Brian A. Kendall

Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease Prevalence and Clinical Features An Emerging Public Health Disease

RATIONALE Respiratory specimens with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly common; however, pulmonary disease prevalence is unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine the disease prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors for NTM disease, and to examine the predictive value of the microbiologic criteria of the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) pulmonary NTM case definition for true NTM disease. METHODS We identified all Oregon residents during 2005-2006 with at least one respiratory mycobacterial isolate. From a population-based subset of these patients, we collected clinical and radiologic information and used the ATS/IDSA pulmonary NTM disease criteria to define disease. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In the 2-year time period, 807 Oregonians had one or more respiratory NTM isolates. Four hundred and seven (50%) resided within the Portland metropolitan region, among which 283 (70%) had evaluable clinical records. For those with records, 134 (47%) met ATS/IDSA pulmonary NTM disease criteria for a minimum overall 2-year period prevalence of 8.6/100,000 persons, and 20.4/100,000 in those at least 50 years of age within the Portland region. Case subjects were 66 years of age (median; range, 12-92 yr), frequently female (59%), and most with disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (88%). Cavitation (24.5%), bronchiectasis (16%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (28%), and immunosuppressive therapy (25.5%) were common. Eighty-six percent of patients meeting the ATS/IDSA microbiologic criteria for disease also met the full ATS/IDSA disease criteria. CONCLUSIONS Respiratory NTM isolates frequently represent disease. Pulmonary NTM disease is not uncommon, particularly among elderly females. The ATS/IDSA microbiologic criteria are highly predictive of disease and could be useful for laboratory-based NTM disease surveillance.

Update on the epidemiology of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infections

For decades, the incidence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been reported to be increasing, yet formal epidemiological evaluation of this notion has been lacking until recently. Defining the epidemiology of NTM has been more challenging than with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Unlike MTB, NTM are soil and water organisms, and infection is thought to be acquired from the environment rather than transmitted from person-to-person, with very rare exceptions. Due to their nearly ubiquitous presence in municipal water supplies, exposure to NTM is common. Further, NTM can colonize the respiratory tract without causing disease. NTM disease is not reportable to public health authorities; therefore, epidemiological and surveillance data are not readily available. Nonetheless, the prevalence of pulmonary NTM disease has increased dramatically in the United States and globally over the past 3 decades. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) accounts for the majority of NTM infections worldwide, but there is significant regional variability of various species. Additionally, novel species have been implicated in several countries in NTM pulmonary disease.

Evolving Epidemiologic Characteristics of Invasive Group A Streptococcal Disease in Utah, 2002–2010

BACKGROUND Invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Recent national surveillance data report stable rates of invasive GAS disease, although these may not capture geographic variation. METHODS We performed a population-based, retrospective laboratory surveillance study of invasive GAS disease among Utah residents from 2002-2010. We used Intermountain Healthcares electronic medical records and data warehouse to identify patients from whom GAS was isolated by culture. We defined clinical syndromes of invasive GAS disease on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. We abstracted demographic information, comorbidities, and microbiologic and laboratory findings. RESULTS From 2002-2010, we identified 1514 cases of invasive GAS disease among Utah residents. The estimated mean annual incidence rate was 6.3 cases/100,000 persons, which was higher than the national rate of 3.6 cases/100,000 (P < .01). The incidence of invasive GAS disease in Utah rose from 3.5 cases/100,000 persons in 2002 to 9.8 cases/100,000 persons in 2010 (P = .01). Among children aged <18 years, the incidence of invasive GAS increased from 3.0 cases/100,000 children in 2002 to 14.1 cases/100,000 children in 2010 (P < .01). The increase in the pediatric population was due, in part, to an increase in GAS pneumonia (P = .047). The rate of invasive GAS disease in adults aged 18-64 years increased from 3.4 cases/100 000 persons in 2002 to 7.6 cases/100,000 persons in 2010 (P = .02). Rates among those aged ≥65 years were stable. The incidence of acute rheumatic fever declined from 6.1 to 3.7 cases/100,000 (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS The epidemiologic characteristics of invasive GAS disease in Utah has changed substantially over the past decade, including a significant increase in the overall incidence of invasive disease-driven primarily by increasing disease in younger persons-that coincided temporally with a decrease in the incidence of acute rheumatic fever.

Distinguishing Tuberculosis from Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease, Oregon, USA

To determine whether tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection patients could be distinguished from one another with limited information, we compared pulmonary TB and NTM patients during 2005–2006. Our finding that age, birthplace, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could differentiate TB and NTM disease could assist tuberculosis control efforts.

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Utah adults at the end of the PCV7 era

While heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has decreased vaccine type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) nationwide, rapid serotype replacement and increasing parapneumonic empyema, has been reported in Utah children. The effect of pediatric vaccination on adults in this population is unknown. We identified 117 adults with IPD from the Intermountain Healthcare Central Laboratory between November 2009 and October 2010. We serotyped 61 (52%) stored isolates. We compared the serotype distribution of adult IPD isolates with that of pediatric isolates collected in 2009-2010. PCV7 serotypes were rare in adults (3%) and children (3%). Emerging 13-valent PCV serotypes 3, 7F, and 19A caused the majority of IPD in adults (63%) and children (56%). Fifty-one (84%) adult isolates were serotypes included in 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine and 66% in PCV13. Adult and pediatric IPD serotypes are closely associated in Utah. PCV13 vaccination in Utah children is likely to significantly impact IPD in Utah adults.

Early Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype changes in Utah adults after the introduction of PCV13 in children

INTRODUCTION Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) have indirect effects due to decreased Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in vaccine recipients. We sought to determine whether the introduction of PCV13 in children led to changes in the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults. METHODS We described demographics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, and serotypes of IPD in Utah adults before (November 2009-February 2010) and after (March 2010-March 2012) the introduction of PCV13 in children. We also compare serotypes causing IPD in Utah adults and children. RESULTS After the introduction of PCV13 in the childhood vaccine program, the proportion of IPD due to PCV13 exclusive serotypes decreased significantly in Utah adults (64-40%, p=0.009), primarily due to a decline in serotype 7F (36-15%, p=0.008). There were non-significant increases in IPD due to Pneumococcal polysaccharide 23 (PPV23) unique serotypes and non-vaccine serotypes, most notably serotype 22F. Changes in the proportions of vaccine and non-vaccine serotypes were similar in adults and children. Meningitis was more commonly due to non-vaccine serotypes relative to non-meningitis cases (47% vs. 18%, p=0.007). When stratified by sex, decreases in PCV13 serotype IPD were only noted in men (76-33%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Serotype epidemiology of IPD in adults closely follows that of children in the PCV13 era. Continued surveillance is needed to confirm whether replacement serotypes will lead to increases in pneumococcal meningitis and whether there are sex differences in the indirect effects of PCV vaccination in children.

Chlamydia trachomatis L serovars and dominance of novel L2b ompA variants, USA

Chlamydia trachomatis serovars L1, L2, L3 cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). An epidemic of proctitis due to L serovar infections (mostly L2b) has emerged primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Europe.1 In the USA, limited availability of diagnostic testing for LGV hinders diagnosis and reporting to public health agencies. We hypothesised that LGV may be underdiagnosed in the USA. We collected 1027 C trachomatis -positive specimens referred to our national, academic reference laboratory for routine C trachomatis testing by APTIMA Combo 2 (AC2, Hologic, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA) or culture. We used a modified Centers for Disease Control …

Disseminated Mycobacterial Infection After International Medical Tourism

International travel for the purpose of receiving medical care is increasing. We report a case of disseminated mycobacterial infection after fetal stem cell infusion.

Evaluation of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy at a Veterans Affairs Hospital.

We reviewed outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center to identify opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship intervention. A definite or possible modification would have been recommended in 60% of courses. Forty-one percent of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy courses were potentially avoidable, including 22% involving infectious diseases consultation.

Radiologic Imaging Techniques for the Diagnosis and Management of Invasive Fungal Disease

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Prompt antifungal therapy is essential for favorable outcomes, but clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific and mycologic confirmation is often not possible. Radiographic testing is an important adjunct to the diagnosis and management of IFDs. Early imaging has been associated with improved survival, particularly in neutropenic patients with fungal pneumonia or acute invasive fungal sinusitis. This review summarizes common radiologic appearances of IFDs of the lung, sinus, and brain. The advantages and limitations of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are discussed as are recent developments in nuclear medicine and proton MR spectroscopy technology.