Rates Of Tuberculosis Research Articles

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and migration on tuberculosis notifications: a retrospective analysis with 5-year data from three centers.

We aimed to determine the incidence of TB among immigrants and non-immigrants in Sanliurfa, Türkiye between 2018 and 2022 and to examine the effect of COVID-19 on the incidence, location, and drug resistance patterns of tuberculosis. This study was a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in Şanlıurfa Tuberculosis Dispensary between January-2018 and May-2022. Patients were assessed in terms of age, sex, site of tuberculosis, and drug resistance profiles before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 887 patients with TB were included in the study. The mean age of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis was 40.63 ± 17.50 years. Of the total number of patients diagnosed, 50.7% were women, 85.8% were Turkish citizens, and 91.9% were new cases. Comparing the rate of positive cultures between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods revealed a statistically significant rate of positive culture during the COVID-19 period (p < 0.001). In terms of mortality, the mean age of the patients who died was 60.2 ± 18.4 years and that of the survivors was 39.1 ± 16.6 years; these values were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Among the patients who survived, the rate of pulmonary tuberculosis was statistically significantly higher than that of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (p < 0.001). The prevalence of pulmonary TB is high and the proportion of women is increasing. During the COVID-19 period, the number of patients diagnosed with TB decreased, but interestingly, the rate of positive cultures remained high, and the rate of resistance to INH also decreased. The results revealed rates similar to those reported by the World Health Organization.

Multidisciplinary Effort Leading to Effective Tuberculosis Community Outbreak Containment in Israel.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second-most prevalent cause of mortality resulting from infectious diseases worldwide. It is caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). In Israel, TB incidence is low, acknowledged by the WHO as being in a pre-elimination phase. Most cases occur among immigrants from high TB incidence regions like the Horn of Africa and the former Soviet Union (FSU), with occasional outbreaks. The outbreak described in this report occurred between 2018 and 2024, increasing the incidence rate of TB in the region. Control of this outbreak posed challenges due to factors including a diverse population (including Ethiopian immigrants, Israeli-born citizens, and immigrants from other countries), economic and social barriers, and hesitancy to disclose information. The unique multidisciplinary team formed to address these challenges, involving the local TB clinic, district health ministry, health maintenance organization (HMO) infectious disease consultant, neighborhood clinic, and National Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory (NMRL), achieved effective treatment and containment. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) proved pivotal in unraveling patient connections during the outbreak. It pinpointed those patients overlooked in initial field investigations, established connections between patients across different health departments, and uncovered the existence of two distinct clusters with separate transmission chains within the same neighborhood. This study underscores collaborative efforts across sectors that successfully contained a challenging outbreak.

HIV-associated tuberculosis in infants, children, and adolescents younger than 15 years: an update on the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB) remains a major driver of morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents younger than 15 years (CLWH). The purpose of this review is to highlight recent findings in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV-associated TB in CLWH and to highlight knowledge and implementation gaps. We found that despite access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), high rates of HIV-associated TB are still reported, and with an unacceptably high mortality. There are no advances in screening for TB, but shorter courses of rifapentine-based TB preventive therapy are becoming available. The use of algorithms in TB diagnosis can potentially simplify the therapeutic decision making. There are more data supporting the use of dolutegravir (DTG) with rifampicin and a need to study unadjusted DTG especially in the youngest children. Short course therapy for nonsevere pulmonary TB is currently implemented and programmatic outcome should be studied in CLWH. Low uptake of ART and poor suppression remains an important driver of HIV-associated TB. Although screening and diagnosis remains challenging, there are several advances in the prevention and treatment of HIV-associated TB. Effective implementation of these strategies is needed to advance the outcomes of CLWH.

Medication Adherence among Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Patients at Universitas Indonesia Hospital

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB-DR) is a deadly disease caused by infectious agents. Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB-DR) rates in the world. The prevalence of tuberculosis cases in Depok City between 2019-2022 showed an increase in cases every year. This study aims to measure the level of adherence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB-DR) patients to their treatment using the Eight-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) questionnaire.Methods: This study is an observational study using a cross-sectional study design, conducted from February 2024 to March 2024 at the University of Indonesia Hospital. Eighty-seven respondents participated in this study. Respondents completed the validated Indonesian version of the MMAS-8 questionnaire after signing informed consent forms.Results: The results of the study showed that 50.6% of respondents had low adherence levels, 47.1% had moderate adherence levels, and 2.3% had high adherence levels. The data was then statistically analyzed using the SPSS version 29 statistical package with Chi-Square analysis, which resulted in a significant correlation (P&lt;0.05) between adherence levels and gender.Conclusion: There was a significant correlation between gender and respondent adherence. More than 50% of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB-DR) patients at the University of Indonesia Hospital still have low adherence levels to their treatment.

Epidemiological analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that affects people worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia. The study analyzed the frequency of diagnosed TB cases, age-specific incidence rate, year of diagnosis, and prevalence of TB in Saudi Arabia from 2014 to 2020. Based on the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) data, 21,120 patients were diagnosed with TB. The mean incidence rate of pulmonary TB and extra-pulmonary TB was approximately 6.92 and 2.33 per 100,000 population, respectively. The highest age-specific incidence rate was observed in the 25–35 year age group. The non-Saudi population (11,086 cases; 52.50%) was significantly more affected by both types of TB compared to the Saudi population (10,034 cases; 47.50%). The male population of Saudi and non-Saudi was significantly more affected by both types of TB. The highest overall mean incidence rate per 100,000 population was observed in the Jeddah and Jazan regions. The study's findings may have implications for supporting public health interventions and implementing a more effective TB control strategy program in Saudi Arabia. It suggests that immigrants from TB-endemic countries and religious visitors from high-risk countries should undergo pre and post-arrival screening for TB to reduce its incidence.

Identification of pathological characteristics in pulmonary tuberculosis using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

The low detection rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical practice leads to a high rate of missed diagnosis for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). As a noninvasive, high-resolution, real-time imaging technology, polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) may be feasible for the rapid identification of pathological feature. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using PS-OCT to identify pathological features of PTB. In the experiments, PTB samples containing some surrounding lung tissues were imaged using PS-OCT. It is demonstrated that PS-OCT images showed good consistency with the corresponding pathological images and were able to identify PTB-related characteristic pathological regions. We think PS-OCT can serve as an effective supplement for the diagnosis of PTB, enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis, and aiding in the understanding of the pathological characteristics and pathophysiological processes of PTB.

The Influence of the COVID‑19 Pandemic on the Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment in the Republic of North Ossetia — Alania

Introduction. Prioritization of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in the coverage and intensity of TB control activities.The aim of study to assess the indicators of detection, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and compare them with those at the all-Russian level.Materials and methods. A preliminary collection of statistical information in Russian and several foreign sources closest to the topic was carried out on the PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, CyberLeninka and eLibrary platforms. An analysis of the epidemiology of tuberculosis in North Ossetia for 2020–2021 was performed. according to annual reporting forms and reports from epidemiological monitoring systems for tuberculosis.Results. The detection rate of tuberculosis has decreased during the pandemic. The indicator in North Ossetia was higher than the national level. Clinical and diagnostic indicators for tuberculosis in the republic in 2020 were lower compared to those for 2021 for the study of sputum, decay phase, and bacterial excretion. The proportion of successful tuberculosis chemotherapy in the republic was higher than in a number of regions of the Russia.Discussion. There was a decrease in registered and, obviously, accumulation of latent cases of tuberculosis during the COVID 19 2020 pandemic due to a drop in preventive coverage of the population in the Russia. A worsening of the clinical structure of tuberculosis in 2021 in Republic of North Ossetia and an increase in the proportion of patients with destruction of lung tissue and the fibrous-cavernous type of disease in the Russia are revealed, possibly due to untimely detection of tuberculosis.Conclusion. Low activity of primary health care organizations regarding tuberculosis was revealed. Restrictions to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen contributed to a decrease in the coverage and intensity of anti-tuberculosis measures. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly affected the rates of primary diagnosis of tuberculosis in 2020, and in 2021 a significant increase was noted.

Risk factors for tuberculosis among close IGRA-negative contacts of persons with infectious tuberculosis in Singapore

ObjectivesContacts of patients with infectious tuberculosis (TB) testing positive on interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) are followed up to exclude active disease. However, identifying factors that predispose IGRA-negative contacts to TB could improve screening and follow-up strategies in a medium TB burden country such as Singapore. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of IGRA-negative contacts aged ≥2 years identified during contact investigation between January 2014 and December 2022. We examined the risk factors associated with developing active TB among contacts previously testing IGRA-negative, using univariate and multivariable logistic regression and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. ResultsOf 60,377 IGRA-negative contacts, 150 developed TB disease, and half were notified within 23 months of index patient diagnosis. IGRA-negative contacts of a smear-positive index patient were more likely to develop TB. Independent risk factors for TB were age >50 years, Malay ethnicity, having diabetes or end-stage renal failure, a “family” relationship with the index patient, or exposure in a dormitory or nursing home. ConclusionsIdentifying risk factors could help optimise follow-up strategies and preventive treatment in IGRA-negative individuals. The incidence rate of TB in this group was 150 per 100,000 population, substantially higher than in the community, with a median 92 weeks to develop disease. Findings suggest that follow-up should be extended to 24 months for contacts with these risk factors.

Apramycin has high in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Introduction. Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin and kanamycin are important components in the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. However, more and more clinical strains are found to be aminoglycoside antibiotic-resistant. Apramycin is another kind of aminoglycoside antibiotic that is commonly used to treat infections in animals.Hypothesis. Apramycin may have in vitro activity against Mtb.Aim. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of apramycin against Mtb in vitro and determine its epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) value.Methodology. One hundred Mtb isolates, including 17 pansusceptible and 83 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) strains, were analysed for apramycin resistance using the MIC assay.Results. Apramycin exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Mtb clinical isolates, with an MIC50 of 0.5 μg ml-1 and an MIC90 of 1 μg ml-1. We determined the tentative ECOFF value as 1 µg ml-1 for apramycin. The resistant rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) strains were 12.12 % (4/33), 20.69 % (6/29) and 66.67 % (14/21), respectively. The rrs gene A1401G is associated with apramycin resistance, as well as the cross-resistance between apramycin and other aminoglycosides.Conclusion. Apramycin shows high in vitro activity against the Mtb clinical isolates, especially the MDR-TB clinical isolates. This encouraging discovery calls for more research on the functions of apramycin in vivo and as a possible antibiotic for the treatment of drug-resistant TB.

Impact of HIV coinfection on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectivesDespite the implementation of a short-term direct observation treatment programme, HIV coinfection is one of the main determinants of tuberculosis (TB) treatment success. This meta-analysis was conducted to report the...

Factors associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional secondary data analysis

BackgroundGlobally, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major public health problem. The tuberculosis rate in Sierra Leone is 298 per 100,000 people, and Sierra Leone is considered a country with a high burden of tuberculosis. In Sierra Leone, there are few studies on the outcomes of MDR-TB treatment, especially those exacerbated by COVID-19. We identified factors associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes among people with MDR-TB in Sierra Leone.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study to analyze hospital-based MDR-TB data from 2017 to 2021. Demographic, clinical, and treatment outcome data were extracted from the main MDR-TB referral hospital database. We defined unfavorable outcomes as patients who died, were lost to follow-up, or defaulted. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify predictors of the outcomes of MDR-TB treatment.ResultsBetween 2017 and 2021, 628 people with MDR-TB were reported at Lakka Hospital; 441 (71%) were male, with a median age of 25 years (interquartile ranges: 17–34). Clinically, 21% of the 628 MDR-TB patients were HIV positive, and 413 were underweight (66%). 70% (440) of MDR-TB patients received tuberculosis treatment. The majority of patients, 457 (73%), were treated with a short treatment regimen, and 126 (20%) experienced unfavorable outcomes. Age 45 years or younger (aOR = 5.08; CI:1.87–13.82), 21–45 years (aOR = 2.22; CI:140–3.54), tuberculosis retreatment (aOR = 3.23; CI:1.82–5.73), age group, HIV status (aOR = 2.16; CI:1.33–3.53), and malnourishment status (aOR = 1.79; CI:1.12–2.86) were significantly associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes for DR-TB patients.ConclusionThis analysis revealed a high proportion of unfavorable treatment outcomes among MDR-TB patients in Sierra Leone. Malnourishment, TB retreatment, HIV coinfection, and age 45 years or younger were associated with unfavorable outcomes of MDR-TB treatment. Increasing patients’ awareness, mainly among young people, heightens treatment adherence and HIV monitoring by measuring the amount of HIV in patient blood, which can reduce adverse treatment outcomes in Sierra Leone and other sub-Saharan African countries.

Analysis of Drug Resistance Characteristics of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Anhui Province, 2016-2022.

To preliminarily assess the prevalence and control effect of tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in Anhui province, and analyze the trends in the changing drug resistance spectrum of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) isolated in Anhui province from 2016 to 2022. From 2016 to 2022, a total of 2336 culture-positive tuberculosis strains were collected from four drug resistance monitoring sites. Patient demographic information was collected and drug susceptibility testing was conducted. Among the 2336 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains, 1788 (76.54%) were from male patients and 548 (23.46%) were from female patients. The majority were of Han ethnicity, from rural areas, and employed in agriculture, with 12.54% (285/2273) having diabetes. A total of 1893 (81.04%) strains were sensitive to all six anti-TB drugs tested, and 443 (18.96%) strains were resistant to at least one or more anti-TB drugs. The drug resistance rate for patients undergoing initial treatment was 16.80% (348/2071), and 35.85% (95/265) for those receiving retreatment. Among the six anti-TB drugs, the resistance rates from highest to lowest were: INH (10.55%, 236/2336), SM (8.18%, 183/2336), OFX (6.53%, 146/2336), RFP (5.95%, 133/2336), EMB (2.37%, 53/2336), KM (1.97%, 44/2336). Significant differences were observed in MDR strains across different ages, types, with or without diabetes, and geographical sources (χ2=14.895,76.534,6.032,5.109, all P<0.05). The tuberculosis prevention and control measures have controlled the drug resistance rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to a certain extent. However, there are still statistical differences in drug resistance rates among TB patients with different categories, age groups, regions, and diabetic diseases. Early detection and prompt treatment of patients with drug-resistant TB remain critical to controlling the spread of this disease.

Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection in patients attending Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Nigeria: A retrospective study.

This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDScoinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017. The study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15-60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated. The uniform data form, a standardized instrument used in Anambra State's health facilities for data collection, was used to collect data from case files of all those identified as coinfected with TB and HIV/AIDS. The mean prevalence rate of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the state during the 5-year period (2013-2017) was 20.00%. The highest annual prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection was recorded in 2014 (23.84%). The state's prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection increased dramatically from 13.17% in 2013to 23.84% in 2014, followed by a slight downward trend to 22.80% in 2015, 20.17% in 2016, and 20.03% in 2017. In terms of gender, age, marital status, and occupation, females (59.5%), those aged 15 to 25 years (30.7%), married people (43.90%), and traders/business owners (50.7%), respectively, had the highest rates of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS coinfection during the study period. The findings of this study show that young people, females, married people, and traders/business owners appear to be the most vulnerable groups affected by TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection, accounting for the majority of the disease burden in the state. To address the high prevalence of TB and HIV/AIDS coinfection in the Anambra State, novel intervention and control programs should be developed and implemented, and existing intervention frameworks should be strengthened.

Prevalence Rates of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and Hepatitis B and C among Migrant Workers in Jordan.

Migration across national borders is an influential factor of consideration in the control of infectious diseases. Therefore, including migrants in surveillance and screening programs as well as linkage to care is mandatory to meet the public health targets of countries and regions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among migrant workers applying for work permits in Jordan during the period 2018-2020. The findings of this study are expected to guide health policy to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in Jordan. During the period 2018-2020, 439,622 migrant workers underwent routine testing for TB, HIV, and hepatitis B and C. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical data for those migrants were retrieved from the Directorate of Chest Diseases and Immigrants Health records. The overall prevalence of the mentioned diseases as well as by subgroups was calculated. The prevalence rates of TB and HIV among migrants were 54 per 100,000 migrants (11 per 100,000 male migrants and 138 per 100,000 female migrants, P < 0.001) and 21 per 100,000 (11 per 100,000 male migrants and 41 per 100,000 female migrants, P < 0.001), respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis B was 10 per 1000 migrants (12 per 1000 male migrants and 7 per 1000 female migrants, P < 0.001) and the prevalence of hepatitis C was 37 per 1000 (51 per 1000 male migrants and 10 per 1000 female migrants, P < 0.001). The prevalence of all studied conditions varied significantly according to gender, age, occupation, and country of origin. The prevalence rates of TB, HIV, HBV, and HCV were generally higher among migrants than Jordanians. Evidence-based health policies need to be drafted that aim to address migrant workers health care to ensure the lowest possible risk from infectious diseases to the people of Jordan is maintained. The study findings can inform the formulation of immigration and public health policies, including screening requirements for migrant workers, health insurance provisions, labor regulations, and support services for those with these conditions.

Incidence rate of tuberculosis among HIV infected children in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundTuberculosis is one the leading causes of death from a single infectious disease, caused by the bacillus mycobacterium tuberculosis. In Ethiopia, even though several primary studies have been conducted on the incidence of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children, the pooled incidence rate of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children (aged 0–14 years) is unknown. Therefore, the main objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis are to estimate the pooled incidence rate of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children and its predictors in Ethiopia.MethodInternational electronic databases such as PubMed, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online were searched using different search engines. Quality of primary studies was checked using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. The heterogeneity of studies was tested using I-square statistics. Publication bias was tested using a funnel plot and Egger’s test. Forest plots and tables were used to present the results. The random effect model was used to estimate the pooled incidence of tuberculosis among children living with HIV.ResultA total of 13 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled incidence of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children was 3.77 (95% CI: 2.83, 5.02) per 100-person-year observations. Advanced HIV disease (HR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.9; 3.88), didn’t receive complete vaccination (HR: 4.40, 95% CI: 2.16; 8.82), stunting (HR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.64, 3.33), underweight (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.61; 3.22), didn’t receive Isoniazid preventive therapy (HR: 3.64, 95% CI: 2.22, 5.96), anemia (HR: 3.04, 95% CI: 2.34; 3.98), fair or poor antiretroviral therapy adherence (HR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.84; 3.40) and didn’t receive cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (HR: 3.20, 95% CI: 2.26; 4.40) were predictors of tuberculosis coinfection among HIV infected children.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that the overall pooled incidence rate of tuberculosis among HIV-infected children was high in Ethiopia as compared to the END TB strategy targets. Therefore, emphasis has to be given to drug adherence (ART and Isoniazid) and nutritional counseling. Moreover, early diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition and anemia are critical to reduce the risk of TB coinfection.RegistrationRegistered in PROSPERO with ID: CRD42023474956.

Attenuated tuberculin skin test responses associated with Mycobacterium intracellulare sputum colonization in an adolescent TB prevalence survey in Western Kenya

IntroductionExposure to Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) varies regionally and may partly explain the disparate outcomes of BCG vaccination and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility. MethodsWe examined NTM sputum colonization, associations with clinical characteristics, and tuberculin skin test (TST) responses in an adolescent TB prevalence survey. ResultsAmong 5004 adolescents screened, 2281 (45.5 %) were evaluated further. TB and NTM prevalence rates were 0.3 % and 8.0 %, respectively. Among 418 NTM isolates, 103 were unidentifiable, and 315 (75 %) comprised 15 species, the most frequent being M. intracellulare (MAC) (108, 26 %), M. scrofulaceum (96, 23 %) and M. fortuitum (51, 12 %). “NTM colonized” adolescents had less frequent chronic cough and night sweats (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.62, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.87and aOR 0.61, CI 0.42–0.89 respectively), and lower TST induration (median 11 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 0–16) vs 13 mm (IQR 6–17; p = 0.006)) when compared to “NTM not colonized” participants. MAC, but not M. scrofulaceum or M. fortuitum, was associated with decreased TST induration (median 7.5 mm (IQR 0–15) vs 13 mm (IQR 6–17) among “MAC colonized” vs “not colonized”, p = 0.001). ConclusionWe observed high NTM prevalence rates with species-specific associations with TST induration, consistent with a model of species-dependent heterologous immunity among mycobacteria.

Gut Microbiota and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Literature Review)

The review analyzes 69 publications, of which 45 are devoted to studying gut microbiota in tuberculosis patients. The review presents data on the effect of gut microbiota disorders on the development of tuberculosis, severity and relapse rate. It covers the issues of changes in gut microbiota composition during anti-tuberculosis therapy and the effect of their management with probiotics on the tolerability of anti-tuberculosis therapy and effectiveness of treatment, including children.

Using the Health Belief Model to Predict Tuberculosis Preventive Behaviors Among Tuberculosis Patients' Household Contacts During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Border Areas of Northern Thailand.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated the rate of tuberculosis (TB) infection among close contacts of TB patients in remote regions. However, research on preventive behaviors, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), among household contacts of TB cases is scarce. This study aimed to employ the HBM as a framework to predict TB preventive behaviors among household contacts of TB patients in the border areas of Northern Thailand. A cross-sectional study with multi-stage random sampling was conducted in Chiang Rai Province. The study included 422 TB patients' household contacts aged 18 years or older who had available chest X-ray (CXR) results. A self-administered questionnaire was used to conduct the survey. The participants' mean age was 42.93 years. Pearson correlation analysis showed that TB preventive behavior scores were significantly correlated with TB knowledge (r=0.397), perceived susceptibility (r=0.565), perceived severity (r=0.452), perceived benefits (r=0.581), self-efficacy (r=0.526), and cues to action (r=0.179). Binary logistic regression revealed that the modeled odds of having an abnormal CXR decreased by 30.0% for each 1-point score increase in preventive behavior (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 0.79). HBM constructs were able to explain preventive behaviors among TB patients' household contacts. The HBM could be used in health promotion programs to improve TB preventive behaviors and avoid negative outcomes.

Diagnostic value of DNA or RNA-based metagenomic next-generation sequencing in lower respiratory tract infections

ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of RNA-mNGS and DNA-mNGS workflow in bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia and tuberculosis. MethodsA total of 134 cases suspected pneumonia undergoing both DNA and RNA based mNGS of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also traditional etiological examination were evaluated retrospectively.Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy rate of DNA and RNA based mNGS were estimated. ResultsIn the diagnosis performance of bacterial pathogens in LRTIs,the specificity of RNA-mNGS was higher than that of DNA-mNGS(82.3 % vs. 61.9 %, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of sensitivity between the two process(71.4 % vs. 85.7 %, P = 0.375).In the diagnosis performance of fungal pathogens in LRTIs,the specificity of RNA-mNGS was higher than that of DNA-mNGS (72.3 % vs. 27.3 %,p < 0.001). There was no significant difference of sensitivity between the two process(96.5 % vs. 98.8 %,p = 0.125).In the diagnosis performance of tuberculosis in LRTIs,the sensitivity of DNA-mNGS was higher than that of RNA-mNGS (91.7 % vs. 33.3 %,p = 0.016),the specificity was similar in the two process (100 %). ConclusionsRNA-mNGS may reduced the misdiagnosis rate of bacterial and fungal pathogens in LRTIs.Compared to RNA-mNGS, DNA-mNGS may could improve the diagnostic rate of tuberculosis.

Dynamical analysis of HIV-TB co-infection transmission model in the presence of treatment for TB

The immense disease burden of tuberculosis (TB) infection is well-documented, particularly among those co-infected with HIV and TB. To better understand the transmission dynamics of HIV-TB co-infection in the absence of readily available HIV treatment, we develop a deterministic compartmental co-infection model. Our model helps to identify the effects of TB infection on the co-infection dynamics of the two diseases, especially when treatment for TB is readily available. We find that susceptibility to TB reinfection after a previous infection leads to backward bifurcation in the TB-only model when the associated reproduction number (R_0) is less than unity. However, when we make the susceptibility to TB re-infection insignificant in the model, the disease-free equilibrium of the TB-only model is locally asymptotically stable when the associated R_0 is less than unity. We conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to identify the key parameters driving TB infection dynamics, using the R_0 as the response function. We discover that the transmission rate for TB, the modification parameters accounting for the infectiousness of infected individuals with TB-only, and the treatment rates for singly infected individuals with latently infected TB are the top drivers of TB infection in the given population. Our numerical simulations suggest that concentrating treatment on TB-infected individuals in the diagnosed latently infected stage (singly or dually infected with HIV) could effectively reduce the co-infection disease burden and HIV incidence in the population under study.