Extrapulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus Infections, France, 2012-20201.

Mycobacterium abscessus infection is challenging to treat. Extrapulmonary M. abscessus infections (EP-MAB) are less common than pulmonary M. abscessus infections. To evaluate treatment regimens, we retrospectively analyzed consecutive microbiologically confirmed EP-MAB cases diagnosed in France during 2012-2020. We studied 45 patients with EP-MAB, including 14 bone and joint infections, 10 skin and soft tissue infections, and 8 lymph node infections. Most (62%) patients had no reported immunodeficiency. In 27 patients, EP-MAB followed healthcare-associated (44%) or environmental (16%) injuries. Of the 45 isolates, 25 were subspecies abscessus, 10 bolletii, and 9 massiliense; 1 was unidentified. Cure was achieved for 36 (80%) patients who received a median antimicrobial regimen of 6 months; 22 (55%) also underwent surgery. Four patients died, and 5 were unavailable for follow-up. EP-MAB predominantly affects immunocompetent patients after an injury; outcomes are favorable. We propose a >6-month regimen of antimicrobial therapy with consideration for surgery and regular patient reassessment.

Characteristics, management, and outcome of tuberculosis after liver transplant: A case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplant recipients are at risk of tuberculosis, which is particularly difficult-to diagnose and to treat in this population. METHODS: Retrospective study of all cases of tuberculosis diagnosed from 2007 to 2022 in the French network of liver transplant sites. RESULTS: Twenty-three liver transplant recipients were diagnosed with tuberculosis (six females, median age 59 years [interquartile range, 54-62]), with a median time lapse of 10 months [5-40.5] after transplant, and 38 days [26-60] after symptoms onset. Primary modes of pathogenesis were latent tuberculosis reactivation (n = 15) and transplant-related transmission (n = 3). Even though most patients with pre-transplant data had risk factors for tuberculosis (11/20), IFN-gamma release assay was performed in only three. Most cases involved extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (20/23, 87 %). With median follow-up of 63 months [24-108], five patients died (22 %), including four tuberculosis-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is a severe disease in liver transplant recipients. Systematic pre-transplant screening of latent tuberculosis may prevent most of them.

Fulminant hepatitis due to very severe sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD) after autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease, also called sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD), is a potentially fatal complication of allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A plethora of transplant and patient-related risk factors predispose to SOS/VOD and should be taken into account for prognosis assessment as well as for adequate therapeutic intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe the case of a mantle cell lymphoma patient who developed a fulminant hepatitis following oxaliplatin-containing intensive chemotherapy and autologous transplantation. This clinical manifestation was secondary to a very severe SOS/VOD. The patient did not exhibit the usual risk factors and presented a non-classical form with major cytolysis, thus puzzling SOS/VOD diagnosis in this context. CONCLUSION: SOS has been previously reported after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens for colorectal cancers, in particular in patients with colorectal liver metastases. We therefore suspected a potential relationship with oxaliplatin-based regimen as a driver of SOS/VOD in a non-susceptible lymphoma patient. With regards to this case, clinicians and especially intensivists should be aware of this atypical presentation.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis, a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus primary infection: report of two cases and review.

We described two cases of acalculous cholecystitis (AAC), due to EBV primary infection in two young Caucasian women and we reviewed other reported cases. In contrast with AAC of other etiologies, antibiotics and surgery are not useful in the management of AAC secondary to EBV.