Two Difficult Pandemics: Tuberculosis and COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The coinfection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 is called tuberculosis and COVID-19 coinfection (TB-COVID-19). We aimed to share the clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings and treatment processes of our patients with TB-COVID-19 coinfection in our tertiary reference hospital. METHODS: Patients aged 18 years and over and hospitalized in the tuberculosis service between March 2020 and September 2022 were included. All coinfected patients whose COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction results were positive while receiving tuberculosis treatment or who were diagnosed with tuberculosis while receiving treatment for COVID-19 were included. RESULTS: The number of patients was 39; 61.6% of males; the mean age was 52 ± 17.1 years; 20% were foreign nationals; 92.5% were Asian; 69.5% had a bacteriological diagnosis; 84.6% had pulmonary tuberculosis; 10% had received antituberculosis treatment before; and 87.5% were sensitive to the first-line antituberculosis drugs. The most common comorbidities were diabetes and hypertension. 87.5% of the patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis and were superinfected with COVID-19 while receiving tuberculosis treatment. 49.5% of patients had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The most common presenting symptom was cough and sputum; the prominent laboratory parameter was C-reactive protein increase, and thorax computed tomography finding was consolidation, tree-in-bud, and cavitation. While 45.9% of the patients were still under treatment, 1 (2.5%) patient also resulted in mortality. CONCLUSION: In this study, attention was drawn to two infectious diseases seen with respiratory tract symptoms. The mortality rate was found to be low. Neither disease was found to be a factor aggravating the course of each other.

Drug hypersensitivity in drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate drug resistant tuberculosis patients who developed drug hypersensitivity to antituberculosis drug. Methods: This was a retrospective study. The primary aim of the study is to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who develop drug hypersensitivity in drug resistant tuberculosis patients. The secondary aim of the study is to examine the treatment results. Demographic features, tuberculosis diagnostic indicator, clinical signs of developing hypersensitivity reaction, reaction time, and treatment were evaluated. Results: A total of 25 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of hypersensitivity in drug resistance patients was 11.9%. Twelve (48%) of the cases were women. Mean age (mean ± SD) was 37.24 ± 14.44 years; early type hypersensitivity reaction in 13 (52%). Three patients were isoniazid resistant; 19 patients were multidrug-resistant (MDR); 2 patients were pre-extensive drug resistant (Pre-XDR), 1 patient was extensive drug resistance (XDR) tuberculosis. The most common skin findings were maculopapular eruption and urticaria. But also we had seen isole angiodema, urticaria and angioedema, erythema multiforme, lichenoid drug eruption and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. In patients who developed a hypersensitivity reaction, the responsible agent was identified in 14 cases in total. Among the drugs, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, moxifloxacin, amikacin, para amino salicylic, prothionamide, and cycloserine are the responsible agents. When evaluated in terms of treatment results, 15 (60%) patients successfully completed the treatment. Conclusion: Our study is the first study in the literature that evaluated the drug hypersensitivity in drug resistance tuberculosis patients. Drug hypersensitivity that develops with tuberculosis treatment may lead to discontinuation or change in treatment. It can cause treatment failure, drug resistance, relapse, and even death. In resistant tuberculosis, the already existing resistance pattern may become more difficult to treat. Success can be achieved with the right management in these patients who have few treatment options, more drug side effects, and high treatment failure rates. The established regimen should be curative and prevent recurrence.

Picturing asthma in Turkey: results from the Turkish adult asthma registry.

INTRODUCTION: National data on asthma characteristics and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma seem to be necessary for every country. For this purpose, we developed the Turkish Adult Asthma Registry for patients with asthma aiming to take a snapshot of our patients, thereby assigning the unmet needs and niche areas of intervention. METHODS: Case entries were performed between March 2018 and March 2022. A web-based application was used to record data. Study outcomes were demographic features, disease characteristics, asthma control levels, and phenotypes. RESULTS: The registry included 2053 patients from 36 study centers in Turkey. Female subjects dominated the group (n = 1535, 74.8%). The majority of the patients had allergic (n = 1158, 65.3%) and eosinophilic (n = 1174, 57.2%) asthma. Six hundred nineteen (32.2%) of the patients had obese asthma. Severe asthma existed in 670 (32.6%) patients. Majority of cases were on step 3-5 treatment (n: 1525; 88.1%). Uncontrolled asthma was associated with low educational level, severe asthma attacks in the last year, low FEV1, existence of chronic rhinosinusitis and living in particular regions. CONCLUSION: The picture of this registry showed a dominancy of middle-aged obese women with moderate-to-severe asthma. We also determined particular strategic targets such as low educational level, severe asthma attacks, low FEV1, and chronic rhinosinusitis to decrease uncontrolled asthma in our country. Moreover, some regional strategies may also be needed as uncontrolled asthma is higher in certain regions. We believe that these data will guide authorities to reestablish national asthma programs to improve asthma service delivery.

Tuberculosis treatment-related lichenoid drug eruptions.

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases in adults worldwide. Drug hypersensitivity in tuberculosis is an important problem affecting the treatment process. Although treatment is started with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide in drug-sensitive tuberculosis patients, it may not always be continued in this way. When hypersensitivity develops under antituberculosis treatment, type 4 hypersensitivity is the most common, and maculopapular drug eruption develops as a subgroup. Lichenoid drug eruption is very rare. We present our case who was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, who developed lichenoid drug eruption while receiving treatment, and whose treatment was completed by giving the new regimen with successful desensitization.

Management of type 1 immediate hypersensitivity reactions to antituberculosis drug: succesful desensitization.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the prevalence of type 1 hypersensitivity reaction under tuberculosis treatment and the management of hypersensitivity. METHODS: The study is a case series. All of the patients who were hospitalized between 01.02.2015-01.05.2021 were examined. All patients who developed a drug-induced type 1 immediate hypersensitivity reaction were included. Antituberculosis drugs were given with the protocol made by Buhari et al. However, unlike what is stated in the protocol, pyrazinamide was given last during the administration of the drugs. RESULTS: 2677 patients received inpatient tuberculosis treatment; type 1 immediate hypersensitivity reactions were seen in 94 (3.5%) patients. Due to missing data in the file, 81 patients were included in the study. 44 (54.3%) of the cases were women; mean age (mean ± SD) 50.7 ± 17.69 years; 76 (93.8%) of them are citizens of the Republic of Turkey; 58 (71.6%) of them were diagnosed bacteriologically; 65 (80.2%) of them were pulmonary tuberculosis. The most common skin finding was urticaria in 49 (60.5%). The drug responsible for the most common reaction was pyrazinamide. In 49 (60.5%) cases, drugs were given by desensitization and it was successful. The duration of treatment was 7.91 ± 2.5 months (6-18 months). When evaluated in terms of treatment results, 68 (84%) patients successfully completed the treatment. CONCLUSION: Our study is the largest series of patients who developed type 1 immediate hypersensitivity reaction while receiving antituberculosis treatment. A practical, easy desensitization scheme has been shared.

Treatment and management of hypersensitivity reactions developed against anti-tuberculosis drug.

Background: The World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Report 2021 defines tuberculosis as the second infectious disease that causes sickness and death after COVID 19 and ranks it as the 13th among the global causes of death. However, the prevalence of the patients developing a hypersensitivity reaction against antituberculosis treatment is yet unknown. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of drug allergy against antituberculosis treatment and the management of such a problem. Methods: This is a case--control study. All patients hospitalized in the tuberculosis inpatient service between February 01, 2015 and May 01, 2021 due to hypersensitivity reaction or who developed hypersensitivity during hospitalization were included in the case group. Patients who received inpatient treatment between the same dates and did not develop any drug allergy were included in the control group. The demographic characteristics of the patients, the tuberculosis diagnostic indicator, the type of hypersensitivity reaction that developed, the duration of the manifestation of the reaction and its treatment were evaluated for the purpose of the study. Results: A total of 2677 patients were hospitalized in the tuberculosis inpatient service between the specified dates. Two hundred and ten patients were consulted for drug hypersensitivity reactions in the Allergy Clinic. The prevalence of drug allergy in inpatients was calculated as 7.8%. One hundred and forty-eight patients examined by the authors were included in the study. Seventy-nine of the 148 patients (53.4%) who developed a hypersensitivity reaction were male, the mean age of these patients was 47.20 ± 18.95 years, 89.2% (n = 132) were citizens of the Republic of Turkey, 7.4% (n = 11) of the patients had received tuberculosis treatment before, 16.9% (25) had developed antituberculosis drug resistance and the bacteriological diagnosis was present in 79.7% (118) of the patients. Chi-square test results applied in the allergy group revealed that the risk of developing a hypersensitivity reaction is statistically significantly higher in female patients (P < 0.001), Turkish citizen patients (P = 0.004), in new cases (P = 0.017), in the group not diagnosed bacteriologically (histopathologically, clinically, and radiologically) (P = 0.006). The results of the logistic regression analysis performed also revealed that the risk of developing a hypersensitivity reaction is statistically significantly higher in female patients (P = 0.006), Turkish citizen patients (P = 0.023), in new cases (P = 0.017) and in the group not diagnosed bacteriologically (histopathologically, clinically, and radiologically) (P = 0.006). The success of the treatment was higher in the group that developed a hypersensitivity reaction compared to the control group. About 63.5% (94) of the patients examined developed Type I hypersensitivity reactions, whereas 36.7% (53) of the patients examined developed Type IV hypersensitivity reactions. Type I and Type IV reactions were observed simultaneously in a single patient. Considering the prevalence of developing a hypersensitivity reaction, pyrazinamide was determined as the drug inducing the hypersensitivity reaction in 25 (48.1%) patients. This figure was 15 patients (28.2%) for rifampicin, nine patients (17.3%) for isoniazid, and five patients (9.6%) for ethambutol. As a result, even patients who developed Type I or Type IV reactions were able to complete their antituberculous drug regimens with successful desensitization. Conclusion: The risk of developing an allergic reaction in patients who are administered on antituberculosis treatment is common, particularly in the first 2 months of treatment. However, we believe that the compliance of the patients to the antituberculosis treatment has been improved at the end of appropriate management of hypersensitivity reactions and the treatment results in success.