Factors associated with referrals for directly observed treatment and unsuccessful treatment.

To describe the characteristics of people indicated for directly observed treatment (DOT) in Spain, and the factors associated with unsuccessful treatment.This was a multicentre observational study based on a prospective follow-up of patients over 18 years old diagnosed with TB between 2006 and 2019 from the registry of the Programa Integrado de Investigación en Tuberculosis (PII-TB). Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected.

Tobacco Smoking and Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Impact on Tuberculosis in Children.

Little is known about whether second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure affects tuberculosis (TB). Here, we investigate the association of cigarette smoke exposure with active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI) in children, analyzing Interferon-Gamma Release Assays' (IGRAs) performance and cytokine immune responses. A total of 616 children from contact-tracing studies were included and classified regarding their smoking habits [unexposed, SHS, or smokers].

Discovery and validation of a personalized risk predictor for incident tuberculosis in low transmission settings.

The risk of tuberculosis (TB) is variable among individuals with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but validated estimates of personalized risk are lacking. In pooled data from 18 systematically identified cohort studies from 20 countries, including 80,468 individuals tested for LTBI, 5-year cumulative incident TB risk among people with untreated LTBI was 15.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.

Impact of Baseline Tuberculin Skin Test and Isoniazid Chemoprophylaxis on Subsequent Quantiferon-TB Gold In-Tube Performance in Young Children Assessed After Tuberculosis Contact in Catalonia.

We investigated the impact of baseline tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) and preventive isoniazid chemoprophylaxis on subsequent QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assays performed after a 10- to 12-week window period in 114 children <5 years of age. Previous TSTs and chemoprophylaxis had no impact on the magnitude of subsequent antigen-induced responses in QFT-GIT. Furthermore, previous TSTs did not induce conversion from a negative to a positive QFT-GIT result.

Use of IP-10 detection in dried plasma spots for latent tuberculosis infection diagnosis in contacts via mail.

The aim of this study was to test the use of IP-10 detection in dried plasma from contact studies individuals (contacts of smear positive patients), by comparing it with IP-10 and IFN-γ detection in direct plasma, to establish IP-10 detection in DPS as a useful assay for LTBI diagnosis. Whole blood samples were collected from 80 subjects: 12 with active tuberculosis (TB), and 68 from contact studies. The amount of IFN-γ produced by sensitized T cells was determined in direct plasma by QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube test.

Performance of Tuberculin Skin Tests and Interferon-γ Release Assays in Children Younger Than 5 Years.

Background: Available data to assess the optimal diagnostic approach in infants and preschool children at risk of tuberculosis (TB) are limited.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study in children younger than 5 years undergoing assessment with both tuberculin skin tests (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assays at 2 tertiary TB units in Barcelona, Spain.

Results: A total of 383 children were included.

Clinical Management of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in 16 European Countries.

Rationale: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major burden to public health in Europe. Reported treatment success rates are around 50% or less, and cure rates are even lower.

Objectives: To document the management and treatment outcome in patients with MDR-TB in Europe.

Assessment of the influence of direct tobacco smoke on infection and active TB management.

Background: Smoking is a risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease progression. Tobacco smoking increases susceptibility to TB in a variety of ways, one of which is due to a reduction of the IFN-γ response. Consequently, an impaired immune response could affect performance of IFN-γ Release Assays (IGRAs).

Executive Summary of the Guidelines for the Use of interferon-gamma Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Infection.

Interferon-gamma release assays are widely used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in Spain. However, there is no consensus on their application in specific clinical scenarios. To develop a guide-line for their use, a panel of experts comprising specialists in infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, microbiology, pediatrics and preventive medicine, together with a methodologist, conducted a systematic literature search, summarized the findings, rated the quality of the evidence, and formulated recommendations following the Grading of Recommendations of Assessment Development and Evaluations methodology.

Executive summary of the guidelines for the use of interferon-γ release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection.

Interferon-gamma release assays are widely used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in Spain. However, there is no consensus on their application in specific clinical scenarios. To develop a guideline for their use, a panel of experts comprising specialists in infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, microbiology, pediatrics and preventive medicine, together with a methodologist, conducted a systematic literature search, summarized the findings, rated the quality of the evidence, and formulated recommendations following the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations of Assessment Development and Evaluations) methodology.

Beyond multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe: a TBNET study.

The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a challenge to TB control in Europe. We evaluated second-line drug susceptibility testing in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from patients with multidrug-resistant, pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR-TB) and XDR-TB at 23 TBNET sites in 16 European countries. Over 30% of bacilli from patients with pre-XDR-TB showed resistance to any fluoroquinolone and almost 70% to any second-line injectable drug.

[Guidelines for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in health care workers].

Tuberculosis remains one of the communicable diseases that cause increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. With an incidence rate of 13,04 per 100,000 population, Spain ranks third among the most affected European countries. These data show a tendency to decrease meaning that it may go unnoticed with the potential to miss the appropriate preventive measures in a suspected case.

Risk Assessment of Tuberculosis in Contacts by IFN-γ Release Assays. A Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group Study.

Rationale: Latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is defined by a positive IFN-γ release assay (IGRA) result in the absence of active tuberculosis. Only few, mostly monocentric studies have evaluated the role of IGRAs to predict the development of tuberculosis in recent contacts in low-incidence countries of tuberculosis.

Objectives: To analyze IGRA results and the effect of preventive chemotherapy on tuberculosis progression rates among recent contacts.

Predicting the Development of Tuberculosis with the Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON Testing.

Rationale: The identification of patients with latent tuberculosis infection, who are at higher risk to develop active disease, is an important component of disease control.

Objectives: We aim to compare the usefulness of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube assay and the tuberculin skin test to predict the development of active tuberculosis during follow-up, using positive and negative predictive values, positive likelihood ratios, and stratified level of risk.

Methods: The study included contacts of tuberculosis cases diagnosed between 2007 and 2009.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe, 2010-2011.

Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is challenging elimination of tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated risk factors for TB and levels of second-line drug resistance in M. tuberculosis in patients in Europe with multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB.

Immunogenicity of 60 novel latency-related antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The aim of our work here was to evaluate the immunogenicity of 60 mycobacterial antigens, some of which have not been previously assessed, notably a novel series of in vivo-expressed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (IVE-TB) antigens. We enrolled 505 subjects and separated them in individuals with and without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) vs. patients with active tuberculosis (TB).

IP-10 is an accurate biomarker for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children.

Objective: Performance of IFN-γ assays in children is compromised. Therefore, we investigated the utility of IP-10 for the detection of active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) diagnosis in children; comparing its positivity with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFN-G-IT) and T-SPOT.TB.

Immigrants do not transmit tuberculosis more than indigenous patients in Catalonia (Spain).

Background: Immigrants may not transmit tuberculosis (TB) more than indigenous patients. The objective was to study the prevalence of TB infection among contacts of immigrant and indigenous TB patients and the risk factors associated with latent TB infection.

Methods: Contacts of TB cases recorded in 2005 and 2006 were surveyed using a standardized Health Department questionnaire.

Smoking in tuberculosis patients increases the risk of infection in their contacts.

Objective: To determine the risk of latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) among contacts of smokers with tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of LTBI among contacts of TB cases aged >14 years in Catalonia, Spain. A survey was carried out for each TB case and their contacts.

A predictive scoring instrument for tuberculosis lost to follow-up outcome.

Background: Adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is troublesome, due to long therapy duration, quick therapeutic response which allows the patient to disregard about the rest of their treatment and the lack of motivation on behalf of the patient for improved. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a scoring system to predict the probability of lost to follow-up outcome in TB patients as a way to identify patients suitable for directly observed treatments (DOT) and other interventions to improve adherence.

Methods: Two prospective cohorts, were used to develop and validate a logistic regression model.