What can National TB Control Programmes in low- and middle-income countries do to end tuberculosis by 2030?

Tuberculosis commodities supply chain performance in the WHO African region: A scoping review

Procurement and supply chain management [PSM] systems remain a critical pillar for the implementation of Directly Observed Therapy [DOTS] for tuberculosis [TB] and achievement of disease related aspirations such as 'ending TB by 2030'. We conducted a scoping review of literature using the Arksey and O'Malley [2005] framework to summarize and disseminate the results of available evidence in relation to TB commodities supply chain performance in the WHO African Region. We searched three electronic databases complemented by google search using relevant terms and identified 1,586 sources. Twenty-five studies published between 2009 and 2023 met the eligibility criteria, inclusive of 21 peer reviewed publications and four reports. The strengths we found included the existence of pooled procurement mechanisms [PPM], availability of funding through external sources, existence of logistics management information systems [LMIS] and integration of PSM systems into primary health care. The main challenge was frequent stock outs which mainly affected medicines for treating TB in children and those for preventing TB. Stock outs were found to follow a poverty gradient and pervasively inequitable since they disproportionately affected structurally disadvantaged populations and communities. Countries that rely on domestic mechanisms for procurement tend to be more vulnerable to stock outs due to inadequate and unpredictable financing, delayed disbursements of funds, longer procurement lead times and poor supplier management. We concluded that stock outs remain one of the foremost challenges to ending TB by 2030. We recommend leveraging existing performance-enhancing platforms such as PPMs, including utilization of such mechanisms by countries that utilize domestic resources to procure commodities. We recommend the design of people centric supply chains that are sensitive to the differentiated needs of the population to ensure that composite improvements in PSM performance do not mask underlying disparities. Context-relevant research is needed to inform future strategies for improving PSM performance.

Towards comprehensive clinical trials for new tuberculosis drug regimens: policy recommendations from a stakeholder analysis

BACKGROUND

Research and development (R&D) of new drugs and regimens against tuberculosis (TB) is evolving to meet new challenges and face limited investments in the sector. To effectively improve and fill existing gaps, researchers and trialists should engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders. With this study, we aim to map the interests in TB R&D raised by the main stakeholders in the TB field.

METHODS

We conducted semistructured, short interviews to gather insight and viewpoints on innovation on TB drugs and regimens R&D of policy-makers, national TB programme officers, donors, funders, non-governmental organisations and research institutions.A composite measure of the relevance of topics that emerged was computed by implementing different models considering the importance for researchers and the urgency to implement those changes during the trial, the number of citations each topic received, and the maximum value of the influence of stakeholders who had raised the topic.

RESULTS

50 stakeholders, out of 56 identified, were interviewed and almost half were policy-makers and governmental institutions. Several stakeholders highlighted the importance of disseminating information about clinical trials' methodology and emerging preliminary results, followed by the need to pursue early discussion around access and pricing of safe and effective TB innovations, although different categories of stakeholders prioritised different topics. Using different methods for ranking topics, the results remained almost unchanged. Notably, post-trial operational research ranked higher in models with higher weight for the parameter considering the number of citations.

CONCLUSION

Researchers and research consortia embarking on phase 2 and 3 clinical trials should consider a broad set of elements when planning and designing trials' protocols, all aiming at lowering the price and improving access to emerging TB innovations, besides meeting regulatory criteria. This can only be achieved by consulting and engaging relevant stakeholders in the discussion.

Analysis of care-seeking and diagnosis delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Beijing, China

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in China. Early detection and diagnosis of TB cases are crucial to interrupt disease transmission and prevent its progression. This study aims to describe the delay in seeking care and diagnosis among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and identify the influencing factors in two counties in Beijing.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out to investigate care-seeking and diagnosis delay in two counties in Beijing. Basic information of PTB patients from January 1 to December 31, 2021, was extracted from the Tuberculosis Information Management System of China (TBIMS), and all enrolled patients were interviewed via telephone using a standard questionnaire. Statistical description was performed using the median and interquartile range (IQR). Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors.

Results

537 patients were enrolled. The median duration of care-seeking and diagnosis delay was 11 (IQR: 5-26) days and 8 (IQR: 0-18) days, with 41.71 and 35.20% of patients experiencing delays (>14 days). The study found that being asymptomatic (OR = 2.791, 95%CI: 1.710-4.555) before seeking medical care and not attending work during treatment (OR = 2.990, 95%CI: 1.419-6.298) were identified as risk factors for care-seeking delay. Patients who were tracked (OR = 2.632, 95%CI: 1.062-6.521) and diagnosed at tuberculosis control and prevention institutions (OR = 1.843, 95%CI: 1.061-3.202) had higher odds of diagnostic delays. 44.69% of patients presented a total delay (>28 days), with a median duration of 25 (IQR: 13-39) days. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that healthy examination (OR = 0.136, 95%CI: 0.043-0.425) was a protective factor for total delay.

Conclusion

Public interventions are necessary to improve the efficiency of PTB patients detection and treatment in Beijing. Medical services should focus on the target population and improve access to medical care to further reduce delays for PTB patients.

Pre-extensively drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The growing threat from pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) poses a major public health concern in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Therefore, this study aimed to summarize the available evidence on the prevalence of pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in LAC.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in the following databases on June 3, 2023: PubMed, Scopus, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Scielo and LILACS. We estimated pooled proportions using a random effects model (Dersimonian and Laird). The 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using the binomial exact method (Clopper-Pearson Method). Subgroup (by time period and country) and sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 27 for meta-analysis (n = 15,565). The pooled prevalence of XDR-TB in the study participants was 5% (95% CI: 3%-6%), while that of pre-XDR-TB was 10% (95% CI 7%-14%). Cuba (6%, 95% CI 0%-17%) and Peru (6%, 95% CI 5%-7%) had the highest pooled prevalence of XDR-TB. Regarding pre-XDR-TB, Brazil (16%, 95% CI 11%-22%) and Peru (13%, 95% CI: 9%-16%) showed the highest prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled prevalence of pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB in LAC was 10% and 5%, respectively. Governments should strengthen drug-resistance surveillance and TB programs.

Models of integration of TB and HIV services and factors associated with perceived quality of TB-HIV integrated service delivery in O. R Tambo District, South Africa

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis is the leading infectious cause of death among people living with HIV. Reducing morbidity and mortality from HIV-associated TB requires strong collaboration between TB and HIV services at all levels with fully integrated, people-centered models of care.

METHODS

This is a qualitative study design using principles of ethnography and the application of aggregate complexity theory. A total of 54 individual interviews with healthcare workers and patients took place in five primary healthcare facilities in the O.R. Tambo district. The participants were purposively selected until the data reached saturation point, and all interviews were tape-recorded. Quantitative analysis of qualitative data was used after coding ethnographic data, looking for emerging patterns, and counting the number of times a qualitative code occurred. A Likert scale was used to assess the perceived quality of TB/HIV integration. Regression models and canonical discriminant analyses were used to explore the associations between the perceived quality of TB and HIV integrated service delivery and independent predictors of interest using SPSS® version 23.0 (Chicago, IL) considering a type I error of 0.05.

RESULTS

Of the 54 participants, 39 (72.2%) reported that TB and HIV services were partially integrated while 15 (27.8%) participants reported that TB/HIV services were fully integrated. Using the Likert scale gradient, 23 (42.6%) participants perceived the quality of integrated TB/HIV services as poor while 13 (24.1%) and 18 (33.3%) perceived the quality of TB/HIV integrated services as moderate and excellent, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that access to healthcare services was significantly and independently associated with the perceived quality of integrated TB/HIV services following the equation: Y = 3.72-0.06X (adjusted R2 = 23%, p-value = 0.001). Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) showed that in all 5 municipal facilities, long distances to healthcare facilities leading to reduced access to services were significantly more likely to be the most impeding factor, which is negatively influencing the perceived quality of integrated TB/HIV services, with functions' coefficients ranging from 9.175 in Mhlontlo to 16.514 in KSD (Wilk's Lambda = 0.750, p = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

HIV and TB integration is inadequate with limited access to healthcare services. Full integration (one-stop-shop services) is recommended.

Developing a Model for Integrating of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Primary Healthcare Services in Oliver Reginald (O.R) Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Despite the policy, frameworks for integration exist; integration of TB and HIV services is far from ideal in many resource-limited countries, including South Africa. Few studies have examined the advantages and disadvantages of integrated TB and HIV care in public health facilities, and even fewer have proposed conceptual models for proven integration. This study aims to fill this vacuum by describing the development of a paradigm for integrating TB, HIV, and patient services in a single facility and highlights the importance of TB-HIV services for greater accessibility under one roof. Development of the proposed model occurred in several phases that included assessment of the existing integration model for TB-HIV and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data from the study sites, which were selected public health facilities in rural and peri-urban areas in the Oliver Reginald (O.R.) Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Secondary data on clinical outcomes from 2009-2013 TB-HIV were obtained from various sources for the quantitative analysis of Part 1. Qualitative data included focus group discussions with patients and healthcare workers, which were analyzed thematically in Parts 2 and 3. The development of a potentially better model and the validation of this model shows that the district health system was strengthened by the guiding principles of the model, which placed a strong emphasis on inputs, processes, outcomes, and integration effects. The model is adaptable to different healthcare delivery systems but requires the support of patients, providers (professionals and institutions), payers, and policymakers to be successful.

Incidence and trends of 17 notifiable bacterial infectious diseases in China, 2004-2019

BACKGROUND

Certain bacterial infectious diseases are categorized as notifiable infectious diseases in China. Understanding the time-varying epidemiology of bacterial infections diseases can provide scientific evidence to inform prevention and control measures.

METHODS

Yearly incidence data for all 17 major notifiable bacterial infectious diseases (BIDs) at the province level were obtained from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System in China between 2004 and 2019. Of them 16 BIDs are divided into four categories, respiratory transmitted diseases (RTDs, 6 diseases), direct contact/fecal-oral transmitted diseases (DCFTDs, 3 diseases), blood-borne/sexually transmitted diseases (BSTDs, 2 diseases), and zoonotic and vector-borne diseases (ZVDs, 5 diseases), and neonatal tetanus is excluded in the analysis. We characterized the demographic, temporal, and geographical features of the BIDs and examined their changing trends using a joinpoint regression analysis.

RESULTS

During 2004‒2019, 28 779 thousand cases of BIDs were reported, with an annualized incidence rate of 134.00 per 100 000. RTDs were the most commonly reported BIDs, accounting for 57.02% of the cases (16 410 639/28 779 000). Average annual percent changes (AAPC) in incidence were - 1.98% for RTDs, - 11.66% for DCFTDs, 4.74% for BSTDs, and 4.46% for ZVDs. Females had a higher incidence of syphilis than males, and other BIDs were more commonly reported in males. Among 0-5-year-olds, the diseases with the largest increases in incidence were pertussis (15.17% AAPC) and scarlet fever (12.05%). Children and students had the highest incidence rates of scarlet fever, pertussis, meningococcal meningitis, and bacillary dysentery. Northwest China had the highest incidence of RTDs, while South and East China had the highest incidences of BSTDs. Laboratory confirmation of BIDs increased from 43.80 to 64.04% during the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

RTDs and DCFTDs decreased from 2004 to 2019 in China, while BSTDs and ZVDs increased during the same period. Great attention should be paid to BSTDs and ZVDs, active surveillance should be strengthened, and timely control measures should be adopted to reduce the incidence.

Isolation and Characterization of Anti-Mycobacterial Natural Products from a Petrosia sp. Marine Sponge

Tuberculosis (TB) is a dreadful infectious disease and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, second in 2020 only to severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-Cov-2). With limited therapeutic options available and a rise in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases, it is critical to develop antibiotic drugs that display novel mechanisms of action. Bioactivity-guided fractionation employing an Alamar blue assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv led to the isolation of duryne (13) from a marine sponge Petrosia sp. sampled in the Solomon Islands. Additionally, five new strongylophorine meroditerpene analogues (1-5) along with six known strongylophorines (6-12) were isolated from the bioactive fraction and characterized using MS and NMR spectroscopy, although only 13 exhibited antitubercular activity.

Voices from the Patients: A Qualitative Study of the Integration of Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Primary Healthcare Services in O.R. Tambo District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease of poverty and inequality, is a leading cause of severe illness and death among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In South Africa, both TB and HIV epidemics have been closely related and persistent, posing a significant burden for healthcare provision. Studies have observed that TB-HIV integration reduces mortality. The operational implementation of integrated services is still challenging. This study aimed to describe patients' perceptions on barriers to scaling up of TB-HIV integration services at selected health facilities (study sites) in Oliver Reginald (O.R) Tambo Municipality, Eastern Cape province, South Africa. We purposely recruited twenty-nine (29) patients accessing TB and HIV services at the study sites. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and presented as emerging themes. Barriers identified included a lack of health education about TB and HIV; an inadequate counselling for HIV and the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs); and poor quality of services provided by the healthcare facilities. These findings suggest that the O.R. Tambo district needs to strengthen its TB-HIV integration immediately.

Effect of Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes mellitus (DM) integrated healthcare on bidirectional screening and treatment outcomes among TB patients and people living with DM in developing countries: a systematic review

A systematic review (Prospero CRD42017075562) including articles published between 1 January 1990 and 31 October 2021 was performed to synthesize evidence on the effect of integrating tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) healthcare on screening coverage and treatment loss to follow-up as compared to non-integrated care services for TB and DM in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, WHO Global Index Medicus, and Cochrane Central Library. This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and we adopted Cochrane data collection form for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs. Due to heterogeneity and limited data of studies included, meta-analysis was not performed. Of 6902 abstracts, 10 studies from South America, Asia, and Africa were included. One study from Zimbabwe showed 57% increase in DM screening among TB patients in integrated care as compared to non-integrated care; 95% CI: 54.1, 59.8. Seven studies with before-after comparison groups reported increased screening coverage during implementation of integrated healthcare that ranged from 10.1% in Mexico to 99.1% in China. Three studies reported reduction in loss to follow-up among TB patients in integrated care; two in China showed 9.2%, 95% CI: -16.7, -1.7, and -9.5%, 95% CI: -18.4, -0.7 differences, while a study from Mexico showed -5.3% reduction, 95% CI: -9.8, -0.9.With few and heterogenous included studies, the synthesized evidence is weak to establish effect of TB/DM integrated care. Therefore, further robust studies such as randomized clinical trials and well-designed observational studies are needed.

Proteome Profile Changes Induced by Heterologous Overexpression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Derived Antigens PstS-1 (Rv0934) and Ag85B (Rv1886c) in Mycobacterium microti

The development of new tuberculosis vaccines remains a global priority, and recombinant vaccines are a frequently investigated option. These vaccines follow a molecular strategy that may enhance protective efficacy. However, their functional differences, particularly with respect to glycosylation, remain unknown. Recent studies have shown that glycosylation plays a key role in the host-pathogen interactions during immune recognition. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the glycosylation profiles of two recombinant strains of Mycobacterium microti, overexpressing Ag85B (Rv1886c) and PstS-1 (Rv0934) antigens of M. tuberculosis. For each strain, the glycosylation profile was determined by Western blotting with lectins. The results showed the presence of mannosylated proteins and evidence of linked sialic acid proteins. Interestingly, different proteome and glycoproteome profiles were observed between the two recombinant strains and the wild-type strain. We have shown here that the construction of the recombinant strains of M. microti has altered the proteome and glycosylation profiles of these strains, leading us to ask what impact these changes might have on the immune response.

Observatorios sociales nacionales y regional de tuberculosis en ocho países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe

Poner fin a la tuberculosis (TB) requiere de un enfoque y participación multisectorial, incluyendo a la sociedad civil organizada. Entonces con el apoyo de un proyecto regional financiado por el Fondo Mundial (OBSERVA TB), desde el año 2019 se conformaron observatorios sociales de tuberculosis en 8 países de Latinoamérica y el Caribe (LAC) (Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, México, Perú y República Dominicana) y un Observatorio Social Regional de TB, como expresión de la implementación del enfoque ENGAGE-TB impulsado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Este artículo presenta el modelo de implementación, los avances y los desafíos de los observatorios sociales de tuberculosis. A diciembre de 2021, se incluyeron 135 organizaciones de la sociedad civil de LAC en los 8 observatorios implementados, espacios que sirven como plataformas para la vigilancia social, la incidencia política y el monitoreo social de las respuestas nacionales contra la TB, además de contribuir a los indicadores del ENGAGE-TB relacionados a la detección de casos TB y a los apoyos durante el tratamiento. Por ello, recomendamos la consolidación y expansión de los observatorios existentes, así como la participación de otros países de la región LAC.

An Investigation of Risk Factors Associated with Tuberculosis Transmission in South Africa Using Logistic Regression Model

Background: South Africa has a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) disease and is currently not meeting the national and international reduction outcome targets. The TB prevalence rate of South Africa in 2015 was estimated at approximately 690 per 100,000 population per year, with an incidence rate of about 834 per 100,000 population. This study examines risk factors associated with development of TB in South Africa. Materials and Methods: This study utilised readily available open access secondary data of 2019 South African Health and Demographic Survey from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) website, which was collected from self-reported information relating to TB in the household questionnaire. The factors analysed were of demographic, socio-economic and health nature. Bivariate and binary logistics analyses were carried out from which appropriate inferences were drawn on the association of TB with demographic, socio-economic and health factors. Results: In multivariate analysis the study revealed that age, personal weight, smoke, alcohol, asthma, province of residence, race and usually coughing were significantly associated with an increased risk of having TB. Conclusions and Recommendations: The results strongly suggest that young and older people coming from black and coloured ethic groups, who are asthmatic and cough frequently, and/or smoking and consuming alcohol are at high risk of developing TB. In addition, those who are overweight appear to have an increased risk of TB transmission, with the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, North West and Gauteng being the hardest hit provinces. Hence, the study recommends that these factors must be taken into account in the planning and development of TB policies in order to work successfully towards the achievement of sustainable development goal of reducing TB by 80% before 2030.

Bidirectional screening and treatment outcomes of diabetes mellitus (DM) and Tuberculosis (TB) patients in hospitals with measures to integrate care of DM and TB and those without integration measures in Malawi

INTRODUCTION

There are efforts in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to integrate Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes mellitus (DM) healthcare services, as encouraged by WHO and other international health organizations. However, evidence on actual effect of different integration measures on bidirectional screening coverages and or treatment outcomes for both diseases in LMICs is scarce.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

Retrospective chart review analysis was conducted to determine effects of integrated care on bidirectional screening and treatment outcomes for both TB patients and people with DM (PWD) recruited in eight Malawian hospitals. Data of ≥ 15 years old patients registered between 2016 to August 2019 were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

557 PWDs (mean age 54) and 987 TB patients (mean age 41) were recruited. 64/557 (11.5%) PWDs and 105/987 (10.6%) of TB patients were from an integrating hospital. 36/64 (56.3%) PWDs were screened for TB in integrated healthcare as compared to 5/493 (1.0%) in non-integrated care; Risk Difference (RD) 55.2%, (95%CI 43.0, 67.4), P < 0.001, while 10/105 (9.5%) TB patients were screened for DM in integrated healthcare as compared to 43/882 (4.9%) in non-integrated care; RD 4.6%, (95%CI - 1.1, 10.4), P = 0.065. Of the PWDs screened, 5/41 (12.2%) were diagnosed with TB, while 5/53 (9.4%) TB patients were diagnosed with DM. On TB treatment outcomes, 71/508 (14.8%) were lost to follow up in non-integrated care and none in integrated care were lost to follow-up; RD - 14.0%, (95%CI: - 17.0,-11.0), p < 0.001. Among PWDs, 40/493 (8.1%) in non-integrated care and 2/64 (3.1%) were lost to follow up in integrated care; RD - 5.0%, (95%CI:-10.0, - 0.0); P = 0.046. After ≥ 2 years of follow up, 62.5% PWDs in integrated and 41.8% PWDs in non-integrated care were retained in care, RD 20.7, (95%CI: 8.1, 33.4), P = 0.001.

CONCLUSION

We found higher bidirectional screening coverage and less loss to follow-up in one centre that made more efforts to implement integrated measures for TB and DM care than in 7 others that did not make these efforts. Decisions on local programs to integrate TB/DM care should be taken considering currently rather weak evidence and barriers faced in the local context as well as existing guidelines.

Environment as the risk factor for tuberculosis in Malaysia: a systematic review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and incidence of TB by focusing on its environmental risk factor in Malaysia.

CONTENT

Databases search of Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Plus, MyJournal, Biblioteca Regional de Medicina (BIREME), BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health, Medline, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux (CAB), EMBASE (Excerpta Medica dataBASE) OVID, and Web of Science (WoS) was performed, which include the article from 1st January 2008 until 31st August 2018 using medical subject heading (MeSH). Articles initially identified were screened for relevance.

SUMMARY

Out of 744 papers screened, nine eligible studies did meet our inclusion criteria. Prison and housing environments were evaluated for TB transmission in living environment, while the other factor was urbanization. However, not all association for these factors were statistically significant, thus assumed to be conflicting or weak to end up with a strong conclusion.

OUTLOOK

Unsustainable indoor environment in high congregate setting and overcrowding remained as a challenge for TB infection in Malaysia. Risk factors for transmission of TB, specifically in high risk areas, should focus on the implementation of specialized program. Further research on health care environment, weather variability, and air pollution are urgently needed to improve the management of TB transmission.

Tuberculosis Treatment Outcome and Predictors in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This review aimed to summarize and estimate the TB treatment success rate and factors associated with unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes in Africa. Potentially eligible primary studies were retrieved from PubMed and Google Scholar. The risk of bias and quality of studies was assessed using The Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) appraisal criteria, while heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistic. Publication bias was checked using the funnel plot and egger's test. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO, numbered CRD42019136986. A total of 26 eligible studies were considered. The overall pooled estimate of TB treatment success rate was found to be 79.0% (95% CI: 76-82%), ranging from 53% (95% CI: 47-58%) in Nigeria to 92% (95% CI: 90-93%) in Ethiopia. The majority of unsuccessful outcomes were attributed to 48% (95% CI: 40-57%) death and 47% (95% CI: 39-55%) of defaulter rate. HIV co-infection and retreatment were significantly associated with an increased risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes compared to HIV negative and newly diagnosed TB patients with RR of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.36-1.71) and 1.48 (95% CI: 1.14-1.94), respectively. TB treatment success rate was 79% below the WHO defined threshold of 85% with significant variation across countries. Countries need to explore contextual underlining factors and more effort is required in providing TB preventive treatment, improve case screening and linkage for TB treatment among HIV high-risk groups and use confirmatory TB diagnostic modality. Countries in Africa need to strengthen counseling and follow-up, socio-economic support for patients at high risk of loss to follow-up and poor treatment success is also crucial for successful TB control programs.

Does tuberculosis screening improve individual outcomes? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

To determine if tuberculosis (TB) screening improves patient outcomes, we conducted two systematic reviews to investigate the effect of TB screening on diagnosis, treatment outcomes, deaths (clinical review assessing 23 outcome indicators); and patient costs (economic review).

METHODS

Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched between 1/1/1980-13/4/2020 (clinical review) and 1/1/2010-14/8/2020 (economic review). As studies were heterogeneous, data synthesis was narrative.

FINDINGS

Clinical review: of 27,270 articles, 18 (n=3 trials) were eligible. Nine involved general populations. Compared to passive case finding (PCF), studies showed lower smear grade (n=2/3) and time to diagnosis (n=2/3); higher pre-treatment losses to follow-up (screened 23% and 29% vs PCF 15% and 14%; n=2/2); and similar treatment success (range 68-81%; n=4) and case fatality (range 3-11%; n=5) in the screened group. Nine reported on risk groups. Compared to PCF, studies showed lower smear positivity among those culture-confirmed (n=3/4) and time to diagnosis (n=2/2); and similar (range 80-90%; n=2/2) treatment success in the screened group. Case fatality was lower in n=2/3 observational studies; both reported on established screening programmes. A neonatal trial and post-hoc analysis of a household contacts trial found screening was associated with lower all-cause mortality. Economic review: From 2841 articles, six observational studies were eligible. Total costs (n=6) and catastrophic cost prevalence (n=4; range screened 9-45% vs PCF 12-61%) was lower among those screened.

INTERPRETATION

We found very limited patient outcome data. Collecting and reporting this data must be prioritised to inform policy and practice.

FUNDING

WHO and EDCTP.

Frontline healthcare workers' experiences in implementing the TB-DM collaborative framework in Northern Ghana

Background

Over the past decade, global health policy has increased its focus on measures to halt further increase in tuberculosis (TB) incidence and management of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the vertical management of these two diseases have not achieved much in addressing the adverse effects of the rising tuberculosis-diabetes co-epidemic. This necessitated the World Health Organisation and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease to develop a framework to manage this dual disease burden.

TB-DM co-epidemic is a public health concern in Ghana, adversely threatening the country’s fragile health systems. Since frontline healthcare workers are critical in health policy implementation, this study used Lipsky’s theoretical framework of street-level bureaucracy to explore their experiences in implementing the collaborative framework at the health facility level in Ghana.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted between July to September 2019 using an exploratory design. Data was generated using a semi-structured interview guide designed to elicit information on knowledge of TB-DM comorbidity as well as systems for co-management. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted among purposively selected frontline healthcare workers (doctors, nurses, TB task- shifting officers, TB institutional coordinators and hospital managers) from three health facilities in the Northern Region of Ghana. The lead author also conducted observations and document reviews, in order to fully address the study objectives. Thematic analysis was guided by the Lipsky’s theoretical framework of street level bureaucracy.

Results

The findings revealed three main themes and six sub-themes. Main themes were Prioritisation of TB/HIV co-infection while negating TB-DM comorbidity, Poor working conditions, and Coping mechanisms, whereas sub-themes were Low knowledge and awareness of TB-DM comorbidity, Limited awareness of the collaborative framework, High workload in TB & DM Clinics, Multiple roles, Inadequate training, and Space shortage.

Conclusions

Frontline healthcare workers had limited knowledge of TB-DM comorbidity and the collaborative framework, which, in turn adversely affected the effectiveness in implementing the framework. The effective implementation of the framework begins with raising awareness about the framework through in service training amongst the frontline healthcare workers. Additionally, an integrated screening tool to detect both TB and DM would help achieve early detection of TB-DM comorbidity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-06883-6.

The impact of immigration on tuberculosis and HIV burden between Colombia and Venezuela and across frontier regions

Historically, human migrations have determined the spread of many infectious diseases by promoting the emergence of temporal outbreaks between populations. We aimed to analyze health indicators, expenditure, and disability caused by tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS burden under the Colombian-Venezuelan migration flow focusing on the Northeastern border. A retrospective study was conducted using TB and HIV/AIDS data since 2009. We consolidated a database using official reports from the Colombian Surveillance System, World Health Organization, Indexmundi, the Global Health Observatory, IHME HIV atlas, and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Disability metrics regarding DALYs (disability adjusted life years) and YLDs (years lived with disability), were compared between countries. Mapping was performed on ArcGIS using official migration data of Venezuelan citizens. Our results indicate that TB profiles from Colombia and Venezuela are identical in terms of disease burden, except for an increase in TB incidence in the Colombian-Venezuelan border departments in recent years, concomitantly with the massive Venezuelan immigration since 2005. We identified a four-fold underfunding for the TB program in Venezuela, which might explain the low-testing rates for cases of multidrug-resistant TB (67%) and HIV/AIDS (60%), as well as extended hospital stays (150 days). We found a significant increase in DALYs of HIV/AIDS patients in Venezuela, specifically, 362.35 compared to 265.37 observed in Colombia during 2017. This study suggests that the Venezuelan massive migration and program underfunding might exacerbate the dual burden of TB and HIV in Colombia, especially towards the Colombian-Venezuelan border.

Active case-finding policy development, implementation and scale-up in high-burden countries: A mixed-methods survey with National Tuberculosis Programme managers and document review

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the importance of active case-finding (ACF) for early detection of tuberculosis (TB), especially in the 30 high-burden countries that account for almost 90% of cases globally.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the attitudes of National TB Programme (NTP) managers related to ACF policy development, implementation and scale-up in the 30 high-burden countries, and to review national TB strategic plans.

METHODS

This was a mixed-methods study with an embedded design: A cross-sectional survey with NTP managers yielded quantitative and qualitative data. A review of national TB strategic plans complemented the results. All data were analyzed in parallel and merged in the interpretation of the findings.

RESULTS

23 of the 30 NTP managers (77%) participated in the survey and 22 (73%) national TB strategic plans were reviewed. NTP managers considered managers in districts and regions key stakeholders for both ACF policy development and implementation. Different types of evidence were used to inform ACF policy, while there was a particular demand for local evidence. The NSPs reflected the NTP managers' unanimous agreement on the need for ACF scale-up, but not all included explicit aims and targets related to ACF. The NTP managers recognized that ACF may decrease health systems costs in the long-term, while acknowledging the risk for increased health system costs in the short-term. About 90% of the NTP managers declared that financial and human resources were currently lacking, while they also elaborated on strategies to overcome resource constraints.

CONCLUSION

NTP managers stated that ACF should be scaled up but reported resource constraints. Strategies to increase resources exist but may not yet have been fully implemented, e.g. generating local evidence including from operational research for advocacy. Managers in districts and regions were identified as key stakeholders whose involvement could help improve ACF policy development, implementation and scale-up.

Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND

In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publicly available, and contributed data on incidence, prevalence, and mortality for a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of diseases and injuries.

METHODS

GBD estimates incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to 369 diseases and injuries, for two sexes, and for 204 countries and territories. Input data were extracted from censuses, household surveys, civil registration and vital statistics, disease registries, health service use, air pollution monitors, satellite imaging, disease notifications, and other sources. Cause-specific death rates and cause fractions were calculated using the Cause of Death Ensemble model and spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression. Cause-specific deaths were adjusted to match the total all-cause deaths calculated as part of the GBD population, fertility, and mortality estimates. Deaths were multiplied by standard life expectancy at each age to calculate YLLs. A Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, was used to ensure consistency between incidence, prevalence, remission, excess mortality, and cause-specific mortality for most causes. Prevalence estimates were multiplied by disability weights for mutually exclusive sequelae of diseases and injuries to calculate YLDs. We considered results in the context of the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and fertility rate in females younger than 25 years. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were generated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered 1000 draw values of the posterior distribution.

FINDINGS

Global health has steadily improved over the past 30 years as measured by age-standardised DALY rates. After taking into account population growth and ageing, the absolute number of DALYs has remained stable. Since 2010, the pace of decline in global age-standardised DALY rates has accelerated in age groups younger than 50 years compared with the 1990-2010 time period, with the greatest annualised rate of decline occurring in the 0-9-year age group. Six infectious diseases were among the top ten causes of DALYs in children younger than 10 years in 2019: lower respiratory infections (ranked second), diarrhoeal diseases (third), malaria (fifth), meningitis (sixth), whooping cough (ninth), and sexually transmitted infections (which, in this age group, is fully accounted for by congenital syphilis; ranked tenth). In adolescents aged 10-24 years, three injury causes were among the top causes of DALYs: road injuries (ranked first), self-harm (third), and interpersonal violence (fifth). Five of the causes that were in the top ten for ages 10-24 years were also in the top ten in the 25-49-year age group: road injuries (ranked first), HIV/AIDS (second), low back pain (fourth), headache disorders (fifth), and depressive disorders (sixth). In 2019, ischaemic heart disease and stroke were the top-ranked causes of DALYs in both the 50-74-year and 75-years-and-older age groups. Since 1990, there has been a marked shift towards a greater proportion of burden due to YLDs from non-communicable diseases and injuries. In 2019, there were 11 countries where non-communicable disease and injury YLDs constituted more than half of all disease burden. Decreases in age-standardised DALY rates have accelerated over the past decade in countries at the lower end of the SDI range, while improvements have started to stagnate or even reverse in countries with higher SDI.

INTERPRETATION

As disability becomes an increasingly large component of disease burden and a larger component of health expenditure, greater research and development investment is needed to identify new, more effective intervention strategies. With a rapidly ageing global population, the demands on health services to deal with disabling outcomes, which increase with age, will require policy makers to anticipate these changes. The mix of universal and more geographically specific influences on health reinforces the need for regular reporting on population health in detail and by underlying cause to help decision makers to identify success stories of disease control to emulate, as well as opportunities to improve.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Hangzhou, China, 2011 to 2015

Treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is challenging. More research is needed to understand treatment outcomes and associated factors.A retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess trends and predictors of treatment success among 398 MDR-TB and extensively drug resistant TB patients who started treatment in 2011 to 2015 in Hangzhou, China. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristic data were obtained from the national reporting database. Chi-square test for trend was used to evaluate changes in treatment success rates over the study years, and Cox regression analysis was used to identify predictors for poor treatment outcomes.The treatment success rate was 76% (301/398) for all participants, 77% (298/387) for MDR-TB cases and 27% (3/11) for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis -TB cases. Treatment success increased significantly from 66% among patients who started treatment in 2011 to 85% in 2015 (P < .01). Of the 97 (24.4%) patients with unsuccessful treatment outcomes, 10 (2.5%) died, 64 (16.1%) failed treatment, and 23 (5.8%) were lost to follow-up. Patients who started treatment in 2013 to 2015 were less likely to have unsuccessful outcomes than those who started in 2011-2012 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3-0.6), patients ≥25 years were more likely to have unsuccessful outcomes than younger patients (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.1), and cases with kanamycin resistance was associated with three times the odds of having unsuccessful outcomes than kanamycin-susceptible cases (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-5.8).With proper case management of MDR-TB, patients can achieve a high treatment success rate. Hangzhou's program offers clinical evidence that can be used to inform MDR-TB programs elsewhere in China and abroad.

Implementation status of household contact tuberculosis screening by health extension workers: assessment findings from programme implementation in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia

Background

In the Tigray region of Ethiopia, Health Extension Workers (HEWs) conduct Tuberculosis (TB) screening for all household (HH) contacts. However, there is limited evidence on implementation status of HH contact TB screening by HEWs. The aim of this program assessment was to describe the implementation status and associated factors of HH contact TB screening by HEWs.

Methods

This programme assessment was conducted in three randomly selected districts from March to April 2018. Data was collected by using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was carried out using frequency tables. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with HH contacts screening by HEWs.

Results

In this programme assessment a total of HHs of 411 index TB cases were included. One-fifth (21.7%) of index TB cases had at least one HH contact screened for TB by HEWs. Having TB treatment supporter (TTS) during intensive phase of index TB case (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.06–6.01), health education on TB to HH contacts by HEWs (AOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 2.04–9.00), HH visit by HEWs within 6 months prior to the programme assessment (AOR = 5.84, 95% CI: 2.81–12.17) and discussions about TB activities by HEWs with Women Development Army (WDA) leaders (AOR = 9.51, 95% CI: 1.49–60.75) were significantly associated with household contact TB screening by HEWs.

Conclusions

Our finding revealed that the proportion of HH contact TB screened by HEWs was low. Therefore, HEWs should routinely visit HHs of index TB cases and provide regular health education to improve contact screening practice. In addition, it is highly recommended to strengthen HEWs regular discussion about TB activities with WDA leaders and TB TTS.

[Low detection rate and therapeutic success of tuberculosis in a prison in EcuadorBaixo recrutamento de pacientes e sucesso no tratamento da tuberculose em uma prisão do Equador]

Objetivo.

Evaluar el control de la tuberculosis pulmonar en un centro de privación de la libertad e identificar los factores de riesgo asociados con tratamiento no exitoso en la cárcel más grande en Ecuador.

Métodos.

Se analizaron los datos de vigilancia de la prisión y de una cohorte de internos diagnosticados con tuberculosis (TB) entre los años 2015 y 2016. Se excluyeron los registros sin desenlace en el tratamiento. Se estimó el porcentaje de sintomáticos respiratorios (SR) identificados y la tasa de incidencia de TB. Los factores asociados con el tratamiento no exitoso se estimaron con regresión logística binomial.

Resultados.

De 59 846 consultas médicas, 3% se identificó como SR y, de estos, 326 reclusos tenían TB, 184 fueron analizados. La tasa de incidencia de TB en la prisión fue de 3 947/100 000 habitantes. El porcentaje de tratamiento exitoso fue de 70,4% (65,6% curado y 4,8% con tratamiento completo) y 29,4% de tratamiento no exitoso (12,5% de pérdidas durante el seguimiento, 5% fallecieron, 1,1% de fracasos de tratamiento y 10,8% no fueron evaluados). La seropositividad para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se asoció con un mayor riesgo de tratamiento no exitoso (riesgo relativo: 1,66, intervalo de confianza de 95%: 1,33-2,07).

Conclusión.

La incidencia de TB en la prisión es 123 veces más alta que en la población general de Ecuador. Los prisioneros coinfectados con TB-VIH tienen mayor riesgo de no tener un tratamiento exitoso y se requiere articulación entre los ministerios de salud y de justicia que permita la implementación adecuada de protocolos de salud y de la estrategia Fin a la TB.

Health systems performance in managing tuberculosis: analysis of tuberculosis care cascades among high-burden and non-high-burden countries

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health burden, which has been inadequately addressed. This study aims to analyze different patterns and gaps of care along the care cascade across countries and to develop a model to examine the relationship between performance of tuberculosis programmes in high and low burden countries along the tuberculosis care cascade and tuberculosis disease burden.

Methods

We used the World Health Organization's Global TB Database for the year 2016 to construct tuberculosis care cascade consisting of four steps: incidence, diagnosed, treatment started and treatment completed. Based on the constructed care cascades, we analyzed the relationship between health system performance indicators and tuberculosis cascades performance: diagnosed rate, treatment started rate, and treatment completed rate.

Results

There are wide differences in access to diagnosis and treatment between high-burden countries and non-high-burden countries. The largest gap was found between incidence and diagnosed rate, with 65% of diagnosed rate for high burden countries and 80% of diagnosed rate for non-high burden countries. We found variations in care performance among high-burden countries. We found a negative relationship between the population health indicators related to the mortality rate and TB care cascade performance. There was a positive relationship between immunization coverage rate and antenatal care indicators and TB care cascade performance.

Conclusions

Well-functioning tuberculosis care cascades and effective health systems are important for the successful management of tuberculosis. While improving screening performance is essential for tuberculosis control especially for high-burden countries, resource should be allocated to improve health system performance, which is weak in high-burden countries. Performance of TB programmes across care cascade could be used as a useful tracer to measure performance of health systems.

Vulnerable populations and the right to health: lessons from the Peruvian Amazon around tuberculosis control

BACKGROUND

In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "End TB Strategy", setting new ambitious goals for elimination of tuberculosis (TB). In contrast with previous efforts to control TB, the new strategy adopted the protection and promotion of human rights in TB prevention and care as a core pillar. This mandated the development of national programmes that are sensitive to the characteristics of populations and responsive to structural factors that put people at increased risk of exposure to TB, limit access to good quality health services and make people more vulnerable to TB infection. Indigenous people living in the Peruvian Amazon have been identified as a TB vulnerable group by Peruvian health authorities. This article examines the barriers faced by indigenous people and rural settlers from the Peruvian Amazon in obtaining a TB diagnosis and appropriate TB treatment, through the principles of the human rights based approach of accessibility, availability, affordability, adaptability and quality, and thus provides evidence of the utility of such approach in Peru.

METHODS

This is a qualitative study. We combined information from policy documents and legal regulations and in-depth interviews with health workers and health authorities. We used Atlas-ti to conduct a thematic analysis and identify interviewees responses to pre-defined topics.

RESULTS

Despite having a strong legal framework to protect the right to health of indigenous people and people affected by TB, there are underlying structural factors contributing to delays in detection, diagnosis and TB treatment, which are mostly related to having a health system poorly prepared to provide care for people living in dispersed rural communities. This article shows the limited level of integration of the "End TB Strategy" principles in the Peruvian National TB Programme and identifies the weakness of the health system to improve health care provision for indigenous people and rural settlers from the Peruvian Amazon.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows the need to go beyond developing a strong legal framework to ensure vulnerable populations such as indigenous people are able to realize their right to health. Governments need to allocate funds, improve training and adapt healthcare provision to the cultural, geographical, and social context of indigenous people.

Gridlock from diagnosis to treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Tanzania: low accessibility of molecular diagnostic services and lack of healthcare worker empowerment in 28 districts of 5 high burden TB regions with mixed methods evaluation

BACKGROUND

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outcomes are adversely impacted by delay in diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

Mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches were utilized to identify healthcare system related barriers to implementation of molecular diagnostics for MDR-TB. Randomly sampled districts from the 5 highest TB burden regions were enrolled during the 4th quarter of 2016. District TB & Leprosy Coordinators (DTLCs), and District AIDS Coordinators (DACs) were interviewed, along with staff from all laboratories within the selected districts where molecular diagnostics tests for MDR-TB were performed. Furthermore, the 2015 registers were audited for all drug-susceptible but retreatment TB cases and TB collaborative practices in HIV clinics, as these patients were in principal targeted for drug susceptibility testing by rapid molecular diagnostics.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight TB districts from the 5 regions had 399 patients reviewed for retreatment with a drug-susceptible regimen. Only 160 (40%) had specimens collected for drug-susceptibility testing, and of those specimens only 120 (75%) had results communicated back to the clinic. MDR-TB was diagnosed in 16 (13.3%) of the 120 specimens but only 12 total patients were ultimately referred for treatment. Furthermore, among the HIV/AIDS clinics served in 2015, the median number of clients with TB diagnosis was 92 cases [IQR 32-157] yet only 2 people living with HIV were diagnosed with MDR-TB throughout the surveyed districts. Furthermore, the districts generated 53 front-line healthcare workers for interviews. DTLCs with intermediate or no knowledge on the clinical application of XpertMTB/RIF were 3 (11%), and 10 (39%), and DACs with intermediate or no knowledge were 0 (0%) and 2 (8%) respectively (p = 0.02). Additionally, 11 (100%) of the laboratories surveyed had only the 4-module XpertMTB/RIF equipment. The median time that XpertMTB/RIF was not functional in the 12 months prior to the investigation was 2 months (IQR 1-4).

CONCLUSIONS

Underutilization of molecular diagnostics in high-risk groups was a function of a lack of front-line healthcare workforce empowerment and training, and a lack of equipment access, which likely contributed to the observed delay in MDR-TB diagnosis in Tanzania.

How Can Operational Research Help to Eliminate Tuberculosis in the Asia Pacific Region?

Broad multi-sectoral action is required to end the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030 and this includes National TB Programmes (NTPs) fully delivering on quality-assured diagnostic, treatment and preventive services. Large implementation gaps currently exist in the delivery of these services, which can be addressed and closed through the discipline of operational research. This paper outlines the TB disease burden and disease-control programme implementation gaps in the Asia-Pacific region; discusses the key priority areas in diagnosis, treatment and prevention where operational research can be used to make a difference; and finally provides guidance about how best to embed operational research within a TB programme setting. Achieving internationally agreed milestones and targets for case finding and treatment requires the NTP to be streamlined and efficient in the delivery of its services, and operational research provides the necessary evidence-based knowledge and support to allow this to happen.

Challenges and Progress with Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Case finding and the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are key activities to reach the World Health Organization's End TB targets by 2030. This paper focuses on the diagnosis of pulmonary TB (PTB) in low- and middle-income countries. Sputum smear microscopy, despite its many limitations, remains the primary diagnostic tool in peripheral health facilities; however, this is being replaced by molecular diagnostic techniques, particularly Xpert MTB/RIF, which allows a bacteriologically confirmed diagnosis of TB along with information about whether or not the organism is resistant to rifampicin within two hours. Other useful diagnostic tools at peripheral facilities include chest radiography, urine lipoarabinomannan (TB-LAM) in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency, and the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) test which may be superior to smear microscopy. National Reference Laboratories work at a higher level, largely performing culture and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing which is complemented by genotypic methods such as line probe assays for detecting resistance to isoniazid, rifampicin, and second-line drugs. Tuberculin skin testing, interferon gamma release assays, and commercial serological tests are not recommended for the diagnosis of active TB. Linking diagnosis to treatment and care is often poor, and this aspect of TB management needs far more attention than it currently receives.