Overlapping infections of Mycobacterium canariasense and Nocardia farcinica in an immunocompetent patient:A case report

BACKGROUND Infections by non-tuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)have become more common in recent years.Mycobacterium canariasense(M.canariasense)was first reported as an opportunistic pathogen in 2004,but there have been very few case reports since then.Nocardia is a genus of aerobic and Gram-positive bacilli,and these species are also opportunistic pathogens and in the Mycobacteriales order.Conventional methods for diagnosis of NTM are inefficient.Metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)can rapidly detect many pathogenic microorganisms,even rare species.Most NTM and Nocardia infections occur in immunocompromised patients with atypical clinical symptoms.There are no previous reports of infection by M.canariasense and Nocardia farcinica(N.farcinica),especially in immunocompetent patients.This case report describes an immunocompetent 52-year-old woman who had overlapping infections of M.canariasense,N.farcinica,and Candida parapsilosis(C.parapsilosis)based on mNGS.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old woman presented with a productive cough and chest pain for 2 wk,and recurrent episodes of moderate-grade fever for 1 wk.She received antibiotics for 1 wk at a local hospital,and experienced defervescence,but the productive cough and chest pain persisted.We collected samples of a lung lesion and alveolar lavage fluid for mNGS.The lung tissue was positive for M.canariasense,N.farcinica,and C.parapsilosis,and the alveolar lavage fluid was positive for M.canariasense.The diagnosis was pneumonia,and application of appropriate antibiotic therapy cured the patient.CONCLUSION Etiological diagnosis is critical for patients with infectious diseases.mNGS can identify rare and novel pathogens,and does not require a priori knowledge.

Fluoroquinolones for the treatment of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in liver transplantation

Solid organ transplantation(SOT)is the best treatment option for end-stage organ disease.Newer immunosuppressive agents have reduced the incidence of graft rejection but have increased the risk of infection,particularly due to the reactivation of latent infections due to opportunistic agents such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Active tuberculosis(TB)after SOT is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.Most cases of posttransplant TB are secondary to reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI)due to the effects of long-term immunosuppressive therapy.Risk minimization strategies have been developed to diagnose LTBI and initiate treatment prior to transplantation.Isoniazid with vitamin B6 supplementation is the treatment of choice.However,liver transplantation(LT)candidates and recipients have an increased risk of isoniazid-induced liver toxicity,leading to lower treatment completion rates than in other SOT populations.Fluoroquinolones(FQs)exhibit good in vitro antimycobacterial activity and a lower risk of drug-induced liver injury than isoniazid.In the present review,we highlight the disease burden posed by posttransplant TB and summarize the emerging clinical evidence supporting the use of FQs for the treatment of LTBI in LT recipients and candidates.

Lumbar infection caused by Mycobacterium paragordonae:A case report

Mycobacterium paragordonae(M.paragordonae),a slow-growing,acid-resistant mycobacterial species,was first isolated from the sputum of a lung infection patient in South Korea in 2014.Infections caused by M.paragordonae are rare.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a 53-year-old patient who presented with fever and low back pain.Lumbar nuclear magnetic resonance imaging revealed the destruction of the lumbar vertebra with peripheral abscess formation.After antiinfective and diagnostic anti-tuberculosis treatment,the patient had no further fever,but the back pain was not relieved.Postoperatively,the necrotic material was sent for pathological examination,and all tests related to tuberculosis were negative,but pus culture suggested nontuberculous mycobacteria.The necrotic tissue specimens were subjected to metagenomic next-generation sequencing,which indicated the presence of M.paragordonae.Finally,the infecting pathogen was identified,and the treatment plan was adjusted.The patient was in good condition during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION M.paragordonae,a rare nontuberculous mycobacterium,can also cause spinal infections.In the clinic,it is necessary to identify nontuberculous mycobacteria for spinal infections similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Clinical Analysis of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease Diagnosed as Coincidental Pulmonary Infection Due to <i>Mycobacterium</i>Species

Objectives: We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary mycobacterial disease diagnosed as coincidental pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium species. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty patients satisfied the diagnostic criteria of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease proposed by American Thoracic Society during the last seven years. Six patients (3.8%) were coincidental pulmonary infection due to two Mycobacterium species. We investigated the background, laboratory findings, microbiological findings, radiological findings, treatment and prognosis. Results: There were six patients, 3 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 71.7 years. The causative microorganisms of coincidental pulmonary infection consisted of Mycobacterium avium + Mycobacterium intracellulare in two patients, Mycobacterium avium + Mycobacterium kansasii in one, Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium chelonae in one, Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium abscessus in one, and Mycobacterium intracellulare + Mycobacterium tuberculosis in one. Regarding the radiological findings, the distribution of the lesion was frequently shown in both the right middle and left lingula lobes, but the extent of the lesion was limited within the unilateral lung field. Centrilobular small nodules with bronchiectasis were recognized in all patients and cavities or infiltration shadows were recognized in half of them on chest computed tomography. A definite diagnosis was obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in four patients and expectorated sputum in two. Combined chemotherapy was performed for two patients and that for pulmonary tuberculosis in one. Conclusions: Coincidental pulmonary infection due to Mycobactterium species occurred at a low percentage. Although most patients were elderly with underlying disease and clinical features were compatible with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease, the prognosis was comparatively good with and without treatment.

Subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium abscessus following cosmetic injections of botulinum toxin:A case report

BACKGROUND In recent years,the cosmetic intervention related infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)are increasing as the informal cosmetic treatments are performed.However,many dermatologists are inexperienced in the diagnosis and management of similar cases.Here we report a case of subcutaneous infection caused by Mycobacterium abscessus(M.abscessus)following cosmetic injections of botulinum toxin.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old woman presented with multiple abscesses and nodules on her forehead and both temporal sites for half a month after cosmetic injections of botulinum toxin.Her lesions did not show any alleviation after 2-wk prescription of antibiotics.Laboratory examinations indicated that she had no sign of immunodeficiency and the whole body of computed tomography did not find any systemic infection or diseases.The pathology of skin tissue showed inflammatory cell infiltration with the negative results of Periodic acid Schiff(PAS)and Acidfast staining and the culture yielded no microbiome.Afterwards,the puncture on abscess was performed and M.abscessus was successfully isolated.The pathogen was identified by acid-fast staining and DNA sequencing.The patient was treated with the strategy of clarithromycin,ofloxacin,and amikacin according to the result of drug sensitivity test and got complete remission of the lesions.CONCLUSION The case presents the whole process of diagnosis and management of NTM infection after cosmetic intervention and highlights the diagnostic thoughts.In a word,the mycobacterium infection should be aware in patients after cosmetic performance.

Mycobacterium chimaera infections following cardiac surgery in Treviso Hospital, Italy, from 2016 to 2019: Cases report

BACKGROUND An epidemic of Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera) infections following cardiac surgery is ongoing worldwide. The outbreak was first discovered in 2011, and it has been traced to a point source contamination of the LivaNova 3T heater-cooler unit, which is used also in Italy. International data are advocated to clarify the spectrum of clinical features of the disease as well as treatment options and outcome. We report a series of M. chimaera infections diagnosed in Treviso Hospital, including the first cases notified in Italy in 2016. CASE SUMMARY Since June 2016, we diagnosed a M. chimaera infection in nine patient who had undergone cardiac valve surgery between February 2011 and November 2016. The time between cardiac surgery and developing symptoms ranged from 6 to 97 mo. Unexplained fever, psychophysical decay, weight loss, and neurological symptoms were common complaints. The median duration of symptoms was 32 wk, and the longest was almost two years. A new cardiac murmur, splenomegaly, choroidoretinitis, anaemia or lymphopenia, abnormal liver function tests and hyponatremia were common findings. All the patients presented a prosthetic valve endocarditis, frequently associated to an ascending aortic pseudoneurysm or spondylodiscitis. M. chimaera was cultured from blood, bioprosthetic tissue, pericardial abscess, vertebral tissue, and bone marrow. Mortality is high in our series, reflecting the poor outcome observed in other reports. Three patients have undergone repeat cardiac surgery. Five patients are being treated with a targeted multidrug antimycobacterial regimen. CONCLUSION Patients who have undergone cardiac surgery in Italy and presenting with signs and symptoms of endocarditis must be tested for M. chimaera.

Mycobacterium abscessus infection after facial injection of argireline:A case report

BACKGROUND The incidence of infection with Mycobacterium abscessus(M.abscessus)has increased in recent years.This increase is partly associated with invasive cosmetic procedures.CASE SUMMARY The purpose of this case summary is to increase clinicians'awareness of M.abscessus infection and reduce mycobacterial infection caused by cosmetic procedures.We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who received acetyl hexapeptide-8(argireline)injections in the forehead and temples,and erythema,nodules,and abscesses appeared at the injection sites after one week.The pus specimens were examined by microbiological culture and confirmed to be positive for M.abscessus.Clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and moxifloxacin 400 mg once daily were administered for 5 mo and the lesions gradually subsided.CONCLUSION We report here for the first time a case of infection with M.abscessus after argireline injection.This condition is easily misdiagnosed as a common bacterial infection.Microbiological examinations are helpful for diagnosis and standardized cosmetic procedures can prevent infection with M.abscessus.

Regulatory roles of extracellular vesicles in immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are cystic vesicles naturally released by most mammalian cells and bacteria.EV contents include proteins,lipids,and nucleic acids.EVs can act as messengers to transmit a variety of molecules to recipient cells and thus play important regulatory roles in intercellular signal transduction.EVs,released by either a host cell or a pathogen,can carry pathogen-associated antigens and thus act as modulators of immune responses.EVs derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)-infected cells can regulate the innate immune response through various pathways,such as regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines.In addition,EVs can mediate antigen presentation and regulate the adaptive immune response by transmitting immunoregulatory molecules to T helper cells.In this review,we summarize the regulatory roles of EVs in the immune response against Mtb.

Catheter-related infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus in a patient with motor neurone disease:A case report

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium abscessus(M.abscessus)is a rapidly growing mycobacterium and ubiquitous in the environment,which infrequently causes disease in humans.However,it can cause cutaneous or respiratory infections among immunocompromised hosts.Due to the resistance to most antibiotics,the pathogen is formidable and difficult-to-treat.CASE SUMMARY Here,we present a case of catheter-related M.abscessus infections in a patient with motor neurone disease.Catheter and peripheral blood cultures of the patient showed positive results during Gram staining and acid-fast staining.The alarm time of catheter blood culture was 10.6 h earlier than that of peripheral blood.After removal of the peripherally inserted central catheter,secretion and catheter blood culture were positive.M.abscessus was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and 16S rDNA sequencing.CONCLUSION For catheter-related M.abscessus infection,rapid diagnosis and timely and adequate antimicrobial therapy are crucial.

Prosthetic joint infection of the hip and knee due to Mycobacterium species:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium species(Mycobacterium sp)is an emerging cause of hip and knee prosthetic joint infection(PJI),and different species of this organism may be responsible for the same.AIM To evaluate the profile of hip and knee Mycobacterium PJI cases as published in the past 30 years.METHODS A literature search was performed in PubMed using the MeSH terms“Prosthesis joint infection”AND“Mycobacterium”for studies with publication dates from January 1,1990,to May 30,2021.To avoid missing any study,another search was performed with the terms“Arthroplasty infection”AND“Mycobacterium”in the same period as the previous search.The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses chart was used to evaluate the included studies for further review.In total,51 studies were included for further evaluation of thecases,type of pathogen,and treatment of PJI caused by Mycobacterium sp.RESULTS Seventeen identified Mycobacterium sp were reportedly responsible for hip/knee PJI in 115 hip/knee PJI cases,whereas in two cases there was no mention of any specific Mycobacterium sp.Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tuberculosis)was detected in 50/115(43.3%)of the cases.Nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)included M.fortuitum(26/115,22.6%),M.abscessus(10/115,8.6%),M.chelonae(8/115,6.9%),and M.bovis(8/115,6.9%).Majority of the cases(82/114,71.9%)had an onset of infection>3 mo after the index surgery,while in 24.6%(28/114)the disease had an onset in≤3 mo.Incidental intraoperative PJI diagnosis was made in 4 cases(3.5%).Overall,prosthesis removal was needed in 77.8%(84/108)of the cases to treat the infection.Overall infection rate was controlled in 88/102(86.3%)patients with Mycobacterium PJI.Persistent infection occurred in 10/108(9.8%)patients,while 4/108(3.9%)patients died due to the infection.CONCLUSION At least 17 Mycobacterium sp can be responsible for hip/knee PJI.Although M.tuberculosis is the most common causal pathogen,NTM should be considered as an emerging cause of hip/knee PJI.

Rapid diagnosis of disseminated Mycobacterium mucogenicum infection in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimen using nextgeneration sequencing: A case report

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium mucogenicum(M.mucogenicum)belongs to the group of rapidly growing Nontuberculous mycobacteria.This microorganism is associated with a wide spectrum of infectious diseases.Due to a low detection rate or the time required for conventional culture methodology,a rapid and broad-spectrum method is necessary to identify rare pathogens.CASE SUMMARY A 12-year-old immunocompetent girl presented with painful masses for five months.The first mass was found in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen,and was about 1 cm×1.5 cm in size,tough but pliable in texture,with an irregular margin and tenderness.An abscess gradually formed and ulcerated with suppuration of the mass.Three new masses appeared on the back one by one.Chest computed tomography showed patchy and streaky cloudy opacities in both lungs.Needle aspiration of the abscess was performed,but the smear and conventional culture were negative,and the pathological examination showed no pathogens.We then performed next-generation sequencing using a formalinfixed,paraffin-embedded specimen to identify the pathogen.A significantly high abundance of M.mucogenicum was detected.The patient’s abscesses gradually decreased in size,while inflammation in both lungs improved following 12-wk of treatment.No recurrence was observed four months after the end of the one-year treatment period.CONCLUSION Next-generation sequencing is a promising tool for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of rare pathogens,even when using a formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded specimen.

Case Studies of <i>Mycobacterium abscess</i>Infection after Laser in Situ Keratomileusis

Background: Infectious keratitis after refractive surgery is uncommon, and mycobacterium abscess has never been observed in corneal infections in China. Purpose: To propose an unusual presentation of two cases about Mycobacterium abscess infection after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Participants: Both cases 1 and 2 were females who exhibited a corneal ulceration after LASIK in the same hospital. Methods: The first patient in the study was a 28-year-old woman who underwent Epi-LASIK surgery in both eyes. She developed an infectious corneal ulcer in one eye after 50 days post-surgery. She was referred to our out-patient clinic 3 months post-surgery with corneal perforation, and was treated with a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. The second patient was a 27-year-old woman who developed infectious keratitis in one eye after 2 months after bilateral LASIK and was referred to us 3 months later. Results: Cultures in both the cases were identified as a Mycobacterium abscess, and case 1 was treated with penetrating keratoplasty eventually, while case 2 recovered after sensitive treatment. Conclusions: Infectious keratitis after refractive surgery is uncommon, and Mycobacterium abscess has never been observed in corneal infections. An accurate diagnosis and identification of the causative agent is very important.

CUTANEOUS MYCOBACTERIUM MARINUM INFECTION DIAGNOSED BY PCR-RFLP ANALYSIS

Objective To identify Mycobacterium marinum （M. marinum ） inducing misdiagnosis and treatment failure. Methods The lesional specimen of patient with cutaneous M. marinum were cultivated on L6wenstein-Jensen medium. The isolate was identified by biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP） analysis of the hsp65 gene. Results Smooth and non- pigmented colonies were noted after incubation at 32 ℃ for 2 weeks. The isolate was acid-fast bacilli and confirmed as M. marinum by biochemical tests and PCR-RFLP. Conclusion For a correct diagnosis of cutaneous M. marinum infection, it is crucial for clinicians to have a high index of suspicion, obtain the history of exposure and trauma and understand growth characteristics of the organism. Compared with conventional biochemical techniques, PCR-RFLP analysis is a more rapid, accurate and reliable method for mycobacterial identification to species level.

Effects of the Cytotoxic T-Cells on the Dynamics of Co-Infection of HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Enhancement of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) specific cytotoxic T-cells mechanisms in an HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) co-infected individual seems to improve the clinical picture of an individual by reducing Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) state progression rate. In this paper, we develop a system of deterministic differential equations representing the immune cells involved in an HIV-1 and Mtb co-infected individual. Results show that although the non-lytic arm of the HIV-1 cytotoxic T-cells affects the co-infection dynamics more than the lytic factors, a combination of both factors results in a more positive reduced progression to the AIDS state. This is due to the increased protection of the CD4+ T-cells by the CTL mechanisms by further reducing infections and replications by the HIV. Thus, HIV-1 specific CTLs mechanisms’ involvement is here recommended to be part of a solution to the HIV and Mtb co-infection problems.

Distribution Characteristics of Drug Susceptibility Test Results of Tuberculosis and Non-Tuberculous Bacilli in Patients with Opportunistic Infections of AIDS

Objective: To understand the distribution of drug susceptibility test results of opportunistic infections of tuberculosis and non-tuberculous bacilli in AIDS patients. Methods: The AIDS patients who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2016 to June 2019 were collected as the research objects, and patients with opportunistic tuberculosis and non-tuberculous bacilli from AIDS patients were screened for drug susceptibility tests, and the distribution characteristics of drug susceptibility were analyzed. Results: 179 strains of tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria were isolated from the specimens of AIDS patients, including 135 cases of tuberculosis mycobacteria and 44 cases of non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In the results of the drug susceptibility test, most strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed sensitivity to commonly used drugs, and a few strains showed resistance;most strains of non-tuberculous mycobacteria showed resistance, and a few strains showed sensitivity. Conclusion: AIDS opportunistic infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria have significant differences in drug sensitivity test results. Timely detection and analysis are of great significance to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Role for mycobacterial infection in pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis?

Primary biliary cirrhosis （PBC） is a progressive cho- lestatic liver disease characterized by the immune- mediated destruction of biliary epithelial cells in small intrahepatic bile ducts. The disease is characterized by circulating antimitochondrial antibodies （AMAs） as well as disease-specific antinuclear antibodies, cholestatic liver function tests, and characteristic histological fea- tures, including granulomas. A variety of organisms are involved in granuloma formation, of which mycobacte- ria are the most commonly associated. This has led to the hypothesis that mnycobacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of PBC, along with other infectious agents. Additionally, AMAs are found in a subgroup of patients with rnycobacterial infections, such as lep- rosy and pulmonary tuberculosis. Antibodies against species-specific mycobacterial proteins have been re- ported in patients with PBC, but it is not clear whether these antibodies are specific for the disease. In addi- tion, data in support of the involvement of the role of molecular mimicry between rnycobacterial and human mitochondrial antigens as triggers of cross-reactive im- mune responses leading to the loss of immunological tolerance, and the induction of pathological features have been published. Thus, antibodies against myco- bacterial heat shock protein appear to cross-recognize AMA-specific autoantigens, but it is not clear whether these autoantibodies are mycobacterium-species-spe- cific, and whether they are pathogenic or incidental. The view that mycobacteria are infectious triggers of PBC is intriguing, but the data provided so far are not conclusive.

Molecular Characteristics and Drug Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from Patients Co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Beijing,China

70 clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from AIDS patients in two HIV/AIDS referral hospitals in Beijing were used in this study.M.tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis mycobacterium（NTM）were identified by using multi-locus PCR.M.tuberculosis was genotyped by using 15-locus MIRU-VNTR technique and spoligotyping afterwards.Meanwhile,the drug susceptibilities of the strains to the four first-line anti TB drugs（rifampin,isoniazid,streptomycin, and ethambutol） and the four second-line anti-TB drugs （capreomycin, kanamycin, ofloxacin, and ethionanide） were tested with proportional method. In this study, M. tuberculosis and NTM strains isolated from AIDS patients with TB-like symptoms were identified and genotyping analysis indicated that Beijing genotype was the predominant genotype. In addition, the prevalence of drug-resistant TB, especially the prevalence of XDR-TB, was higher than that in TB patients without HIV infection.

Recent Progress in Diagnosis Methods for Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Its Clinical Applications

Most people with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection can partly develop active tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis of this condition bears significance in early TB prevention. To date, the main methods for diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) include tuberculin skin test and interferon γ release test. These two methods feature their own advantages and disadvantages. Although new diagnostic markers continually emerge, no uniform diagnostic criteria are available for TB detection. This study summarizes several methods for diagnosis of LTBI and new related markers and their application value in clinical practice.

First Nationwide Survey of the Prevalence of TB/HIV Co-Infection in Ghana

Background: To better understand the extent of the magnitude of tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection in Ghana, a baseline study was conducted to establish the national prevalence of the dual infection. The study aimed to determine the most prevalent HIV serotype (HIV-1 or HIV-2) in TB patients (new and old cases);genotype mycobacterial species causing TB/HIV co-infection and determine their drug susceptibility patterns. Methods: Sputum and dried blood samples were collected from 503 TB patients from 67 health facilities nationwide between December 2007 and November 2008. All samples were processed for mycobacterial and HIV testing using conventional and molecular methods. Results: A total of 517 paired sputum samples were received from 517 patients. A total 503 patients [335 (66.6%) males;168 (33.4%) females] had at least one culture positive sample. Majority (93.0%) of the patients were new cases while 7.0% were old cases. All 503 TB isolates were Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Of 503 blood samples, 74 were positive for HIV (14.7%), comprising 71 (14.1%) and 3 (0.6%) for HIV-1 and HIV-1 & 2 respectively;none was positive for HIV-2 alone. The seroprevalence of HIV in newly diagnosed TB patients and those already on treatment, was 69/468 (14.7%) and 5/35 (14.3%) respectively (p > 0.05). Differentiation of isolates from TB/HIV co-infected patients showed that 70/74 (94.6%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis while 4/74 (5.4%) were Mycobacterium africanum. Monoresistance to isoniazid and rifampicin were 4/74 (5.4%) and 1/74 (1.4%) respectively;resistance to both drugs (multi-drug resistant-MDR) was not observed. Sixty nine (93.2%) isolates were susceptible to both drugs. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV infection in TB patients was 14.7%. TB/HIV was common among the sexually active age group (25 - 34 years). Majority of the TB isolates were M. tuberculosis which were susceptible to both isoniazid and rifampicin. HIV-1 was the common serotype infecting TB patients in Ghana.

Analytic Study of Spinal Infections: Clinical Picture, Treatment, and Outcomes in King Fahad Military Medical Complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of spinal infection in a hospital located in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia through a retrospective review and to identify the associated etiological agents in terms of clinical picture, treatment, and outcomes. Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Single hospital in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Patients: Patients with any type of spinal infection and/or who had undergone neurosurgical intervention for spinal infection between January 2006 and December 2018. Methods: We collected data on all patients with an established diagnosis of spinal infection from January 2006 to December 2018 in the King Fahad Military Medical Complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. A validated and structured checklist was used for data collection. Spinal infection diagnosis was based on the clinical manifestation, microbiological evidence, radiological findings, and antimicrobial therapy response. Results: Seventeen patients were included in this study, and their mean age was 54.93 years. Twelve of the patients were male and four were female. The approximate time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 2 - 6 months. Most of the patients experienced back pain, with lumbosacral spondylitis being the most commonly cited type (61.11%), followed by thoracolumbar spondylodiscitis (25%) and cervical spondylodiscitis (6.25%). The most frequently isolated organism was Mycobacterium tuberculosis (8 patients, 50%), followed by extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (4 patients, 25%), Brucella spp (3 patients, 18.75%), Staphylococcus aureus (1 patient, 6.25%), and Quambalaria cyanescens (1 patient, 6.25%). Totally, in 50% of the patients with thoracolumbar and lumbosacra site involvement, tuberculosis spondylodiscitis was observed, while another 50% of the cases showed complications associated with paravertebral abscess that required surgical drainage. Conclusion: M. tuberculosis was found to be the major cause of infectious spondylodiscitis. Additionally, Quambalaria cyanescens was isolated;this is the second reported case of the organism being isolated and the first associated with spinal infection.