Unapparent systemic dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
A healthy 6-week-old girl exposed to tuberculosis presented a positive DNA amplification for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in gastric aspirates and cerebrospinal fluid whereas she had no other clinical or biological symptoms. Cultures were negative. This report underlines the interest of polymerase chain reaction for early diagnosis of tuberculosis and suggests the importance of treating exposed neonates and young infants just as active tuberculosis.
Jarreau
P H
PH
Service d'Allergologie et de Pneumologie infantiles, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Necker-Enfants-Malades, Paris, France.
Delacourt
C
C
Poveda
J D
JD
Cieuta
C
C
de Blic
J
J
Scheinmann
P
P
D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial