Spectrum of tuberculosis in patients with HIV infection in British Columbia: report of 40 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical features, treatment and outcome of all known cases of tuberculosis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in British Columbia between 1984 and 1990. DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Provincial tuberculosis registry and university-affiliated HIV clinic. PATIENTS: All people with HIV infection in whom active tuberculosis was diagnosed during the study period. RESULTS: All 40 patients identified were men; their mean age was 38 years. Of the subjects 30 (75%) were homosexual, 6 (15%) were homosexual and used intravenous drugs, 2 (5%) just used intravenous drugs, and 1 (2%) had had heterosexual contact with prostitutes; for the remaining subject the risk factor for HIV infection was not established. In all cases cultures of specimens from 15 body sources yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thirty-five of the patients had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and five had HIV infection uncomplicated except for tuberculosis. In 28 (70%) of the cases no AIDS-defining disease had previously been diagnosed, and in 23 (58%) extrapulmonary tuberculosis represented the AIDS-defining disease. Symptoms at presentation included weight loss (in 80% of the cases), fever (in 75%), cough (in 70%) and night sweats (in 55%). The mean CD4 lymphocyte count was 0.2 x 10(9)/L (in 15 cases). Tuberculin skin test results were positive in 8 of 16 cases. The most striking radiologic finding was intrathoracic adenopathy. All except one of the 36 patients who received appropriate treatment responded favourably at first. Adverse reactions necessitating changes in treatment occurred in 12 (33%) of the cases. Relapse occurred after completion of therapy in two cases (one at 3 weeks and the other at 9 months after treatment was stopped). Tuberculosis was the cause of death in five cases. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis in people with HIV infection commonly presents as extrapulmonary disease and precedes or coincides with other AIDS-defining opportunistic infections. In most cases tuberculosis is the AIDS-defining disease. Even though radiologic findings are often unusual physicians should suspect tuberculosis. A careful examination for evidence of disease at multiple sites should be done. The duration and choice of therapy must be adequate to avoid relapse.     

Accuracy of registration of invasive cervical cancer

The quality of the data recorded by the British Columbia Cancer Registry for 521 new cases of invasive cervical cancer was evaluated. The registry's pathological diagnosis in all new registrations of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in British Columbia between 1977 and 1979 was compared with a best estimate of the true diagnosis, which was determined from the results of the provincial cervical cytology screening program and the clinical charts at the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia. The registry's data overestimated the true incidence of invasive cervical cancer by approximately 55%, since 184 (35%) of the cases were incorrectly registered. Of the 184, 141 (77%) were cases of preinvasive cervical cancer, 26 (14%) did not meet the criteria for a true case (i.e., they were not newly diagnosed in British Columbia between 1977 and 1979) and 17 (9%) were cases of invasive cancer of another primary site. In addition, 28 cases of invasive cervical cancer diagnosed in the province during the study period had not been reported to the registry. Thus, both over-reporting and under-reporting occurred. There is a need for constant evaluation of registry data if cancer registries are to fulfil their potential contribution to cancer control programs and research.     

Failure of diagnosis as a factor in tuberculosis mortality

In British Columbia between January 1970 and December 1974 active tuberculosis was diagnosed only after death in 69 cases; this was more frequent for miliary tuberculosis (31% of reported cases) than for advanced pulmonary tuberculosis (3% of cases). Although 28% of the patients were more than 75 years old, some were much younger, and 38% of the latter were alcoholics. More than 50% of the patients had been hospitalized before death, for a mean of 14.5 days; they were most frequently thought to have pneumonia or cancer at the time of death. Clearly, increased awareness of the continuing presence of tuberculosis in our society is needed.     

Tuberculosis in female nurses in British Columbia: implications for control programs.

All 57 cases of active tuberculosis in women in nursing and related assisting occupations (henceforth called nurses) notified in British Columbia between 1969 and 1979 were reviewed. This represented a mean annual incidence of active tuberculosis of 2.6/10 000, similar to that in other women, adjusted for age and birthplace. The rate varied according to birthplace: among nurses born in Canada the rate was 2.0, almost twice that of other women born in Canada, and among those born in Asia it was 24.8, less than half that of other women born in Asia. The nurses born in Canada who had received BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) during their training were least likely to contract tuberculosis, the incidence rate being comparable to that among other women. Those whose results of tuberculin testing were negative but who were not vaccinated were twice as likely to contract tuberculosis, whereas those whose results were positive at the start of training were four times as likely to contract tuberculosis. The feasibility and implications of a tuberculosis screening and surveillance program are discussed.     

Tuberculous pleurisy.

A review of the records for all cases of tuberculous pleurisy notified in Canada from 1970 through 1974 and in British Columbia from 1967 through 1976 showed that in the periods studied the annual incidence of this condition was low, just under nine cases per million population, and was declining. The disease commonly occurred a few months after a primary infection with tubercle bacilli. Bacteriologic confirmation of the diagnosis was possible in only 40% of the cases since biopsy specimens were not consistently cultured.     

Antituberculous drug resistance in Manitoba from 1980 to 1989.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the magnitude of antituberculous drug resistance and identify the risk factors for its development in tuberculosis patients in Manitoba over a 10-year period. As well, to examine the clinical course of the patients whose initial or subsequent isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were resistant to one or more drugs. DESIGN: Comparison of drug-resistant and non-drug-resistant cases of tuberculosis. SETTING: Manitoba. PATIENTS: All people with tuberculosis reported to the Central Tuberculosis Registry of Manitoba between Jan. 1, 1980, and Dec. 31, 1989. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Of 1478 cases of active tuberculosis 1086 were culture positive, and drug susceptibility testing was performed in these cases. The clinical course, including outcome of treatment, of all drug-resistant cases was described. RESULTS: Of 1086 culture-positive cases of tuberculosis 77 (7.1%) were drug resistant. Odds ratios suggested that the risk of drug resistance was significantly higher among the immigrants than among the other Canadians. Compared with the other Canadians the risk of drug resistance was 9.9 times greater among the immigrants in whom tuberculosis developed within the first year after arrival in Canada and 5.4 times greater among the immigrants in whom it developed 2 to 5 years after arrival in Canada. Of the 71 patients with drug-resistant disease whose type of resistance was known 62% had never taken antituberculous drugs before and 38% had. Most (91%) of the 77 cases of drug-resistant disease were resistant to first-line drugs, especially isoniazid and streptomycin. Thirty-two (42%) of the 77 cases were resistant to two or more first-line drugs. Of patients with drug-resistant disease a subgroup of 10 had disease that became resistant to several drugs over the 10-year period. The outcome of treatment in these individuals was poor, and they presented a particular public health problem. CONCLUSION: Resistance to one or more first-line antituberculous drugs continues to complicate the treatment of tuberculosis and may facilitate the spread of the disease.     

Active tuberculosis in Indochinese refugees in British Columbia

The incidence of active tuberculosis in 8692 Indochinese refugees admitted to British Columbia between 1979 and 1981 was reviewed. In the first 3 months after entry into the province the rate was extremely high--estimated at 1890/100 000 (126 times the provincial average). A large proportion of these cases were of primary or minimal pulmonary tuberculosis. However, although the proportion of cases of minimal pulmonary tuberculosis was twice the provincial average, the proportion of these cases that were confirmed by culture was only one third the provincial average; this suggests some overdiagnosis in this period. In the subsequent 21 months of residence the incidence of active tuberculosis was also high, at 353/100 000, which was more than 20 times the provincial average. The distribution of cases by severity was closer to the provincial distribution in this period, but advanced disease accounted for a far smaller proportion of cases in both periods than it did in 1980 in the entire province.     

Tuberculosis surveillance in immigrants to Manitoba.

Despite a decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis in Canada over the last decade, the proportion of cases in people not born in Canada has increased. To determine the prevalence of active tuberculosis at the first surveillance clinic visit and the incidence of the disease over a 2-year to 6-year follow-up period, we reviewed the records of all 523 immigrants admitted to Manitoba between 1981 and 1985 who were placed under surveillance. Of the 523, 429 (82%) were seen at least once in the clinic. Among the 429, active tuberculosis was diagnosed at the first visit in 12 (3%) and during the follow-up period in 7 (2%). The relative risk of tuberculosis was 4.5 times higher for immigrants under surveillance than for those not under surveillance. Of the 483 immigrants who were to be seen in Winnipeg 232 (48%) were noncompliant: 94 were not seen at any time, and 138 did not attend for the full follow-up period. Active disease was not reported to have developed in any of the noncompliant subjects. Noncompliers were significantly older than compliers (p less than 0.005), and variations in compliance were noted according to region of origin. Further attempts to improve compliance with surveillance without resorting to punitive measures are indicated.     

Role of the general practitioner in the delivery of surgical and anesthesia services in rural western Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the present role of general practitioners (GPs) in the delivery of surgical and anesthesia services in rural western Canada. DESIGN: Survey by mailed questionnaire in November 1993, with telephone follow-up of nonresponders. SETTING: Rural British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories. PARTICIPANTS: Administrators of 148 rural hospitals; of the 121 who completed it 101 represented hospitals that met the inclusion criteria (fewer than 51 beds and serving a population of 15,000 or less). OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospital characteristics, type of practitioners providing surgical and anesthesia services, length and location of GPs', surgical and anesthesia training, types of surgical procedures performed by GPs and opinions of administrators regarding the delivery of surgical services in their community. RESULTS: Surgical services were provided by 56 (55%) of the 101 hospitals; at 45 (80%) they were provided by GPs, and at 33 (59%) they were provided by GPs with limited additional surgical training. Fifteen (27%) of the 56 hospitals were said to rely solely on GPs with limited surgical training for surgical services. At 45 (80%) of the 56 hospitals anesthesia services were provided by GPs, all of whom had limited additional training in anesthesia; 36 (64%) were said to rely solely on GPs for anesthesia services. Just over three quarters (76% [74/98]) of the administrators felt that their community's surgical needs were well met. CONCLUSION: GPs with limited specialty training continue to play a role in providing surgical and anesthesia services in rural western Canada. This has implications for postgraduate training programs in Canada.     

超声造影在腹壁结核性脓肿穿刺活检中的应用价值

目的 探讨超声造影应用于腹壁结核性脓肿穿刺活检术,对提高穿刺活检取材完整率和病理诊断阳性率的价值。 方法 选取2013年9月—2015年11月因腹壁肿块在浙江省中西医结合医院结核科住院的患者66例,男性24例,女性42例,分为2组,A组23例,男性8例,女性15例,为2013年9月—2014年2月住院的腹壁肿块患者,知情同意并签字后进行超声引导下穿刺活检术;B组43例,男性16例,女性27例,为2014年2月—2015年11月住院的腹壁肿块患者,知情同意并签字后首先行腹壁肿块超声造影,根据超声造影选择穿刺活检区,并确定取材目标区:①腹壁肿块部分增强型取造影剂充填的增强区+小部分无增强区;②肿块完全增强型取造影剂增强区。后行超声引导下穿刺活检术。所有数据采用SPSS 13.0统计学软件包进行统计分析,计数资料采用χ2检验,P＜0.05为差异有统计学意义。 结果 A组23例患者:转移性癌1例,血肿1例,余为腹壁结核,活检取材完整率为47.8%(11/23),病理结果的阳性率为82.6%(19/23);B组43例患者:转移性癌2例,腹壁皮脂腺囊肿伴感染1例,余为腹壁结核,所有患者超声造影提示腹壁肿块全增强型8例,腹壁肿块部分增强型35例,活检取材完整率为90.7%(39/43),病理诊断阳性率为100%(43/43),B组活检取材完整率和病理诊断阳性率较A组明显提高,χ2值分别为15.00及5.20,P均＜0.05。 结论 超声造影应用于腹壁结核性脓肿穿刺活检术,可明显提高穿刺活检取材完整率和病理诊断阳性率。      

Trends in ectopic pregnancy in Canada.

The incidence in Canada of one complication of sexually transmitted disease, ectopic pregnancy, was examined by age group for the years 1971 through 1980 by means of hospital statistics provided by Statistics Canada. The denominator was "reported pregnancies"--the total of live births, stillbirths, legal abortions and ectopic pregnancies in a given year. In 1980, 4123 ectopic pregnancies (9.3/1000 reported pregnancies) were reported, a 63% increase from 1970. The incidence had increased in each age stratum. This trend may be related to increasing rates of gonococcal infection and of hospitalization for pelvic inflammatory disease and lends confirmation to data from other countries that relate the increase in the rate of ectopic pregnancy to rising rates of sexually transmitted disease.     

Spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a community implementing recommended elements of tuberculosis control

CONTEXT: Despite improvements in tuberculosis (TB) control during the past decade, Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission and resulting disease continue to occur in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To determine the primary reasons for disease development from a particular strain of M tuberculosis. DESIGN: Population-based, molecular epidemiological study. SETTING: Urban community in the San Francisco Bay area of California with recommended elements of TB control in place. PATIENTS: Seventy-three TB cases were reported in 1996-1997 that resulted from 1 strain of M tuberculosis as identified by TB genotyping and epidemiological linkage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Transmission patterns involving source and secondary case-patients; primary reasons for disease development. RESULTS: Seventy-three (33%) of 221 TB case-patients in this community resulted from this strain of M tuberculosis. Thirty-nine (53%) of the 73 case-patients developed TB because they were not identified as contacts of source case-patients; 20 case-patients (27%) developed TB because of delayed diagnosis of their sources; and 13 case-patients (18%) developed TB because of problems associated with the evaluation or treatment of contacts; and 1 case-patient (1%) developed TB because of delay in being elicited as a contact. Of the 51 TB cases identified with sources, 49 (96%) were infected within the 2 years prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that in a community that has implemented the essential elements of TB control, TB from ongoing transmission of M tuberculosis will continue to develop unless patients are diagnosed earlier and contacts are more completely identified. JAMA. 2000.     

Reappraisal of abdominal tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, including abdominal tuberculosis, is a common disease responsible for considerable mortality and morbidity. The diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis requires a high index of suspicion due to its vague symptomatology. This retrospective study (of 3 years duration) was conducted on 84 operated cases in whom a diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis (excluding genito-urinary) was made on histopathology. These constituted 5.4% of all the surgical material related to gastro-intestinal tract. The mean age of the patient was 23.5 years, with the youngest patient being only 7 months old. No sex predilection was noted (41 males, 43 females). Eighteen patients (21.4%) belonged to the paediatric age group (0-15 years). Majority of patients (92.8%) presented with features of intestinal obstruction. Sixteen patients were already receiving anti-tuberculous treatment. Terminal ileum (49 cases) was the most common site of involvement followed by appendix (9), jejunum (5), anal canal (4), caecum (3) and colon (2). One case of duodenal tuberculosis was also confirmed. The important features noted in this study were high paediatric patient involvement (21.4%), significantly higher incidence of intestinal perforation (69%) and rarity of gastroduodenal tuberculosis (1.2%). Concomitant infections like typhoid and worm infestations were also seen.     

Evaluation of the status of tuberculosis as part of the clinical case definition of AIDS in India

Aim: To assess HIV associated tuberculosis in a high tuberculosis prevalence setting and its status in the clinical case definition of AIDS. Methods: All HIV patients attending the infectious disease clinic, Varanasi, India between January 2001 and December 2003 were included in the study. They were stratified into three distinct immunological categories depending on their CD4 levels in accordance to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification. Tuberculosis of different organs was defined as detailed below. Results: Tuberculosis was the commonest opportunistic disease, seen in 163 patients. Of these, 68 had exclusively pulmonary tuberculosis, 55 extrapulmonary disease, and 40 the disseminated form. Pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis had low positive predictive value (PPV) (51% and 42%) for CD4 levels of <200 when compared with the disseminated form (specificity 87% and PPV 75%). Among 86 patients with radiological evidence of tuberculosis, typical radiological features of post-primary tuberculosis were present in 60 cases (70%). Other features such as effusion (14 patients, 16%) and miliary shadows (12 patients, 14%) were comparatively rare. Conclusion: Keeping pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis in AIDS defining illness should be reconsidered. In a similar way tuberculosis in HIV patients from areas endemic with tuberculosis occurs in patients with a wide range of immune status and has a better prognosis than other AIDS defining illnesses. Therefore the inclusion of tuberculosis in clinical case definition of AIDS is not justified.     

Maternal Mortality in British Columbia: A Study of 145 Deaths from 1955 to 1962

Between 1955 and 1962, 145 maternal deaths were reported in the Province of British Columbia. One hundred of them were due to obstetrical causes. Of these deaths, hemorrhage was by far the commonest cause (40 cases), followed in frequency by vascular accidents (23 cases), infections (17 cases), toxemia (10 cases), anesthetic deaths (five cases), and other causes (five cases). Significant avoidable factors were noted in 80%. Indirect obstetrical deaths accounted for 29 cases, or 20% of all maternal mortalities. The most frequently encountered causes of indirect obstetrical deaths were cardiac (nine cases) and vascular accidents (six cases). Avoidable factors were considered to be present in 19 of the 29, an incidence of 65%.

When all deaths were considered together, 72% were felt to have significant avoidable factors when judged against an academic standard. It was also apparent that some 40% to 50% of deaths were intimately involved with social factors.

     

Tuberculosis among immigrants: interval from arrival in Canada to diagnosis. A 5-year study in southern Alberta

OBJECTIVE: To examine the pattern of tuberculosis (TB) occurring among immigrants and the interval from arrival in Canada to diagnosis of the disease. DESIGN: Study of all cases of TB diagnosed in foreign-born residents of southern Alberta during the 5-year period 1990-1994. SETTING: A centre for the diagnosis, management and control of all cases of TB in the southern half of the province of Alberta. METHODS: All foreign-born patients in whom TB was newly diagnosed between January 1990 and December 1994 were included in the study. The interval from their arrival in Canada to diagnosis, their country of birth and the site of their disease were documented. RESULTS: Immigrants to Canada accounted for 248 (70.6%) of the 351 cases of TB diagnosed in southern Alberta during the 5-year period. The majority of these immigrants (182/248 [73.4%]) were of Asian origin. Extrapulmonary TB accounted for 111 (61.0%) of the 182 cases of the disease in Asian immigrants. The mean period between immigration and diagnosis was 11.2 years (standard deviation [SD] 13.9 years). Half of the patients presented within 7 years of their arrival in Canada. The time to presentation was shortest for patients with superficial lymph node disease (mean 7.6 years [SD 6.9] after arrival), intermediate among those with extrapulmonary disease, excluding superficial disease of the lymph node (10.1 years [SD 12.1]), and longest for those with pulmonary disease (14.2 years [SD 17.2]). TB developed sooner after arrival in Canada among immigrants from Asian countries (mean 9.1 years) than among those from other countries (17.2 years) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Given the low annual incidence of TB in Canada (7.1 per 100,000), it is probable that TB occurring among immigrants reflects infection acquired before arrival in Canada. Health care professionals need to be aware that immigrants from countries with a relatively high prevalence of TB remain at risk for the disease (often at an extrapulmonary site) for many years after they immigrate to low-prevalence countries.     

结核病与心脏瓣膜病的相关性研究

目的 通过病例对照分析肺结核病与心脏瓣膜病之间是否有关联,早期评估结核病对心脏瓣膜病的影响,及时治疗,从而降低心脏瓣膜病发病率。方法 回顾性分析鄂州市第三医院2015年1月—2018年2月住院治疗的患者临床资料,通过分层抽样方法从结核科抽取住院患者425例作为观察组,从心血管科抽取370例作为对照组,均接受心脏多普勒三维彩超检查,统计患者心脏瓣膜病发生情况,依据各年龄组调查分析结果,同时分析初治和复治肺结核病与心脏瓣膜疾病之间的关联,以及通过比较入院查痰涂片阳性与阴性的患者与心脏瓣膜病的关联。结果 结核科心脏瓣膜病发生率48.24%（205/425）低于心血管科患者心脏瓣膜病发生率54.05%（200/370）,差异无统计学意义（P≥0.05）。结核科11~60岁心脏瓣膜病累积发生频率Σf 46.35%较心血管科Σf 22.50%高。从结核科取中青年组（18~55岁）166例患者进行随机分组比较,显示有心脏瓣膜病者68例,无心脏瓣膜病者98例,复治肺结核患者心脏瓣膜病发生率为55.88%（38/68）,与初治肺结核病的30.61%（30/98）比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）,提示结核病是心脏瓣膜病发生的危险因素之一（OR=2.87, 95%CI 1.52~5.41）;肺结核患者中痰涂片阳性者心脏瓣膜病发病率为45.10%(23/51),与痰涂片阴性的39.13%(45/115)比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）,提示结核菌活动对于心脏瓣膜病形成存在一定的关联（OR=1.28,95%CI 1.10~1.49）。结论 心脏瓣膜病老年多发,而结核病是心脏瓣膜病发生的危险因素之一。     

Origin and Migration of Huntington's Chorea in Canada: Preliminary Report

This preliminary report is part of a fullscale investigation of Huntington's chorea throughout the world. Data were obtained on some 820 possible cases of Huntington's chorea in Canada, and they were of sufficient quality in 633 cases to enable pedigrees to be drawn up of 104 families. The origin of 75 of these families was traced outside Canada. It was found that 55 of these kinships originally came from the British Isles, contrary to the prevalent feeling that incriminated United States sources. Only 57 of the 633 cases had moved from their first province of residence at the time of reporting. Thus, large and frequent migrations are not the rule, in the Canadian group, as had been previously reported by other authors.     

Estimates of Incidence and Prevalence of Mongolism and of Congenital Heart Disease in British Columbia

There is a need for accurate ascertainment of incidence and prevalence rates of congenital anomalies. In British Columbia the Registry for Handicapped Children and Adults used in conjunction with vital records has proved a valuable source of information. Birth notifications alone cannot be relied upon for incidence data. It was found that seven times as many cases of congenital heart disease were registered subsequently as were reported at birth. The estimated minimal incidence rates of mongolism and congenital heart disease per 1000 live births were 1.46 and 4.75, respectively. The well-known association of maternal age with mongolism was confirmed. Twice as many babies with congenital heart disease (without mongolism) were born to mothers over 39 years of age as would be expected on the basis of the maternal age distribution for all live births in the population. Prevalence estimates of these two diseases compared favourably with other published estimates.     

Risk factors for reactivation of tuberculosis in Manitoba

Although rates of reported cases of active tuberculosis have been declining in Manitoba and throughout Canada over the past two decades, the percentage of active cases due to reactivated tuberculosis has remained relatively constant. From 1976 to 1981, 113 cases of reactivated tuberculosis were listed in the Manitoba tuberculosis registry. We found that 36 cases did not meet our criteria for reactivation, primarily because there was no 6-month period of inactivity; another 5 cases could not be verified. In more than half of the remaining 72 the initial episode had occurred before 1960. We also randomly selected from the registry as controls 118 age- and sex-matched cases of nonreactivated tuberculosis. We found that registered Indian status was significantly associated with risk of reactivation, especially when the initial disease had been extensive. Awareness of high-risk groups, earlier diagnosis and adequate treatment are needed to prevent reactivated tuberculosis.