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Combined administration of rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin for the treatment of tenosynovitis of the hand caused by Mycobacterium avium complex: Case series and literature review

Kaji Y, Nakamura O, Yamaguchi K, Nomura Y, Oka K, Yamamoto T

Medicine, 2021

7 participants

Abstract

We report the clinical results and problems of combined administration of rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin (REC) for the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection of the hand (hand MAC).Participants included 7 patients with hand MAC. After resection of the infected lesion, REC was prescribed for 12 months. For these patients, the site of infection, clinical course after initiation of REC, adverse drug effects (ADEs), and incidence of recurrence were evaluated.Sites of infection were the flexor tenosynovium in 5 patients, extensor tenosynovium in 1 patient, and both flexor and extensor tenosynovium in 1 patient. ADEs of REC occurred in 5 patients, and included visual disturbance caused by ethambutol in 2 patients, liver function abnormality caused by rifampicin in 2 patients, and fever with diarrhea caused by rifampicin in 1 patient. For 2 of these 5 patients, desensitization therapy was applied and REC was able to be reinstated. In the remaining 3 patients, the causative drugs were discontinued and levofloxacin, a new quinolone, was administered. Complete healing was achieved in 5 patients, and recurrence was observed in 2 patients. These 2 patients with recurrence included 1 patient in whom REC was completed and 1 patient in whom REC therapy was modified due to ADE.REC provided relatively good clinical results as a treatment for hand MAC. However, recurrences were observed even after the completion of REC and the use of an alternative drug. Optimal…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 7 participants or records.

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