Fawzia E. Al-Otaibi

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia

Studies from developed countries have reported that extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is on the rise due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. However, similar studies from high-burden countries with low prevalence of HIV like Saudi Arabia are lacking. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. A retrospective analysis was carried out on all patients (n=431) with a culture - proven diagnosis of tuberculosis seen at University teaching hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2001 to December 2007. A total of 183 (42.5%) pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and 248 (57.5%) extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) cases were compared in terms of age, sex, and nationality. There were 372 Saudis (SA) (86.3%) and the remaining non-Saudis (NSA) 59 (13.7%). The age distribution of the PTB patients had a bimodal distribution. EPTB was more common at young age (20-29 years). The proportion of EPTB cases was significantly higher among NSA patients (72.9%) compared to SA patients (55.1%). Females had higher proportion (59.5%) of EPTB than males (55.6%). The most common site was lymph node tuberculosis (42%). In conclusion, our data suggest that EPTB was relatively common in younger age, female gender and NSA. Tuberculosis (TB) control program may target those populations for EPTB case-finding.

Emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients in a university hospital in Saudi Arabia. Epidemiology, clinical profiles and outcomes

Abstract Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been steadily spreading worldwide during the last decade. Nine patients were identified prospectively and were followed during their hospitalization course to identify the epidemiology, clinical profiles and outcomes. These patients had one or more cultures positive for a CRE isolate, contributing to a total of eleven positive cultures from various sites without including duplicates of isolates obtained from the same site. Isolates from these patients included five Klebseilla pneumoniae, three Escherichia coli, and one Enterobacter aerogenes. Five isolates were grown from blood cultures, three from wound cultures, one from urine cultures, one from respiratory cultures and one from an abscess collection. Five survived the hospital course. The other five patients died due to severe sepsis, septic shock or multi-organ failure. Of the nine isolates of CRE identified for which molecular analysis were available, four K. pneumonia were confirmed as blaNDM and one as OXA-48. For the purpose of controlling the spread of CRE in our institution, we recommend considering active surveillance cultures and screening patients transferred from other hospitals or coming from highly endemic settings at admission for these organisms.

Non-vertebral Veillonella species septicemia and osteomyelitis in a patient with diabetes: a case report and review of the literature

IntroductionVeillonella is a nonfermentative, strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus that forms part of the human gastrointestinal tract, mouth and vaginal flora. Like other anaerobic infection, Veillonella species usually are involved in polymicrobial processes, which make it difficult to determine their pathogenic role. Isolation of a clinically significant Veillonella species is rare and V. parvula is the most common one reported to cause infection in humans. The most frequently reported infection caused by V. parvula is osteomyelitis, almost always in association with bacteremia.Case presentationHere, we describe a rare case of nonvertebral osteomyelitis and septicemia caused by Veillonella species in a 49-year-old Saudi man with diabetes. Initial treatment with ciprofloxacin was associated with treatment failure and poor response. Identification of the organism was essential for the selection of appropriate treatment. There have been only seven previous reports of Veillonella vertebral osteomyelitis and one report of V. parvula foot osteomyelitis with sepsis in the literature. This is the second case of Veillonella nonvertebral osteomyelitis associated with septicemia reported to date.ConclusionsVeillonella species should be considered a true pathogen in diabetic patients with osteomyelitis and those with underlying immune suppression, particularly if the organism is isolated from blood. The isolation of those obligate anaerobes from blood may signal the presence of severe underlying disease and the probable need for timely surgical intervention.

Predictors of pulmonary involvement in patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the value of chest radiographs (CXRs) and sputum examinations in detecting pulmonary involvement of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed among 248 EPTB patients with culture-proven diagnosis of tuberculosis seen between January 2001 and December 2007 at a tertiary teaching hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Demographics, clinical, laboratory and radiological findings were reviewed and assessed. This study was approved by the hospital ethics and research committee. Results: One hundred twenty five of 233 EPTB patients (53.6%) had abnormal CXR findings. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of positive sputum culture results between patients with abnormal CXR findings (30/57) and those with normal CXR findings (4/17) (P = 0.04). Of 17 HIV-negative/unknown HIV-status EPTB patients with normal CXR results, 4 patients (23.5%) had positive sputum culture results. Intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (P < 0.001), pleural TB (P < 0. 001) and disseminated TB (P = 0.004) were associated with an increased risk of abnormal CXR findings. Patients with cough (52.9%), weight loss (41.2%) and night sweats (26.5%) are more likely to have positive sputum culture results. Conclusion: CXR findings are predictive of positive sputum culture results. However, the rate of normal CXR among EPTB patients with positive sputum culture results was relatively high. Therefore, respiratory specimen cultures should be obtained in TB suspects with a normal CXR to identify potentially infectious cases of TB.

Evaluation of GeneXpert MTB/RIF for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and rpo B gene in respiratory and non-respiratory clinical specimens at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia

Objectives To assess the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF, an automated molecular test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampin (RIF), against smear microscopy and culture method for diagnosis of MTB infection. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of 103 respiratory and 137 non-respiratory patient specimens suspected of tuberculosis at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia performed between April 2014 and March 2015. Each sample underwent smear microscopy, mycobacterial culture, and GeneXpert MTB/RIF test. Results Fifteen out of 103 respiratory samples were smear and culture positive, whereas 9 out of 137 non-respiratory samples were smear positive. Out of 9 smear positive specimens, 8 were also culture positive. All 15 culture positive respiratory samples were detected by Xpert MTB/RIF (sensitivity and positive predictive value [PPV]=100%). Similarly, all 8 culture positive non-respiratory specimens were identified by Xpert MTB/RIF (sensitivity 100%; PPV 88.8%). The Xpert MTB/RIF detected only one false positive result in 88 smear negative respiratory specimens (specificity 98.9%; negative predictive value [NPV]= 100%). All 125 smear negative non-respiratory specimens tested negative by culture and Xpert MTB/RIF (sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV= 100%). Conclusion The performance of Xpert MTB/RIF was comparable to the gold standard culture method for identification of MTB in both respiratory and non-respiratory clinical specimens.

An unusual case of chronic prostatitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae in an elderly Saudi patient: A case report and literature review.

Haemophilus influenzae has been reported on rare occasions as the cause of prostatitis and urinary tract infections. Here, we report a rare case of chronic prostatitis in a 52-year-old male with benign prostatic hypertrophy and discuss the possible underestimation of the true incidence of H. influenzae in genitourinary infections. This organism was identified only by its growth on chocolate agar, a medium that is not commonly used for urine cultures.

Fatal case of cerebral aspergilloma complicated by ventriculitis and bacteremia due to Salmonella species in a sickle cell disease patient

To describe a fatal case of invasive Aspergillus flavus sinusitis in a 43-year old female with sickle cell disease (SCD) complicated by intracerebral aspergilloma and invasive Salmonella infection. Cerebral aspergilloma carries a very high mortality rate. The patient developed post-craniotomy intracerebral hemorrhage at the site of biopsy, Salmonella species sepsis and ventriculitis. She presented with a 2-month history of headache, dizziness, personality and behavioral changes, and vomiting. Initial clinical evaluation raised the suspicion of brain tumor. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontal, thick-walled ring-enhancing lesion with extensive surrounding edema suggestive of a neoplastic lesion, or a contiguous inflammatory or infectious process from the skull base. Despite early diagnosis and appropriate antifungal and surgical management, she eventually died from severe infection and respiratory arrest. In conclusion, invasive aspergillosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of SCD patients with central nervous system (CNS) lesions.To describe a fatal case of invasive Aspergillus flavus sinusitis in a 43-year old female with sickle cell disease (SCD) complicated by intracerebral aspergilloma and invasive Salmonella infection. Cerebral aspergilloma carries a very high mortality rate. The patient developed post-craniotomy intracerebral hemorrhage at the site of biopsy, Salmonella species sepsis and ventriculitis. She presented with a 2-month history of headache, dizziness, personality and behavioral changes, and vomiting. Initial clinical evaluation raised the suspicion of brain tumor. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left frontal, thick-walled ring-enhancing lesion with extensive surrounding edema suggestive of a neoplastic lesion, or a contiguous inflammatory or infectious process from the skull base. Despite early diagnosis and appropriate antifungal and surgical management, she eventually died from severe infection and respiratory arrest. In conclusion, invasive aspergillosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of SCD patients with central nervous system (CNS) lesions.