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Chin KL, Anibarro L, Sarmiento ME, Acosta A. Challenges and the Way forward in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis Infection. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020089. [PMID: 36828505 PMCID: PMC9960903 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, it is estimated that one-quarter of the world's population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), also known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Recently, this condition has been referred to as tuberculosis infection (TBI), considering the dynamic spectrum of the infection, as 5-10% of the latently infected population will develop active TB (ATB). The chances of TBI development increase due to close contact with index TB patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the risk of development of latent MDR-TB has further complicated the situation. Detection of TBI is challenging as the infected individual does not present symptoms. Currently, there is no gold standard for TBI diagnosis, and the only screening tests are tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs). However, these tests have several limitations, including the inability to differentiate between ATB and TBI, false-positive results in BCG-vaccinated individuals (only for TST), false-negative results in children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients, and the inability to predict the progression to ATB, among others. Thus, new host markers and Mtb-specific antigens are being tested to develop new diagnostic methods. Besides screening, TBI therapy is a key intervention for TB control. However, the long-course treatment and associated side effects result in non-adherence to the treatment. Additionally, the latent MDR strains are not susceptible to the current TBI treatments, which add an additional challenge. This review discusses the current situation of TBI, as well as the challenges and efforts involved in its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ling Chin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Luis Anibarro
- Tuberculosis Unit, Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, 36071 Pontevedra, Spain
- Immunology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS-GS), 36312 Vigo, Spain
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Maria E. Sarmiento
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
| | - Armando Acosta
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
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Wang F, Ren Y, Liu K, Peng Y, Chen X, Chen B, Jiang J. Large gap between attitude and action in tuberculosis preventive treatment among tuberculosis-related healthcare workers in eastern China. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:991400. [PMID: 36275034 PMCID: PMC9585158 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.991400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) because of occupational exposure, and the attitudes and behaviors of frontline tuberculosis (TB)-related HCWs toward preventive treatment of LTBI in eastern China remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the attitudes and actual behaviors of TB-related HCWs toward TB preventive treatment (TPT) and to analyze the relevant factors influencing the attitudes of HCWs. A stratified random sample of 28 TB-designated hospitals was selected in Zhejiang Province, China. All TB-related HCWs in the selected hospitals were recruited to answer questionnaires and were tested for LTBI by the TB interferon gamma release assay. TPT use was assessed two years after the survey. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing the TPT intention of HCWs. A total of 318 TB-related HCWs were recruited from 28 TB-designated hospitals; 62.3% of them showed positive attitudes toward TPT, while the rest were reluctant to treat positive LTBI prophylactically. binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors influencing the attitudes of HCWs were mainly education level, household income, history of alcohol consumption, and workplace. The IGRA test found that 35.2% (112/318) of HCWs tested positive for LTBI. Most people refused treatment because of drug side effects, followed by the belief that treatment was ineffective, wanting to wait until the onset of the disease, and that it was too much trouble to take the medication. According to the results of a follow-up survey, only one of these HCWs underwent TPT, and the consistency rate of attitudes and behaviors was 36.6% (41/112). This study reveals different attitudes toward TPT among TB-associated HCWs in eastern China and a large gap between attitudes and actual action. The management of HCWs with LTBI still needs further strengthening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanli Ren
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kui Liu
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Peng
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Chen, ; Jianmin Jiang,
| | - Jianmin Jiang
- Tuberculosis Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Chen, ; Jianmin Jiang,
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Yang H, Park H. Factors influencing the initiation and adherence of LTBI treatment in healthcare workers: a systematic review. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2021; 77:76-86. [PMID: 34184972 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2021.1943642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment and management in healthcare workers (HCWs), only a few studies have provided a comprehensive review of factors associated with the success rate of each stage of the LTBI treatment, as well as strategies to improve treatment adherence. This study investigated factors and determinants of patient losses at each stage of the entire cascade of LTBI in HCWs. Studies were extracted from PubMed, EBSCOhost, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. Our study found poor completion rates of LTBI treatment in HCWs. The main reason for not visiting the outpatient clinic or not accepting treatment was related to the demographic characteristics, whereas adverse drug effects were the main reason for treatment discontinuation. These findings suggest that tailored interventions must be developed to improve the success rate at each stage of the LTBI treatment in HCWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunju Yang
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunyoung Park
- College of Nursing, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Duri K, Gumbo FZ, Munjoma PT, Chandiwana P, Mhandire K, Ziruma A, Macpherson A, Rusakaniko S, Gomo E, Misselwitz B, Mazengera LR. The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS) BIRTH COHORT study: rationale, design and methods. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:725. [PMID: 33008316 PMCID: PMC7532096 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05432-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Commencing lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately following HIV diagnosis (Option B+), has greatly improved maternal-infant health. Thus, large and increasing numbers of HIV-infected women are on ART during pregnancy, a situation concurrently increasing numbers of HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) infants. Compared to their HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) counterparts, HEU infants show higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, mortality, infectious/non-communicable diseases including impaired growth and neurocognitive development. There is an urgent need to understand the impact of HIV and early life ART exposures, immune-metabolic dysregulation, comorbidities and environmental confounders on adverse paediatric outcomes. METHODS Six hundred (600) HIV-infected and 600 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥20 weeks of gestation will be enrolled from four primary health centres in high density residential areas of Harare. Participants will be followed up as mother-infant-pairs at delivery, week(s) 1, 6, 10, 14, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 after birth. Clinical, socio-economic, nutritional and environmental data will be assessed for adverse birth outcomes, impaired growth, immune/neurodevelopment, vertical transmission of HIV, hepatitis-B/C viruses, cytomegalovirus and syphilis. Maternal urine, stool, plasma, cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta and milk including infant plasma, dried blood spot and stool will be collected at enrolment and follow-up visits. The composite primary endpoint is stillbirth and infant mortality within the first two years of life in HEU versus HUU infants. Maternal mortality in HIV-infected versus -uninfected women is another primary outcome. Secondary endpoints include a range of maternal and infant outcomes. Sub-studies will address maternal stress and malnutrition, maternal-infant latent tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori infections, immune-metabolomic dysregulation including gut, breast milk and amniotic fluid dysbiosis. DISCUSSION The University of Zimbabwe-College of Health-Sciences-Birth-Cohort study will provide a comprehensive assessment of risk factors and biomarkers for HEU infants' adverse outcomes. This will ultimately help developing strategies to mitigate effects of maternal HIV, early-life ART exposures and comorbidities on infants' mortality and morbidity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT04087239 . Registered 12 September 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerina Duri
- Department of Immunology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS), P.O. Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Felicity Z Gumbo
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, UZ-CHS, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Privilege T Munjoma
- Department of Immunology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS), P.O. Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | | | - Asaph Ziruma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UZ-CHS, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Andrew Macpherson
- Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital Bern and Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Exnevia Gomo
- UZ-CHS Research Support Centre, UZ-CHS, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, UZ-CHS, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Benjamin Misselwitz
- Clinic for Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital Bern and Bern University, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lovemore Ronald Mazengera
- Department of Immunology, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS), P.O. Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Keshavarz Valian S, Mahmoudi S, Pourakbari B, Abdolsalehi MR, Eshaghi H, Mamishi S. Screening of healthcare workers for latent tuberculosis infection in the low tuberculosis burden country: QuantiFERON-TB gold in tube test or tuberculin skin test? ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 2018; 74:109-114. [PMID: 30516445 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2017.1394254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are an important group at increased risk for exposure to various infectious agents including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Unfortunately, there is very limited data on the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among HCWs in Iran. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of LTBI among HCW's of Children Medical Center (CMC), an Iranian referral hospital, and to compare the feasibility of using tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB gold in tube test (QFT-GIT) to screen the LTBI among this population. Informed consent was obtained before the study questionnaire was completed. Participants were then evaluated for LTBI using QFT-GIT test followed immediately by TST. The prevalence of latent TB infection in the 101 HCWs, based on QFT-GIT positivity, was 47% (n = 47), while based on TST test a higher prevalence was observed (n = 57, 57%). Forty-five (45%) subjects were positive for both tests, whereas 14 (14%) were positive by either test. Among the TST positive cases, 21% (n = 12) were negative for QFT-GIT. The overall agreement of TST and QFT-GIT was 86% ([45 + 42]/101] and a moderate correlation between these two tests was observed (Kappa value 0.72). The use of QFT-GIT test as a second step in TST-positive cases offers an appropriate tool for LTBI detection in our country where all HCWs are BCG-vaccinated. To enable the effective control and prevention of TB in healthcare settings in Iran, specific and detailed guidelines for dealing with LTBI are highly required. All newly hired HCWs should receive baseline testing for LTBI before commencing employment. In addition, HCWs who work in high-risk departments should receive regular follow-up screening for LTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shima Mahmoudi
- b Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Babak Pourakbari
- b Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Abdolsalehi
- c Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hamid Eshaghi
- c Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Setareh Mamishi
- b Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
- c Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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