Tuberculosis extrapulmonar, una revisión / Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Hasta en un 25% de los casos de tuberculosis existe afectación extrapulmonar. Esta afectación es producida por la diseminación hematógena y linfática del bacilo de M. tuberculosis hacia otros órganos. Las localizaciones más frecuentes son la ganglionar, pleural y osteo-articular. El problema de estas formas de tuberculosis radica en la dificultad para llegar a su diagnóstico definitivo, ya que tanto los síntomas clínicos, como las pruebas de imagen pueden ser inespecíficos. La mayoría de las veces es necesario recurrir a pruebas diagnósticas invasivas como PAAF guiada con ecografía o TAC, para la recolección de muestras biológicas para su diagnóstico. A pesar del auge y el avance, en los últimos años, de los métodos moleculares para la detección precoz de ADN de la micobacteria, el cultivo sigue siendo el gold estándar que permite el diagnóstico microbiológico definitivo. El tratamiento de estas formas de tuberculosis, no va diferir de las pautas de tratamiento de las formas pulmonares. Se recomienda utilizar los mismos regímenes de antibióticos con una duración de 6 meses y únicamente prolongar la duración en las tuberculosis con afectación del sistema nervioso y en la espondilitis tuberculosa con afectación neurológica (AU)

Up to 25% of tuberculosis cases present extrapulmonary involvement. This is produced by haematogenous and lymphatic spread of the M. tuberculosis bacillus to other organs. The most common locations are the lymph nodes, pleura and the osteoarticular system. The problem with these types of tuberculosis is the difficulty in establishing a definitive diagnosis, since the clinical symptoms and results of imaging tests may be vague. It is often necessary to resort to invasive diagnostic testing such as ultrasound or CAT-guided FNAB, used to collect biological samples for diagnosis. Despite the growing use of and advances in recent years of molecular methods for early detection of mycobacteria DNA, cultures continue to be the gold standard that enable a firm microbiological diagnosis to be made. Treatment for these types of tuberculosis do not differ from treatment regimens for pulmonary forms of the same disease. The same antibiotic regimens for 6 months are recommended, and any extension of this period is advisable solely in tuberculosis affecting the central nervous system and in Pott’s disease (AU)

Tuberculosis cutánea en una zona de Mallorca (2003-2011) / Cutaneous tuberculosis in an area of Mallorca (2003-2011)

Antecedentes y objetivo. La tuberculosis constituye un importante problema sanitario, también en nuestro medio. Este estudio sepropone describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis cutánea en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de los casos de tuberculosis cutánea diagnosticados de enero de 2003 a julio de 2011 en un hospital de Mallorca. Se registraron las formas clínicas, la metodología diagnóstica empleada, el tratamiento utilizado y la evolución clínica. Resultados. Se diagnosticaron 28 casos de tuberculosis con afectación cutánea (5,9% del total de tuberculosis), tuberculosis verdadera en 15 casos (14 escrofulodermas, un empiema necessitatis) y tubercúlides en el resto (8 casos de eritema indurado de Bazin y 5 de eritema nodoso). El foco de origen de los escrofulodermas fue ganglionar (10), óseo (4) y pleural (1); 13/28 pacientes eran originarios de otros continentes. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron tratados con 3-4 fármacos tuberculostáticos, evolucionando favorablemente. Conclusión. La tuberculosis cutánea no es infrecuente en nuestro medio. En las tuberculosis cutáneas verdaderas el cultivo es el método diagnóstico más rentable, mientras que en las tubercúlides generalmente la histología es la que proporciona el diagnóstico(AU)

Background and objective. Tuberculosis is an important health care problem, even in our setting. The objective of this study is to describe clinic and epidemiological features of cutaneous tuberculosis in our area. Patients and methods. A retrospective study was performed of all patients diagnosed of cutaneous tuberculosis in a hospital in Mallorca (Spain) from January 2003 to July 2011. The clinical forms, diagnostic methods used, treatment used and clinical course were recorded. Results. Twenty-eight cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were diagnosed (5.9% of the tuberculosis cases diagnosed in this period), 15 with classic cutaneous tuberculosis (14 scrofuloderma, 1 empyema necessitatis) and 13 patients with tuberculids (8 erythema induratum of Bazin disease and 5 erythema nodosum). Scrofulodermas came from lymph nodes in 10 of the patients, infected bone in 4 and pleural in one case; 13/28 patients came from other continents. Most of the patients were treatment with 3-4 tuberculostatic drugs, with favorable course. Conclusions. Cutaneous tuberculosis is not uncommon in our setting. In classic cutaneous tuberculosis culture is the gold standard diagnostic method while tuberculids are most commonly diagnosed by histology(AU)

Liquefaction and cavity formation in pulmonary TB: a simple method in rabbit skin to test inhibitors.

To control tuberculosis in the world today an additional approach would be most welcomed. Preventing (or reducing) pulmonary cavity formation is one such approach that has been almost completely neglected. Pulmonary cavity formation and the extracellular growth of tubercle bacilli in cavities cause bronchial spread of the disease in adult patients and spread of the bacillus to the environment where they infect other people. Therefore, cavity formation perpetuates tuberculosis in mankind. If no cavities form, the patient is much less infectious. Also, cavity formation often allows the tubercle bacillus to multiply (extracellularly) to tremendous numbers. Therefore, in humans almost all multidrug-resistant tubercle bacilli develop in cavities. This communication reviews the literature on liquefaction and cavity formation, and lists some of the responsible hydrolytic enzymes. It also describes a simple method to identify inhibitory pharmaceuticals, i.e., to observe their effect on the liquefaction and ulceration of skin lesions produced in rabbits by ascending concentrations of live or dead tubercle bacilli.

Cutaneous tuberculosis in Indian children: the importance of screening for involvement of internal organs.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Resurgence of skin tuberculosis especially with drug-resistant strains has been well documented in recent years, but this problem has not received much attention in the paediatric age group. Hence, we carried out the present study to analyse the clinical and therapeutic aspects of cutaneous tuberculosis in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed clinical examination, investigations, such as haemogram, serology for HIV, Mantoux test, chest X-ray, cytology, culture and histopathology were carried out in all children. They were treated with antitubercular therapy (WHO regimen), and the clinical response was followed up. RESULTS: Of 142 patients with cutaneous tuberculosis, 68 were children (40 females, 28 males). These children were aged from 9 months to 14 years. The duration of the disease varied from 1 month to 6 years. Family history of tuberculosis was present in 28 (41.2%) of the patients. Scrofuloderma was the most common presentation encountered in 30 (44.1%) patients with preferential involvement of the cervical (56.2%) and inguinal (20%) regions. Fifteen (22.1%) patients had lupus vulgaris, of which the keratotic type was the most common (46.7%), 16 had lichen scrofulosorum, three had tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, and four had more than one type of tuberculosis. Involvement of the lung in 14 (20.6%), bone in seven (10.2%), and both in four (5.9%) was found. Histopathology corroborated the clinical diagnosis in 54 (80.6%), culture was positive in six (8.8%). Fifty (73.5%) patients completed the treatment with an excellent response, no multidrug resistant cases were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous tuberculosis in children continues to be an important cause of morbidity, there is a high likelihood of internal involvement, especially in patients with scrofuloderma. A search is required for more sensitive, economic diagnostic tools. Response to treatment at 4 weeks often helps in substantiating the diagnosis of tuberculosis in doubtful cases.

Is cutaneous tuberculosis infectious? A case presentation and practical management plan.

Infection control measures for cutaneous tuberculosis in the absence of pulmonary disease are problematic. Delays in diagnosis can lead to the exposure of many individuals. This article describes a case of cutaneous tuberculosis and the subsequent contact investigation. Strategies for infection control and their practicality are discussed.

Health and safety at necropsy.

The postmortem room is a source of potential hazards and risks, not only to the pathologist and anatomical pathology technician, but also to visitors to the mortuary and those handling the body after necropsy. Postmortem staff have a legal responsibility to make themselves aware of, and to minimise, these dangers. This review focuses specifically on those hazards and risks associated with the necropsy of infected patients, with foreign objects present in the body, and with bodies that have been contaminated by chemicals or radioactive sources.

Aspectos patológicos de tuberculosis cutánea

No perder de vista que ante un caso de tuberculosis extrapulmonar no debemos concentrarnos a resolver los problemas que atañen exclusivamente al órgano o sistema dañado y privar a estos pacientes de las enormes ventajas de una quimioterapia intensiva.De ahí que, una vez resueltos los problemas particulares de cualquier órgano o sistema atacado, debemos continuar con un esquema quimioterápeutico suficiente y adecuado, a este fin, entendemos que debe haber una íntima relación entre el dermatólogo y el tisiólogo, ya que biológicamente ante la presencia de una forma extrapulmonar de tuberculosis debemos sospechar, hasta que no se demuestre lo contrario, la posibilidad de una diseminación.Por todos estos motivos los médicos debemos recordar que cualquier caso de tuberculosis extrapulmonar debe ser declarado inmediatamente a las dependencias de salud pública, con el objetivo de inciar el contacto con los convivientes, y de esta manera establecer medidas inmediatas de control a fin de cumplir con el principal postulado de la Medicina Preventiva que es "impedir la propagación de enfermedades trasmisibles"(AU)