Role of socioeconomic factors in developing mycetoma: Results from a household survey in Sennar State, Sudan.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is a chronic, progressively destructive disease of subcutaneous tissues and bones caused by certain species of bacteria or fungi. We conducted a cross-sectional community-based study alongside mapping of mycetoma in five administrative units with high mycetoma endemicity in the Eastern Sennar Locality, Sennar State, Sudan. METHODS: A household survey was administered which included questions about the household members, household characteristics, economic activity and history of mycetoma. A clinical examination was conducted on all members of the household. If mycetoma was suspected, an individual questionnaire was completed collecting demographic, clinical and epidemiological data as well as information on the use of health care and associated costs. Geographical coordinates and photos of the lesions were taken, and the affected persons were referred to the medical centre for confirmation of the diagnosis and treatment. We compared the characteristics of households with confirmed cases of mycetoma with those without confirmed cases, and individuals with confirmed mycetoma with those in whom mycetoma was not confirmed. RESULTS: In total 7,798 households in 60 villages were surveyed; 515 suspected cases were identified and 359 cases of mycetoma were confirmed. Approximately 15% of households with mycetoma had more than one household member affected by this disease. Households with mycetoma were worse off with respect to water supply, toilet facilities, electricity and electrical appliances compared to the survey households. Only 23% of study participants with mycetoma had sought professional help. Of these, 77% of patients travelled an average of six hours to visit a medical facility. More than half of patients had to pay towards their treatment. The estimated average cost of treatment was 26,957 Sudanese pounds per year (566 US dollars, exchange rate 2018). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this survey suggest that agricultural practices and reduced access to sanitation and clean water can be risk factors in developing mycetoma. Poor access to health care and substantial financial costs were barriers to seeking treatment for mycetoma.

Micetoma por Nocardia asteroides / Nocardia Asteroids Mycetoma

Introducción: En 1860 Henry Van Carter introdujo la definición del micetoma y desde 1884 se reportan los primeros casos en África (Sudán, Senegal). Estas infecciones afectan la piel, el tejido celular subcutáneo y, en ocasiones, los músculos, los huesos, y pueden diseminarse por la cavidad torácica, la abdominal, y por otras regiones del cuerpo. Objetivo: Presentar un caso de micetoma por Nocardia asteroides con evolución desfavorable y tratamiento. Presentación del caso: Paciente masculino de 47 años de edad que sufrió hace 18 años un trauma en la rodilla izquierda con herida avulsiva y evolución desfavorable por infección. Diez años después presentó en el mismo sitio múltiples lesiones fistulosas con drenaje activo, secreción serohemática escasa y no fétida. En varias ocasiones fue llevado al salón de operaciones para realizarle debridamientos quirúrgicos y toillete y recibió múltiples tratamientos antibióticos y antifúngicos. Se concluyó el caso como un micetoma y se aisló una Nocardia asteroides. El paciente estuvo en desacuerdo con la amputación de la extremidad como tratamiento quirúrgico definitivo. Llegó a nuestro centro en octubre del 2020 con mal estado general y extensión severa del proceso infeccioso en toda la extremidad. Se planificó una hemipelvectomía como tratamiento definitivo, pero desafortunadamente el paciente falleció antes, debido a complicaciones generales. Conclusiones: Ante la aparición del micetoma es importante definir el alcance de la infección para determinar el tipo de tratamiento a utilizar, ya que bien empleado y de forma oportuna, puede salvar la vida al paciente sin dejar graves secuelas(AU)

Introduction: In 1860, Henry Van Carter introduced the definition of mycetoma and since 1884 the first cases have been reported in Africa (Sudan, Senegal). These infections affect the skin, the subcutaneous cellular tissue and, sometimes, the muscles, the bones, and it can spread throughout the thoracic cavity, the abdominal cavity, and other regions of the body. Objective: To report a case of mycetoma due to nocardia asteroides with unfavorable evolution and treatment. Case report: We report the case of a 47-year-old male patient who suffered a left knee trauma 18 years ago with an avulsive wound and unfavorable evolution due to infection. Ten years later, he presented, in the same site, multiple fistulous lesions with active drainage, scant serohematic, non-fetid secretion. On several occasions he was taken to the operating room for surgical debridement and toilette and he received multiple antibiotic and antifungal treatments. The case was concluded as a mycetoma. Nocardia asteroides was isolated. The patient disagreed with limb amputation as definitive surgical treatment. He came to our treatment center in October 2020 with poor general condition and severe extension of the infectious process throughout the limb. A hemipelvectomy was planned as definitive treatment, but unfortunately the patient deceased before due to general complications. Conclusions: Before the appearance of mycetoma, it is important to define the extent of the infection to determine the type of treatment to use, since it can save the patient's life if properly used and in a timely manner without leaving serious sequelae(AU)

Eumycetoma: A Perspective for Military Primary Care.

This is a case report of a 42-year-old woman who presented to a clinic with a history of progressive left foot and ankle swelling. She had a suspected history of myectoma, but had never been officially diagnosed despite repeated cultures and debridements over the course of decades. The inciting event occurred approximately 30 years prior in her home country of Belize. Her wound culture revealed Scedosporium apiospermum as the causative agent. Treatment included surgical debridement and oral antifungal therapy. This case represents an interesting adjunct to the differential diagnosis for military physicians, as mycetomas are prevalent in many of the areas where our forces are deployed and may only present after the service member has left active service because of its naturally indolent course.

Abdominal wall actinomycotic mycetoma involving the bowel: a rare entity.

Actinomycotic mycetoma is a disease of the tropical region and usually presents as a chronic, suppurative and deforming granulomatous infection. We present an unusual case of actinomycotic mycetoma of the abdominal wall that was found to infiltrate into the bowel. A 51 year-old man presented with pain and swelling in the left flank of 2-year duration. Even after comprehensive preoperative evaluation with advanced radiological imaging, biochemistry and pathology, the diagnosis could not be arrived at. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen after the surgery guided to the diagnosis of actinomycotic mycetoma, which entirely changed the management in the postoperative period. We propose that mycetoma should be kept as a possible differential diagnosis for anterior abdominal wall swelling in the indicated clinical setting and the investigations be done keeping the same in mind. Otherwise, a lot of valuable time may be lost allowing the disease to progress further.

The challenges of recruitment in clinical trials in developing countries: the Mycetoma Research Centre experience.

Mycetoma is a chronic disease caused either by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma). Treatment remains suboptimal and based on personal clinical experience. Recently, the Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC), a WHO Collaborating Centre on mycetoma, began the first-ever double-blind clinical trial. Here, we report the challenges and barriers faced in the recruitment and retention of patients in the MRC experience. Patient recruitment and retention are critical determinants of clinical trial success and yet a substantial number of trials fail to reach their recruitment goals. Recruitment challenges are identified throughout the different stages of the clinical trial, starting from planning, participant screening and intervention, through to retaining participants for the entire study duration. The MRC made efforts to address these challenges to ensure the constant flow of patients. The recruitment committee at the MRC conducted training workshops for the medical staff in the endemic areas, along with regular meetings with health authorities and local leaders. Moreover, telemedicine technology was used to examine patients in endemic areas. Challenges and barriers facing clinical trial conduct need to be examined thoroughly to ensure actionable, evidence-based recommendations for improving patient recruitment and retention. In conclusion, effective patient recruitment and retention are based on three pillars, which are proper clinical trial design and protocol development, realistic and feasible trial site selection, and objective communication with the trial stakeholders.

Mycetoma and the Community Dermatology Program, Mexico.

The Community Dermatology Program established in the state of Guerrero, Mexico for almost 30 y provides an adaptable method of detecting and monitoring skin neglected tropical diseases such as mycetoma, which is endemic in the state. The program utilises general and thematic teaching elements combined with distance learning through teledermatology, direct patient consultations and close collaboration with community teams. Using this approach, a picture of mycetoma in Guerrero has emerged, with a focal hot spot located in the southern part of the state in the Costa Chica region. Although in much of Mexico Nocardia infections dominate, in this area there are also substantial numbers of cases of eumycetoma. This combined approach provides a means of early case detection and long-term surveillance through targeted use of a small specialist team.

Madurella mycetomatis infection of the foot: a case report of a neglected tropical disease in a non-endemic region.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues that can be caused by filamentous bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma). It is the prerogative of young men between the third and fourth decade and is transmitted through any trauma causing an inoculating point. The classic clinical triad associates a painless hard and swelling subcutaneous mass, multiple fistulas, and the pathognomonic discharge of grains. Although endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries, mycetoma can also be found in non-endemic areas as in Morocco, and causes then diagnosis problems leading to long lasting complications. Therefore, we should raise awareness of this neglected disease for an earlier management. Under medical treatment however, mycetoma has a slow healing and surgery is often needed, and relapses are possible. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein we report a case of a 64 years old patient, with a history of eumycetoma occurring ten years ago treated with oral terbinafine coupled with surgery. A complete remission was seen after 2 years. He presented a relapse on the previous scar 6 months ago. There wasn't any bone involvement in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was put under oral terbinafine with a slow but positive outcome. CONCLUSION: Through this case report, we perform a literature review and highlight the importance of increase awareness of mycetoma in clinical practice especially in non-endemic regions.

A novel experimental immunomodulatory therapy against Nocardia brasiliensis in a BALB/c murine model.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is recognized as a neglected tropical disease and there are still therapeutic challenges, especially in cases recalcitrant to standard therapy or with high risk of dissemination. Subcultures have been used previously to decrease the virulence of human pathogens. Previous reports have demonstrated that after carrying out 200 subcultures of Nocardia brasiliensis, a decrease in virulence was observed. AIM: To evaluate the effect of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains on the development of lesions in an established mycetoma infection. METHODS: Female 8-12-week-old BALB/c mice were injected with N. brasiliensis suspension to establish a mycetoma. Sixty mice were selected and divided into three groups: two of these groups were inoculated in the dorsum with N. brasiliensis subcultured 200 and 400 times, respectively, while the third group served as control. The thickness of each lesion was measured with calipers every week for 12 weeks. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, we observed that inoculation of 1 × 105 colony-forming units of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains was able to modify the natural history of the infection, with a decrease in the size of the lesions, particularly with P400, compared with the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this experimental evaluation of an immunomodulatory therapy with attenuated N. brasiliensis strains in a murine model, there was a greater stability in the size of the lesion over time in BALB/c mice inoculated with the P400 strain. This treatment could open the possibility of using the attenuated strain as immunomodulatory therapy in patients recalcitrant to standard therapy, with high risk of dissemination or who develop drug-related adverse effects.

Epidemiological profile and spectrum of neglected tropical disease eumycetoma from Delhi, North India.

Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous, suppurative and progressive inflammatory disease that usually involves the subcutaneous tissue and bones after traumatic inoculation of the causative organism. In India, actinomycotic mycetoma is prevalent in south India, south-east Rajasthan and Chandigarh, while eumycetoma, which constitutes one third of the total cases, is mainly reported from north India and central Rajasthan. The objective was to determine the epidemiological profile and spectrum of eumycetoma from a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, North India. Thirty cases of eumycetoma were diagnosed by conventional methods of direct microscopy, culture and species-specific sequencing as per standard protocol. The spectrum of fungal pathogens included Exophiala jeanselmei, Madurella mycetomatis, Fusarium solani, Sarocladium kiliense, Acremonium blochii, Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium incarnatum, Scedosporium apiospermum complex, Curvularia lunata and Medicopsis romeroi. Eumycetoma can be treated with antifungal therapy and needs to be combined with surgery. It has good prognosis if it is timely diagnosed and the correct species identified by culture for targeted therapy of these patients. Black moulds required prolonged therapy. Its low reporting and lack of familiarity may predispose patients to misdiagnosis and consequently delayed treatment. Hence health education and awareness campaign on the national and international level in the mycetoma belt is crucial.

Isolated Primary Corneal Acremonium Eumycetoma: Case Report and Literature Review.

PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of isolated Acremonium eumycetoma presenting as a protuberant mass over the cornea. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 55-year-old male patient referred to our center with a case of perforated corneal ulcer with uveal tissue prolapse was examined in the casualty department and found to have central melt, approximately 8 mm, along with suspected uveal tissue prolapse. A provisional diagnosis of sloughed corneal ulcer with uveal prolapse was made along with differential diagnoses of fungal ball and infected foreign body granuloma. Tectonic penetrating keratoplasty under general anesthesia was planned. Intraoperatively, the suspected uveal (brown colored) tissue was found to be an epicorneal mass growing over an intact and infiltrated cornea. Histopathological and microbiological analysis of the epicorneal mass and host cornea revealed it to be a fungal ball (mass full of septate hyphae) with growth of Acremonium species on culture. The patient was administered topical and oral antifungal agents postoperatively, in addition to topical antibiotics and cycloplegics. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated corneal Acremonium eumycetoma masquerading as a perforated corneal ulcer with prolapsed uveal tissue is a rare entity. Surgical intervention and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are key to successful outcome.

A holistic approach to the mycetoma management.

Mycetoma, one of the badly neglected tropical diseases, it is a localised chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterised by painless subcutaneous mass and formation of multiple sinuses that produce purulent discharge and grains. If untreated early and appropriately, it usually spread to affect the deep structures and bone resulting in massive damage, deformities and disabilities. It can also spread via the lymphatics and blood leading to distant secondary satellites associated with high morbidity and mortality. To date and despite progress in mycetoma research, a huge knowledge gap remains in mycetoma pathogenesis and epidemiology resulting in the lack of objective and effective control programmes. Currently, the available disease control method is early case detection and proper management. However, the majority of patients present late with immense disease and for many of them, heroic substantial deforming surgical excisions or amputation are the only prevailing treatment options. In this communication, the Mycetoma Research Center (MRC), Sudan shares its experience in implementing a new holistic approach to manage mycetoma patients locally at the village level. The MRC in collaboration with Sennar State Ministry of Health, Sudan had established a region mycetoma centre in one of the endemic mycetoma villages in the state. The patients were treated locally in that centre, the local medical and health personals were trained on early case detection and management, the local community was trained on mycetoma advocacy, and environmental conditions improvement. This comprehensive approach had also addressed the patients' socioeconomic constraints that hinder early presentation and treatment. This approach has also included the active local health authorities, community and civil society participation and contributions to deliver the best management. This holistic approach for mycetoma patients' management proved to be effective for early case detection and management, optimal treatment and treatment outcome and favourable disease prognosis. During the study period, the number of patients with massive lesions and the amputation rate had dropped and that had reduced the disease medical and socioeconomic burdens on patients and families.

Mycetomas: an epidemiological, etiological, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic review.

Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, characterized by a symptomatic triad: tumor, fistulas and grains. It can be caused by fungi (eumycetoma) and bacteria (actinomycetoma), with similar clinical features. Diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and identification of the etiological agents in the tissue, by mycological/bacteriological, histopathological and immunohistochemical tests. It is important to specify the fungal or bacterial etiology, because the treatments are different. An approach that involves early diagnosis, the use of systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents, including surgical removal of lesions, is the basis for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, the most commonly used diagnostic methods and treatments will be discussed. Also, we will review the history of the disease through epidemiological and etiological aspects.

Mycetomas: an epidemiological, etiological, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic review

Abstract: Mycetoma is a chronic suppurative disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, characterized by a symptomatic triad: tumor, fistulas and grains. It can be caused by fungi (eumycetoma) and bacteria (actinomycetoma), with similar clinical features. Diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and identification of the etiological agents in the tissue, by mycological/bacteriological, histopathological and immunohistochemical tests. It is important to specify the fungal or bacterial etiology, because the treatments are different. An approach that involves early diagnosis, the use of systemic antibiotics or antifungal agents, including surgical removal of lesions, is the basis for the treatment of these diseases. In this review, the most commonly used diagnostic methods and treatments will be discussed. Also, we will review the history of the disease through epidemiological and etiological aspects.

Immigration Brings New Pathology with No Standardized Treatment Protocol Madura Foot Case Studies Phialemonium and Phaeoacremonium.

Madura foot is an uncommon invasive soft-tissue infection that foot and ankle specialists encounter. We present two rare cases of Phialemonium and Phaeoacremonium fungi infections of the foot diagnosed in northern California to inform physicians on the presentation and current treatment options for this unique pathology. The two cases presented outline the clinical presentations, diagnostic data, and surgical and antimicrobial interventions. There is a concentration on the antimicrobial options depending on which of the over 20 species is encountered. The pertinent literature and supporting data are reviewed to create an outline for discussion of treatment protocols when faced with these emerging opportunistic infections.