (n = 32), emphysema (n = 28), and bronchiectasis (n = 24) in patients with inactive tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Centrilobular densities in and around the small airways and "tree-in-bud" appearances were the most characteristic CT features of disease activity. HRCT scanning clearly differentiated old fibrotic lesions from new active lesions and demonstrated early bronchogenic spread. These findings may be of value in decisions on treatment.     

Identification of HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis using urine based polymerase chain reaction assay

BACKGROUND: Despite the increased dissemination of tuberculosis among HIV infected patients, the diagnosis is difficult to establish. Traditional microbiological methods lack satisfactory sensitivity. We have developed a highly sensitive and specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capable of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in urine specimens and have used this test to examine urine specimens from HIV patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Urine specimens from 13 HIV infected patients with microbiologically proven active pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 AIDS patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (documented by blood culture), 53 AIDS patients with no evidence of mycobacterial disease, and 80 healthy subjects (25 with positive skin test to purified protein derivative) were tested for M tuberculosis using PCR, acid fast staining (AFS), and culture. RESULTS: Of the urine specimens from patients with active tuberculosis, all tested positive by PCR, two by culture, and none by AFS. No reactivity was observed in urine specimens from patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection. Of the 53 AIDS patients without mycobacterial infection, one had a positive urine PCR. Normal subjects were all negative. CONCLUSIONS: Urine based nested PCR for M tuberculosis may be a useful test for identifying HIV patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Suspected pulmonary tuberculosis in rural South Africa--sputum induction as a simple diagnostic tool?

OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of sputum induction (SI) as a diagnostic tool for patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) who are unable to expectorate or who have a negative sputum smear. DESIGN: Study of an inpatient cohort undergoing SI. SETTING: Mseleni Hospital, a rural district hospital in northern KwaZulu-Natal. SUBJECTS: All adult patients with suspected TB seen at the hospital over a 4-month period. OUTCOME MEASURES: (i) Successful SI; (ii) sputum acid-fast smear result; (iii) change of admission diagnosis as a result of the induction procedure; and (iv) number of patients discharged with a diagnosis other than TB who represented within 4 months with TB. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients (31 female) underwent SI; of these 36 (71%) were able to produce a sputum sample. Fifteen (42%) of those were acid-fast smear-positive (29% of all patients included). The admission diagnosis was changed in 16 (44%) of the patients who were able to give an induced sputum sample as opposed to 4 (27%) who had been unable to expectorate despite an induction attempt (P = 0.38). Three (12.5%) of the 24 patients with a discharge diagnosis other than TB (17 pneumonia, 3 old TB, 2 carcinoma of the lung, 1 bronchiectasis) turned out to have TB within the follow-up period; 2 of those had extrapulmonary TB. CONCLUSION: SI produced a positive smear result in 29% of patients with suspected TB who had previously been smear-negative or unable to expectorate. The method proved an aid to clinical decision making.     

Notification of tuberculosis: how many cases are never reported?

BACKGROUND: Notification of tuberculosis is essential for local contact tracing and for assessing the national incidence of tuberculosis. The accuracy of notification figures is uncertain. This study examined the notification rates of all patients diagnosed as having tuberculosis at two hospitals in the East End of London over five years. METHODS: In a retrospective survey of all patients aged 16 years or more presenting with tuberculosis to the London Chest Hospital or the Royal London Hospital from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1989, cases of tuberculosis were identified from microbiology and histology records, statutory notifications, necropsy reports, coroners' records, hospital activity data, and death certificates. Clinical data were obtained from case notes and notification was determined from the local authority notification lists. RESULTS: Six hundred and nine adult patients with tuberculosis were identified. Notes were available for 580 cases (95%), of which 426 (73%) had been notified. The proportion of cases notified varied according to the specialty of the clinician in charge of the patient at diagnosis. Patients with a past history of tuberculosis and those who died within one year were less likely to have had their tuberculosis notified. Age, race, and lack of microbial or histological confirmation of diagnosis did not influence the proportion of cases notified. One hundred and eighty five patients had smear positive sputum, but 25 of these cases (14%) were not notified. Eighty five patients who had presented with pulmonary tuberculosis did not have their disease notified; 20 (24%) had smear positive sputum. CONCLUSIONS: Many cases of tuberculosis are not notified (27%). Fourteen per cent of all sputum smear positive cases of tuberculosis were not notified, and these patients are a considerable public health risk. The true incidence of tuberculosis in the area studied is at least one third higher than current notification figures suggest.     

Transmission of tuberculosis from smear negative patients: a molecular epidemiology study

BACKGROUND: While smear positive patients with tuberculosis (TB) are considered more infectious than smear negative patients, the latter can also transmit TB. METHODS: In a molecular epidemiology study of 791 patients in the Greater Vancouver regional district, the number of episodes of TB transmission from two groups of smear negative clustered patients by RFLP (assumed to be involved in recent transmission) was estimated after assessing for potential bias. Group 1 (n = 79) included patients with pulmonary TB or pulmonary + extrapulmonary disease (PTB or PTB+EPTB); group 2 (n = 129) included all patients in group 1 + extrapulmonary cases alone. RESULTS: In the total sample the mean (SD) age was 51 (21) years, 54.3% were male, and 17.0% of patients were clustered. Compared with smear negative patients, smear positive patients were more likely to be in a cluster (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6) and to have had a history of ethanol abuse (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 6.7), diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 7.0), injection drug use (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.1 to 8.3), and to have had a previous hospital admission (OR = 8.5, 95% CI 5.1 to 14.0). The proportion of episodes of transmission from smear negative clustered patients ranged from 17.3% to 22.2% in group 1 and from 25% to 41% in group 2. CONCLUSION: In Greater Vancouver, smear negative cases appear responsible for at least one sixth of culture positive episodes of TB transmission.     

每日疗法与间歇疗法在糖尿病并初治涂阳肺结核患者中的应用

目的比较每日疗法与间歇疗法在糖尿病并初治涂阳肺结核患者中的疗效。 方法选择本院2013年5月至2014年10月收治的糖尿病并初治涂阳肺结核患者共82例作为研究对象,均采用糖尿病饮食、运动疗法及药物治疗,同时采用每日疗法进行结核化疗的42例作为观察组,采用间歇疗法进行结核化疗的40例作为对照组,比较两组患者的血糖控制、痰菌转阴以及结核病灶吸收情况。 结果治疗后3个月比较两组患者的空腹血糖以及餐后2 h血糖,差异均无统计学意义（t = 1.00、0.41,P均> 0.05）;治疗后6个月比较两组患者的空腹血糖以及餐后2 h血糖,差异均无统计学意义（t = 0.79、0.53,P均> 0.05）;治疗后2、3和6个月观察组患者痰菌转阴率分别为73.8%、90.5%和97.6%,对照组分别为65.0%、72.5%和80.0%,治疗后3、6个月观察组患者痰菌转阴率显著高于对照组,组间差异具有统计学意义（χ² = 4.43、4.83,P均< 0.05）;治疗后6个月观察组的结核病灶吸收显效率为88.1%,显著高于对照组（70.0%）,组间差异具有统计学意义（χ² = 4.08、P < 0.05）。 结论每日疗法在糖尿病并初治涂阳肺结核患者中的应用疗效更佳,能够更好地促进痰菌转阴率以及结核病灶吸收,可作为高效的治疗方案。     

馆陶县2012至2014年初治涂阳肺结核患者分枝杆菌培养及耐药

目的调查本县初治涂阳肺结核患者分枝杆菌培养及耐药情况,为分析结核病的防治措施提供依据。 方法选择2012-2014年于本县医院诊治的初治涂阳肺结核患者,在对其进行分枝杆菌培养的基础上,将阳性菌株送至本市相关实验室进行菌种鉴定以及药物敏感性分析。 结果本研究中共收治562例初治涂阳肺结核患者,其中性别比男︰女= 2.23︰1,平均年龄（41.2±3.7）岁;菌群类别：结核分枝杆菌492株（87.54%）,非结核分枝杆菌70株（12.46%）。敏感株为448株（79.72%）,耐药菌株为114株（20.28%）,其中耐多药菌株为36株（6.41%）,单耐药患者以耐链霉素（S）为常见（5.34%）,其次为耐异烟肼（称H）（4.63%）。多耐药中以至少耐异烟肼、链霉素（HS）为常见（22/562,3.91%）,其次为耐异烟肼、利福平（耐HR）（3.73%）。多耐药中耐两药者16例（2.85%）,耐3药者17例（3.02%）,耐4药者3例（0.53%）。耐药顺序为S > H > R > E。 结论中青年男性为肺结核防治的高危人群,需要对其进行密切防控。本县结核分枝杆菌复合群菌株的耐药率虽不高,但初治涂阳患者存在耐多药,需要进一步改进结核病的防控工作。