Infantile osteoarticular tuberculosis misdiagnosed as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin related osteomyelitis

Abstract

Tuberculosis, a re-emerging public health problem, is uncommon in infancy. Two healthy completely immunized infants presenting with manifestations compatible with osteoarticular infection required surgical debridement. The cultures of the specimens were positive for M. tuberculosis (MTB) complex comprised multiple subspecies. One case was misdiagnosed as a Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) related osteomyelitis by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on detection of genes at the region of difference 1. Genome extraction and PCR using the rimM gene and sequences analysis against MTB and BCG control samples confirmed that both specimens were infected by M. tuberculosis. The lesions were successfully healed within one year. Surgical debridement of suspected lesions is warranted in infants as a definitive treatment and to obtain tissues for further evaluation. Microbiological cultures only confirm nonspecific MTB complex infection. PCR kits may yield a false positive result. Identification of the pathogen by DNA extraction and sequence analysis should be recommended.