Tularemia: A Case Series of Patients Diagnosed at the National Reference Center for Rickettsioses From 2008 to 2017.
Open Forum Infect Dis
; 7(11): ofaa440, 2020 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33209946
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic aspects of 177 tularemia cases diagnosed at the National Reference Center for rickettsioses, coxiellosis, and bartonelloses between 2008 and 2017.METHODS:
All patients with a microbiological diagnosis of tularemia made in the laboratory were included. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected retrospectively from clinicians in charge of patients using a standardized questionnaire. Diagnostic methods used were indirect immunofluorescence serology, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and universal PCR targeting the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene.RESULTS:
The series included 54 females and 123 males (sex ratio, 2.28; mean age, 47.38 years). Eighty-nine (50.2%) were confirmed as having tularemia on the basis of a positive Francisella tularensis PCR or seroconversion, and 88 (49.8%) were considered as probable due to a single positive serum. The regions of France that were most affected included Pays de la Loire (22% of cases), Nouvelle Aquitaine (18.6% of cases), and Grand Est (12.4% of cases). Patients became infected mainly through contact with rodents or game (38 cases, 21.4%), through tick-bites (23 cases, 12.9%), or during outdoor leisure activities (37 cases, 20.9%). Glandular and ulceroglandular forms were the most frequent (109 cases, 61.5%). Two aortitis, an infectious endocarditis, a myocarditis, an osteoarticular infection, and a splenic hematoma were also diagnosed. Tularemia was discovered incidentally in 54.8% of cases. Seventy-eight patients were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported.CONCLUSIONS:
Our data suggest that in an endemic area and/or in certain epidemiological contexts, tularemia should be sought to allow an optimized antibiotic therapy and a faster recovery.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Open Forum Infect Dis
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Francia