Invasive Propionibacterium acnes infections in a non-selective patient cohort: clinical manifestations, management and outcome.

An increasing number of reports suggest that Propionibacterium acnes can cause serious invasive infections. Currently, only limited data exist regarding the spectrum of invasive P. acnes infections. We conducted a non-selective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in the UK over a 9-year-period (2003-2012) investigating clinical manifestations, risk factors, management, and outcome of invasive P. acnes infections. Forty-nine cases were identified; the majority were neurosurgical infections and orthopaedic infections (n = 28 and n = 15 respectively). Only 2 cases had no predisposing factors; all neurosurgical and 93.3 % of orthopaedic cases had a history of previous surgery and/or trauma. Foreign material was in situ at the infection site in 59.3 % and 80.0 % of neurosurgical and orthopaedic cases respectively. All neurosurgical and orthopaedic cases required one or more surgical interventions to treat P. acnes infection, with or without concomitant antibiotic therapy; the duration of antibiotic therapy was significantly longer in the group of orthopaedic cases (median 53 vs 19 days; p = 0.0025). All tested P. acnes isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin and chloramphenicol; only 1 was clindamycin-resistant. Neurosurgical and orthopaedic infections account for the majority of invasive P. acnes infections. Most cases have predisposing factors, including previous surgery and/or trauma; spontaneous infections are rare. Foreign material is commonly present at the site of infection, indicating that the pathogenesis of invasive P. acnes infections likely involves biofilm formation. Since invasive P. acnes infections are associated with considerable morbidity, further studies are needed to establish effective prevention and optimal treatment strategies.

Clinical standards for drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: These clinical standards aim to provide guidance for diagnosis, treatment, and management of drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents.METHODS: Fifty-two global experts in paediatric TB participated in a Delphi consensus process. After eight rounds of revisions, 51/52 (98%) participants endorsed the final document.RESULTS: Eight standards were identified: Standard 1, Age and developmental stage are critical considerations in the assessment and management of TB; Standard 2, Children and adolescents with symptoms and signs of TB disease should undergo prompt evaluation, and diagnosis and treatment initiation should not depend on microbiological confirmation; Standard 3, Treatment initiation is particularly urgent in children and adolescents with presumptive TB meningitis and disseminated (miliary) TB; Standard 4, Children and adolescents should be treated with an appropriate weight-based regimen; Standard 5, Treating TB infection (TBI) is important to prevent disease; Standard 6, Children and adolescents should receive home-based/community-based treatment support whenever possible; Standard 7, Children, adolescents, and their families should be provided age-appropriate support to optimise engagement in care and clinical outcomes; and Standard 8, Case reporting and contact tracing should be conducted for each child and adolescent.CONCLUSION: These consensus-based clinical standards, which should be adapted to local contexts, will improve the care of children and adolescents affected by TB.

Tuberculous dactylitis--an easily missed diagnosis.

The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) continues to rise worldwide. Current migration patterns and increased travel to high-prevalence TB countries will result in more frequent presentations of less common forms of TB. Tuberculous dactylitis, a form of tuberculous osteomyelitis, is well recognised in countries with a high prevalence of TB. We provide a systematic review of all published cases of tuberculous dactylitis in children and adolescents and describe a case to illustrate the typical features of the disease. Our review revealed 37 cases of tuberculous dactylitis in children and adolescents, all reported in the last 17 years. Children less than 10 years of age are most frequently affected and the hand is the most commonly affected site. Concurrent pulmonary TB is present in a fifth of cases and systemic symptoms are usually absent. Positive TST and IGRA support the presumptive diagnosis, but cannot be used as rule-out tests. The definitive diagnosis relies on the detection M. tuberculosis by PCR or culture. Treatment should comprise of a standard three to four drug anti-tuberculous regimen. The optimal treatment duration remains unknown. Surgery has a limited role in the treatment in general but may play a supportive role, and curettage of the cavity has been recommended for avascular lesions.

Management of child MDR-TB contacts across countries in the WHO European Region: a survey of current practice.

The World Health Organization European Region has one of the highest rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the world, resulting in many vulnerable children being exposed each year. Evidence for preventive therapy following MDR-TB exposure is limited and current guidance is conflicting. An internet-based survey was performed to determine clinical practice in this region. Seventy-two clinicians from 25 countries participated. Practices related to screening and decision-making were highly variable. Just over half provided preventive therapy for children exposed to MDR-TB; the only characteristic associated with provision was practice within the European Union (adjusted OR 4.07, 95%CI 1.33-12.5).

European shortage of purified protein derivative and its impact on tuberculosis screening practices.

SETTING: In June 2014, we became aware that shortages of purified protein derivative (PPD), the test substance used for the tuberculin skin test (TST), had occurred in several European health care institutions providing care for children with tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To establish the extent of the shortage, a survey was performed. DESIGN: Survey conducted over a 1-month period (June-July 2014) among members of the Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet). RESULTS: Thirty-five physicians from 23 European countries contributed data. The most commonly used PPD product was RT23 (Statens Serum Institut; n = 22, 63%). Twenty-one (60%) participants reported that their institution was experiencing a PPD shortage. The majority (n = 17, 81%) of those reporting a shortage were using RT23. Thirteen (37%) participants reported changes in screening practices resulting from the shortage, including sourcing PPD from alternative manufacturers, restricting remaining supplies to patients at greatest risk or replacing TST by an interferon-gamma release assay. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that a PPD shortage occurred in 2014, affecting multiple European countries. The shortage resulted in changes in TB screening capabilities and practices, potentially compromising both patient care as well as public health efforts. Appropriate actions to prevent future PPD shortages should be explored urgently by public health agencies and key stakeholders.

Absence of interferon-gamma release assay conversion following tuberculin skin testing.

BACKGROUND: The tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the established screening method for tuberculosis (TB) for over a century. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) using Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens are increasingly used as diagnostic tests for TB. Tuberculin comprises multiple antigens, including the antigens used in the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay. Exposure to these antigens by means of a TST may prime an immune response that leads to a false-positive result in a subsequent IGRA, limiting the validity of IGRAs in patients in whom these tests are performed sequentially. The current data on the influence of prior TST on IGRAs show inconsistent results. METHODS: Sixteen non-bacille Calmette-Guérin immunised medical students with no history of TB exposure and minimal risk of exposure to TB during the study period were tested simultaneously with a TST and QFT-GIT. The QFT-GIT assay was repeated 6 and 10 weeks later. RESULTS: At baseline, all TST and QFT-GIT results were negative and remained negative 6 and 10 weeks after the TST. CONCLUSION: These data show that negative QFT-GIT results are reproducible and suggest that a TST does not result in conversion of subsequent QFT-GIT assays in the absence of concomitant TB exposure. Therefore, a positive QFT-GIT should not be attributed to boosting induced by a previous TST.