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PloS One 2024Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge in India, which is home to one of the highest TB burdens worldwide. This systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant public health challenge in India, which is home to one of the highest TB burdens worldwide. This systematic review and meta-analysis will aim to synthesize the anticipated progress and potential challenges in achieving TB elimination in India by 2025.
METHODS
A comprehensive search will be conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies. The eligibility criteria will encompass individuals diagnosed with TB in India, interventions targeting TB treatment, prevention, or control, and various comparator groups. Outcomes of interest will include incidence reduction, mortality rate, treatment success rate, barriers to TB care, and more. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be synthesized, and the risk of bias will be assessed using established tools.
OUTCOMES
The review is expected to provide a holistic understanding of the TB landscape in India, highlighting the effective interventions and potential challenges in the journey towards TB elimination.
CONCLUSIONS
While it is anticipated that significant progress will be made in the fight against TB in India, challenges are likely to persist. This review will offer a comprehensive roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts, innovative strategies, and a multi-pronged approach in achieving the goal of TB elimination in India by 2025.
Topics: Humans; Tuberculosis; Incidence; India
PubMed: 38536792
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301060 -
The Lancet. Child & Adolescent Health May 2024Infants born to mothers with tuberculosis disease are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis disease themselves. We reviewed published studies and guidelines on... (Review)
Review
Infants born to mothers with tuberculosis disease are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis disease themselves. We reviewed published studies and guidelines on the management of these infants to inform the development of a consensus practice guideline. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library from database inception to Dec 1, 2022, for original studies reporting the management and outcome of infants born to mothers with tuberculosis. Of the 521 published papers identified, only three met inclusion criteria and no evidence-based conclusions could be drawn from these studies, given their narrow scope, variable aims, descriptive nature, inconsistent data collection, and high attrition rates. We also assessed a collection of national and international guidelines to inform a consensus practice guideline developed by an international panel of experts from different epidemiological contexts. The 16 guidelines reviewed had consistent features to inform the expert consultation process. Two management algorithms were developed-one for infants born to mothers considered potentially infectious at the time of delivery and another for mothers not considered infectious at the time of delivery-with different guidance for high and low tuberculosis incidence settings. This systematic review and consensus practice guideline should facilitate more consistent clinical management, support the collection of better data, and encourage the development of more studies to improve evidence-based care.
Topics: Infant; Female; Humans; Mothers; Tuberculosis; Consensus
PubMed: 38522446
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-4642(23)00345-0 -
Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen... Mar 2024BackgroundIn countries with a low TB incidence (≤ 10 cases/100,000 population), active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) mostly affects vulnerable populations with...
BackgroundIn countries with a low TB incidence (≤ 10 cases/100,000 population), active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) mostly affects vulnerable populations with limited access to healthcare. Thus, passive case-finding systems may not be successful in detecting and treating cases and preventing further transmission. Active and cost-effective search strategies can overcome this problem.AimWe aimed to review the evidence on the cost-effectiveness (C-E) of active PTB screening programmes among high-risk populations in low TB incidence countries.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search covering 2008-2023 on PubMed, Embase, Center for Reviews and Dissemination, including Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), National Health Services Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Global Index Medicus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL).ResultsWe retrieved 6,318 articles and included nine in this review. All included studies had an active case-finding approach and used chest X-ray, tuberculin skin test, interferon-gamma release assay and a symptoms questionnaire for screening. The results indicate that screening immigrants from countries with a TB incidence > 40 cases per 100,000 population and other vulnerable populations as individuals from isolated communities, people experiencing homelessness, those accessing drug treatment services and contacts, is cost-effective in low-incidence countries.ConclusionIn low-incidence countries, targeting high-risk groups is C-E. However, due to the data heterogenicity, we were unable to compare C-E. Harmonisation of the methods for C-E analysis is needed and would facilitate comparisons. To outline comprehensive screening and its subsequent C-E analysis, researchers should consider multiple factors influencing screening methods and outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Incidence; Tuberculosis; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Mass Screening
PubMed: 38516785
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.12.2300614 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2024Active case finding (ACF) refers to the systematic identification of people with tuberculosis in communities and amongst populations who do not present to health... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Active case finding (ACF) refers to the systematic identification of people with tuberculosis in communities and amongst populations who do not present to health facilities, through approaches such as door-to-door screening or contact tracing. ACF may improve access to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment for the poor and for people remote from diagnostic and treatment facilities. As a result, ACF may also reduce onward transmission. However, there is a need to understand how these programmes are experienced by communities in order to design appropriate services.
OBJECTIVES
To synthesize community views on tuberculosis active case finding (ACF) programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and eight other databases up to 22 June 2023, together with reference checking, citation searching, and contact with study authors to identify additional studies. We did not include grey literature.
SELECTION CRITERIA
This review synthesized qualitative research and mixed-methods studies with separate qualitative data. Eligible studies explored community experiences, perceptions, or attitudes towards ACF programmes for tuberculosis in any endemic low- or middle-income country, with no time restrictions.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Due to the large volume of studies identified, we chose to sample studies that had 'thick' description and that investigated key subgroups of children and refugees. We followed standard Cochrane methods for study description and appraisal of methodological limitations. We conducted thematic synthesis and developed codes inductively using ATLAS.ti software. We examined codes for underlying ideas, connections, and interpretations and, from this, generated analytical themes. We assessed the confidence in the findings using the GRADE-CERQual approach, and produced a conceptual model to display how the different findings interact.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 45 studies in this synthesis, and sampled 20. The studies covered a broad range of World Health Organization (WHO) regions (Africa, South-East Asia, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Americas) and explored the views and experiences of community members, community health workers, and clinical staff in low- and middle-income countries endemic for tuberculosis. The following five themes emerged. • ACF improves access to diagnosis for many, but does little to help communities on the edge. Tuberculosis ACF and contact tracing improve access to health services for people with worse health and fewer resources (High confidence). ACF helps to find this population, exposed to deprived living conditions, but is not sensitive to additional dimensions of their plight (High confidence) and out-of-pocket costs necessary to continue care (High confidence). Finally, migration and difficult geography further reduce communities' access to ACF (High confidence). • People are afraid of diagnosis and its impact. Some community members find screening frightening. It exposes them to discrimination along distinct pathways (isolation from their families and wider community, lost employment and housing). HIV stigma compounds tuberculosis stigma and heightens vulnerability to discrimination along these same pathways (High confidence). Consequently, community members may refuse to participate in screening, contact tracing, and treatment (High confidence). In addition, people with tuberculosis reported their emotional turmoil upon diagnosis, as they anticipated intense treatment regimens and the prospect of living with a serious illness (High confidence). • Screening is undermined by weak health infrastructure. In many settings, a lack of resources results in weak services in competition with other disease control programmes (Moderate confidence). In this context of low investment, people face repeated tests and clinic visits, wasted time, and fraught social interaction with health providers (Moderate confidence). ACF can create expectations for follow-up health care that it cannot deliver (High confidence). Finally, community education improves awareness of tuberculosis in some settings, but lack of full information impacts community members, parents, and health workers, and sometimes leads to harm for children (High confidence). • Health workers are an undervalued but important part of ACF. ACF can feel difficult for health workers in the context of a poorly resourced health system and with people who may not wish to be identified. In addition, the evidence suggests health workers are poorly protected against tuberculosis and fear they or their families might become infected (Moderate confidence). However, they appear to be central to programme success, as the humanity they offer often acts as a driving force for retaining people with tuberculosis in care (Moderate confidence). • Local leadership is necessary but not sufficient for ensuring appropriate programmes. Local leadership creates an intrinsic motivation for communities to value health services (High confidence). However, local leadership cannot guarantee the success of ACF and contact tracing programmes. It is important to balance professional authority with local knowledge and rapport (High confidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculosis active case finding (ACF) and contact tracing bring a diagnostic service to people who may otherwise not receive it, such as those who are well or without symptoms and those who are sick but who have fewer resources and live further from health facilities. However, capturing these 'missing cases' may in itself be insufficient without appropriate health system strengthening to retain people in care. People who receive a tuberculosis diagnosis must contend with a complex and unsustainable cascade of care, and this affects their perception of ACF and their decision to engage with it.
Topics: Child; Humans; Developing Countries; Health Personnel; Health Services; Parents; Tuberculosis
PubMed: 38511668
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014756.pub2 -
AIDS (London, England) Jul 2024Children and adolescents with HIV infection are well known to face a heightened risk of tuberculosis. However, the exact mortality rates and temporal trends of those... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Children and adolescents with HIV infection are well known to face a heightened risk of tuberculosis. However, the exact mortality rates and temporal trends of those with HIV-tuberculosis (TB) co-infection remain unclear. We aimed to identify the overall mortality and temporal trends within this population.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were employed to search for publications reporting on the mortality rates of children and adolescents with HIV-TB co-infection from inception to March 2, 2024. The outcome is the mortality rate for children and adolescents with HIV-TB co-infection during the follow-up period. In addition, we evaluate the temporal trends of mortality.
RESULTS
During the follow-up period, the pooled mortality was 16% [95% confidence interval (CI) 13-20]. Single infection of either HIV or TB exhibit lower mortality rates (6% and 4%, respectively). We observed elevated mortality risks among individuals aged less than 12 months, those with extrapulmonary TB, poor adherence to ART, and severe immunosuppression. In addition, we observed a decreasing trend in mortality before 2008 and an increasing trend after 2008, although the trends were not statistically significant ( P = 0.08 and 0.2 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents with HIV-TB co-infection bear a significant burden of mortality. Timely screening, effective treatment, and a comprehensive follow-up system contribute to reducing the mortality burden in this population.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Coinfection; Adolescent; Tuberculosis; Child; Child, Preschool; Infant; Male; Female; Survival Analysis
PubMed: 38499478
DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003886 -
Leukemia & Lymphoma Jul 2024is generally considered a contaminant in clinical practice. However, it may cause bacteremia in patients with hematologic disorders, and factors that contribute to its...
is generally considered a contaminant in clinical practice. However, it may cause bacteremia in patients with hematologic disorders, and factors that contribute to its mortality are unclear. A case series and systematic literature review identified 96 cases of bacteremia inhematologic disorderpatients. The median age was 50.5 years (range: 2-93 years), with 79 (82%) patients 18 years or older, and 64 (67%) patients male. Most cases involved hematologic malignancies, and neutropenia was observed in approximately 75% cases. The most common sites of infection/symptoms were skin and soft tissue, respiratory, and catheter-related bloodstream infection. The infection-related mortality was 23%, and univariate analysis showed that age, respiratory infection/symptoms, and source control were significantly associated with infection-related mortality. Multivariate analysis indicates that infection-related mortality was significantly reduced by source control (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06-0.97, = 0.046). Therefore, when infections are suspected, early source control should be considered.
Topics: Humans; Bacteremia; Corynebacterium Infections; Corynebacterium; Aged; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Adolescent; Hematologic Diseases; Young Adult; Female; Child; Child, Preschool; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38498769
DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2024.2331086 -
Reumatologia Clinica Mar 2024Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has shown good performance in diagnosing pleural, peritoneal, and meningeal tuberculosis. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has shown good performance in diagnosing pleural, peritoneal, and meningeal tuberculosis. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the performance of measuring ADA activity in synovial fluid for the early diagnosis of joint tuberculosis.
METHODS
We searched published information in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and MedRxiv databases, as well as unpublished information in the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism for conference abstracts (2012-2021). We also scanned the reference lists of articles. Two reviewers independently applied the criteria for selection, assessed quality, and extracted data (PROSPERO number CRD42021284472).
RESULTS
Seven independent studies (N=305 subjects) that compared ADA activity in synovial fluid with a composite reference diagnostic method for tuberculosis were included. Overall, the risk of bias was judged low. Studies were classified as high quality (n=3; 148 subjects) and low quality (n=4; 157 subjects). Pooled sensitivity and specificity of ADA activity was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-98; I=23%) and 88% (95% CI, 83-92; I=83%), respectively. The random-effects model for pooled diagnostic Odds ratio was 67.1 (95%CI, 20.3-222.2; I=30%). The receiver operating characteristic curve area was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-0.99). Meta-regression did not identify the quality of the study, country of publication, or the type of assay as a source of heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
Measuring ADA activity in synovial fluid demonstrates good performance for the early diagnosis of joint tuberculosis.
Topics: Humans; Adenosine Deaminase; Synovial Fluid; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular; Arthritis
PubMed: 38494302
DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2024.02.002 -
Lupus May 2024Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infections among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We aimed to evaluate the global prevalence of TB infection and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infections among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We aimed to evaluate the global prevalence of TB infection and disease, its type, and medication risk factors in SLE patients.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 30, 2023, and included studies assessing TB among SLE patients. We estimated the prevalence of TB disease (including type of TB disease), TB infection, and SLE medication as TB risk factors. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.2 and Review Manager 5.3.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies met the eligibility criteria. The global prevalence of TB disease was 4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3-4%, = 25) and TB infection was 18% (95% CI: 10-26%, = 3). The pooled prevalence of pulmonary TB, extrapulmonary TB, and disseminated TB were 2% (95% CI: 2-3%, = 20), 1% (95% CI: 1-2%, = 17), and 1% (95% CI: 0-1%, = 6), respectively. The 1-year cumulative glucocorticoid (GC) dose in SLE patients contracting TB was higher than in those without TB, having a mean difference of 2.56 (95% CI: 0.22-4.91, < .00001, = 3). The odd ratio of TB was 2.11 (95% CI: 1.01-4.41, = .05, = 3) in SLE patients receiving methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy as compared to those without MP pulse therapy. Other immunosuppressive agents were not significantly associated with TB.
CONCLUSION
TB prevalence in SLE was relatively high and associated with GC. Awareness of TB and lowering GC dose are warranted to alleviate the TB burden in SLE.
Topics: Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Tuberculosis; Risk Factors; Glucocorticoids; Immunosuppressive Agents
PubMed: 38490946
DOI: 10.1177/09612033241239504 -
Mycobacterium tuberculosis latent infection in healthcare students: systematic review of prevalence.Revista Da Escola de Enfermagem Da U S P 2024The aim of this study was to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among undergraduate health care students. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among undergraduate health care students.
METHODS
A systematic review of prevalence with meta-analysis was conducted. Prospective and retrospective cohorts and cross-sectional studies involving probable exposure to M. tuberculosis during undergraduate education, along with the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) for investigation of latent tuberculosis were searched. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Independent reviewers were responsible for the selection and inclusion of studies. Data were extracted, critically appraised, and synthesized using the JBI approach. PRISMA was used to report the study.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies were analyzed. The overall prevalence in healthcare undergraduate students was 12.53%.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of LTBI in undergraduate health students was high for such a highly educated population. Screening with TST and/or IGRA and chemoprophylaxis, when necessary, should be provided to undergraduate health students when in contact with respiratory symptomatic patients.
Topics: Humans; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Prevalence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Retrospective Studies; Prospective Studies; Latent Tuberculosis; Students
PubMed: 38488508
DOI: 10.1590/1980-220X-REEUSP-2023-0238en -
Medical Archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and... 2024Active case finding (ACF) is an alternative strategy to accelerate the identification of TB cases among the migrant population. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Active case finding (ACF) is an alternative strategy to accelerate the identification of TB cases among the migrant population.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to synthesize the evidence for the effectiveness of ACF TB in migrants.
METHODS
This study uses the PRISMA model as a method of searching for journal articles in the databases of Google Scholar, ProQuest, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and PubMed, as well as other sources such as textbooks and reports from 2017 to 2021 with the keywords . The search revealed 371 articles, of which 26 met the criteria for further discussion.
RESULTS
Most studies show that the TB incidence among migrants is higher than in the local population. Factors leading to increased cases include lack of knowledge about the symptoms, high mobilization, social isolation, economic problems, and medication adherence that impact an advanced stage. Furthermore, it is also influenced by the low quality of health services, including accessibility, health facilities, health workers, and information. Therefore, Active Case Finding (ACF) is more effective in identifying cases of TB in the risk groups. This was conducted on migrants with increased notifications followed up with treatment.
CONCLUSION
ACF is effective approach in screening and diagnosing TB in the migrant group.
Topics: Humans; Transients and Migrants; Mass Screening; Tuberculosis; Incidence; Health Personnel
PubMed: 38481594
DOI: 10.5455/medarh.2024.78.60-64