Mycobacteria avium-related peritonitis in a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacteria avium (M. avium) is a species of ubiquitous slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria. It causes opportunistic infections. However, M. avium-related peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old female end-stage kidney disease patient undergoing PD was admitted for a noninfectious complication. She presented catheter exit site drainage and slightly increased PD effluent white cell count (WCC) with polymorphonuclear predominance on admission. Exit site infection and PD-related peritonitis were diagnosed. Repeated cultures of effluent and drainage were negative. Initial empirical antibiotics and further adjustment were not rewarding. PD was terminated 2 weeks later, however, shortly the patient developed stupor, high fever, peritoneal irritation, and spontaneous chylous ascites, and showed elevated ascitic adenosine deaminase (ADA). The manifestations persisted and the patient's general condition deteriorated despite intensified antibiotic therapy. Massive parallel sequencing identified M. avium in ascites on hospital day 25, and 4-drug treatment with azithromycin, amikacin, rifampin, and ethambutol was initiated. Nevertheless, the patient died from sepsis on hospital day 30. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of PD-related M. avium peritonitis. Prolonged culture-negative peritonitis, chylous ascites, and elevated ascitic ADA may hint the possibility of mycobacterial infections. Diagnostic method allowing prompt identification of the pathogen is warranted. The prognosis can be extremely poor, and the prophylaxis and treatment should be better defined.

Use of adenosine deaminase (ADA) to diagnose suspected peritoneal tuberculosis in Rwanda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal tuberculosis is the most common cause of low albumin gradient ascites in developing countries, but it can be easily confused with other causes of ascites. Peritoneal tuberculosis requires early recognition of symptoms and signs in order to make a quick diagnosis for appropriate treatment. Measurement of adenosine deaminase (ADA) level > 39 in ascites fluid is an established test to diagnose peritoneal tuberculosis. Many low-income countries do not currently test for adenosine deaminase in ascites fluid, including Rwanda. METHOD: Cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted through the Internal Medicine Department of three university teaching hospitals in Rwanda. Participants were patients older than 16 years presenting to tertiary referral hospitals with ascites of unknown cause. RESULTS: Of 103 ascites fluid samples collected, 52 of them (50.5%) had an elevated ADA, consistent with a presumptive diagnosis of peritoneal TB. Among those 52 subjects diagnosed with peritoneal TB, 39 out of 52 (75%) did not receive anti-TB medications. Among the 17 subjects who were treated with anti-TB medications, 4 of 17 (23.6%) did not have peritoneal TB based on ADA level. Samples with low-albumin gradient ascites were more likely to have high ADA ≥39 IU/L (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that 3out of 4 patients with PTB in Rwanda are not getting TB treatment and 1 in 4 patients who are taking TB medications do not need it. Even if the true number of Rwandans who are being undertreated and overtreated is less than our study suggests, these results should prompt a larger study of peritoneal tuberculosis. Adding adenosine deaminase (ADA) to the diagnostic tools available to clinicians could help achieve the goal of correctly putting every Rwandan with tuberculosis on treatment, while avoiding unnecessary tuberculosis medications in those who do not have the disease.

Tuberculous peritonitis with infracarinal mass and elevated CA-125 in a 13-year-old girl.

A 13-year-old girl with weight loss and ascites was admitted with suspicion of a malignant disease. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging indicated extensive peritonitis and showed no evidence of a solid tumor. As a new imaging observation, thoracic computed tomography showed a lymphoma-like infracarinal mass and further enlarged lymph nodes in the pathway of draining lymph ducts. A tuberculin skin test and an interferon-gamma blood test were positive, and the tumor marker CA-125 was elevated. Histology of a peritoneal biopsy showed infectious granulomas with central necrosis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis could be cultured, leading to the diagnosis of a tuberculous peritonitis. The girl received multi-drug anti-tuberculous treatment and subsequently recovered. At follow-up the peritonitis and the infracarinal mass had vanished. In conclusion, tuberculous peritonitis is a rare but relevant differential diagnosis in peritonitis of unknown origin. Its diagnosis is facilitated by imaging, by tuberculosis skin and blood tests, and by clinical interpretation.

Increasing serum calcium levels and recent return from transplantation as clues to the tuberculous nature of refractory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis.

Peritoneal tuberculosis is an uncommon complication of peritoneal dialysis in Europe. It is more common in Asian immigrants. A delayed diagnosis is frequent and impairs patient outcomes. We present two cases of peritoneal tuberculosis with common features that may help suspect the disease early countries with a low incidence. Both patients were females (of Spanish origin) who had recently restarted peritoneal dialysis following kidney transplantation. Both developed bacterial peritonitis clinically that was refractory to conventional antibiotics, despite clearance of bacteria. Both stopped calcium-containing phosphate binders because of increasing serum calcium that in one case led to frank hypercalcemia that persisted despite low calcium dialysate. Peritoneal biopsy was the first positive test in both cases. This report emphasizes the recent return from transplantation and rising serum calcium levels as features that should alert the physician of a potential underlying tuberculous peritonitis.

Peritoneal tuberculosis. Radiographic diagnosis.

Peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) is an extrapulmonary form of presentation of tuberculosis. HIV infection is a primary risk factor for this condition. Diagnosis requires microbiological or histopathological confirmation in addition to supporting radiological imaging studies. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT are useful to obtain a radiographic diagnosis, with typical findings including diffuse peritoneal thickening, presence of ascites in varying volumes, adenopathies, and caseating nodes. We report 2 cases of patients with ascites and nodular peritoneal thickening on diagnostic images, as well as high CA-125 levels in laboratory tests. In both patients, a diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was reached following a US-guided peritoneal biopsy.

Mycobacterium abscessus peritonitis associated with laparoscopic gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapidly growing Mycobacterium that is a common water contaminant in the environment. We report a case of M. abscessus infection with band erosion following laparoscopic gastric banding. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old woman developed insidiously progressing abdominal distension over a period of 1 year associated with abdominal pain, fatigue, night sweating and anorexia 4 years after laparoscopic gastric banding for obesity. Investigation revealed significant ascites with caseating granuloma in peritoneal biopsies from which M. abscessus was isolated. Band erosion with infection and multiple abdominal adhesions were confirmed during laparoscopic removal of the gastric band. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of M. abscessus infection after laparoscopic gastric banding surgery. We discuss the possible sources of infection, its indolent presentation, and therapeutic challenges. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider environmentally acquired infection in patients with signs and symptoms of infection in the presence of surgical prosthesis.

Peritoneal tuberculosis due to multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been widely reported throughout the world, but there are very few data regarding children. We describe the case of a 14-year-old Peruvian adolescent who had been living in Italy since the age of 8 years and was diagnosed as having peritoneal tuberculosis (TB). While she was receiving first-line anti-TB therapy, she developed pyrazinamide-associated thrombocytopenia and cultures revealed a multidrug-resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pyrazinamide, rifampicin and isoniazid were replaced by moxifloxacin, which was continued for 9 months together with ethambutol. The patient recovered without experiencing any drug-related adverse event or the recurrence of TB in the following year. In conclusion, this case illustrates some of the problems that can arise when multidrug-resistant TB has to be treated in children and adolescents, and also highlights the fact that further studies are needed to clarify which drugs should be used and for how long.

[The symptoms and surgical tactics for complicated forms of the abdominal cavity tuberculosis].

The results of treatment of 12 patients, suffering complicated forms of abdominal tuberculosis and external intestinal fistulas, were presented. Late diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis in the patients, suffering the complications phase of the disease, is caused by unclear symptoms presence in early stages of the disease. Clinical and laboratory indices in peritonitis of a phthisis origin are nonspeciphic. In 91% of patients, admitted to the hospital for complicated forms of abdominal tuberculosis and external intestinal fistulas, the operative treatment was indicated. Surgical intervention (more frequently right-sided hemicolectomy, enterostomy, the abscesses opening, the caseously-changed lymph nodes excision, formation of anastomosis) was performed in 11 patients for peritonitis and external intestinal fistulas. The method of a secure invagination anastomoses formation was elaborated, permitting to perform primary restoration operations. An early diagnosis, early effective therapy and radical surgical intervention conduction for complicated abdominal tuberculosis promote the patients to survive.

Diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for abdominal tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We performed a meta-analysis to determine diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosis of abdominal (intestinal or peritoneal) tuberculosis (TB) in various tissues (intestinal, omental/peritoneal tissue or ascitic fluid). METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for observational studies on use of Xpert MTB/RIF in ascitic fluid, peritoneal, or omental tissue for diagnosis of peritoneal and intestinal TB. We calculated the pooled sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio of Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosis of peritoneal TB in comparison to composite reference standard (CRS) and culture, and in comparison to CRS for intestinal TB. RESULTS: Twenty-five observational studies were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity as assessed with peritoneal culture from ascites as an Index test was 64% (95% Confidence Interval [C.I.] 49-76%) and 97% (95% C.I., 95-99%) respectively and with peritoneal CRS was 30% (95% C.I., 22-40%) and 100% (95% C.I., 98-100%) respectively. In the intestinal group, the pooled sensitivity and specificity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 23% (95% C.I., 16-32%) and 100% (95% C.I., 52-100%). The AUC of peritoneal culture and intestinal tissue was 0.935 and 0.499. CONCLUSION: Xpert MTB/RIF has modest sensitivity for diagnosis of peritoneal and intestinal tuberculosis but has a good specificity. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42020140545.

[Tuberculous peritonitis in HIV-infected patients]. / Peritonitis tuberculosa en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.

UNLABELLED: In order to describe the clinical and laboratory findings of Mycobacterium tuberculosis peritonitis M. tuberculosis in HIV+ patients, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of HIV+ patients with isolation of M. tuberculosis from ascitic fluid (AF), assisted at Hospital Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina (1996-2005). RESULTS: 21 patients were included. Median age: 33, male sex: 52%; peripheral blood CD4-T lymphocyte count (median): 85/mm3; prior history of tuberculosis: 40%; cirrhosis: 65%; enolism: 45%; HCV coinfection: 85%. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal distension (71%), fever (62%) and abdominal pain (19%). The chemical characteristics of the AF were (median): leukocyte count: 751/mm3 (mononuclear predominance: 79%), protein: 3.1 g/dl, LDH: 351 IU/l. AF samples positive for acid fast bacilli at direct microscopic examination: 14%. Infection with multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis (TB-MR): 20%. M. tuberculosis was isolated from other clinical samples in 79%. Fifteen patients received treatment for tuberculosis; in 30% of cases, it was not appropriate due to the susceptibility of the isolated strain. Overall mortality was 66.4%. CONCLUSION: high mortality was observed, which may be attributable to the high frequency of TB-MR, the level of immunosuppression and the prevalence of cirrhosis secondary to enolism and/or HCV coinfection.

Tuberculous peritonitis in cirrhotic patients: comparison of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by Escherichia coli with tuberculous peritonitis.

The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of tuberculous peritonitis (TP) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic patients. In a retrospective review of the medical records of a single tertiary hospital between 1988 and 2006, 15 patients met the diagnostic criteria TP and liver cirrhosis. For comparison, we randomly selected 3 cirrhotic patients with SBP caused by Escherichia coli for each cirrhotic patient with TP. Compared to SBP, TP in cirrhotic patients was more frequently associated with extra-peritoneal tuberculosis (TP vs SBP: 53.3% vs 0%), an insidious onset (> or =2 weeks; 60% vs 2.2%), and Child-Pugh classification class B at onset (80% vs 8.9%) (p<0.05). Compared to SBP, TP was associated with lower white blood cell count in ascites (TP vs SBP: 2.0+/-2.2 x 10(3)/mm(3) vs 7.2+/-7.5 x 10(3)/mm(3)), a higher proportion of mononuclear leukocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes) in ascites (88.9+/-9.5% vs 16.6+/-15.3%), higher protein concentration in ascites (3.1+/-1.7 g/dl vs 1.2+/-0.3 g/dl), and higher adenosine deaminase activity in ascites (62.3+/-31.8 U/l vs 6.9+/-3.1 U/l) (p<0.05). TP should be suspected in cirrhotic patients with relevant clinical manifestations and characteristics of ascites.

[Peritoneal tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in a cirrhotic patient]. / Tuberculosis peritoneal por Mycobacterium bovis en paciente cirrótico.

Isolated peritoneal tuberculosis is an uncommon extrapulmonary form of presentation of tuberculosis in industrialized countries. In most cases, this disease is the result of reactivation and secondary hematogenous spread of a latent infection. Although the suspected diagnosis is given by clinical manifestations and analysis of ascitic fluid (lymphocytic predominance, albumin gradient between serum and ascitic fluid 1g/dl and adenosine deaminase concentration > or = 39 U/L), microbiologic assessment is required for the definitive diagnosis. Mycobacterium bovis causes tuberculosis in animals. Transmission to humans is rare in developed areas, given that it usually occurs through ingestion of unpasteurized contaminated milk. We present a patient with cirrhosis who developed ascites caused by an exceptional infection in our setting.

Inflammatory bowel disease and mycobacteria: how much can we trust isoniazid prophylaxis during antitumor necrosis factor therapy?

OBJECTIVES: Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis is recommended for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation before or/and during initiation of treatment with tumour necrosis factor antagonists (anti-TNF agents). Nonetheless, the long-term effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis is not clear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients who developed TB reactivation in spite of INH prophylaxis associated with anti-TNF treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, medical records of 1263 patients with inflammatory bowel disease were reviewed. Baseline TB screening tests (purified protein derivative test and/or QuantiFERON-TB Gold test) were performed on all patients before initiation of anti-TNF therapy. Patients with purified protein derivative of more than 5 mm and/or a positive result of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold test received INH prophylaxis for 9 months. We analysed the data of patients diagnosed with TB reactivation during the anti-TNF treatment despite INH chemoprophylaxis. RESULTS: Overall, 175 patients underwent anti-TNF treatment. Sixty of these 175 patients had pretreatment testing showing latent TB infection and therefore were treated concomitantly with INH for 9 months in addition to their anti-TNF treatment. TB reactivation occurred in four of these 60 co-INH/anti-TNF treated patients. Active TB was diagnosed after 37.5±27 (range: 18-84) months of anti-TNF treatment. In two of the four patients that active TB was diagnosed, was also detected other Mycobacterium spp.: M. bovis in one patient and M. genavense in the other one. CONCLUSION: INH chemoprophylaxis may not prevent the reactivation of TB during anti-TNF therapy in the long-term. Patients should be carefully and periodically screened for TB reactivation during anti-TNF therapy.