Data from D.S. Sandher and colleagues advance knowledge in tuberculosis
2008 JAN 14 -- According to a study from Stockport, the United Kingdom, "We report 79 cases of bone and joint tuberculosis between 1988 and 2005, eight of which were in the Caucasian population and 71 in the non-white population. The diagnosis was made in the majority (73.4%) by positive bacteriology and/ or histology." "The mean age at the time of diagnosis was higher in the Caucasian group at 51.5 years (28 to 66) than in the South Asian group at 36.85 years (12 to 93). Only one patient had previous BCG immunisation. The spine was the site most commonly affected (44.3%). Surgical stabilisation and/ or decompression was performed in 23% of these cases because of cord compression on imaging or the presence of neurological signs," wrote D.S. Sandher and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "A six-month course of chemotherapy comprising of an initial two months of rifampicin, isoniazide, pyrazinamide and sometimes ethambutol followed by four months treatment with rifampicin and isoniazide, was successful in all cases without proven drug resistance." Sandher and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume (Bone and joint tuberculosis - Cases in blackburn between 1988 and 2005. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, 2007;89B(10):1379-1381). For more information, contact D.S. Sandher, Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport SK2 7JE, Lancs, UK. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume is: British Editorial Society Bone Joint Surgery, 22 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6ET, England. Keywords: United Kingdom, Stockport, Bacteriology, Bone, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Histology, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Surgery. This article was prepared by Tuberculosis Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Tuberculosis Week via NewsRx.com.
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