Surgical treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

Analysis of efficacy and safety of linezolid-based chemotherapeutic regimens for postoperative multidrug-resistant spinal tuberculosis patients

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of linezolid-based chemotherapeutic regimens for postoperative multidrug-resistant spinal tuberculosis patients.

METHODS

The randomized controlled study included 50 Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture or pathological confirmed multidrug resistant tuberculosis patients who received spinal surgery from January 2018 to February 2020. Twenty-five patients were assigned to the control group and the study group, respectively. Random number method was used for patients allocation and they were treated with levofloxacin, pyrazinamide, thiisonicotinamide enteric-coated tablet, amikacin sulfate injection, and sodium p-amino salicylate injection, accompanied linezolid or not.

RESULTS

The overall effective rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (88.00% vs. 64.00%, P<0.05). The severity of pain at 3 and 6 months postoperatively was lower in the study group than that the control group (P<0.05). Postoperatively, the study group had higher bone graft fusion rate, shorter mean bone graft fusion time and higher paraspinal cyst absorption rate than the control group (P<0.05). Postoperatively, the study group had lower levels of PCT, ESR and CRP than the control group (P<0.05). All patients had normal hepatic and renal function, and no statistical difference of adverse effects between 2 groups were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Linezolid-based chemotherapeutic regimens can effectively treat postoperative multidrug-resistant spinal tuberculosis patients, but have higher rates of adverse reactions.

The impact of adjuvant surgical treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease on prognosis and outcome

BACKGROUND

Lung resection in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) has been reported to be associated with favorable outcomes. However, little is known regarding the risk and prognostic factors for refractory and recurrent cases. We aimed to evaluate the overall impact and benefit of adjuvant lung surgery by comparing NTM-PD patients who underwent adjuvant lung resection with those treated exclusively with antibiotics. We also investigated the efficacy of serum IgA antibody against glycopeptidolipid (GPL) core antigen (GPL core antibody) to monitor disease activity and predict the recurrence of disease after adjuvant lung resection.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of 35 patients surgically treated for NTM-PD. Furthermore, we compared surgically treated patients and control patients treated exclusively with antibiotics who were matched statistically 1:1 using a propensity score calculated from age, sex, body mass index, and radiologic features of disease.

RESULTS

In the surgically treated patients, the median age was 58 (interquartile range, 47-65) years and 65.7% were female. Twenty-eight patients had Mycobacterium avium complex. Operations comprised four pneumonectomies, two bilobectomies, one bilobectomy plus segmentectomy, 17 lobectomies, two segmentectomies, and nine lobectomies plus segmentectomies. Postoperative complications occurred in seven patients (20%), there were no operative deaths, and 33 (94.3%) patients achieved negative sputum culture conversion. Refractory and recurrent cases were associated with remnant bronchiectasis, contralateral shadows, and positive acid-fast bacilli staining or culture. Of 28 statistically matched pairs, long-term sustained negative culture conversion was observed in 23 (82.2%) surgical group patients and in 14 (50.0%) non-surgical group patients (0.0438). The mortality rate was lower in the surgical group, but did not reach statistical significance (one in the surgical group and four in the non-surgical group, p = 0.3516). GPL core antibody was correlated with disease activity and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

NTM-PD patients who underwent adjuvant lung resection experienced overall favorable outcomes and achieved sputum culture conversion more frequently. Long-term mortality may have been reduced by this procedure, and the level of GPL core antibody was shown to be a good clinical indicator of disease activity after surgery.

Clinico-bacteriological analysis for video-assisted thoracoscopic biopsy of non-tuberculous mycobacteria

Background

The prevalence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing in recent years, and thus the number of related surgeries. In recent studies, a few recent studies reported that NTM patients require preoperative treatment. In addition, some cases are found to be granuloma suspected to be NTM (gsNTM) after surgery. We conducted a clinico-bacteriological examination of resected NTM and gsNTM cases we managed.

Methods

Between 2003 and 2017, 82 patients with NTM and gsNTM underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) biopsy at our institution. The objectives of surgery, perioperative treatment, progression of NTM and gsNTM, and bacteriological data were analyzed.

Results

We enrolled 42 men and 40 women with a median age of 65 years. The bacteriological findings were Mycobacterium avium in 38 cases, M. intracellulare in 6 cases, M. kansasii in 3 cases, and gsNTM in 35 cases. The objectives of surgery were the diagnosis in 77 cases, and resistance to treatment in 6 cases. We performed postoperative treatment in 8 cases. There was no surgery-related (30-day mortality) death or complication.

Conclusions

We analyzed surgical outcome for pulmonary NTM infections. We need to reconsider the surgical procedure for single pulmonary NTM lesion and whether adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary for NTM treatment.

Contemporary outcomes of surgical management of complex thoracic infections

Background

Surgery plays an important role in the management of complex thoracic infections (CTIs). We aimed to describe the contemporary surgical outcomes of CTIs.

Methods

The 2014-2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients with the following procedures: bilobectomy, decortication, lung release, lobectomy, thoracoscopic lobectomy, thoracoscopic pleurodesis, thoracoscopic wedge resection, thoracoscopic biopsy, thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, thoracotomy with wedge resection, thoracotomy with decortication, and thoracotomy with lobectomy. Patients were classified into: drainage procedures (DP) and lung resection (LR). Descriptive statistics and univariate/multivariate analysis were executed. A P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 1,275 patients (30.3%) underwent surgical management for a CTI. Nine hundred and seven patients (71.1%) underwent a DP, and 368 patients (28.9%) underwent a LR. A thoracic surgeon performed 64% and 79% of cases in the DP and LR groups, respectively. On univariate analysis, the patients in the LR group were less likely to be male, diabetic, active smokers, dyspneic on exertion, hypertensive, malnourished, or American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) >3. There was no difference in overall postoperative complications, re-intubation, or reoperation between groups. The patients in the LR group were less likely to develop sepsis or respiratory failure. There was no difference in 30-day mortality between groups (5.3% vs. 3.8%, P=0.26). The total length of stay was 13.82±10.17 and 8.7±15.05 days, in the DP and LR groups, respectively (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed increased risk of 30-day mortality was associated with age, preoperative steroid use, renal failure, leukocytosis, pulmonary embolism, and sepsis.

Conclusions

CTI's are a common indication for thoracic surgical management. This contemporary, national sampling demonstrates that approximately one third of identified cases were associated with a LR. These cases demonstrated a comparable morbidity and mortality with surgical DP, but shorter hospital stays. To aid in the management of these complex disease processes, early consultation of a multidisciplinary management service for these patients should be considered. Furthermore, the appropriate use of LR for infectious etiologies may lead to safer postoperative outcomes than previously thought.

Long-term Outcome of Pulmonary Resection for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease

Background

Pulmonary resection along with multiple antimicrobial therapy has produced favorable outcomes at a few centers. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for long-term survival and microbiological recurrence after pulmonary resection for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTMPD). We evaluated the long-term outcomes of pulmonary resection, including microbiological recurrence and survival.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 125 patients (median age, 60 years) with NTMPD treated by pulmonary resection at two referral centers between January 1994 and August 2015.

Results

Postoperative complications occurred in 27 patients (22%). The complication rate after pneumonectomy was significantly higher than those after other types of pulmonary resection (odds ratio, 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-10.3; P = .005). The median follow-up period was 7.1 years. While 19 patients experienced microbiological recurrence, 26 died. Multivariate analysis revealed pneumonectomy (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.12; 95% CI, .007-.66; P = .0098) and cavitary lesions after surgery (aHR, 6.73; 95% CI, 1.68-22.7; P = .0095) to be predictors of microbiological recurrence and old age (aHR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .016), low body mass index (BMI; aHR for every 1-kg/m2 increase, 0.72; 95% CI, .60-.85; P < .0001), pneumonectomy (aHR, 4.38; 95% CI, 1.78-11.3; P = .014), and remnant cavitary lesions (aHR, 3.53; 95% CI, 1.35-9.57; P = .011) to be predictors of poor prognosis.

Conclusions

Patients who could benefit from pulmonary resection should be carefully selected considering age, BMI, remnant lesions after surgery, and type of pulmonary resection.

[Nontuberculous mycobacteria in sputum : Recommendations for diagnosis and treatment]

Pulmonary diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have increased over the last years and decades in Germany and also worldwide. Because the disease is more frequent in patients with immunodeficiencies and chronic respiratory diseases, e.g. bronchiectasis, advanced chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF), an infection with mycobacteria should always be considered in this patient group. The detection in sputum alone is not an indication for treatment but the correct diagnosis should be based on the appropriate clinical symptoms as well as radiological and microbiological criteria. The diagnosis is often delayed because the symptoms are unspecific. The treatment of pulmonary NTM disease is difficult and tedious and for these reasons is often prematurely terminated. Adherence of treating physicians to the guidelines is also conspicuously low. Before starting treatment, it is important to carefully define the goals and clarify the risks and benefits of the treatment with the patient. As adverse toxic events can occur during treatment, it should be closely monitored. In the case of an infrequent pathogen or a severe course of the disease, referral to an NTM specialist center should be undertaken.

Infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus: epidemiology, diagnostic tools and treatment

INTRODUCTION

Mycobacterium abscessus is an emerging mycobacteria that is responsible for lung diseases and healthcare-associated extrapulmonary infections. Recent findings support its taxonomic status as a single species comprising 3 subspecies designated abscessus, bolletii and massiliense. We performed a review of English-language publications investigating all three of these subspecies. Areas covered: Worldwide, human infections are often attributable to environmental contamination, although the isolation of M. abscessus in this reservoir is very rare. Basic research has demonstrated an association between virulence and cell wall components and cording, and genome analysis has identified gene transfer from other bacteria. The bacteriological diagnosis of M. abscessus is based on innovative tools combining molecular biology and mass spectrometry. Genotypic and phenotypic susceptibility testing are required to predict the success of macrolide (clarithromycin or azithromycin)-based therapeutic regimens. Genotyping methods are helpful to assess relapse and cross-transmission and to search for a common source. Treatment is not standardised, and outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Expert commentary: M. abscessus is still an open field in terms of clinical and bacteriological research. Further knowledge of its ecology and transmission routes, as well as host-pathogen interactions, is required. Because the number of human cases is increasing, it is also necessary to identify more active treatments and perform clinical trials to assess standard effective regimens.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease: Clinicians' Perspectives

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging pathogens that affect both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. The incidence and prevalence of NTM lung disease are increasing worldwide and rapidly becoming a major public health problem. For the diagnosis of NTM lung disease, patients suspected to have NTM lung disease are required to meet all clinical and microbiologic criteria. The development of molecular methods allows the characterization of new species and NTM identification at a subspecies level. Even after the identification of NTM species from respiratory specimens, clinicians should consider the clinical significance of such findings. Besides the limited options, treatment is lengthy and varies by species, and therefore a challenge. Treatment may be complicated by potential toxicity with discouraging outcomes. The decision to start treatment for NTM lung disease is not easy and requires careful individualized analysis of risks and benefits. Clinicians should be alert to those unique aspects of NTM lung disease concerning diagnosis with advanced molecular methods and treatment with limited options. Current recommendations and recent advances for diagnosis and treatment of NTM lung disease are summarized in this article.

Update on pulmonary disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging worldwide as significant causes of chronic pulmonary infection, posing a number of challenges for both clinicians and researchers. While a number of studies worldwide have described an increasing prevalence of NTM pulmonary disease over time, population-based data are relatively sparse and subject to ascertainment bias. Furthermore, the disease is geographically heterogeneous. While some species are commonly implicated worldwide (Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium abscessus), others (e.g., Mycobacterium malmoense, Mycobacterium xenopi) are regionally important. Thoracic computed tomography, microbiological testing with identification to the species level, and local epidemiology must all be taken into account to accurately diagnose NTM pulmonary disease. A diagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease does not necessarily imply that treatment is required; a patient-centered approach is essential. When treatment is required, multidrug therapy based on appropriate susceptibility testing for the species in question should be used. New diagnostic and therapeutic modalities are needed to optimize the management of these complicated infections.

Treatment outcomes of adjuvant resectional surgery for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

Background

Outcomes of antibiotic treatment for lung disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are unsatisfactory. The role of adjunctive surgery in the treatment of NTM lung disease is still unclear.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 70 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for NTM lung disease from March 2007 to February 2013. All patients received recommended antibiotic treatment before and after the surgery.

Results

A total of 70 patients underwent 74 operations. The median age of the patients was 50 years. Of the 70 patients, 45 (64%) had Mycobacterium avium complex infection (24 M. intracellulare and 21 M. avium) and 23 (33%) had M. abscessus complex infection (15 M. abscessus and 8 M. massiliense). Thirty-eight (54%) patients had the nodular bronchiectatic form and 28 (40%) had the fibrocavitary form of NTM lung disease. The indications for surgery were a poor response to drug therapy (n=52), remnant cavitary lesions and severe bronchiectasis (n=14), and hemoptysis (n=4). Preoperative sputum acid-fast bacilli staining results were positive in 44 (63%) patients, and sputum culture was positive in 54 (76%). The surgery included lobectomy or lobectomy plus segmentectomy (n=50, 68%), segmentectomy (n=11, 15%), pneumonectomy or completion pneumonectomy (n=8, 11%), bilobectomy or bilobectomy plus segmentectomy (n=4, 5%), and wedge resection (n=1, 1%). Postoperative complications occurred in 15 (21%) patients, including one postoperative death and bronchopleural fistula in 5 patients with the fibrocavitary form of the disease. A negative sputum culture was achieved and maintained in 57 (81%) patients.

Conclusions

Although adjuvant pulmonary resection is associated with a relatively high complication rate, this procedure may provide a high level of treatment success for selected patients with NTM lung disease, such as those with a poor response to antibiotic treatment alone.