Management of imported complicated urogenital schistosomiasis in Europe: a TropNet retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), a chronic disease characterized by pathology of the urogenital tract leading to potentially severe morbidity for which the treatment is poorly standardized. We conducted a survey in TropNet centres on the clinical presentations and management strategies of complicated urogenital schistosomiasis (cUGS). METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of patients seen at TropNet centres over a 20-year timespan (January 2001-December 2020). Case definition for cUGS included the presence of urogenital cancer, obstructive uropathy, kidney insufficiency of all grades and female or male genital involvement leading to infertility. Collected data included demographic information, patient category (traveller or migrant), imaging data, microbiological data (serology results and presence/absence of eggs in urine), histological features and outcome at last visit recorded. RESULTS: Eight centres contributed with at least one case. Overall, 31 patients matched the inclusion criteria. Sub-Saharan Africa was the most likely place of infection for included patients. Median age was 30.6 years (range 21-46, interquartile ranges, IQR 27-33). Most patients (28/31, 90.3%) were males. Hydronephrosis was the most frequent complication, being present in 18 (58.1%) patients, followed by cancer, present in 5 patients (16.1%); 27 patients (87.1%) required surgical management of some sort. Use of praziquantel varied across centres, with six different regimens employed. DISCUSSION: Very few cases of cUGSs were found in our survey, possibly indicating underdiagnosis of this condition. Hydronephrosis was the most frequently observed urogenital complication, and most patients required invasive procedures. Infection by S. haematobium can result in considerable morbidity, resulting in clinically challenging presentations requiring a multidisciplinary approach. As such, development of common protocols for early diagnosis and treatment is urgently needed.

Usefulness of Genotype MTBDRplus assay in acid-fast bacilli positive smear specimens in Almeria, Spain

Introduction: The urgent need for operational research evaluating test performance in a real-world setting has been highlighted. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the performance of MTBDRplus assay. Materials: According to the reference method, of the 155 clinical specimens with valid results, 147 were susceptible to rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH), with 4 being multi-drug resistant (MDR) and 4 with isolated resistance to isoniazid (INH). Results: The results of the MTBDRplus assay were 100% concordant for the MDR and mono-resistant to INH specimens. However, the MTBDRplus assay showed a resistance pattern to RIF in one specimen which was classified as susceptible by the reference method. The majority of the specimens (118/75.6%) were also tested using the MTBDRplus method after culture on Lowenstein-Jensen media, showing 100% agreement with the results of the test directly from the specimens. An MTBDRplus test result was available within an average of 8 days. Conclusions: Overall, MTBDR results showed excellent results when compared with the reference method and achieved a significant time-reduction

Introducción: Es importante evaluar el desarrollo de los ensayos moleculares en la práctica diaria del laboratorio de microbiología. Materiales: Se incluyeron 155 muestras clínicas con resultado válido. De acuerdo con el método de referencia, 147 fueron sensibles a INH y RIF, 4 MDR y 4 presentaron resistencia aislada a isoniazida. Resultados: Los resultados del ensayo Genotype MTBDRplus fueron concordantes 100% en la muestras MDR y con resistencia aislada a isoniazida. Sin embargo, el ensayo Genotype MTBDRplus demostró un patrón de resistencia a RIF en una muestra que fue sensible por el método de referencia. En 118 muestras (75.6%) también se realizó el ensayo Genotype MTBDRplus sobre la cepa obtenida tras cultivo en medio Lowenstein-Jensen, mostrando un 100% de concordancia con los resultados obtenidos por el test directamente en muestra clínica. De media, los resultados del ensayo Genotype MTBDRplus estuvieron disponibles en 8 días. Conclusiones: En conjunto, el ensayo Genotype MTBDRplus mostró resultados excelentes cuando se comparó con el sistema de referencia y consiguió una reducción significativa en el tiempo de emisión de resultados

Usefulness of Genotype MTBDRplus assay in acid-fast bacilli positive smear specimens in Almeria, Spain.

INTRODUCTION: The urgent need for operational research evaluating test performance in a real-world setting has been highlighted. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the performance of MTBDRplus assay. MATERIALS: According to the reference method, of the 155 clinical specimens with valid results, 147 were susceptible to rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH), with 4 being multi-drug resistant (MDR) and 4 with isolated resistance to isoniazid (INH). RESULTS: The results of the MTBDRplus assay were 100% concordant for the MDR and mono-resistant to INH specimens. However, the MTBDRplus assay showed a resistance pattern to RIF in one specimen which was classified as susceptible by the reference method. The majority of the specimens (118/75.6%) were also tested using the MTBDRplus method after culture on Lowenstein-Jensen media, showing 100% agreement with the results of the test directly from the specimens. An MTBDRplus test result was available within an average of 8 days. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, MTBDR results showed excellent results when compared with the reference method and achieved a significant time-reduction.