Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus

Background. Tetanus has rarely been reported in Thailand since 1982 due to 100% tetanus vaccination coverage during the neonatal period of life. However, the reemergence of tetanus has been observed in our country during the past decade, mainly due to the increasing number of migrants traveling from...

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Main Author: Thaninee Prasoppokakorn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8918020
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author Thaninee Prasoppokakorn
author_facet Thaninee Prasoppokakorn
author_sort Thaninee Prasoppokakorn
collection DOAJ
description Background. Tetanus has rarely been reported in Thailand since 1982 due to 100% tetanus vaccination coverage during the neonatal period of life. However, the reemergence of tetanus has been observed in our country during the past decade, mainly due to the increasing number of migrants traveling from neighboring countries in search of work. Acupuncture has become an essential part of alternative and complementary medicine. To our knowledge, acupuncture-associated Mycobacterium abscessus and Scedosporium infections superimposed by tetanus have never been reported. Case Presentation. A 55-year-old Thai female with schizophrenia was hospitalized due to a 4-day course of trismus, dysphagia, and back muscle spasms. Upon admission, a clinical diagnosis of tetanus was made, which included muscle rigidity and reflex muscle spasms, despite a recent history of diphtheria-tetanus (dT) vaccination for tetanus prophylaxis after 2 episodes of falling complicated by two lacerations on the left shoulder and head. Endotracheal intubation for airway protection was given, in addition to tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole, and diazepam which were prescribed to the patient. Incision and drainage of the wound on the left shoulder yielded 40 mL of pus, which subsequently grew Clostridium species, Mycobacterium massiliense, and Scedosporium on anaerobic bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal cultures, respectively. An incision of an acupuncture wound on the abdominal wall yielded 1 mL of pus, which exhibited positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on AFB stain. Mycobacterial culture finally grew M. massiliense. The organism was susceptible to amikacin and clarithromycin. Amikacin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and voriconazole were then added. The patient gradually improved and was discharged after one month of hospitalization. The patient was reported to be doing well, with no neurological sequelae, when last seen one month after discharge. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acupuncture-associated M. massiliense and Scedosporium infections superimposed by tetanus. In Thailand, the occurrence of acupuncture by nonqualified individuals and the reemergence of tetanus remain prevalent. Hence, it is not uncommon to see tetanus in association with acupuncture-related nontuberculous mycobacterial/fungal infection.
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spelling doaj-art-14e47df3dc934617a709aedf27d6f1422025-08-20T02:02:01ZengWileyCase Reports in Infectious Diseases2090-66332022-01-01202210.1155/2022/8918020Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by TetanusThaninee Prasoppokakorn0Division of GastroenterologyBackground. Tetanus has rarely been reported in Thailand since 1982 due to 100% tetanus vaccination coverage during the neonatal period of life. However, the reemergence of tetanus has been observed in our country during the past decade, mainly due to the increasing number of migrants traveling from neighboring countries in search of work. Acupuncture has become an essential part of alternative and complementary medicine. To our knowledge, acupuncture-associated Mycobacterium abscessus and Scedosporium infections superimposed by tetanus have never been reported. Case Presentation. A 55-year-old Thai female with schizophrenia was hospitalized due to a 4-day course of trismus, dysphagia, and back muscle spasms. Upon admission, a clinical diagnosis of tetanus was made, which included muscle rigidity and reflex muscle spasms, despite a recent history of diphtheria-tetanus (dT) vaccination for tetanus prophylaxis after 2 episodes of falling complicated by two lacerations on the left shoulder and head. Endotracheal intubation for airway protection was given, in addition to tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole, and diazepam which were prescribed to the patient. Incision and drainage of the wound on the left shoulder yielded 40 mL of pus, which subsequently grew Clostridium species, Mycobacterium massiliense, and Scedosporium on anaerobic bacterial, mycobacterial, and fungal cultures, respectively. An incision of an acupuncture wound on the abdominal wall yielded 1 mL of pus, which exhibited positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) on AFB stain. Mycobacterial culture finally grew M. massiliense. The organism was susceptible to amikacin and clarithromycin. Amikacin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and voriconazole were then added. The patient gradually improved and was discharged after one month of hospitalization. The patient was reported to be doing well, with no neurological sequelae, when last seen one month after discharge. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acupuncture-associated M. massiliense and Scedosporium infections superimposed by tetanus. In Thailand, the occurrence of acupuncture by nonqualified individuals and the reemergence of tetanus remain prevalent. Hence, it is not uncommon to see tetanus in association with acupuncture-related nontuberculous mycobacterial/fungal infection.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8918020
spellingShingle Thaninee Prasoppokakorn
Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
title Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
title_full Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
title_fullStr Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
title_full_unstemmed Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
title_short Acupuncture-Associated Mycobacterium massiliense and Scedosporium Infections Superimposed by Tetanus
title_sort acupuncture associated mycobacterium massiliense and scedosporium infections superimposed by tetanus
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/8918020
work_keys_str_mv AT thanineeprasoppokakorn acupunctureassociatedmycobacteriummassilienseandscedosporiuminfectionssuperimposedbytetanus