Introduction: Chest X-ray (CXR) has been used since long as an aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and also to determine the extent of the disease. The present study was conducted to evaluate the correlation of disease extent on CXR based on the Timika CXR score with clinical and microbiological parameters at baseline, in sputum positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Material and methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral centre for chest diseases in Bangalore, Karnataka from January 2017 to January 2018. This is a prospective study of new sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases diagnosed in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. At baseline, patients' symptoms and signs on chest auscultation were recorded. The clinical scoring was done by the Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and TB score I (Bandim TB score) and II. Baseline CXR postero-anterior (PA) view of each patient was assessed independently by two chest physicians and evaluated by the Timika CXR scoring method. Routine blood investigations and sputum smear for acid fast bacilli were done. The correlation between the CXR score and other disease severity parameters was analysed. Results: Clinical scores such as the KPS and TB score I and II, did not correlate with the presence of cavitary disease on CXR (p > 0.05). 48.6% of patients with cavitary disease had higher baseline AFB density in sputum (i.e. sputum smear microscopy grade 3+) as compared to 40% of patients with non cavitary disease, which was not statistically significant. CXR score > 71 was significantly associated with longer duration of symptoms, higher clinical scores (KPS and TB score I, II) and lower Body Mass Index (BMI) at diagnosis of PTB (p < 0.05). 65.2% of the patients with CXR score > 71 had significantly higher baseline AFB density as compared to only 32.4% with CXR score ≤ 71 (p < 0.04). CXR score > 71 also had significant association with higher ESR. Conclusion: Cavitary disease on CXR is associated with a higher mycobacterial load at baseline. The Timika CXR score is a simple, standard scoring system which can be used by a chest physician in a clinical setting. The CXR score significantly correlates with a broad range of clinical and microbiological measures of disease severity in PTB patients. Thus, it has a role in risk stratification, especially in patients not producing sputum or sputum negative PTB at diagnosis.
Wstęp: Radiogram klatki piersiowej jest od dawna używany w diagnostyce gruźlicy i służy również do oceny rozległości zmian. Prezentowane badanie przeprowadzono w celu oceny korelacji pomiędzy rozległością zmian w badaniu radiologicznym ocenianą na podstawie punktacji według Timika a wyjściowymi parametrami klinicznymi i mikrobiologicznymi u chorych na gruźlicę płuc potwierdzoną badaniem plwociny. Materiał i metody: Badanie przeprowadzono w trzeciorzędowym ośrodku referencyjnym dla chorób płuc w Bangalore, Karnataka w okresie od stycznia 2017 do stycznia 2018 roku. Miało ono charakter prospektywny i obejmowało chorych na gruźlicę płuc z dodatnim wynikiem rozmazu plwociny w kierunku obecności prątków, diagnozowanych na oddziale pulmonologicznym. Na wizycie początkowej odnotowano objawy podmiotowe i osłuchowe. Ocenę kliniczną przeprowadzono na podstawie skali sprawności Karnofsky’ego (KPS), skali TB I (skala TB wg Bandima) i skali TB II. Wyjściowy radiogram klatki piersiowej w projekcji PA oceniono za pomocą punktacji Timika przez dwóch niezależnych radiologów. Wykonano rutynowe badania laboratoryjne i rozmaz plwociny na obecność prątków kwasoodpornych. Przeprowadzono analizę korelacji pomiędzy punktacją radiologiczną i innymi parametrami ciężkości choroby. Wyniki: Skale kliniczne, takie jak KPS, TB I i TB II, nie korelowały z obecnością zmian jamistych na radiogramie klatki piersiowej (p > 0.05). U 48.6% chorych ze zmianami rozpadowymi i u 40% chorych bez zmian rozpadowych w radiogramie klatki piersiowej stwierdzono duże zagęszczenie prątków kwasoopornych w plwocinie (+++ w skali punktowej), ale różnica nie była istotna statystycznie. Wynik skali radiologicznej powyżej 71 wiązał się ze znamiennie dłuższym czasem trwania objawów, wyższą wyjściową punktacją w skalach klinicznych (KPS, TB I i TB II) oraz niższym wskaźnikiem BMI (p < 0.05). U 65,2% chorych z punktacją radiologiczną powyżej 71 i tylko u 32.4% z mniejszą niż 71 punktów stwierdzono większe zagęszczenie prątków w rozmazie plwociny (p < 0.04). U chorych z liczbą punktów powyżej 71 stwierdzano wyższe wartości OB. Wnioski: Zmiany jamiste w RTG są związane z większą początkową ilością bakterii w plwocinie. Skala radiologiczna według Timika to narzędzie punktowe, łatwe do zastosowania w warunkach klinicznych. Liczba punktów w skali koreluje znamiennie z wieloma parametrami klinicznymi i mikrobiologicznymi opisującymi ciężkość przebiegu gruźlicy płuc. Z tego powodu może być stosowana w ocenie ryzyka, szczególnie u chorych nieodkrztuszających lub z ujemnym wynikiem badania plwociny w chwili rozpoznania.
Background: Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health disease to date. The mortality of this disease, which was reducing till 2019, was reversed in 2020 and 2021, as per the global tuberculosis report 2022. The novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic has affected tuberculosis management in various aspects. The transient immunosuppression associated with the disease and the treatment modality has been speculated to activate latent tuberculosis infection as well as increase the infection risk with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of post-COVID-19 pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis of post-COVID-19 patients admitted from January 2021 to May 2022 with persistent or new-onset respiratory symptoms. The occurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis in these patients and their clinico- demographic details are summarized. Results: About 31(19.4%) of 160 post-COVID-19 patients with respiratory symptoms were diagnosed to have pulmonary tuberculosis. About 21(67.7%) had comorbidities, of which the predominant was diabetes mellitus in 14(45%) patients, and the majority(85%) had poorly controlled blood sugar levels. None of the patients had a history of contact with a pulmonary tuberculosis patient in the previous 2 years, but 4(13%) patients had a previous history of tuberculosis. Moreover,.66% of cases had a history of moderate and severe COVID-19 disease, and 70% had received systemic corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs like tocilizumab during the COVID-19 illness treatment. More than 50% of the patients had negative smears for acid-fast bacilli and were diagnosed using rapid molecular methods like CBNAAT and LPA. Drug-resistant tuberculosis was seen in 6(19%) patients. 4(13%) patients died during the hospitalized course of treatment, and the remaining 27(87%) were discharged with antituberculous treatment, but their final outcome is unknown. Conclusion: A high index of suspicion and use of rapid molecular diagnostic methods is indicated in post-COVID-19 patients with respiratory symptoms for early diagnosis of tuberculosis and prevention of community transmission. Identification of post-COVID-19 patients with latent tuberculosis infection and the feasibility of advocation of tuberculosis preventive therapy in such patients, especially those with other risk factors like diabetes mellitus, need to be considered.
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