两种结核分枝杆菌相关γ-干扰素定量检测试剂盒检测结核分枝杆菌感染结果比较研究

目的 评价新的国产结核分枝杆菌相关γ-干扰素定量检测试剂盒（TB-IGRA）--体外释放酶联免疫法诊断结核病的敏感性和特异性。 方法 采用TB-IGRA试剂盒对319例肺结核、23例肺外结核、39例排除结核的肺部疾病和104例健康人群的血清标本进行检测,同时与澳大利亚Cellestis公司的QuantiFERON-TB GOLD in tube（QFT-GIT）试剂进行平行比较分析。 结果 采用TB-IGRA试剂,检测肺结核病人的敏感性为90.9%,肺外结核的敏感性为78.3%,特异性为76.9%;采用QFT-GIT试剂,检测肺结核病人的敏感性为88.4%,肺外结核的敏感性为78.3%,特异性为80.4%,2种试剂进行平行比较,敏感性和特异性方面差异无统计学意义。 结论 TB-IGRA试剂盒对诊断结核病有较高的敏感性和特异性,可用于结核病尤其是涂阴肺结核和肺外结核的辅助诊断。     

Epidemiology of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A comparative analysis with pre-AIDS era

To study the changes in the epidemiology of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Tennessee, we compared the 454 cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis reported between 1977 and 1981 with 356 cases encountered between 1982 and 1986. The data were analyzed by age, sex, race and site of the disease which were compared with the national statistics during the periods. We observed that 11.3 percent of the total TB cases were extrapulmonary. Unlike national statistics, the proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis had remained unchanged between the two study periods. Except for a significant decline (p less than 0.001) in genitourinary tuberculosis, the incidence of other extrapulmonary TB had remained the same. The higher incidences of lymphatic, miliary, and meningeal TB were noted in nonwhites, particularly in the younger population, during both study periods. While the national trend showed a steady increase in the percentage of extrapulmonary TB cases, there was no change in Tennessee. The reason for a continued decline of GU TB remains unclear. Although AIDS may have contributed toward the increase nationally, fewer cases of AIDS in the state have not influenced the proportion of extrapulmonary TB. Awareness of such regional differences in the epidemiology of TB, and the impact of HIV infection, will be very useful to physicians and other health care providers involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis.     

Culture-positive tuberculosis at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, 1962–1989

The disease types and demography of patients with culture confirmed tuberculosis (TB) diagnosed at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne between the years 1962 to 1989 were reviewed. Four hundred and eighty-two patients with culture-positive TB were identified whose origins were as follows: Australia 194; Northern Europe 38; The Mediterranean 98; Asia 60 and other or unknown 92. Patients whose country of birth was in Asia or the Mediterranean area accounted for 57% of patients in the 1980s; they presented at a younger age, with a higher proportion of extrapulmonary disease and a more equal sex distribution than did Australian born patients. The main types of extrapulmonary disease also differed for the various ethnic groups. The overall proportion of patients with an isolate resistant to at least one of the anti-TB drugs was 10.0% but in the Asian born was 21.7%. This survey, the longest series of bacteriologically confirmed cases of TB reported from a single institution in Australasia, has identified several changes in how TB is presenting for diagnosis. (Aust NZ J Med 1993; 23: 7–11.)     

Culture-positive tuberculosis in Western Australia

Notifications of 485 patients with culture-positive tuberculosis (TB) in Western Australia from 1980 to 1989 inclusive have been analysed. In 478 (98.6%) the disease was caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis and in seven (1.4%) M. bovis. Most (78.5%) of the disease was pulmonary with 4.3% pleural and 17.2% extrapulmonary. The annual incidence decreased from 4.6 per 100 000 in 1980 to 2.5 in 1985 steadying thereafter around 3.3. The Aborigines had over four times the average incidence of the non-Aboriginal Australians but less than a quarter that of the Asians. In a total 297 migrants, 51% of 253 with data available had been in Australia for over five years. Initial drug resistance was found in 48 patients giving an overall rate of 9.9%. In 32 (66.7%), resistance was against a single drug, mainly isoniazid and in 11 (22.9%) against two drugs, predominantly isoniazid and streptomycin. The most disturbing finding was the occurrence of multiple-drug resistance including both isoniazid and rifampicin in five immigrants (10.4%). This study has provided useful baseline TB data, raised important issues such as chemoprophylaxis and drug resistance, and clearly indicates that the campaign against TB is far from over. Continual surveillance, monitoring and regular evaluation of existing policies should be maintained. (Aust NZ J Med 1992; 22: 109–113.)     

结核抗体lgG/lgM检测在肺结核和肺外结核中的诊断价值

目的 探讨异种血清抗体检测技术在结核病诊断中的应用价值。方法 采用IgG/IgM抗体试剂盒分别检测102例结核病患者(包括73例肺结核和29例肺外结核)、223例其他肺部疾病患者和100例对照者结核感染情况,以临床诊断为标准评价该方法的敏感度和特异性,同时分别与痰菌培养及痰涂片平行检验的结果作比较,统计学分析采用χ²检验。结果 结核抗体IgG/IgM检测结核病患者的敏感度为74.51%、特异度为91.64%。结核抗体IgG/IgM检测肺结核和肺外结核的敏感度分别为82.19%、55.17%,肺内和肺外结核的敏感度差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),结核抗体lgG/IgM检测结核患者阳性检出率明显高于痰培养法和痰涂片法(P<0.05)。102例结核病患者年龄段分组分析,少年组和老年组检出率分别为58.33%、36%,远低于青年组和中年组的96.15%和89.74%。不同年龄组间进行卡方比较分析显示,P＜0.05,差异有统计学意义。425例标本中,共发现8例非结核分枝杆菌,其中6例胞内分枝杆菌, 2例脓肿分枝杆菌,lgG/lgM抗体检测均为阴性。结论 IgG/IgM血清抗体检测肺内、外结核具有快速方便、经济和较高的敏感度,适合用于临床结核筛查。     

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

The annual number of cases of culture-proven extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at our hospital increased from 47 cases in 1983 to 113 cases in 1988. At least 43% (199) of 464 consecutive patients with extrapulmonary TB during this 6-year period were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); since HIV serologic testing was not performed routinely the true HIV prevalence is likely to be higher. Of the HIV-infected patients, 59% were intravenous drug users, 31% were Haitian, 3% were homosexual males, 1% were perinatally-infected infants, and 6% did not have a known risk factor for HIV infection. Ninety-eight percent of the HIV-infected patients were black (84%) or hispanic (14%). The HIV-infected patients were more likely than the control patients to have either disseminated, genitourinary, intra-abdominal, mediastinal, or concurrent pulmonary TB. Fever was nearly universal among the HIV-infected patients, but was absent in about one-third of the control patients. Among untreated HIV-infected patients, disease progression was rapid and nearly always fatal. Among HIV-infected patients who received treatment, the response to therapy, as judged by hospital survival and time to defervescence, was similar to that of the control patients. Despite the extensive tuberculous dissemination among the HIV-infected patients, the diagnosis of TB was difficult and often delayed. In addition to the decrease in tuberculin reactivity and the atypical chest radiograph patterns, there was a need to consider other HIV-related infections in the differential diagnosis. Although sputum specimens grew M. tuberculosis in greater than 90% of the HIV-infected patients in whom they were obtained, sputum AFB stains were positive in less than 50%. Blood and urine specimen cultures were positive in 56% and 77% of the HIV-infected patients in whom these specimens were obtained, but did not provide a means of early diagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid and pleural fluid were abnormal in nearly all patients with involvement of these sites but were rarely AFB-positive and were, therefore, only suggestive of TB. Procedures such as biopsies and aspirates of peripheral lymph nodes, visceral lymph nodes, liver, and bone marrow provided the highest immediate diagnostic yields with rates between 50% and 90%. These procedures must be considered early in the course of illness in HIV-infected patients with suspected extrapulmonary TB due to the rapidly progressive nature of this often fatal but usually treatable infection.     

Clinical characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> infection among rheumatoid arthritis patients

To evaluate the clinical characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we examined the clinical manifestations and radiography/computed tomography (CT) findings in RA patients with tuberculosis (RA+/TB+). A total of 1121 tuberculosis patients were admitted to our hospital from 1995 to 2003, with the RA patients among them comprising 1.8% (20 cases; 9 men and 11 women). This is approximately three times as high as the prevalence of RA in the entire population in Japan. In addition, the RA+/TB+ patients were older and had a longer history of RA than the 140 outpatients in our RA clinic who did not have tuberculosis (RA+/TB–). Half of the RA+/TB+ patients had no symptoms (e.g., cough, sputum, pyrexia), and their tuber-culosis was detected accidentally by radiography/CT. The positive rates of the bacilli in the smear and culture of the sputum from the RA+/TB+ patients were lower than those from 143 patients randomly selected from among 1091 tuberculosis patients without any collagen disease including RA (RA–/TB+). The RA+/TB+ patients had a higher incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (30%), including four cases (20%) of miliary tuberculosis, an incidence seven times higher than among the general population of tuberculosis patients. Among 14 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis patients with RA, bilateral lesions and noncavitary lesions were found in 71.4% and 64.3%, respectively, which tended to be a higher incidence than in the RA–/TB+ patients. The mortality rate and sputum conversion time of the RA+/TB+ patients were no different from those of the RA–/TB+ patients. The prevalence of tuberculosis in RA patients is expected to increase after introduction of anticytokine therapy in Japan, and careful observation should be done to avoid this complication in RA patients.     

MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD IN ABATTOIR WORKERS

Five cases of bovine tuberculosis occurred in a two year period in South Australia, which represents a higher incidence than in previous years. All five patients had a history of employment in an abattoir (although four different abattoirs were involved) and four of the cases had pulmonary or pleural TB. A voluntary survey of one of the abattoirs was conducted which discovered the fifth case of active pulmonary TB. We suggest that bovine TB should be considered an occupational hazard in abattoir workers, and that suitable pre-employment screening programmes for workers be established. The transmission of disease in these cases is almost certainly by inhalation causing pulmonary TB and is therefore different from the ‘classic’ form of bovine TB transmitted by ingestion of infected milk and resulting in extrapulmonary disease.     

Genitourinary tuberculosis : Clinical features in a general hospital population

Seventy-eight patients with genitourinary tuberculosis were evaluated during a 12 year period. Active tuberculosis was confined to the genitourinary tract in all but 10 patients. Aside from five cases of miliary tuberculosis, most genitourinary infections developed from the breakdown of granulomes acquired earlier during transient dissemination from a primary pulmonary infection. Patients with genitourinary tuberculosis exhibited features of local organ dysfunction rather than systemic symptoms of infection; fever, weight loss and anorexia were uncommon. Seventy-one per cent of the patients with active tuberculosis of kidneys, ureters and bladder presented because of urinary tract symptoms. Twenty per cent were asymptomatic and were detected because of abnormal urinary sediments. The diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis should be suspected on the basis of an abnormal urinalysis (hematuria and/or pyuria) with negative routine cultures, and a positive tuberculin skin test. Intravenous pyelograms disclosed abnormalities in most patients but were rarely diagnostic. Serial intravenous pyelograms disclosed increasing ureteral obstruction during chemotherapy in three patients. Multiple drug chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, but reconstructive surgery remains important.     

A high prevalence of culture-positive extrapulmonary tuberculosis in a large Dutch teaching hospital

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has increased during the last decade. Growing immigration and international travel were important determining factors. To determine if this has resulted in altered clinical manifestations of the disease, we assessed the clinical spectrum of all TB cases diagnosed at our hospital in the period 1994 to 2000. METHODS: All culture-proven TB cases during the study period were retrospectively reviewed for clinical and demographic data. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were identified. Solitary pulmonary TB was diagnosed in 33.9%, extrapulmonary TB in 51.8% and combined pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in 14.3% of all cases. Patients were of foreign descent in 78.6% of all cases. Incidence peaked between 15 to 45 years. Decreased immunity was an important determining factor in the older patients. Presenting symptoms were mostly aspecific causing an important doctor's delay in establishing the diagnosis in 25%. Mortality was 3.6% and isoniazid resistance 3.6% CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest an increase in the percentage of extrapulmonary TB concomitantly with an increasing percentage of patients of foreign descent. Because of aspecific presenting symptoms, TB was often diagnosed late. Treatment is mainly hindered by non-compliance and a high index of suspicion is necessary in making the diagnosis.     

Initial roentgenographic manifestations of bacteriologically proven Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Typical or atypical?

Admission chest roentgenograms were reviewed of all patients diagnosed with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at the Medical College of Georgia--Eugene Talmadge Memorial Hospital (MCG-ETMH) during a five-year period from 1979 to 1983. Of 75 patients included, 51 had pulmonary TB, whereas 24 had extrapulmonary infection. Cavitary disease was common (28 of 51 patients with pulmonary TB). Forty-four of 51 patients with pulmonary TB had involvement of apical and/or posterior segments of the upper lobes with cavitation or infiltrates. Pleural effusion, parenchymal nodules, lymphadenopathy, and lower lung field disease were uncommon. Thirteen of 24 patients with extrapulmonary TB had abnormal admission chest roentgenograms, suggesting the possibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Despite recent studies suggesting that TB presents with atypical roentgenographic features more commonly than reported in the past, the roentgenographic manifestations of TB in our series were typical of those previously described as pathognomonic for the disease.     

Risk factors of treatment default and death among tuberculosis patients in a resource-limited setting

Objective:To evaluate the rates,timing and determinants of default and death among adult tuberculosis patients in Nigeria.Methods:Routine surveillance data were used.A retrospective cohort study of adult tuberculosis patients treated during 2011 and 2012 in two large health facilities in Ebonyi State.Nigeria was conducted.Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to tdentify independent predictors for treatment default and death.Results:Of 1668 treated patients,the default rate was 157(9.4%),whilst 165(9.9%) died.Also,35.7%(56) of the treatment defaults and 151(91.5%) of deaths occurred during the intensive phase of treatment.Risk of default increased with increasing age(adjusted odds ratio(aOR) 1.2;95%confidence interval(CI)1.1-1.9).smear-negative TB case(aOR 2.3:CI 1.5-3.6).extrapulmonary TB case(aOR 2.7:CI 1.3-5.2).and patients who received the longer treatment regimen(aOR 1,6;1.1-2.2).Risk of death was highest in extrapulmonary TB(aOR 3.0:CI 1.4-6.1) and smear-negative TB cases(aOR 2.4:CI1.7-3.51.rural residents(aOR 1.7:CI 1.2-2.6),HIV co-infected(aOR 2.5:CI 1.7-3.6),not receiving antiretroviral therapy(aOR 1.6:CI 1.1-2.9),and not receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis(aOR 1.7:CI 1.2—2.6).Conclusions:Targeted interventions to improve treatment adherence for patients with the highest risk of default or death are urgently needed.This needs to he urgently addressed by the National Tuberculosis Programme.     

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in an immigrant society: clinical and demographic aspects of 92 cases

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 33% of all new cases of tuberculosis identified at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva, Israel, during a 10-year period. The most common types of extrapulmonary infection diagnosed were genitourinary tuberculosis (54% of patients), lymphadenitis (13%), pleural tuberculosis (9%), and tuberculosis of bones and joints (8%). Of 92 patients, 51% were Jews of Ethiopian origin, 29% were Jews of non-Ethiopian origin, and 20% were Bedouins. Thus, extrapulmonary tuberculosis remains a significant problem for Israel's heterogeneous population.     

Longitudinal incidence of tuberculosis in South-East Asian refugees after re-settlement.

SETTING: A State refugee screening programme in Victoria. OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in South-East Asian refugees in the first five years after re-settlement, and to determine predictors of risk. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of 1101 refugees from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam screened for TB after arrival in Australia, in the 6-month period from July 1989 to January 1990. Incident cases of TB were identified by matching the refugee database with the TB notification database for 1989-1994, giving five years of follow-up data. Preventability was assessed for incident cases by reviewing medical records. MAIN OUTCOME: The development of active tuberculosis in the first five years after re-settlement. RESULTS: The incidence of active TB was 363/100000 during the first year after re-settlement, and 109/100000/year during the first five years. There were no incident cases of TB in refugees with initial skin test reactions <10 mm. Skin test reaction size was the only predictor of risk of TB. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high risk of tuberculosis in South-East Asian refugees, particularly in the first year after re-settlement. This risk decreases with time. Migration stress, concurrent illnesses and poor nutrition may be explanations for this observation. Refugees are at high risk for TB, even after pre- and post-migration screening, emphasising the importance of preventive therapy and follow up in this group.     

四川地区346例耐药肺结核患者临床特征分析

目的了解四川地区346例耐多药(MDR-TB)和泛耐药(XDR-TB)肺结核患者的临床特征以及可能与耐药发生有关的因素。方法回顾分析成都市公共卫生临床医疗中心2016年1月~2017年6月收治的346例耐药肺结核患者以及2370例药物敏感肺结核患者的临床资料,通过比较分析二组的差异,探讨耐药肺结核患者的患病特点以及可能影响耐药发生的因素。结果耐药肺结核发病人群以男性为主,占70.52%(244/346),且各年龄组男性均多于女性;青壮年居多,占81.79%(283/346),老年和18岁以下患者占比分别为13.58%(47/346)和4.62%(16/346)。性别和年龄分布情况与药物敏感肺结核无明显差异。耐药患者中少数民族患者占比接近五分之一;初、复治病例分别占23.70%(82/346)和76.30%(264/346)。在86例使用过喹诺酮类药物的耐药患者中73.26%(63/86)的病例对此类药物耐药。主要临床症状与药物敏感肺结核患者无明显差异。耐药患者中并发肺组织外结核者占65.32%(226/346),与药物敏感肺结核组(72.57%,1720/2370)相比无明显差异。耐药患者胸部影像改变中,空洞、支气管扩张和肺叶毁损分别占75.72%(262/346),23.12%(80/346)和19.08%(66/346),均高于药物敏感肺结核组;病变累及范围分布与药物敏感肺结核组无差别。主要合并症中,合并HIV感染者18例,糖尿病53例,慢性肺部疾患者17例,与药物敏感组相比无明显差异。耐药结核分枝杆菌检出标本最常见者为痰液(82.08%,284/346)和支气管肺泡灌洗液(28.90%,100/346),其他多种组织均有检出。通过Xpert MTB/RIF检测方法,检出利福平突变阳性者82.56%(142/172);北京博奥晶芯分枝杆菌+耐药检测方法检出利福平耐药者90.65%(97/107)。结论耐药结核病在各年龄段人群均可发生,男性高于女性。主要表现与药物敏感肺结核患者无明显差异。复治患者是耐药结核病发病的高危人群,但初始耐药不少见。喹诺酮类药物的不规范使用可能与继发耐药有关。耐药患者肺外结核发生率与药物敏感肺结核患者无明显差异。其肺部影像改变较之药物敏感肺结核患者有更多的空洞、支气管扩张和肺叶毁损。快速分子生物学方法阳性率高,快捷有效。     

Tuberculosis antigen A60 serodiagnosis in tuberculous infection: Application in extrapulmonary and smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract An ELISA diagnostic test for tuberculosis antigen A60 (TBA60) IgG/IgM was used in a tertiary referral hospital in Taiwan. From June 1992 to December 1993, serum samples obtained from 907 patients were analyzed for TBA60 IgG and IgM titres. The final diagnosis of these patients was confirmed by microbiological study and clinical follow up for 18–24 months. Among 147 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, IgG was positive in 112 (76.2%), IgM was positive in 14 (9.52%). Among 90 patients with active extrapulmonary tuberculosis, IgG was positive in 53 (58.9%), IgM was positive in 9 (10%). Among 153 patients with inactive tuberculosis, IgG was positive in 28 (18.3%), IgM was positive in 1 (0.6%). Among 517 patients with nontuberculous disease, IgG was positive in 50 (9.7%), IgM was positive in 3 (0.6%). In this study population with 26% (237/907) active tuberculous infection rate, the TBA60 ELISA IgG had a diagnostic sensitivity of 69.6% and a specificity of 92.1%. These results indicate a positive predictive value of 67.9% and a negative predictive value of 89.2%. The sensitivity of IgM was 10.5% and specificity, 99.4%. The serum IgG titre had good correlation with the extent of pulmonary disease. Patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB had a higher percentage of IgG seropositivity (83.9%) than those with smear-negative pulmonary TB (70.6%) and extrapulmonary TB (58.9%). In 50 cases with active tuberculosis, follow- up examinations were carried out one month after treatment. In 18 cases with initially negative IgG and IgM titres, 13 showed elevation of serum IgG titres into positive level, one had positive seroconversion of IgM which was the only serological marker indicating active infection. Therefore, 77.8% (14/18) gained diagnostic benefit from follow-up serological examination. It was concluded that TBA60 IgG and IgM ELISA is a useful test when diagnosing tuberculosis. This test also assists in the clinical judgement of tuberculosis when used as an adjunct to symptoms and sputum smear, and for monitoring therapeutic response at the commencement of treatment.     

泌尿系统结核29例临床分析

目的总结泌尿系统结核的临床特点。方法回顾性分析1998年12月31日—2008年12月31日在中山大学附属第二医院住院的泌尿系统结核患者的临床资料。记录患者的一般情况、既往病史、临床表现、实验室检查、影像学检查及诊断和误诊情况。结果10年间共收集泌尿系统结核患者29例,肾脏受累者24例（占82．8％）,输尿管受累者11例（占37．9％）,膀胱受累者3例（占10．3％）。合并肺结核9例,泌尿系统以外的肺外结核5例,存在免疫功能受损者10例。常见临床特征包括膀胱刺激征18例（占62．1％）,腰痛17例（占58．6％）,白细胞尿14例（占48．3％）及血尿14例（占48．3％）。经病理学检查确诊22例,经病原学检查确诊5例,经诊断性治疗确诊2例。初次就诊至确诊的时间中位数为4个月（0～10年）。结论对于存在肺结核及其他部位肺外结核的成年患者,出现一般抗感染治疗无反应的慢性膀胱炎或无菌性脓尿时,应高度怀疑泌尿系统结核的可能。宜及早行静脉肾盂造影（IVP）或电子计算机断层扫描（CT）检查,反复尿沉渣涂片抗酸染色、结核菌培养、结核菌聚合酶链反应（PCR）检查有助于泌尿系统结核的早期诊断。     

上海市肺外结核的流行病学分析

目的 了解上海市肺外结核的流行病学特征，探讨对其进行监测的意义。方法 根据１９９６￣１９９９年上海市１０个市区所有肺外结核新登记病例资料，分析肺外结核的年龄、性别、患病部位的分布及流行趋势和死亡情况。结果 上海市１９９６￣１９９９年肺外结核新登记率为４．６３／１０万￣５．７８／１０万，肺外结核占全结核的９．７％￣１１．９％，肺外结核死亡占全结核死亡的１４．１％￣１７．６％。肺外结核中以周围淋巴结核     

Serious infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha therapy: an Australian and New Zealand experience

Background and Aim: Anti‐tumor‐necrosis‐factor‐alpha (anti‐TNF‐α) medications are effective in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) and serious infections. The aim of this study was to examine the Australian/New Zealand experience of serious infections and TB in IBD patients receiving anti‐TNF‐α therapy from 1999–2009. Methods: Serious infections, defined as ‘requiring hospital admission’ and TB cases in patients receiving, or within 3 months following, anti‐TNF‐α therapy were analyzed across Australia and New Zealand. Patient demographics, IBD medications, duration of anti‐TNF‐α therapy, and infection details were collected. Results: A total of 5562 IBD patients were managed across the centers. Of these, 489 (16.8%) Crohn's disease and 137 (5.2%) ulcerative colitis patients received anti‐TNF‐α therapy. There were three cases of latent TB that received prophylaxis prior to anti‐TNF‐α therapy. No cases of active TB were reported. Fourteen (2.2%) serious infections occurred. Seven occurred in patients receiving anti‐TNF‐α therapy for less than 6 months, including two cases of primary Varicella zoster (VZV), two cases of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, two cases of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and one severe flu‐like illness. Six patients were taking additional immunosuppressive medications. The other seven infections occurred after 6 months (mean 32.6 ± 24.3 months) and included one case of primary VZV, one flu‐like illness, and five bacterial infections. All infections resolved with treatment. Conclusion: TB is a very rare complication of anti‐TNF‐α therapy in Australia and New Zealand. Serious infections are uncommon but early opportunistic infections with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia suggest a need for vigilance in patients on multiple immunosuppressive medications. VZV vaccination prior to immunosuppressive therapy should be considered in VZV‐naïve patients.     

Tuberculosis in HIV/AIDS patients: a Malaysian experience

This retrospective study was conducted at the National Tuberculosis Center (NTBC) where 252 HIV-positive patients coexisting with tuberculosis (TB/HIV) were examined. We found that patients with pulmonary (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) had similar mean age. A higher sex ratio between male to female (10.7:1) was observed in patients with PTB. The other characteristics of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis were not statistically different from each other. Cough (88%) and hemoptysis were the most common presenting symptoms, significantly related to patients with PTB. Lymphadenopathy (33.5%) was the most common sign in patients with EPT. The majority of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis had CD4 cell counts of less than 200 cells/mm3 (range 0-1,179 with a median of 57 cells/mm3). Lung (89%) and miliary (55.6%) forms were the most frequent disease locations in patients with PTB and EPT, respectively. A higher percentage of patients with PTB (42%) were treated successfully with short-course (6 months) therapy, whereas in patients with EPT (43%) needed a longer period (9 months) for successful treatment. Of the patients who defaulted treatment, a higher proportion (87%) had PTB. No MDR-TB or relapse cases were found in this study.