Preclinical tools for the evaluation of tuberculosis treatment regimens for children

Review of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the Aftermath of COVID-19

In 2014, the World Health Organization developed the End Tuberculosis Strategy with the goal of a 95% reduction in deaths from tuberculosis (TB) by 2035. The start of the COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown has had a major impact on TB awareness, screening, diagnosis, and prompt initiation of treatment, inevitably leading to a significant setback. We explore pediatric tuberculosis through the lens of the COVID-19 era, investigating how COVID-19 has impacted pediatric TB cases in different regions of the world and what the implications are for management moving forward to mitigate these effects. Furthermore, in light of recent findings showing how exposed infants and children are at higher risk than we thought of contracting the disease, greater attention and resources are needed to prevent further downward trends.

Spatiotemporal pattern and factors related to childhood tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Aim: To identify the spatiotemporal pattern of childhood tuberculosis and the sociodemographic factors related to it. Method: This is an ecological study, which used the municipalities of the state of Ceará as units of analysis. The Notifiable Diseases Information System was used as a data source from January 2001 to December 2017. It was conducted a descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the cases, the temporal and spatial pattern of the incidence of the disease and regression with sociodemographic indicators. Results: An average incidence of 3.48 cases/100 thousand inhabitants was identified, with a reduction of 5.7% during the period 2003-2017 (p<0.001). The following were related to childhood tuberculosis: proportion of the population in households with piped water (β=0.05), proportion of the population in households with density >2 (β=0.09) and number of female heads of household with children under 15 years of age (β=0.0003). Conclusion: Indicators of housing conditions and vulnerability were related to childhood tuberculosis.

Padrão espaço-temporal e fatores relacionados à tuberculose na infância

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o padrão espaço-temporal da tuberculose na infância e os fatores sociodemográficos a ela relacionados. Método: Estudo ecológico, que utilizou como unidades de análise os municípios do estado do Ceará. Utilizou-se como fonte de dados o Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação durante janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2017. Realizou-se análise descritiva das características dos casos, do padrão temporal e espacial da incidência da doença e regressão com indicadores sociodemográficos. Resultados: Identificou-se incidência média de 3,48 casos/100 mil hab., com redução de 5,7% de durante o período de 2003-2017 (p<0,001). Foram relacionados à tuberculose na infância: proporção da população em domicílios com água encanada (β=0,05), proporção da população em domicílios com densidade >2 (β=0,09) e número de mulheres chefes de família e com filhos menores de 15 anos (β=0,0003). Conclusão: Indicadores de condições de moradia e vulnerabilidade foram relacionados a tuberculose na infância.

Immunological Aspects of Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Tuberculosis

The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children is difficult because of the low sensitivity and specificity of traditional microbiology techniques in this age group. Whereas in adults the culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the gold standard test, detects 80% of positive cases, it only detects around 30-40% of cases in children. The new methods based on the immune response to M. tuberculosis infection could be affected by many factors. It is necessary to evaluate the medical record, clinical features, presence of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains, comorbidities, and BCG vaccination history for the diagnosis in children. There is no ideal biomarker for all TB cases in children. A new strategy based on personalized diagnosis could be used to evaluate specific molecules produced by the host immune response and make therapeutic decisions in each child, thereby changing standard immunological signatures to personalized signatures in TB. In this way, immune diagnosis, prognosis, and the use of potential immunomodulators as adjunct TB treatments will meet personalized treatment.

Teleost contributions to the understanding of mycobacterial diseases

Few pathogens have shaped human medicine as the mycobacteria. From understanding biological phenomena driving disease spread, to mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and antibiotic resistance, the Mycobacterium genus continues to challenge and offer insights into the basis of health and disease. Teleost fish models of mycobacterial infections have progressed significantly over the past three decades, now supplying a range of unique tools and new opportunities to define the strategies employed by these Gram-positive bacteria to overcome host defenses, as well as those host antimicrobial pathways that can be used to limit its growth and spread. Herein, we take a comparative perspective and provide an update on the contributions of teleost models to our understanding of mycobacterial diseases.