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Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) bone and joint infections (BJIs) are uncommon. We evaluated the characteristics of BJIs and identified differences according to immune status. Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study in France involving patients with documented NTM BJI over a 9-year period. We collected the clinical and microbiological characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of the patients. Results: Overall, 95 patients were included, of whom 50.5% (48/95) were immunosuppressed. Tenosynovitis was more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and native arthritis more common in the immunosuppressed group. Mycobacerium marinum and M. abscessus complex were significantly more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and M. avium and M. xenopi were significantly more frequent in the immunosuppressed group. The combination of antibiotherapy with surgery tended to be more frequent in the immunocompetent than the immunosuppressed group (63.8% (30/47) vs 47.8% (22/46), respectively); of the latter, 45.7% (21/46) received antimicrobial therapy alone, a higher frequency than in the immunocompetent group (23.4%, 11/47). The median duration of antimicrobial treatment was similar in the two groups (11 months). Mortality was significantly higher in the immunosuppressed group. Conclusions: Although the clinical presentations and the NTM species involved in BJI differed according to immune status, most recovered completely after treatment.

Catabacter hongkongensis is a bacterium first isolated in 2007 and has since been detected in the blood of about fifteen patients with disease such as gastrointestinal malignancy, intestinal obstruction, or acute intestinal infection. We describe herein the case of a patient newly diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, who died from a fatal infection possibly related to Catabacter hongkongensis bacteremia. By reviewing all cases reported in the literature, our case report supports that this infection is associated with a very high mortality in cancer patients.

Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) bone and joint infections (BJIs) are uncommon. We evaluated the characteristics of BJIs and identified differences according to immune status., Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study in France involving patients with documented NTM BJI over a 9-year period. We collected the clinical and microbiological characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of the patients., Results: Overall, 95 patients were included, of whom 50.5% (48/95) were immunosuppressed. Tenosynovitis was more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and native arthritis more common in the immunosuppressed group. Mycobacerium marinum and M. abscessus complex were significantly more frequent in the immunocompetent group, and M. avium and M. xenopi were significantly more frequent in the immunosuppressed group. The combination of antibiotherapy with surgery tended to be more frequent in the immunocompetent than the immunosuppressed group (63.8% (30/47) vs 47.8% (22/46), respectively); of the latter, 45.7% (21/46) received antimicrobial therapy alone, a higher frequency than in the immunocompetent group (23.4%, 11/47). The median duration of antimicrobial treatment was similar in the two groups (11 months). Mortality was significantly higher in the immunosuppressed group., Conclusions: Although the clinical presentations and the NTM species involved in BJI differed according to immune status, most recovered completely after treatment., Competing Interests: Declarations of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Syphilis may manifest as several distinct ophthalmological forms. The main objective of our study was to describe the diagnostic, therapeutic data and prognosis of ocular syphilis., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analysed the cases of syphilitic uveitis diagnosed in the University Hospital of Nantes between 2000 and 2013., Results: Twenty-seven patients were included in our study. Their mean age was 53.1 years. Bilateral uveitis was the most frequent clinical presentation (67%). The average diagnostic delay after the first symptoms was 2.8 months. Three patients (11%) presented with an anterior uveitis and 24 (89%) with a posterior uveitis, panuveitis or papillitis. The most frequent clinical signs were papillar lesion (44%), multifocal choroiditis (33%) and chorio-retinitis (37%). Ninety-three percent of the patients were treated with benzathine penicillin intravenously, one patient was treated by intramuscular penicillin injections and another by ceftriaxone intramuscularly. Ocular manifestations alone were sufficient to make the diagnosis of syphilis in 25 patients (93%) and of HIV seroconversion in 3 patients (11%). Forty-one percent of the patients benefited from an adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids. The treatment allowed a visual improvement of -0.48 log MAR (P<0.0001) with an average reduction of retinal central thickness of 70.2 μm (P=0.33)., Conclusion: We did not find a significant difference neither in management nor in results between the HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative groups. Others studies remains controversial about this aspect. The increased frequency of ocular manifestation as well as the increase of syphilis makes systematic screening in uveitis of a great value., (Copyright © 2015 Société nationale française de médecine interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: The French national surveillance program of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) shows an increase of enterobacteriaceae-producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLE) incidence. The objectives of this study were to assess: the incidence of EBLSE in a large French university hospital between 2005 and 2010, and the difference of barrier precautions implementation between ESBL and other MDR., Methods: The ESBLE incidence measure used data from the laboratory of bacteriology. The application of isolation and barrier precautions was analyzed from the MRB national surveillance data over a 3-year period from 2006 to 2008. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info software. The Chi(2) test was used for the comparison of proportions., Results: The overall incidence of ESBLE was significantly higher in 2010 than in 2005 (0.20/1000 patients-days vs 0.03/1000 patients-days, respectively) (P<0.001). The same was observed for Escherichia coli incidence with rates ranging from 0.02/1000 patients-days in 2005 to 0.15/1000 patients-days in 2010. Isolation precautions for patients with EBLSE were applied in relation for most patients with MRB (ESBLE vs others), without significant difference., Conclusion: The surveillance programme of MRB showed a significant increase of ESBLE, especially for E. coli. Isolation and barrier precautions were used for most patients with MRB, including ESBLE., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Syphilis infection increase has been observed since the early 2000s. The medical records of patients hospitalized for syphilis at the tertiary care hospital of Nantes between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed., Methods: Cases were selected on the basis of serological database of the laboratory of bacteriology and extraction from the PMIS. Syphilis cases were defined by both positive TPHA and VDRL tests., Results: The number of positive serology testing was increased eightfold within ten years. Among the 36 patients with syphilis hospitalized cases, 97% were male, aged 17 to 75 years. Eighteen were HIV-infected patients. Among them, 94% were homosexuals and 67% had a history of sexually transmitted infections. The mean time between symptoms and diagnosis was significantly higher in non HIV-infected patients. Clinical forms of syphilis were cutaneomucous secondary syphilis with frequent systemic symptoms for 33%, neurosyphilis, including frequent uveitis for 50%, and gummatous tertiary syphilis involving bones for one patient. Secondary syphilis cases were treated with one to three doses of benzathine penicillin G. Late syphilis and cases of neurosyphilis were treated with penicillin G or ceftriaxone. Neurosensory sequelae accounted for 39% neurosyphilis cases., Conclusion: This study highlights the incidence increase of syphilis cases in France, frequent poor prognosis of neurosyphilis cases, and diagnosis difficulties, particularly in non HIV-infected patients. This emphasizes the broader use of syphilis serology for compatible medical situations., (Copyright © 2013 Société nationale française de médecine interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Syphilis has recently re-emerged in young adults. However, serological testing of patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles and/or semen cryopreservation is not mandatory in every country., Patients and Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis on our local database to evaluate the prevalence of syphilis among infertile couples, and discuss the interest of systematic syphilis serology testing in these patients., Results: Between 2000 and 2010, only one patient out of 4314 was diagnosed with chronic syphilis., Conclusion: This study illustrates that systematic serological screening for syphilis in couples referred for semen cryopreservation or ART only allows exceptionally rare diagnosis. The cost-effectiveness of this strategy should be reconsidered., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)