Clinical standards for the assessment, management and rehabilitation of post-TB lung disease

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that post-TB lung disease (PTLD) causes significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of these clinical standards is to provide guidance on the assessment and management of PTLD and the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).METHODS: A panel of global experts in the field of TB care and PR was identified; 62 participated in a Delphi process. A 5-point Likert scale was used to score the initial ideas for standards and after several rounds of revision the document was approved (with 100% agreement).RESULTS: Five clinical standards were defined: Standard 1, to assess patients at the end of TB treatment for PTLD (with adaptation for children and specific settings/situations); Standard 2, to identify patients with PTLD for PR; Standard 3, tailoring the PR programme to patient needs and the local setting; Standard 4, to evaluate the effectiveness of PR; and Standard 5, to conduct education and counselling. Standard 6 addresses public health aspects of PTLD and outcomes due to PR.CONCLUSION: This is the first consensus-based set of Clinical Standards for PTLD. Our aim is to improve patient care and quality of life by guiding clinicians, programme managers and public health officers in planning and implementing adequate measures to assess and manage PTLD.

Outcome of treatment of MDR-TB or drug-resistant patients treated with bedaquiline and delamanid: Results from a large global cohort

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends countries introduce new anti-TB drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The aim of the study is to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of bedaquiline (and/or delamanid)- containing regimens in a large cohort of consecutive TB patients treated globally. This observational, prospective study is based on data collected and provided by Global Tuberculosis Network (GTN) centres and analysed twice a year. All consecutive patients (including children/adolescents) treated with bedaquiline and/or delamanid were enrolled, and managed according to WHO and national guidelines. Overall, 52 centres from 29 countries/regions in all continents reported 883 patients as of January 31st 2021, 24/29 countries/regions providing data on 100% of their consecutive patients (10-80% in the remaining 5 countries). The drug-resistance pattern of the patients was severe (>30% with extensively drug-resistant -TB; median number of resistant drugs 5 (3-7) in the overall cohort and 6 (4-8) among patients with a final outcome). For the patients with a final outcome (477/883, 54.0%) the median (IQR) number of months of anti-TB treatment was 18 (13-23) (in days 553 (385-678)). The proportion of patients achieving sputum smear and culture conversion ranged from 93.4% and 92.8% respectively (whole cohort) to 89.3% and 88.8% respectively (patients with a final outcome), a median (IQR) time to sputum smear and culture conversion of 58 (30-90) days for the whole cohort and 60 (30-100) for patients with a final outcome and, respectively, of 55 (30-90) and 60 (30-90) days for culture conversion. Of 383 patients treated with bedaquiline but not delamanid, 284 (74.2%) achieved treatment success, while 25 (6.5%) died, 11 (2.9%) failed and 63 (16.5%) were lost to follow-up.

Mass screening for active case finding of pulmonary tuberculosis in the Russian Federation: how to save costs

BACKGROUND: In Russia, mass chest X-ray (CXR) screening for tuberculosis (TB) is mandatory.OBJECTIVE: To compare the yield and the cost per TB case detected and the total cost of CXR screening, passive case finding and contact tracing among adolescents and adults in the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russian Federation, 2013-2017.DESIGN: This was an analysis of costing strategies using aggregated data. Costing information was obtained from the Finance Department of the Arkhangelsk Clinical TB Dispensary, Arkhangelsk, and the Territorial Fund of Mandatory Medical Insurance, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation.RESULTS: TB cases were detected using CXR screening (n = 684, 46%), contact tracing (n = 61, 4%) and passive case finding (n = 743, 46%). The number of cases detected using CXR screening, contact tracing and passive case finding was respectively 28,753 and 960/100 000. The mean costs/test were respectively US$3.54 (US$12 541/case), US$20.28 (US$2693/case) and US$11.85 (US$1235/case) using CXR screening, contact tracing and passive case finding The number of cases/100 000 in targeted groups was as follows: HIV-positive persons, 645; homeless persons, 461; and migrants, 441. The cost/TB case detected was respectively US$549, US$768 and US$803.CONCLUSION: Mass CXR screening (excluding HIV-positive, migrant and homeless populations) has low yield and high cost per TB case detected. It should be stopped and resources should instead be used to strengthen the screening of targeted high-risk groups, contacts and passive case finding.

Tuberculosis in the Circumpolar Region, 2006-2012

SETTING

The northern circumpolar jurisdictions Canada (Northwest Territories, Nunavik, Nunavut, Yukon), Finland, Greenland, Norway, Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk), Sweden and the United States (Alaska).

OBJECTIVE

To describe and compare demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, including drug resistance and treatment completion, of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the northern circumpolar populations.

DESIGN

Descriptive analysis of all active TB cases reported from 2006 to 2012 for incidence rate (IR), age and sex distribution, sputum smear and diagnostic site characteristics, drug resistance and treatment completion rates.

RESULTS

The annual IR of TB disease ranged from a low of 4.3 per 100 000 population in Northern Sweden to a high of 199.5/100 000 in Nunavik, QC, Canada. For all jurisdictions, IR was higher for males than for females. Yukon had the highest proportion of new cases compared with retreatment cases (96.6%). Alaska reported the highest percentage of laboratory-confirmed cases (87.4%). Smear-positive pulmonary cases ranged from 25.8% to 65.2%. Multidrug-resistant cases ranged from 0% (Northern Canada) to 46.3% (Arkhangelsk). Treatment outcome data, available up to 2011, demonstrated >80% treatment completion for four of the 10 jurisdictions.

CONCLUSION

TB remains a serious public health issue in the circumpolar regions. Surveillance data contribute toward a better understanding and improved control of TB in the north.

What happened to patients with RMP-resistant/MDR-TB in Zambia reported as lost to follow-up from 2011 to 2014?

SETTING

University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, and Ndola Central Hospital, Ndola, Zambia, which implemented active tracing of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients reported as lost to follow-up (LTFU).

OBJECTIVE

To determine 1) the number of patients treated for MDR-TB between 2011 and 2014; 2) the number, proportion, month when LTFU and characteristics of patients registered as LTFU; and 3) final outcomes observed following active patient tracing.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

RESULTS

Of 184 patients treated for confirmed MDR-TB, 76 (41%) were reported as LTFU. From 2011 to 2014, the proportions reported each year as LTFU were respectively 21%, 47%, 51% and 39%. Of patients who were LTFU, 43 (57%) had stopped attending the clinic during the intensive phase. These patients were predominantly male, aged 15-44 years, had pulmonary disease and had failed previous treatment. Of 57 (75%) patients with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, 42 (74%) were HIV-positive, 57% of whom were on antiretroviral treatment. After active patient tracing, 29 (38%) patients could not be found and the observed outcome remained LTFU. Of the remaining 47 patients, 29 (62%) were alive and had completed or were still on treatment, 14 (30%) were alive but had stopped treatment and 4 (8%) had died.

CONCLUSION

Zambia has been underreporting its favourable outcomes for MDR-TB treatment and should continue with active tracing of LTFU patients.

WHO guidelines for the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis: 2011 update

The production of guidelines for the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) fits the mandate of the World Health Organization (WHO) to support countries in the reinforcement of patient care. WHO commissioned external reviews to summarise evidence on priority questions regarding case-finding, treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), monitoring the response to MDR-TB treatment, and models of care. A multidisciplinary expert panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to develop recommendations. The recommendations support the wider use of rapid drug susceptibility testing for isoniazid and rifampicin or rifampicin alone using molecular techniques. Monitoring by sputum culture is important for early detection of failure during treatment. Regimens lasting ≥ 20 months and containing pyrazinamide, a fluoroquinolone, a second-line injectable drug, ethionamide (or prothionamide), and either cycloserine or p-aminosalicylic acid are recommended. The guidelines promote the early use of antiretroviral agents for TB patients with HIV on second-line drug regimens. Systems that primarily employ ambulatory models of care are recommended over others based mainly on hospitalisation. Scientific and medical associations should promote the recommendations among practitioners and public health decision makers involved in MDR-TB care. Controlled trials are needed to improve the quality of existing evidence, particularly on the optimal composition and duration of MDR-TB treatment regimens.

Using e-mail in the management of tuberculosis patients, north-west Russia

SETTING

Ten health care institutions in north-west Russia.

OBJECTIVE

To improve the management of tuberculosis patients using e-mail.

DESIGN

Over an 18-month period, all outgoing and incoming e-mails at the Arkhangelsk Regional Tuberculosis Centre were saved and categorised. All e-mails relating to distance learning were logged, and a consensus panel discussed and answered questionnaires regarding 47 e-mail-based second opinions.

RESULTS

e-mail was found to speed up communication and increase the availability of specialist advice. Distance learning was positively received, but was used in moderation. For six of 47 consultations (13%), the consensus panel deemed that fast access to a second opinion saved lives. In 30 consultations (64%), the patient was saved a round trip to a specialist centre. In 24 consultations (51%), the panel considered that the patients had started correct treatment between 1 week and 1 month earlier than without e-mail access. In 11 of these consultations, 23% of the total, the patient was found to be infectious. The learning effects of second opinions were recognised.

CONCLUSION

General e-mail use and the second opinion service in particular were found to be useful. Further studies are needed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using e-mail as a tool in the management of TB.