Tuberc Respir Dis.  2015 Oct;78(4):450-454. 10.4046/trd.2015.78.4.450.

Congenital Tuberculosis as a Result of Disseminated Maternal Disease: Case Report

• Hoyos-Orrego A
• Trujillo-Honeysberg M
• Diazgranados-Cuenca L

• KMID: 2320726
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2015.78.4.450

Abstract

Although tuberculosis is highly prevalent worldwide, congenital tuberculosis is one of the least common manifestations of the disease. The diagnosis is usually difficult because of the non-specific clinical presentation and the lack of awareness of maternal disease prior to pregnancy and delivery. We present the case of a preterm neonate with congenital tuberculosis, born to a previously healthy mother who had developed severe disseminated tuberculosis during her pregnancy. Once the diagnosis was confirmed in the mother, the congenital infection was confirmed by isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in gastric aspirates, and positive polymerase chain reaction in a cerebrospinal fluid examination. Treatment for tuberculosis with a four-drug regimen resulted in an adequate clinical response in both the mother and infant.

Keyword

Pregnancy; Tuberculosis

MeSH Terms

Cerebrospinal Fluid
Diagnosis
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Mothers
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Pregnancy
Tuberculosis*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Histopathological findings in the endometrium, uterus and appendix. (A) Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain with Ziehl-Neelsen: AFB+ in endometrial tissue. (B) Caseating granuloma with central necrosis consistent with tuberculosis in uterus. (C) Granulomas in the appendiceal wall. (D) Necrotizing granulomas in the uterine wall.

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  Figure 2 (A) Chest X-ray of the newborn at 4 weeks of age. There are bilateral, alveolar infiltrates suggestive of hematogenous dissemination. (B) Acid-fast bacilli+ in gastric aspirate.

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