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Setting: Sub-Saharan Africa carries a high burden of lung cancer, with limited access to specialised health care., Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of sputum cytology and its potential in reducing the need for invasive diagnostic procedures in a high-risk population., Design: We collected spontaneously expectorated sputum from 108 patients referred for a diagnostic procedure for suspected lung cancer between June 2010 and June 2012, and examined the diagnostic yield of sputum cytology for malignant cells as well as factors predicting a positive result., Results: Bronchial carcinoma was diagnosed in 90 patients (83.3%), of whom 35 (38.9%) had sputum cytology positive for malignant cells with 100% diagnostic accuracy. Positive sputum cytology was significantly associated with endobronchial tumour and obstruction seen during bronchoscopy (OR 4.69 and OR 8.89, respectively), and with a histology of squamous cell carcinoma (OR 1.9). All but one patient with positive sputum were inoperable (97.1%), and we estimated that up to a third of all invasive procedures could be avoided if sputum cytology was used for triage., Conclusion: Sputum cytology had a high yield and accuracy in this high-risk group. Its routine use in selected patients is likely to result in reduced costs and less patient risk and discomfort.

Background: There is a paucity of data on the pharmacokinetics of fixed-dose combination enteral antituberculosis treatment in critically ill patients., Objectives: To establish the pharmacokinetic profile of a fixed-dose combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol given according to weight via a nasogastric tube to patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU)., Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study on 10 patients (mean age 32 years, 6 male) admitted to an ICU and treated for tuberculosis (TB). Serum concentrations of the drugs were determined at eight predetermined intervals over 24 hours by means of high-performance liquid chromatography., Results: The therapeutic maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for rifampicin at time to peak concentration was achieved in only 4 patients, whereas 2 did not achieve therapeutic Cmax for isoniazid. No patient reached sub-therapeutic Cmax for pyrazinamide (6 were within and 4 above therapeutic range). Three patients reached sub-therapeutic Cmax for ethambutol, and 6 patients were within and 1 above the therapeutic range. Patients with a sub-therapeutic rifampicin level had a higher mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (p=0.03) and a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p=0.03)., Conclusions: A fixed-dose combination tablet, crushed and mixed with water, given according to weight via a nasogastric tube to patients with TB admitted to an ICU resulted in sub-therapeutic rifampicin plasma concentrations in the majority of patients, whereas the other drugs had a more favourable pharmacokinetic profile. Patients with a sub-therapeutic rifampicin concentration had a higher APACHE II score and a lower estimated GFR, which may contribute to suboptimal outcomes in critically ill patients. Studies in other settings have reported similar proportions of patients with 'sub-therapeutic' rifampicin concentrations.

Background: The novel influenza A (H1N1) pandemic affected South Africa late during the 2009 Southern hemisphere winter and placed an extra burden on a health care system already dealing with a high prevalence of chronic lung diseases and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection., Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, management and outcomes of patients with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection complicated by respiratory failure., Methods: We included all adult patients with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) infection that were referred to the medical intensive care unit of a large academic hospital in Cape Town for ventilatory support in this prospective observational study., Results: A total of 19 patients (39.5 +/- 14.8 years) needed ventilatory support over a 6-week period. Of these, 15 were female and 16 had identifiable risk factors for severe disease, including pregnancy (n = 6), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 6), obesity (n = 4), HIV infection (n = 3), immunosuppressive therapy (n = 3) and active pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 2). The most frequent complications were acute renal failure (n = 13), acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 12) and ventilator associated pneumonia (n = 10). Thirteen patients died (mortality: 68.4%). Fatal cases were significantly associated with an APACHE II score >or=20 (P = 0.034), but not with a P(a)O(2)/F(I)O(2) <200 (P = 0.085) and a chest radiograph score >or=12 (P = 0.134)., Conclusion: The majority of patients with respiratory failure secondary to influenza A (H1N1) infection were young females and had an underlying risk factor for severe disease. The condition had a high mortality, particularly amongst patients with an APACHE II score >or=20.

Background: Emergency admissions with life-threatening haemoptysis in an area of high tuberculosis (TB) incidence at the University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Academic Hospital, South Africa. It is unclear if lung resection is regularly indicated to prevent recurrence following bronchial artery embolisation (BAE)., Objective: To prospectively evaluate risk factors for recurrence as selection criteria for surgery following embolisation: lack of complete cessation of haemoptysis, need for blood transfusion, presence of aspergilloma and absence of active TB., Design: Prospective interventional study with 1-year follow-up., Results: Within a 7-month period, 101 consecutive patients were admitted. Seven were excluded and 12 died shortly after admission. Haemoptysis ceased on medical treatment alone within 24 h in 21 of the remaining 82 patients. Their 1-year mortality was 10%. Eleven of 61 patients referred for emergency embolisation died before discharge. Of the 50 patients remaining at risk of recurrence, 38 (76%) were at low risk and 12 (24%) at high risk. Five of these patients (10% of those at risk) underwent surgery. Patients at low risk and operated patients had an uneventful course over 1 year, but two deaths occurred among the seven inoperable patients at high risk., Conclusion: Lung resection surgery following successful BAE for life-threatening haemoptysis can safely be avoided in patients at low risk of recurrence.

High prevalence of tuberculosis increases the odds for nonmalignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). Positron emission tomography (PET) using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose is the method of choice for the identification of malignant SPNs requiring curative surgery. However, PET is not widely available. Technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) is inexpensive, widely available and shows increased uptake in malignant SPNs. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic value of MIBI single photon emission computed tomography to distinguish between benign and malignant SPNs in a tuberculosis-endemic area. In total, 49 patients with radiologically indeterminate SPNs (single lesion < or =6 cm in diameter) were prospectively evaluated with MIBI. The final diagnosis was established with bronchoscopy, fine-needle aspiration, surgical resection or clinical follow-up for > or =2 yrs. A total of 12 (92%) out of 13 malignant lesions showed increased uptake of MIBI, while no uptake was observed in 33 (92%) out of 36 benign lesions. MIBI uptake indicated malignancy with a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and a negative predictive value of 97%. In this tuberculosis-endemic area, technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile single photon emission computed tomography evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules had a high negative predictive value. Therefore, it has the potential to prevent unnecessary surgical resections of benign nodules and serve as a low-cost alternative when positron emission tomography is not available.

Transbronchial needle aspiration is a bronchoscopic sampling method for a variety of bronchial and pulmonary lesions. The present study investigated whether and how serial needle passes contribute to the yield of transbronchial needle aspiration at specific target sites. A total of 1,562 needle passes, performed at 374 target sites in 245 patients with neoplastic disease (82%), non-neoplastic disease (15%) or undiagnosed lesions (3%), were prospectively recorded and rated for anatomical location, size, bronchoscopic appearance and underlying disease. Positive aspirates were obtained in 75% of patients and at 68% of target sites. A diagnosis was established with the first, second, third and fourth needle pass at 64, 87, 95 and 98% of targets, respectively. The absolute yield varied strongly with target site features, but the stepwise increment to the maximum yield provided by serial passes was similar across target sites. In conclusion, three transbronchial needle passes per site are appropriate when only a tissue diagnosis is sought and when alternative sites or sampling modalities are available. At least four or five passes should be carried out at lymph node stations critical for the staging of lung cancer.