Outcome of patients with buruli ulcer after surgical treatment with or without antimycobacterial treatment in Ghana.
This study assesses the frequency of recurrences and treatment outcome after surgery of buruli ulcer disease (BUD) with or without concomitant antimycobacterial treatment. Of 129 laboratory-confirmed BUD patients who underwent surgery in two treatment centers in Ghana, 79 (61%) were retrieved for follow-up 4-29 months after the initial treatment. Among 7 (9%) recurrent cases no significant association was found between recurrences and clinical or treatment specific factors including antimycobacterial treatment. In 21 (27%) patients, a reduced range of motion (ROM) of one or more joints was detected. Lesions other than nodules, joint involvement, and skin grafting were identified as independent risk factors. Functional limitations hampering daily activities were perceived by 22% of the patients. Compared with other studies the recurrence rate was relatively low, functional limitations were, however, frequent. This emphasizes the need for improvement of pre- and post-treatment wound care as well as rehabilitation programs.
Schunk
Mirjam
M
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine (DITM), Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany. schunk@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Thompson
William
W
Klutse
Erasmus
E
Nitschke
Jörg
J
Opare-Asamoah
Kwame
K
Thompson
Ruth
R
Fleischmann
Erna
E
Siegmund
Vera
V
Herbinger
Karl-Heinz
KH
Adjei
Ohene
O
Fleischer
Bernhard
B
Loscher
Thomas
T
Bretzel
Gisela
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000187:drug effects*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents