New and Repurposed Drugs for Pediatric Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis. Practice-based Recommendations

Admission and outcomes of COVID-19 among chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases patients in Africa: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

When the coronavirus case was originally reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it quickly spread throughout the world and became a global public health problem. Evidence of the admission and outcomes of coronavirus disease among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been reported in Africa. Consequently, this research protocol uses a systematic review and meta-analysis of the admission and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with COPD in Africa. All observational studies published in the English language and reporting on the prevalence, admission and outcomes of COVID-19 among patients with COPD in Africa will be included. A search strategy will be implemented using electronic databases and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol recommendations. The findings of this review will be reported to health program designers, decision-makers and healthcare providers.

Efficacy and safety of the all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimen as treatment for pediatric multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to observe the efficacy and safety of an all-oral bedaquiline (BDQ)-containing regimen for pediatric multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) through a multicenter, retrospective study in China.

METHODS

In the study, pediatric patients receiving all-oral BDQ-containing regimen (BDQ group) with clinical matched control group were included, the control group received an injection-containing regimen. The treatment outcomes and the incidence of adverse events (AEs) were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS

79 pediatric patients were enrolled, including 37 cases in BDQ group and 42 cases in the control group, the median age was 12 {8-16} and 11 {9-15} in both groups respectively. Favorable treatment outcome and cure rate in BDQ group were significantly higher than those in control group (100%vs 83.3%, p 0.03; 94.6%vs 63.3%, p 0.00). Median time of sputum culture conversion in BDQ group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (4 weeks vs 8 weeks, p 0.00). The incidence of AEs in the BDQ group was significantly less than that in the control group (48.6% vs 71.4%, p 0.03). No AEs leading to treatment discontinuation of BDQ occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The all-oral BDQ-containing regimens may be effective and safe in the Chinese pediatric population.

Advanced drug delivery and therapeutic strategies for tuberculosis treatment

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative approaches for effective treatment. Conventional TB therapy encounters several limitations, including extended treatment duration, drug resistance, patient noncompliance, poor bioavailability, and suboptimal targeting. Advanced drug delivery strategies have emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges. They have the potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes and improve TB patient compliance by providing benefits such as multiple drug encapsulation, sustained release, targeted delivery, reduced dosing frequency, and minimal side effects. This review examines the current landscape of drug delivery strategies for effective TB management, specifically highlighting lipid nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, emulsion-based systems, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and hydrogels as promising approaches. Furthermore, emerging therapeutic strategies like targeted therapy, long-acting therapeutics, extrapulmonary therapy, phototherapy, and immunotherapy are emphasized. The review also discusses the future trajectory and challenges of developing drug delivery systems for TB. In conclusion, nanomedicine has made substantial progress in addressing the challenges posed by conventional TB drugs. Moreover, by harnessing the unique targeting abilities, extended duration of action, and specificity of advanced therapeutics, innovative solutions are offered that have the potential to revolutionize TB therapy, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes and patient compliance.

Pulmonary tuberculosis case notification and burden of drug resistance among children under 15 years of age in Ethiopia: sub-analysis from third-round drug resistance tuberculosis survey

INTRODUCTION

Data on the burden of bacteriologically confirmed childhood Tuberculosis (PTB) and drug-resistant TB in Ethiopia is limited due to difficulties related to its diagnosis in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB Case Notification Rates (CNRs) and the burden of Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis among children in Ethiopia.

METHOD

Retrospective secondary clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 3rd round national DR-TB survey which was conducted between August 2017 and January 2019. We used IBM SPSS 24 for sub-analysis of 3rd round Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis data. Descriptive statistics were used in computing the association between the sociodemographic characteristics and PTB CNRs, and the strength of the associations was determined using binary logistic regression with Odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULT

Overall, 102 bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB cases were identified with a median age of 12 (range 1-14) years. Of these, 54 (52.9%) were females and 81 (79.4%) lived in rural areas. HIV-TB co-infection cases were 5/102 (4.3%) and the majority (98%) of cases were newly diagnosed children. Nationally, the incidence of bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB was calculated to be 5.1 per 100,000 children. The burden of Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis to at least one of the five first-line anti-TB drugs tested was five (6.5%) cases and one (1.3%) was found to be a Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis case. Drug-resistant tuberculosis was significantly associated with the age group 10-14 years (P = 0.002; [AOR] 29.76; [95% CI, 3.51-252.64]) and children living in urban areas (P = 0.027; [AOR] 5.76; 95% CI, 1.22-27.09).

CONCLUSION

Bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB cases increased as the age of the children increased. Most of the bacteriologically confirmed childhood PTB and the identified drug Resistant-Tuberculosis cases were new cases. Also, rural children were more affected by TB than their urban, counterparts Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis was higher in urban resident children.

Advances of new drugs bedaquiline and delamanid in the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in children

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem, with nearly 10 million new cases and millions of deaths each year. Around 10% of these cases are in children, but only a fraction receive proper diagnosis and treatment. The spread of drug-resistant (DR) strain of TB has made it difficult to control, with only 60% of patients responding to treatment. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is often undiagnosed in children due to lack of awareness or under-diagnosis, and the target for children's DR-TB treatment has only been met in 15% of goals. New medications such as bedaquiline and delamanid have been approved for treating DR-TB. However, due to age and weight differences, adults and children require different dosages. The availability of child-friendly formulations is limited by a lack of clinical data in children. This paper reviews the development history of these drugs, their mechanism of action, efficacy, safety potential problems and current use in treating DR-TB in children.

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling to Predict the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Linezolid in Adults and Children with Tuberculous Meningitis

Linezolid is used off-label for treatment of central nervous system infections. However, its pharmacokinetics and target attainment in cranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in tuberculous meningitis patients is unknown. This study aimed to predict linezolid cranial CSF concentrations and assess attainment of pharmacodynamic (PD) thresholds (AUC:MIC of >119) in plasma and cranial CSF of adults and children with tuberculous meningitis. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict linezolid cranial CSF profiles based on reported plasma concentrations. Simulated steady-state PK curves in plasma and cranial CSF after linezolid doses of 300 mg BID, 600 mg BID, and 1200 mg QD in adults resulted in geometric mean AUC:MIC ratios in plasma of 118, 281, and 262 and mean cranial CSF AUC:MIC ratios of 74, 181, and 166, respectively. In children using ~10 mg/kg BID linezolid, AUC:MIC values at steady-state in plasma and cranial CSF were 202 and 135, respectively. Our model predicts that 1200 mg per day in adults, either 600 mg BID or 1200 mg QD, results in reasonable (87%) target attainment in cranial CSF. Target attainment in our simulated paediatric population was moderate (56% in cranial CSF). Our PBPK model can support linezolid dose optimization efforts by simulating target attainment close to the site of TBM disease.

Pediatric Tuberculosis Management: A Global Challenge or Breakthrough?

Managing pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem requiring urgent and long-lasting solutions as TB is one of the top ten causes of ill health and death in children as well as adolescents universally. Minors are particularly susceptible to this severe illness that can be fatal post-infection or even serve as reservoirs for future disease outbreaks. However, pediatric TB is the least prioritized in most health programs and optimal infection/disease control has been quite neglected for this specialized patient category, as most scientific and clinical research efforts focus on developing novel management strategies for adults. Moreover, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has meaningfully hindered the gains and progress achieved with TB prophylaxis, therapy, diagnosis, and global eradication goals for all affected persons of varying age bands. Thus, the opening of novel research activities and opportunities that can provide more insight and create new knowledge specifically geared towards managing TB disease in this specialized group will significantly improve their well-being and longevity.

Twenty-four-week interim outcomes of bedaquiline-containing regimens in treatment of adolescents with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: A retrospective cohort study in China

AIM

To evaluate the 24-week interim outcomes of bedaquiline-containing regimens in the treatment of adolescents with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in China.

METHODS

Adolescents with RR-TB from two hospitals were included in this retrospective study. All patients received the longer regimen containing bedaquiline. Sputum culture, chest computed tomography, blood tests and electrocardiography were performed regularly, and the outcomes after 24 weeks of treatment were reported.

RESULTS

Four male and six female adolescents aged 11 to 17 years old were included. Among them, four (40.0%), four (40.0%) and two (20.0%) were confirmed to have RR-TB, multidrug-resistant TB and extensively drug-resistant TB, respectively. The most common companion drugs included linezolid (100.0%), cycloserine (90.0%), pyrazinamide (80.0%), moxifloxacin (50.0%) and levofloxacin (40.0%). Culture conversion rates of 80.0%, 100.0% and 100.0% were observed at weeks 2, 4 and 24, respectively. The mean maximum drug concentration of bedaquiline at weeks 2, 12 and 24 was 3.29 ± 0.66, 1.78 ± 0.81 and 1.93 ± 0.74 μg/mL, respectively. Six adverse events including leukopenia (50.0%), Fridericia-corrected QT (QTcF) interval prolongation (16.7%), anaemia (16.7%) and peripheral neuropathy (16.7%) were observed in five (50.0%) patients. No patient discontinued bedaquiline owing to QTcF interval prolongation. Meanwhile, no deaths, reversions or serious adverse events were reported during 24 weeks of treatment.

CONCLUSION

A longer regimen containing bedaquiline was effective and well tolerated in Chinese adolescents with RR-TB. The combination of bedaquiline and linezolid may be a favourable choice for this population.

Two cases of pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis in children in Indonesia

Few reports are available on children with pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB), which is defined as Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to both isoniazid and rifampicin plus resistance to either a fluoroquinolone or a second-line injectable drug. Pre-XDR-TB treatment for children usually has been individualized based on drug susceptibility test (DST) results, but treatment remains challenging due to the lack of studies based on existing treatment guidelines in children and lack of availability of the new drugs. We report two cases of pre-XDR-TB in children who have responded well to individualized treatment regimens. Because toxic drugs are used for long duration, close monitoring of adverse drug reactions is important.

Bedaquiline for multidrug-resistant TB in paediatric patients

BACKGROUND:

TMC207-C211 (NCT02354014) is a Phase 2, open-label, multicentre, single-arm study to evaluate pharmacokinetics, safety/tolerability, antimycobacterial activity and dose selection of bedaquiline (BDQ) in children (birth to <18 years) with multidrug-resistant-TB (MDR-TB).

METHODS:

Patients received 24 weeks’ BDQ with an anti-MDR-TB background regimen (BR), followed by 96 weeks of safety follow-up. Results of the primary analysis are presented based on data up to 24 weeks for Cohort 1 (≥12–<18 years; approved adult tablet at the adult dosage) and Cohort 2 (≥5–<12 years; age-appropriate 20 mg tablet at half the adult dosage).

RESULTS:

Both cohorts had 15 patients, of whom respectively 53% and 40% of Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 children had confirmed/probable pulmonary MDR-TB. Most patients completed 24 weeks’ BDQ/BR treatment (Cohort 1: 93%; Cohort 2: 67%). Geometric mean BDQ area under the curve 168h values of 119,000 ng.h/mL (Cohort 1) and 118,000 ng.h/mL (Cohort 2) at Week 12 were within 60–140% (86,200–201,000 ng.h/mL) of adult target values. Few adverse event (AE) related discontinuations or serious AEs, andnoQTcF >460 ms during BDQ/BR treatment or deaths occurred. Of MGIT-evaluable patients, 6/8 (75%) Cohort 1 and 3/3 (100%) Cohort 2 culture converted.

CONCLUSION:

In children and adolescents aged ≥5–<18 years with MDR-TB, including pre-extensively drug-resistant-TB (pre-XDR-TB) or XDR-TB, 24 weeks of BDQ provided a comparable pharmacokinetic and safety profile to adults.

Administration and monitoring of clofazimine for NTM infections in children with and without cystic fibrosis

Few studies have evaluated clofazimine (CLOF) drug monitoring and safety in children. We treated 10 children, 8 with CF, for NTM infection with multiple antimicrobials, including CLOF. All had serial blood CLOF concentrations measured and were followed for adverse events. Despite CLOF dose escalation, most children with CF did not reach a target CLOF concentration. Our data suggest that children with CF may require earlier initiation of CLOF at higher doses than is currently recommended.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children and adolescents: current strategies for prevention and treatment

INTRODUCTION

An estimated 30,000 children develop multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) each year, with only a small proportion diagnosed and treated. This field has historically been neglected due to the perception that children with MDR-TB are challenging to diagnose and treat. Diagnostic and therapeutic developments in adults have improved pediatric management, yet further pediatric-specific research and wider implementation of evidence-based practices are required.

AREAS COVERED

This review combines the most recent data with expert opinion to highlight best practice in the evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and support of children and adolescents with MDR-TB disease. A literature search of PubMed was carried out on topics related to MDR-TB in children. This review provides practical advice on MDR-TB prevention and gives updates on new regimens and novel treatments. The review also addresses host-directed therapy, comorbid conditions, special populations, psychosocial support, and post-TB morbidity, as well as identifying outstanding research questions.

EXPERT OPINION

Increased availability of molecular diagnostics has the potential to aid with the diagnosis of MDR-TB in children. Shorter MDR-TB disease treatment regimens have made therapy safer and shorter and further developments with novel agents and repurposed drugs should lead to additional improvements. The evidence base for MDR-TB preventive therapy is increasing.

Potential anti-TB investigational compounds and drugs with repurposing potential in TB therapy: a conspectus

The latest WHO report estimates about 1.6 million global deaths annually from TB, which is further exacerbated by drug-resistant (DR) TB and comorbidities with diabetes and HIV. Exiguous dosing, incomplete treatment course, and the ability of the tuberculosis bacilli to tolerate and survive current first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs, in either their latent state or active state, has resulted in an increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and totally drug-resistant TB (TDR-TB). Although a better understanding of the TB microanatomy, genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, has resulted in the discovery of a few novel promising anti-TB drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers of late, no new anti-TB drug candidates have been approved for routine therapy in over 50 years, with only bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid recently receiving tentative regulatory approval. Considering this, alternative approaches for identifying possible new anti-TB drug candidates, for effectively eradicating both replicating and non-replicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are still urgently required. Subsequently, several antibiotic and non-antibiotic drugs with known treatment indications (TB targeted and non-TB targeted) are now being repurposed and/or derivatized as novel antibiotics for possible use in TB therapy. Insights gathered here reveal that more studies focused on drug-drug interactions between licensed and potential lead anti-TB drug candidates need to be prioritized. This write-up encapsulates the most recent findings regarding investigational compounds with promising anti-TB potential and drugs with repurposing potential in TB therapy.

Identification and Repurposing of Trisubstituted Harmine Derivatives as Novel Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Phosphoserine Phosphatase

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is still the deadliest bacterial pathogen worldwide and the increasing number of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases further complicates this global health issue. M. tuberculosis phosphoserine phosphatase SerB2 is a promising target for drug design. Besides being a key essential metabolic enzyme of the pathogen's serine pathway, it appears to be involved in immune evasion mechanisms. In this work, a malachite green-based phosphatase assay has been used to screen 122 compounds from an internal chemolibrary. Trisubstituted harmine derivatives were found among the best hits that inhibited SerB2 activity. Synthesis of an original compound helped to discuss a brief structure activity relationship evaluation. Kinetics experiments showed that the most potent derivatives inhibit the phosphatase in a parabolic competitive fashion with apparent inhibition constants ( K i ) values in the micromolar range. Their interaction modes with the enzyme were investigated through induced fit docking experiments, leading to results consistent with the experimental data. Cellular assays showed that the selected compounds also inhibited M. tuberculosis growth in vitro. Those promising results may provide a basis for the development of new antimycobacterial agents targeting SerB2.

Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis. An Official ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline

Background: The American Thoracic Society, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Respiratory Society, and Infectious Diseases Society of America jointly sponsored this new practice guideline on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). The document includes recommendations on the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) as well as isoniazid-resistant but rifampin-susceptible TB.Methods: Published systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and a new individual patient data meta-analysis from 12,030 patients, in 50 studies, across 25 countries with confirmed pulmonary rifampin-resistant TB were used for this guideline. Meta-analytic approaches included propensity score matching to reduce confounding. Each recommendation was discussed by an expert committee, screened for conflicts of interest, according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology.Results: Twenty-one Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcomes questions were addressed, generating 25 GRADE-based recommendations. Certainty in the evidence was judged to be very low, because the data came from observational studies with significant loss to follow-up and imbalance in background regimens between comparator groups. Good practices in the management of MDR-TB are described. On the basis of the evidence review, a clinical strategy tool for building a treatment regimen for MDR-TB is also provided.Conclusions: New recommendations are made for the choice and number of drugs in a regimen, the duration of intensive and continuation phases, and the role of injectable drugs for MDR-TB. On the basis of these recommendations, an effective all-oral regimen for MDR-TB can be assembled. Recommendations are also provided on the role of surgery in treatment of MDR-TB and for treatment of contacts exposed to MDR-TB and treatment of isoniazid-resistant TB.

Safety of longer linezolid regimen in children with drug-resistant tuberculosis and extensive tuberculosis in Southwest China

OBJECTIVES

Linezolid (LNZ) has recently been listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Group A agent for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in longer regimens (18-20 months). However, little is known about the safety of LNZ in longer TB treatment regimens in children.

METHODS

Here we report 31 children who received LNZ treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and extensive tuberculosis in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China, during September 2016 to March 2019. The mean duration of LNZ treatment was 8.56 months (range, 1-24 months).

RESULTS

Of the 31 patients, 13 (42%) had suspected or confirmed adverse events (AEs) related to LNZ treatment, including digestive symptoms, haematological toxicity, neuropathy and lactic acidosis. Haematological toxicity was the most frequent AE, presenting as leukopenia (9/13) and anaemia (5/13). No hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity was observed. Two patients suffered from life-threatening lactic acidosis when the LNZ dose was increased to 1.2 g daily, however they recovered following LNZ withdrawal.

CONCLUSION

A high rate of AEs of LNZ treatment was observed in children receiving a longer regimen, which might relate to the treatment course and dose. Haematological toxicity was the most frequent AE in children. It is necessary to regularly monitor the blood chemistry and lactic acid concentration during LNZ treatment.

Challenges and controversies in childhood tuberculosis

Children bear a substantial burden of suffering when it comes to tuberculosis. Ironically, they are often left out of the scientific and public health advances that have led to important improvements in tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment, and prevention over the past decade. This Series paper describes some of the challenges and controversies in paediatric tuberculosis, including the epidemiology and treatment of tuberculosis in children. Two areas in which substantial challenges and controversies exist (ie, diagnosis and prevention) are explored in more detail. This Series paper also offers possible solutions for including children in all efforts to end tuberculosis, with a focus on ensuring that the proper financial and human resources are in place to best serve children exposed to, infected with, and sick from all forms of tuberculosis.

Newer Drugs for Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment in Children

Children suffer a huge and often an unrecognized burden of tuberculosis (TB) in endemic countries like India. Better data have improved the visibility of childhood TB, but the establishment of functional TB prevention and treatment programs for children remains challenging. Barriers to TB prevention include: 1) non-implementation of existing guidelines, 2) perceived inability to rule out active TB with fear of creating drug resistance and 3) limited local guidance on the use of preventive therapy after close contact with drug resistant TB. Barriers to TB treatment include: 1) diagnostic challenges in resource-limited settings, 2) presentation to maternal and child health (MCH) services with poor linkage to the TB control program and 3) limited local guidance on the treatment of children with likely drug resistant TB. The authors provide an overview of newer drugs used for TB prevention and treatment in children. They discuss new options for the treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) and new or repurposed drugs used in the treatment of children with multidrug resistant (MDR)-TB. The background information provided describes the benefits, risks and feasibility of various treatment options, which should assist treatment decisions until updated World Health Organization (WHO) guidance becomes available.

HIV-associated pediatric tuberculosis: prevention, diagnosis and treatment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The detrimental synergy of colliding HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics is most devastating among children and adolescents living with HIV (CALWH) who shoulder a disproportionate burden of all child TB mortality.

RECENT FINDINGS

CALWH benefit less from Bacille-Calmette Guerin vaccination than HIV-uninfected children and are not receiving TB preventive therapy despite global recommendations. Further, the predictive utility of most diagnostic tools is reduced in CALWH. Finally, antiretroviral and anti-TB drug interactions continue to complicate cotreatment for children. Despite these challenges, recent data fuel a new awareness of TB as a hidden cause of child mortality and a renewed commitment to TB prevention. New diagnostic approaches using existing tools with novel specimens, such as stool, may improve the diagnosis of TB in CALWH. Further, pharmacokinetic studies and the development of new drug formulations promise better treatment options for CALWH in the near future.

SUMMARY

With the awareness that TB is the leading cause of mortality among CALWH, comes a responsibility to accelerate research to prevent, diagnose and treat TB in this vulnerable population. In the present, we must adopt evidence-based preventive and treatment strategies to enhance outcomes of CALWH and combating TB.

An overview of new antitubercular drugs, drug candidates, and their targets

The causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), Mycobacterium tuberculosis and more recently totally drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis, display unique mechanisms to survive in the host. A four-drug treatment regimen was introduced 40 years ago but the emergence of multidrug-resistance and more recently TDR necessitates the identification of new targets and drugs for the cure of M. tuberculosis infection. The current efforts in the drug development process are insufficient to completely eradicate the TB epidemic. For almost five decades the TB drug development process remained stagnant. The last 10 years have made sudden progress giving some new and highly promising drugs including bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomanid. Many of the candidates are repurposed compounds, which were developed to treat other infections but later, exhibited anti-TB properties also. Each class of drug has a specific target and a definite mode of action. These targets are either involved in cell wall biosynthesis, protein synthesis, DNA/RNA synthesis, or metabolism. This review discusses recent progress in the discovery of newly developed and Food and Drug Administration approved drugs as well as repurposed drugs, their targets, mode of action, drug-target interactions, and their structure-activity relationship.

Preclinical tools for the evaluation of tuberculosis treatment regimens for children

Tuberculosis (TB) treatment regimens have been extrapolated from adults to children. However, pediatric disease merits different treatment strategies to avoid under- or over-treatment. While animal models have been pivotal in identifying effective regimens for adult disease, pediatric TB is heterogeneous and cannot be represented by a single preclinical model. Infants and young children most commonly have disseminated disease or tuberculous meningitis (TBM), school-aged children have paucibacillary disease, and adolescents have adult-like cavitary lung disease. Models simulating these forms of pediatric TB have been developed, but their utility in assessing treatment regimens is in the early stages. Disseminated, intracellular disease can be partly reproduced by an in vitro pharmacodynamic system, TBM by a pediatric rabbit model of TBM, paucibacillary TB by the balbC mouse model, and cavitary disease by a rabbit model and a C3HeB/FeJ mouse model of pulmonary TB. Although there is no one-size-fits-all preclinical 'pediatric TB model', these models can be employed to study drug distribution to the sites of disease and, coupled with translational modeling, used to help select and optimize regimens for testing in children. Use of these models may accelerate the development of regimens for rare or hard-to-treat TB, namely drug-resistant TB and TBM.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death from an infectious disease among adults worldwide, with more than 10 million people becoming newly sick from tuberculosis each year. Advances in diagnosis, including the use of rapid molecular testing and whole-genome sequencing in both sputum and non-sputum samples, could change this situation. Although little has changed in the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis, data on increased efficacy with new and repurposed drugs have led WHO to recommend all-oral therapy for drug-resistant tuberculosis for the first time ever in 2018. Studies have shown that shorter latent tuberculosis prevention regimens containing rifampicin or rifapentine are as effective as longer, isoniazid-based regimens, and there is a promising vaccine candidate to prevent the progression of infection to the disease. But new tools alone are not sufficient. Advances must be made in providing high-quality, people-centred care for tuberculosis. Renewed political will, coupled with improved access to quality care, could relegate the morbidity, mortality, and stigma long associated with tuberculosis, to the past.

Transmission of drug-resistant tuberculosis in HIV-endemic settings

The emergence and expansion of the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis epidemic is a threat to the global control of tuberculosis. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is the result of the selection of resistance-conferring mutations during inadequate antituberculosis treatment. However, HIV has a profound effect on the natural history of tuberculosis, manifesting in an increased rate of disease progression, leading to increased transmission and amplification of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Interventions specific to HIV-endemic areas are urgently needed to block tuberculosis transmission. These interventions should include a combination of rapid molecular diagnostics and improved chemotherapy to shorten the duration of infectiousness, implementation of infection control measures, and active screening of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis contacts, with prophylactic regimens for individuals without evidence of disease. Development and improvement of the efficacy of interventions will require a greater understanding of the factors affecting the transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in HIV-endemic settings, including population-based molecular epidemiology studies. In this Series article, we review what we know about the transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in settings with high burdens of HIV and define the research priorities required to develop more effective interventions, to diminish ongoing transmission and the amplification of drug resistance.

Linezolid-containing Treatment Regimens for Tuberculosis in Children

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in the use of linezolid for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

METHODS

Patients less than 18 years of age who received linezolid within the Spanish Pediatric TB Network from 2001 to 2016 were retrospectively included. Treatment characteristics, adverse events (AEs) and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifteen children were included (53% male) with a median age of 3.6 years [interquartile range (IQR): 1.6-6.2]. Median follow-up was 54 months (IQR: 38-76). The reasons for linezolid use were drug-resistant TB in 8 (53%) patients, drug-induced liver injury in 5 (33%) patients and chronic liver disease in 2 (13%) patients. Four children (26%) were on immunosuppressive therapy when TB was diagnosed. Five children (33%) were diagnosed with extrapulmonary TB. The median duration of linezolid treatment was 13 months (IQR: 7.5-17). Nine patients had 13 linezolid-related AEs. Hematologic toxicity was observed in 8 patients (53%) and gastrointestinal intolerance in 3 patients (20%). In 2 patients, linezolid dose was reduced, and in 2 patients, linezolid was discontinued because of AEs. A 2-year-old girl went back to her country of birth and was lost to follow-up. No relapses were observed among the other 14 patients (93%).

CONCLUSIONS

Linezolid may be considered when treating children with drug-resistant TB but also in the cases of patients with chronic liver disease or drug-induced liver injury. However, AEs should be closely monitored. Further studies are needed to determine the optimum dosage and the optimal duration of linezolid treatment in children.

Management of complex tuberculosis cases: a focus on drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis

INTRODUCTION

Drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis has been reported worldwide. Isoniazid mono-resistance is the most frequent cause of drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis, a life-threatening disease. Extensive drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis has also been reported in some isolated case reports. Areas covered: We reviewed the current literature on drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis, as well as drug-resistant tuberculosis. Expert commentary: Drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis is a life-threatening disease and needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra technology can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) even with low numbers of bacilli. The optimum antituberculosis drug regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculous meningitis is largely unknown as no second-line antituberculosis drug-containing regimen has been tested in a randomized controlled fashion in drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis. A combination of levofloxacin, kanamycin, ethionamide, linezolid, and pyrazinamide would be an appropriate regimen because of excellent CSF profile of most of these drugs. End TB Strategy will help in checking the increasing challenge of drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis as it aims to eliminate all kinds of tuberculosis by the year 2035.

Multi and extensively drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: advances in diagnosis and management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-TB epidemics are key obstacles towards TB control and elimination.

RECENT FINDINGS

Diagnosis of MDR/XDR-TB is difficult and requires several weeks. New diagnostic tools are being tested and proposed allowing for shorter time to diagnosis and reduced delays in starting an adequate treatment regimen. MDR/XDR-TB treatment strategies are currently on an evolving stage. New shortened treatments based on the recommended 'Bangladesh regimen' or on the newer anti-TB drugs, delamanid and bedaquiline may represent part of the future scenario. In addition, more information on safety and efficacy of delamanid and bedaquiline has been published, allowing to better position these drugs. Recent information on treatment regimens for the paediatric age, with or without delamanid or bedaquiline, has become available. This is of great help in designing safer and more efficacious regimens for the treatment of MDR/XDR-TB in children and adolescents.

SUMMARY

The accessibility, sustainability and scale-up of new diagnostic technologies are lagging behind and more efforts are needed. In addition, we need high-quality information on safety and efficacy of various combinations of drugs to obtain the best possible regimens to treat the largest possible proportion of patients.

Disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria in children with cystic fibrosis

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) (especially M. abscessus complex) infections pose a considerable challenge in the management of lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The apparent increase in prevalence is likely multifactorial. Emergent evidence of patient-to-patient transmission and isolation of highly resistant strains is a concern for all CF centers around the world. Treatment is often long and burdensome with multiple agents. Treatment side effects are frequent and can cause significant morbidity. Although consensus guidelines provide some direction, many units are faced with the challenges of: finding drug combinations for highly resistant strains; dealing with interruptions of treatment; discussing additional facilitating procedures in the form of gastrostomy and long-term vascular access devices; as well as supporting families emotionally and psychologically through the process.

Advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis in children

INTRODUCTION

Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health threat and is one of the top ten causes of death in children. There are a number of diagnostic, treatment, and preventive innovations that have been developed in the last decade for TB, however, these are out of reach for many children in the world. Areas covered: A comprehensive review of the literature on TB in children was done using PubMed and Ovid databases from 1 January 1996 up to 31 October 2018. Topic areas covered included diagnosis of TB, treatment of TB (including novel medications and regimens), prevention of DR-TB, and support to achieve the best possible outcomes. Each of these areas are explored in more detail in the paper. Expert commentary: There is great potential for radical changes in the way all forms of TB are diagnosed, treated and prevented in children. If there is continued advocacy and adequate funding and accountability, it could be possible to make great strides toward eliminating TB in children in the next ten years.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis infection and disease in children: a review of new and repurposed drugs

The World Health Organization estimates that 10 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) occurred worldwide in 2017, of which 600,000 were rifampicin or multidrug-resistant (RR/MDR) TB. Modelling estimates suggest that 32,000 new cases of MDR-TB occur in children annually, but only a fraction of these are correctly diagnosed and treated. Accurately diagnosing TB in children, who usually have paucibacillary disease, and implementing effective TB prevention and treatment programmes in resource-limited settings remain major challenges. In light of the underappreciated RR/MDR-TB burden in children, and the lack of paediatric data on newer drugs for TB prevention and treatment, we present an overview of new and repurposed TB drugs, describing the available evidence for safety and efficacy in children to assist clinical care and decision-making.

Treatment and outcomes in children with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

An estimated 32,000 children develop multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB; Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid and rifampin) each year. Little is known about the optimal treatment for these children.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

To inform the pediatric aspects of the revised World Health Organization (WHO) MDR-TB treatment guidelines, we performed a systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis, describing treatment outcomes in children treated for MDR-TB. To identify eligible reports we searched PubMed, LILACS, Embase, The Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, and BioMedCentral databases through 1 October 2014. To identify unpublished data, we reviewed conference abstracts, contacted experts in the field, and requested data through other routes, including at national and international conferences and through organizations working in pediatric MDR-TB. A cohort was eligible for inclusion if it included a minimum of three children (aged <15 years) who were treated for bacteriologically confirmed or clinically diagnosed MDR-TB, and if treatment outcomes were reported. The search yielded 2,772 reports; after review, 33 studies were eligible for inclusion, with IPD provided for 28 of these. All data were from published or unpublished observational cohorts. We analyzed demographic, clinical, and treatment factors as predictors of treatment outcome. In order to obtain adjusted estimates, we used a random-effects multivariable logistic regression (random intercept and random slope, unless specified otherwise) adjusted for the following covariates: age, sex, HIV infection, malnutrition, severe extrapulmonary disease, or the presence of severe disease on chest radiograph. We analyzed data from 975 children from 18 countries; 731 (75%) had bacteriologically confirmed and 244 (25%) had clinically diagnosed MDR-TB. The median age was 7.1 years. Of 910 (93%) children with documented HIV status, 359 (39%) were infected with HIV. When compared to clinically diagnosed patients, children with confirmed MDR-TB were more likely to be older, to be infected with HIV, to be malnourished, and to have severe tuberculosis (TB) on chest radiograph (p < 0.001 for all characteristics). Overall, 764 of 975 (78%) had a successful treatment outcome at the conclusion of therapy: 548/731 (75%) of confirmed and 216/244 (89%) of clinically diagnosed children (absolute difference 14%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8%-19%, p < 0.001). Treatment was successful in only 56% of children with bacteriologically confirmed TB who were infected with HIV who did not receive any antiretroviral treatment (ART) during MDR-TB therapy, compared to 82% in children infected with HIV who received ART during MDR-TB therapy (absolute difference 26%, 95% CI 5%-48%, p = 0.006). In children with confirmed MDR-TB, the use of second-line injectable agents and high-dose isoniazid (15-20 mg/kg/day) were associated with treatment success (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.9, 95% CI 1.0-8.3, p = 0.041 and aOR 5.9, 95% CI 1.7-20.5, p = 0.007, respectively). These findings for high-dose isoniazid may have been affected by site effect, as the majority of patients came from Cape Town. Limitations of this study include the difficulty of estimating the treatment effects of individual drugs within multidrug regimens, only observational cohort studies were available for inclusion, and treatment decisions were based on the clinician's perception of illness, with resulting potential for bias.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that children respond favorably to MDR-TB treatment. The low success rate in children infected with HIV who did not receive ART during their MDR-TB treatment highlights the need for ART in these children. Our findings of individual drug effects on treatment outcome should be further evaluated.

Update on trends in childhood tuberculosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although tuberculosis (TB) causes much morbidity and mortality in children, diagnosis and treatment remain challenging. Recently, children have gained increasing attention in research and clinical trials driving improved contact management, case identification and treatment of both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB. This review highlights some recent advances.

RECENT FINDINGS

The tuberculin skin test is the most widely used test to distinguish Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection from active TB, however, using M. tuberculosis-specific, antigenic stimulation of CD4 and CD8 cells appear more effective. The use of Xpert MTB/RIF to identify M. tuberculosis in clinical samples, together with novel sampling methods have in part, overcome the difficulty of sampling and increased case identification capacity. Advances in treating both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant childhood TB show promise in being more paediatric friendly and improving adherence. Dosing strategies for drug-sensitive TB have improved with dispersible fixed drug combinations now available. In the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant TB, however, research involving the use of newer and more effective drugs currently recommended for adults, are still ongoing in children.

SUMMARY

The World Health Organization aims to end the TB epidemic by 2035 whereas the United Nations' Sustainable Developmental Goals sets this ambitious target for 2030. Therefore, adequate funding and implementing effective national TB programs must be prioritized, particularly in high-burden, low-income settings.

Drug-Resistant tuberculosis - primary transmission and management

The DOTS strategy assisted global tuberculosis (TB) control, but was unable to prevent the emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains. Genomic evidence confirms the transmission of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in many different settings, indicative of epidemic spread. These findings emphasise the need for enhanced infection control measures in health care and congregate settings. Young children in TB endemic areas are particularly vulnerable. Although advances in TB drug and vaccine development are urgently needed, improved access to currently available preventive therapy and treatment for drug resistant TB could reduce the disease burden and adverse outcomes experienced by children. We review new insights into the transmission dynamics of drug resistant TB, the estimated disease burden in children and optimal management strategies to consider.

Off-Label Use of Bedaquiline in Children and Adolescents with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

We describe 27 children and adolescents <18 years of age who received bedaquiline during treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. We report good treatment responses and no cessation attributable to adverse effects. Bedaquiline could be considered for use with this age group for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis when treatment options are limited.

Current therapies for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children in India

INTRODUCTION

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious life threatening condition affecting children as well as adults worldwide. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment, both of which are complex in children, are the prerogatives for a favorable outcome. Areas covered: This review covers epidemiology, treatment regimen and duration, newer drugs and adverse events in children with MDR-TB. Special note has been made of epidemiology and principles of treatment followed in Indian children. Expert opinion: High index of suspicion is essential for diagnosing childhood MDR-TB. If there is high probability, a child can be diagnosed as presumptive MDR-TB and started on empiric treatment in consultation with experts. However, every effort should be made to confirm the diagnosis. Backbone of an effective MDR-TB regimen consists of four 2nd line anti-TB drugs plus pyrazinamide; duration being 18-24 months. The newer drugs delamanid and bedaquiline can be used in younger children if no other alternatives are available after consultation with experts. Wider availability of these drugs should be ensured for benefit to all concerned. More research is required for development of new and repurposed drugs to combat MDR-TB. Children need to be included in clinical trials for such life-saving drugs, so that nobody is denied the benefits.

Delamanid and bedaquiline to treat multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in children: a systematic review

The new drugs delamanid and bedaquiline are increasingly used to treat multidrug-resistant (MDR-) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). As evidence is lacking, the World Health Organization recommends their use under specific conditions in adults, delamanid only being recommended in children ≥6 years of age. No systematic review has yet evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the new drugs in children. A search of peer-reviewed, scientific evidence was performed, to evaluate the efficacy/effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of delamanid or bedaquiline-containing regimens in children with confirmed M/XDR-TB. We used PubMed and Embase to identify any relevant manuscripts in English until 31 December 2016, excluding editorials and reviews. Three out of 96 manuscripts retrieved satisfied the inclusion criteria, while 93 were excluded because dealing exclusively with adults (12: 4 on delamanid and 8 on bedaquiline), being recommendations or guidelines (8 manuscripts), reviews (17 papers) or other studies (56 papers). One of the studies retrieved reported evidence on 19 M/XDR-TB children, 16 of them treated under compassionate use with delamanid (13 achieving consistent bacteriological conversion) and 3 candidates for the drug. Two studies reported details on the first paediatric case treated (and cured) with a delamanid-containing regimen. Eight trials including children were also retrieved (clinicaltrials.gov). Although the methodology used in the study was rigorous, the results are limited by the paucity of the studies available in the literature on the use of new anti-TB drugs in children. In conclusion, more evidence is needed on the use of delamanid and bedaquiline in paediatric patients.