The objective of this study was to describe country-specific lockdown measures and tuberculosis indicators collected during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on lockdown/social restrictions (compulsory face masks and hand hygiene; international and local travel restrictions; restrictions to family visits, and school closures) were collected from 24 countries spanning five continents. The majority of the countries implemented multiple lockdowns with partial or full reopening. There was an overall decrease in active tuberculosis, drug-resistant tuberculosis, and latent tuberculosis cases. Although national lockdowns were effective in containing COVID-19 cases, several indicators of tuberculosis were affected during the pandemic.

The combination of miliary tuberculosis and tuberculous mycotic aneurysm has been described in the literature. We present the case of an 84-year-old man who was diagnosed with a mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and an adjacent soft tissue mass, after a 3- month history of fever. The patient underwent endovascular restoration of the aneurysm and was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. One and a half months later the fever relapsed and the chest CT scan revealed findings consistent with miliary tuberculosis and opacities of both upper lobes not present before, while the abdominal CT scan revealed an increase in the size of the para-aortic mass. Tuberculosis was documented by positive culture for M. tuberculosis of bronchial washing and by the CT-guided para-aortic mass biopsy. The patient received anti-TB treatment for 9 months leading to a spectacular improvement of his clinical condition and imaging findings. A review of the literature since 2008 revealed 28 more cases of tuberculous mycotic aneurysm. The treatment and outcome of all cases are described. Mycotic aneurysm of tuberculous etiology remains a reality and has a relatively good prognosis. Although miliary tuberculosis affects mortality even elderly patients may benefit from “aggressive” management and treatment.

Severe Mycolicibacter kumamotonensis-pulmonary disease was diagnosed in a 68-year-old immunocompetent woman in Greece; the disease was initially treated as tuberculosis. The patient responded favorably to a new treatment regimen of azithromycin, amikacin, moxifloxacin, and linezolid. Complete symptom resolution and radiologic improvement resulted.

Application of culture-independent sequencing technologies has revealed the presence of a low-biomass, high-diversity microbiome within healthy human lungs. This community is highly dynamic, with microbes constantly being introduced into and cleared from healthy airways, and its multifaceted roles in lung physiology and disease are currently a matter of intensive investigation. In view of the rising lung cancer incidence and mortality rates, a large amount of research has already been conducted in the context of lung cancer, suggesting an association between lung cancer and local dysbiosis. In light of these developments, this review summarizes and discusses existing knowledge on lung microbiome dynamics and composition in health and how these differ in lung cancer patients, focusing on the latest research. Throughout this effort, frequently reported alterations and associated microbe–host interactions in lung cancer development and progression are highlighted, along with some critical methodological considerations, outstanding questions and suggestions for the future.

Aims. The aim was to assess the distribution of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in treated patients with pulmonary disease (PD) in Greece. Patient & methods. Patients treated for NTM PD at the two largest chest diseases hospitals in Greece, in the period 1990–2013 were investigated. For the years 2005–2013 data on NTM isolation frequency were recorded. Results. M. avium complex (MAC) was the predominant cause of NTM PD disease followed by M. kansasii and rapid growing mycobacteria (RGM). The pathogenicity of RGM was significantly lower than this of MAC and M. kansasii. An increase was observed in the percentage of isolated NTM species that were considered clinically significant over the study period. Conclusions. The increasing number of NTM PD in Greece is a consequence of their isolation being more frequently considered as clinically relevant.