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Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Jul 2024Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are widely used for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. However, with repeat testing, IGRA transformation (conversion or...
BACKGROUND
Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are widely used for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. However, with repeat testing, IGRA transformation (conversion or reversion) may be detected and is challenging to interpret. We reviewed the frequency of and risk factors for IGRA transformation.
METHODS
We screened public databases for studies of human participants that reported the frequency of IGRA transformation. We extracted study and subject characteristics, details of IGRA testing and results. We calculated the pooled frequency of IGRA transformation (and transient transformation) and examined associated risk factors.
RESULTS
The pooled frequency of IGRA conversion or reversion from 244 studies was estimated at 7.3% (95% CI 6.1-8.5%) or 22.8% (20.1-25.7%), respectively. Transient conversion or reversion were estimated at 46.0% (35.7-56.4%) or 19.6% (9.2-31.7%) of conversion or reversion events respectively. Indeterminate results seldom reverted to positive (1.2% [0.1-3.5%]). IGRA results in the borderline positive or negative range were associated with increased risk of conversion or reversion (pooled OR: conversion, 4.15 [3.00-5.30]; reversion, 4.06 [3.07-5.06]). BCG vaccination was associated with decreased risk of conversion (0.70, 0.56-0.84), cigarette smoking with decreased risk of reversion (0.44, 0.06-0.82), and female sex with decreased risk of either conversion or reversion (conversion, 0.66 [0.58-0.75]; reversion, 0.46 [0.31-0.61]).
CONCLUSIONS
IGRA conversion is less common than reversion, and frequently transient. Research is needed to determine whether individuals with reversion would benefit from tuberculosis preventive treatment. Re-testing of people with indeterminate results is probably not indicated, since indeterminate results seldom revert to positive.
PubMed: 38954503
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciae357 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024Undernutrition increases the risk of TB infection to be active TB, death and relapse of the disease. Undernutrition also disturbs the management process of tuberculosis.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Undernutrition increases the risk of TB infection to be active TB, death and relapse of the disease. Undernutrition also disturbs the management process of tuberculosis. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled magnitude and determinants of undernutrition among TB patients in Ethiopia.
METHODS
From August 20, 2022 to January 6, 2023, the research articles were identified via the search engines Google Scholar, Medline, Pub Med, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Stata version 14 was used for analysis, along with a standardized data extraction checklist. The Cochrane Q test statistic and I2 statistics were used to determine heterogeneity. A random-effect model was used to assess the extent of undernutrition among TB patients. OR with a 95% CI was used to report the relationship between undernutrition and independent factors. A funnel plot and Egger's test were used to examine publication bias.
RESULTS
A total of 720 research articles were identified via several databases and 21 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled magnitude of undernutrition among TB patients was 48.23% (95% CI 42.84, 53.62). The current meta-analysis revealed that patients who had no formal education (OR = 2.11(95%CI: 1.09, 4.06), average monthly income < 1800 ETB (OR = 2.32 (95CI: 1.33, 4.04), unable to work (OR = 2.61(95CI:1.99, 3.43), patients who had eating disorder (OR = 2.73 (95CI: 2.09, 3.56), patients who had intestinal parasite (OR = 3.77 (95CI: 2.39, 5.94), patients of > 5 family size (OR = 3.79 (95CI: 1.06, 14.93), and patients who drank alcohol (OR = 1.47(95CI: 1.06, 2.05) were significantly associated with undernutrition.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis examined the high magnitude of undernutrition among TB patients in Ethiopia. Strategic and police-oriented intervention to prevent factors contributing to the problem is mandatory.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; Malnutrition; Tuberculosis; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38918733
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19220-3 -
International Journal of... Apr 2024Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); the high prevalence of TB in this region is due to human immunodeficiency... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Postmortem for Intensified Missed Tuberculosis Case Finding in High Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis-burdened Settings in Sub-Saharan Africa among Adults' Population: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); the high prevalence of TB in this region is due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfection. Despite the advent of modalities to diagnose TB, undiagnosed TB-related deaths among HIV-infected patients remain significantly high. This systematic review aims at characterizing missed TB cases from postmortem studies. This review informs on the burden of TB missed diagnosis and highlights the need of improving TB case-finding strategies, especially among the high-risk groups and early TB therapy initiation to keeping in with the World Health Organization's end TB strategy. We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and African journals online for studies that looked into missed TB cases following postmortem using the following key terms: postmortem, TB diagnosis, and HIV; we included cross-sectional and cohorts from 1980 in the English language that were carried out in SSA among adults' population. Authors used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines for reporting, the quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies, and STATA 17.0 software was used for analysis. This study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews with registration number CRD42024507515. The combined prevalence of postmortem missed TB diagnosis among the 6025 participants was 27.13% (95% confidence interval [CI] =14.52-41.89), with a high level of heterogeneity at 98.65% (P < 0.001). The prevalence varied significantly across the included studies, ranging from 1.21% (95% CI = 0.93-1.59) in the general population to 66.67% (95% CI = 50.98-79.37) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). This current literature suggests that SSA is a region with a high prevalence of missed TB cases but with significant variations between countries. In addition, this study confirms a high number of missed TB infections within the PLWHIV. These results highlight the immediate need for targeted screening and diagnosis strategies and relevant policies.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Africa South of the Sahara; Tuberculosis; Autopsy; Adult; Coinfection; Missed Diagnosis; Prevalence
PubMed: 38916381
DOI: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_41_24 -
International Journal of... Apr 2024The current meta-analysis aims to explore the potential correlation between natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) (3'-Untranslated region [3'-UTR])... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis on Natural Resistance-associated Macrophage Protein 1 (3'-Untranslated Region) and Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain-2 (rs8057341) Polymorphisms and Leprosy Susceptibility in Asian and Caucasian Populations.
The current meta-analysis aims to explore the potential correlation between natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) (3'-Untranslated region [3'-UTR]) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-2 (NOD2 [rs8057341]) gene polymorphisms and their association with leprosy susceptibility in both Asian and Caucasian populations. Datas were retrieved from case control studies with NOD 2 and NRAMP 1 gene polymorphism associated with leprosy disease. Leprosy emerges as a particularly distinctive ailment among women on a global scale. The NRAMP1 (3'-UTR) and NOD2 (rs8057341) genetic variations play a crucial role in the progression of leprosy. A systematic review of relevant case-control studies was conducted across several databases, including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase. Utilizing MetaGenyo and Review Manager 5.4 Version, statistical analyses were carried out. Nine case-control studies totaling 3281 controls and 3062 leprosy patients are included in the research, with the objective of examining the potential association between NRAMP1 (3'-UTR) and NOD2 (rs8057341) gene polymorphisms and leprosy risk. The review methodology was registered in PROSPERO (ID520883). The findings reveal a robust association between NRAMP1 (3'-UTR) and NOD2 (rs8057341) gene polymorphisms and leprosy risk across various genetic models. Although the funnel plot analysis did not identify publication bias, bolstering these findings and elucidating potential gene-gene and gene-environment interactions require further comprehensive epidemiological research. This study identified a strong correlation between polymorphisms in the NOD2 (rs8057341) genes and susceptibility to leprosy across two genetic models. Further comprehensive epidemiological investigations are warranted to validate these findings and explore potential interactions between these genes and environmental factors.
Topics: Humans; Leprosy; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Asian People; White People; Cation Transport Proteins; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein; 3' Untranslated Regions; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Case-Control Studies; Female; Polymorphism, Genetic; Male
PubMed: 38916380
DOI: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_43_24 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Accurate tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis remains challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. This study aims to assess the diagnostic performance of the QIAreach... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Comparative Study
Accurate tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis remains challenging, especially in resource-limited settings. This study aims to assess the diagnostic performance of the QIAreach QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) assay, with a specific focus on comparing its diagnostic performance with the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus). We systematically reviewed relevant individual studies on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to January 20, 2024. The focus was on evaluating the diagnostic parameters of the QIAreach QFT assay for TB infection, which included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and concordance with the QFT-Plus assay. QIAreach QFT demonstrated strong diagnostic performance with a pooled sensitivity of 99% (95% CI 95-100%) and specificity of 94% (95% CI 85-97%). Additionally, it showed a PLR of 15.6 (95% CI 6.5-37.5) and NLR of 0.01 (95% CI 0-0.03). The pooled PPV and NPV were 88% (95% CI 70-98%) and 100% (95% CI 99-100%), respectively. Concordance analysis with QFT-Plus revealed a pooled positive percent agreement of 98% (95% CI 88-100%) and pooled negative percent agreement of 91% (95% CI 81-97%), with a pooled overall percent agreement of 92% (95% CI 83-98). In conclusion, QIAreach QFT has shown promising diagnostic performance, with a strong concordance with QFT-Plus. However, further studies are needed to comprehensively evaluate its diagnostic performance in the context of TB infection.
Topics: Humans; Tuberculosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Interferon-gamma Release Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis
PubMed: 38914731
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65663-4 -
The Journal of Infection Jun 2024The clinical relevance of Mycobacterium malmoense isolation from pulmonary specimens has been considered high compared with other non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In this... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The clinical relevance of Mycobacterium malmoense isolation from pulmonary specimens has been considered high compared with other non-tuberculous mycobacteria. In this study, we aimed to analyse all published clinical data of patients with M. malmoense isolation to investigate the clinical spectrum, relevance, and outcomes of infections with this uncommon mycobacterium.
METHODS
A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus was performed to identify all clinical data about M. malmoense. Random effects meta-analyses of proportions were calculated for clinical relevance, treatment success, and mortality, as well as for other clinical characteristics. A logistic regression analysis, investigating predictors of mortality, as well as Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, were performed.
RESULTS
One hundred and eighty eight patients with individual data from 112 articles and 671 patients with pooled data from 12 articles were included in the meta-analyses. Of patients with individual data, pulmonary infection was the most common manifestation (n = 106/188, 56.4%). One third (n = 61/188, 32.4%) suffered from isolated extra-pulmonary and 21/188 (11.2%) from disseminated disease. In 288 patients with pooled data and pulmonary affection, clinical relevance was high with 68% (95% CI 44-85%) of patients fulfilling criteria for clinical disease. Macrolide and rifamycin-containing regimens were associated with improved survival (adjusted OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.42, p = 0.002, and 0.23, 95% CI 0.04-0.86, p = 0.03, for lethal events, respectively).
CONCLUSION
In this study, we provide a detailed clinical description of M. malmoense infections. The pathogen is of high clinical relevance for the individual patient with more than 2 out of 3 patients having relevant disease and >40% of manifestations being extra-pulmonary or disseminated. Macrolide and rifamycin-containing regimens are associated with improved survival.
PubMed: 38906266
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106203 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2024Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of mortality due to an infectious disease, with an estimated 1.6 million deaths due to TB in 2022. Approximately 25% of the global... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of mortality due to an infectious disease, with an estimated 1.6 million deaths due to TB in 2022. Approximately 25% of the global population has TB infection, giving rise to 10.6 million episodes of TB disease in 2022. Undernutrition is a key risk factor for TB and was linked to an estimated 2.2 million TB episodes in 2022, as outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the prognostic value of undernutrition in the general population of adults, adolescents, and children for predicting tuberculosis disease over any time period.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the literature databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and WHO Global Index Medicus, as well as the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 3 May 2023 (date of last search for all databases). We placed no restrictions on the language of publication.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included retrospective and prospective cohort studies, irrespective of publication status or language. The target population comprised adults, adolescents, and children from diverse settings, encompassing outpatient and inpatient cohorts, with varying comorbidities and risk of exposure to tuberculosis.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard Cochrane methodology and the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool to assess the risk of bias of the studies. Prognostic factors included undernutrition, defined as wasting, stunting, and underweight, with specific measures such as body mass index (BMI) less than two standard deviations below the median for children and adolescents and low BMI scores (< 18.5) for adults and adolescents. Prognostication occurred at enrolment/baseline. The primary outcome was the incidence of TB disease. The secondary outcome was recurrent TB disease. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis for the adjusted hazard ratios (HR), risk ratios (RR), or odds ratios (OR), employing the restricted maximum likelihood estimation. We rated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 51 cohort studies with over 27 million participants from the six WHO regions. Sixteen large population-based studies were conducted in China, Singapore, South Korea, and the USA, and 25 studies focused on people living with HIV, which were mainly conducted in the African region. Most studies were in adults, four in children, and three in children and adults. Undernutrition as an exposure was usually defined according to standard criteria; however, the diagnosis of TB did not include a confirmatory culture or molecular diagnosis using a WHO-approved rapid diagnostic test in eight studies. The median follow-up time was 3.5 years, and the studies primarily reported an adjusted hazard ratio from a multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model. Hazard ratios (HR) The HR estimates represent the highest certainty of the evidence, explored through sensitivity analyses and excluding studies at high risk of bias. We present 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals, which present between-study heterogeneity represented in a measurement of the variability of effect sizes (i.e. the interval within which the effect size of a new study would fall considering the same population of studies included in the meta-analysis). Undernutrition may increase the risk of TB disease (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.72; prediction interval 0.98 to 5.05; 23 studies; 2,883,266 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low due to a moderate risk of bias across studies and inconsistency. When stratified by follow-up time, the results are more consistent across < 10 years follow-up (HR 2.02, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.34; prediction interval 1.20 to 3.39; 22 studies; 2,869,077 participants). This results in a moderate certainty of evidence due to a moderate risk of bias across studies. However, at 10 or more years of follow-up, we found only one study with a wider CI and higher HR (HR 12.43, 95% CI 5.74 to 26.91; 14,189 participants). The certainty of the evidence is low due to the moderate risk of bias and indirectness. Odds ratio (OR) Undernutrition may increase the odds of TB disease, but the results are uncertain (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.17; prediction interval 0.61 to 3.99; 8 studies; 173,497 participants). Stratification by follow-up was not possible as all studies had a follow-up of < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is very low due to the high risk of bias and inconsistency. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were not reported due to the few studies included. Risk ratio (RR) Undernutrition may increase the risk of TB disease (RR 1.95, 95% CI 1.72 to 2.20; prediction interval 1.49 to 2.55; 4 studies; 1,475,867 participants). Stratification by follow-up was not possible as all studies had a follow-up of < 10 years. The certainty of the evidence is low due to the high risk of bias. Contour-enhanced funnel plots were not reported due to the few studies included.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Undernutrition probably increases the risk of TB two-fold in the short term (< 10 years) and may also increase the risk in the long term (> 10 years). Policies targeted towards the reduction of the burden of undernutrition are not only needed to alleviate human suffering due to undernutrition and its many adverse consequences, but are also an important part of the critical measures for ending the TB epidemic by 2030. Large population-based cohorts, including those derived from high-quality national registries of exposures (undernutrition) and outcomes (TB disease), are needed to provide high-certainty estimates of this risk across different settings and populations, including low and middle-income countries from different WHO regions. Moreover, studies including children and adolescents and state-of-the-art methods for diagnosing TB would provide more up-to-date information relevant to practice and policy.
FUNDING
World Health Organization (203256442).
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration: CRD42023408807 Protocol: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD015890.
Topics: Humans; Malnutrition; Risk Factors; Child; Adolescent; Tuberculosis; Adult; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 38860538
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015890.pub2 -
The Journal of Hospital Infection Jun 2024With increasing awareness of water sinks as potential sources of outbreaks and transmission of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in intensive care units (ICUs), there... (Review)
Review
With increasing awareness of water sinks as potential sources of outbreaks and transmission of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in intensive care units (ICUs), there is growing interest in water-free patient care systems. This systematic review reviewed and synthesized available evidence on the effectiveness of sink removal with or without water-free activities in the ICU environment to reduce water-borne healthcare-associated infections. We searched five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase) for studies published from 1 January 1980 to 2 April 2024 that examined water-less or water-free activities in the ICU to reduce healthcare-associated infections and patient colonization. Of 2075 articles, seven quasi-experimental studies (total: 332 patient beds) met the study selection criteria. Six of these seven studies (85.7%) were based in adult ICUs; one (14%) was in a neonatal ICU. Five of seven sites (71.4%) implemented water-less interventions after an outbreak. Water-free alternatives used included water-less bath products (six of seven; 85.7%), bottled water for consumption (three of seven; 42.9%), oral care (three of seven; 42.9%) and dissolving of oral medication (four of seven; 57.1%), designated 'contaminated' sink outside of patient and medication preparation areas for disposal of wastewater (four of seven; 57.1%). Implicated pathogens studied included MDR Gram-negative bacteria (four of seven; 57.1%), MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa only (two of seven; 28.6%), and pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTB) (one of seven; 14.3%). Five of seven (71.4%) studies reported outbreak cessation. Preliminary evidence, from a limited number of studies of which the majority were conducted in an outbreak setting, suggest that sink removal and other water-free interventions in the ICU helped terminate outbreaks involving taps and decrease hospital-onset respiratory isolation of pulmonary NTB.
PubMed: 38830541
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.05.012 -
The International Journal of... Jun 2024
BACKGROUND TB remains an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Underdiagnosis, underreporting and limited data on the... (Meta-Analysis)Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND TB remains an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Underdiagnosis, underreporting and limited data on the outcomes of childhood TB have led to an underestimation of its impact.METHODS This was a systematic review to characterise childhood TB outcomes. Studies reporting relevant epidemiological data on children between 0 and 14 years of age, with a particular focus on treatment outcomes, from countries with universal bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and conducted between 2000 and 2020 were selected. Random effects meta-analysis was performed in R software.RESULTS We identified 1,806 references and included 35 articles. Among children with TB, the overall proportion of unfavourable outcomes was 19.5% (95% CI 14.4-25.8) and pooled case-fatality ratio was 6.1% (95% CI 4.3-8.4). The proportion of deaths observed among children between 0 and 4 years old was 6.6% (95% CI 4.9-8.7) and 4.6% (95% CI 3.1-6.9) in older children. TB and HIV co-infected children presented a case-fatality ratio of 15.1% (95% CI 7.9-27.0). .CONCLUSIONS Despite the efforts made in the last decades, treatment outcomes in childhood TB are still worrisome. Efforts to fill existing gaps and design health policies targeting vulnerable populations, such as children, should be intensified to tackle the global TB burden.Topics: Humans; BCG Vaccine; Infant; Child; Child, Preschool; Tuberculosis; Adolescent; Infant, Newborn; Vaccination; Health Policy
PubMed: 38822485
DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.23.0321 -
Bulletin of the World Health... Jun 2024To identify literature on health literacy levels and examine its association with tuberculosis treatment adherence and treatment outcomes. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To identify literature on health literacy levels and examine its association with tuberculosis treatment adherence and treatment outcomes.
METHODS
Two authors independently searched Pubmed®, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, LILACS, Global Health Medicus and ScienceDirect for articles reporting on health literacy levels and tuberculosis that were published between January 2000 and September 2023. We defined limited health literacy as a person's inability to understand, process, and make decisions from information obtained concerning their own health. Methodological quality and the risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tools. We used a random effects model to assess the pooled proportion of limited health literacy, the association between health literacy and treatment adherence, and the relationship between health literacy and tuberculosis-related knowledge.
FINDINGS
Among 5813 records reviewed, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that 51.2% (95% confidence interval, CI: 48.0-54.3) of tuberculosis patients exhibit limited health literacy. Based on four studies, patients with lower health literacy levels were less likely to adhere to tuberculosis treatment regimens (pooled odds ratio: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.37-2.78). Three studies showed a significant relationship between low health literacy and inadequate knowledge about tuberculosis (pooled correlation coefficient: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.32-0.94).
CONCLUSION
Health literacy is associated with tuberculosis treatment adherence and care quality. Lower health literacy might hamper patients' ability to follow treatment protocols. Improving health literacy is crucial for enhancing treatment outcomes and is a key strategy in the fight against tuberculosis.
Topics: Health Literacy; Humans; Tuberculosis; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Medication Adherence
PubMed: 38812804
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.23.290396