Tuberculosis mycobacterial diseases

Detection of Rifampicin-Resistant Strains of Tuberculosis Rifampicin is an important antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis, as well as other mycobacterial diseases. 

Background Tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy are perhaps the best known mycobacterial diseases. The development of antibiotics in the past fifty years has changed the therapy of tuberculosis from strict bed rest for a year or longer to oral antibiotics taken as an outpatient. In addition, antituberculosis drugs are now taken prophytactically to prevent fulminant TB in patients who may have been infected with mycobacteria. 

Mycobacteria, in addition to being responsible for human tuberculosis and leprosy, are important pathogens in other animals. Unlike most other bacteria, mycobacteria are able to survive ingestion by white cells and successfully parasitise the host. The extent to which each species is present within the phagocyte or extracellularly varies amongst mycobacterial diseases and the host species, for example in severe cases of... 

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a variety of non-tuberculous mycobacteria has been observed in HSC transplant recipients (Navari et al. 1983 Mohite et al. 2001). Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection can occur after HSC transplantation, but the incidence in the reported series is lower than that of other infections (Roy and Weisdorf 1997 Aljurf et al. 1999 Mohite et al. 2001). Overall, the incidence of tuberculosis has bee reported to be between 0.19% and 5.5% of cases (Martino et al. 1996 Roy and Weisdorf 1997). Reports of non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease in both HSC and solid organ transplant recipients have also increased (Ozkaynak et al. 1990 Busch et al. 1991 Doucette and Fishman 2004). 

Acute epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis) fungal diseases of ocular structures vaccinia, varicella and most other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva ocular tuberculosis hypersensitivity after uncomplicated removal of a superficial corneal foreign body mycobacterial eye infection acute, purulent, untreated eye infections that may be masked or enhanced by the presence of steroids. 

Chronic tuberculous arthritis is not at all rare in developing countries. Mycobacterial tuberculosis can directly or indirectly affect the musculoskeletal system. Most commonly there is a direct musculoskeletal involvement of M. tuberculosis which may lead to spondylitis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis and tenosynovitis. M. tuberculosis has become an important pathogen in rheumatic diseases since the use of anti-TNF-a biopharmaceuticals was introduced. 

Note The treatment of mycobacterial infections has become an even more important and challenging problem because of the emergence of multiple-drug-resistant organisms and because of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic, which has been associated with a marked increase in tuberculosis and infection caused by the M. avium complex. Because the microorganisms grow slowly and the diseases often are chronic, patient compliance, drug toxicity, and the development of microbial resistance present special therapeutic problems. 

Ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin are effective for gonococcal infection, including disseminated disease, and ofloxacin is effective for chlamydial urethritis or cervicitis. Ciprofloxacin is a second-line agent for legionellosis. Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin is occasionally used for treatment of tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections. They may be suitable for eradication of meningococci from carriers or for prophylaxis of infection in neutropenic patients. 

PMF (complicated CWP) is associated with significant decreases in lung function and oxygen-diffusing capacity. PMF is also associated with breathlessness, chronic bronchitis, recurrent chest Alness, and episodes of heart failure. Coal miners with siUcotic lesions or PMF have an increased risk of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections. PMF may progress even in the absence of further dust exposure. This disease is also associated with increased mortality (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH] 1995). 

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