-
The New Microbiologica Apr 2016Madura foot is a chronic granulomatous infection of the soft-tissue of the foot and it is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Some cases have also been... (Review)
Review
Madura foot is a chronic granulomatous infection of the soft-tissue of the foot and it is endemic in tropical and subtropical countries. Some cases have also been reported in local people or migrants in temperate countries. The microbiological diagnosis requires prolonged bacterial cultures in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, but the use of the molecular approach could be helpful for an early and rapid diagnosis. We describe an autochthonous case of Actinomadura madurae foot infection in an Italian woman. The diagnosis was achieved 36 months after symptoms onset by PCR detection and sequencing of 16S rDNA directly on biopsy. She started therapy with rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and amikacin. After 3 months the pain had disappeared and the swelling subsided. We reviewed the literature on Madura foot due to bacterial causative agents in Europe and observed that the median time from onset to diagnosis is high, possibly due to several factors like the difficulties of the microbiological and radiological diagnosis. Our case report and the review of literature point out that the implementation of a surveillance system, the involvement of an infectious diseases specialist, with experience in tropical diseases, and the availability of a microbiology unit to perform feasible and rapid molecular diagnostic tests could result in an earlier diagnosis and an optimal antibiotic therapy of this rare but difficult-to-treat and, above all, difficult-to-diagnose infection.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Europe; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Mycetoma; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 27196558
DOI: No ID Found -
Le Infezioni in Medicina Jun 2018Mycetoma (or "madura foot") is characterized by deformation, cutaneous lesions, infection of tissues extending from the cutaneous layer to the underlying fascia, and an...
Mycetoma (or "madura foot") is characterized by deformation, cutaneous lesions, infection of tissues extending from the cutaneous layer to the underlying fascia, and an indolent course. A number of fungal or bacterial agents that are introduced through traumatic inoculation can be responsible for the disease, but Actinomadura madurae is among the most common agents of mycetoma occurring worldwide. We report a case of madura foot caused by A. madurae in an immunocompetent young Somali man who was admitted with a diagnosis of skin and soft tissue infection of the left foot with osteomyelitis. The present report emphasizes the importance of the knowledge of this infection, which is sporadic but problematic to treat and, above all, difficult to diagnose. Moreover, a multidisciplinary approach with involvement of an infectious diseases specialist with experience in tropical diseases and a microbiology unit performing rapid molecular diagnostic tests is required for early diagnosis and an optimal antibiotic therapy.
Topics: Communicable Diseases, Imported; Humans; Italy; Male; Mycetoma; Somalia; Young Adult
PubMed: 29932092
DOI: No ID Found -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Aug 2014Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous disease. It is classified into eumycetoma caused by fungi and actinomycetoma due to filamentous actinomycetes. Mycetoma can be found...
Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous disease. It is classified into eumycetoma caused by fungi and actinomycetoma due to filamentous actinomycetes. Mycetoma can be found in geographic areas in close proximity to the Tropic of Cancer. Mexico is one of the countries in which this disease is highly endemic. In this retrospective study we report epidemiologic, clinical and microbiologic data of mycetoma observed in the General Hospital of Mexico in a 33 year-period (1980 to 2013). A total of 482 cases were included which were clinical and microbiology confirmed. Four hundred and forty four cases (92.11%) were actinomycetomas and 38 cases (7.88%) were eumycetomas. Most patients were agricultural workers; there was a male predominance with a sex ratio of 3:1. The mean age was 34.5 years old (most ranged from 21 to 40 years). The main affected localization was lower and upper limbs (70.74% and 14.52% respectively). Most of the patients came from humid tropical areas (Morelos, Guerrero and Hidalgo were the regions commonly reported). The main clinical presentation was as tumor-like soft tissue swelling with draining sinuses (97.1%). Grains were observed in all the cases. The principal causative agents for actinomycetoma were: Nocardia brasiliensis (78.21%) and Actinomadura madurae (8.7%); meanwhile, for eumycetomas: Madurella mycetomatis and Scedosporium boydii (synonym: Pseudallescheria boydii) were identified. This is a single-center, with long-follow up, cross-sectional study that allows determining the prevalence and characteristics of mycetoma in different regions of Mexico.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Mexico; Mycetoma; Young Adult
PubMed: 25144462
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003102 -
Indian Journal of Dermatology 2015It is popularly believed that eumycetoma cases should be dealt with using surgical amputation for a better chance of cure especially when chemotherapy has failed....
It is popularly believed that eumycetoma cases should be dealt with using surgical amputation for a better chance of cure especially when chemotherapy has failed. However, amputation leads to disability on one hand and on the other it may also fail to be curative. We present two cases with contrasting treatment options and outcome. In the eumycetoma case reported here, a 40-year-old male presented with right foot swelling for 16 years, from which Scedosporium apiospermum was isolated. He responded poorly to antifungal therapy and refused below-knee amputation 12 years ago. With counseling and wound care his condition improved, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) score remained almost stable at 90% for 16 years, which is much better than the average functional outcome after amputation. Another 46-year-old female underwent below-knee amputation after receiving incomplete courses of antibiotics and antifungals for mycetoma of unknown etiology. She presented to us after recurrence of mycetoma on an amputated stump and was successfully treated by proper courses of antibiotics after detecting the causal agent, Actinomadura madurae. Her post-amputation disability and depression could have been avoided if the hasty decision of amputation had not been taken. In our opinion, living with drug-non-responsive mycetoma, supported by symptomatic management, may be a better option than amputation and its associated morbidities. So before taking the path of salvage amputation, we must consider many aspects, including patient's livelihood, psychological aspects and chances of recurrence even after the procedure.
PubMed: 25657401
DOI: 10.4103/0019-5154.147799 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2017Pulmonary nocardiosis mimic pulmonary tuberculosis in most clinical and radiological manifestations. In Tanzania, where tuberculosis is one of the major public health...
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary nocardiosis mimic pulmonary tuberculosis in most clinical and radiological manifestations. In Tanzania, where tuberculosis is one of the major public health threat clinical impact of nocardiosis as the cause of the human disease remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to isolate and identify Nocardia isolates recovered from TB suspects in Northeastern, Tanzania by using biochemical and molecular methods.
METHODS
The study involved 744 sputum samples collected from 372 TB suspects from four periphery diagnostic centers in Northeastern, Tanzania. Twenty patients were diagnosed as having presumptively Nocardia infections based on microscopic, cultural characteristics and biomèrieux ID 32C Yeast Identification system and confirmed using 16S rRNA and hsp65 gene specific primers for Nocardia species and sequencing.
RESULTS
Biochemically, the majority of the isolates were N. asteroides (n = 8/20, 40%), N. brasiliensis (n = 4/20, 20%), N. farcinica (n = 3/20, 15%), N. nova (n = 1/20, 5%). Other aerobic actinomycetales included Streptomyces cyanescens (n = 2/20, 10%), Streptomyces griseus, Actinomadura madurae each (n = 1/20, 5%). Results of 16S rRNA and hsp65 sequencing were concordant in 15/17 (88. 2%) isolates and discordant in 2/17 (11.8%) isolates. Majority of the isolates belonged to N. cyriacigeorgica and N. farcinica, four (23.5%) each.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that Nocardia species may be an important cause of pulmonary nocardiosis that is underdiagnosed or ignored. This underscores needs to consider pulmonary nocardiosis as a differential diagnosis when there is a failure of anti-TB therapy and as a possible cause of human infections.
Topics: Actinomycetales; Adult; Bacterial Proteins; DNA, Ribosomal; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Nocardia; Nocardia Infections; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sputum; Tanzania; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 28595598
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2520-8