Evaluation of the specificity of an intradermal test with recombinant tuberculosis allergen in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated healthy volunteers.

Introduction: The tuberculin skin test has significant limitations for use in individuals vaccinated with BCG. The presence in the genome of of the RDI region, which is absent in the genome of Mycobacterium bovis BCG and most non-tuberculous mycobacteria, made it possible to develop new skin tests, which include a skin test with a recombinant tuberculosis allergen [RTA (Diaskintest®, JSC Generium, Russia)]. Diaskintest has shown high diagnostic performance in clinical trials and in conditions of high prevalence of tuberculosis infection.

Risk factors for acquisition of drug resistance during multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, 2005-2010.

Acquired resistance to antituberculosis drugs decreases effective treatment options and the likelihood of treatment success. We identified risk factors for acquisition of drug resistance during treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and evaluated the effect on treatment outcomes. Data were collected prospectively from adults from Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, who had pulmonary MDR TB during 2005-2008.

Epidemiological analyses of tuberculosis in Archangelsk, Russia and implementation of a rapid assay for detection of resistance in this high burden setting.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major problem in Russia, particularly regarding multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Rapid drug susceptibility testing methods are therefore needed.

Objectives: To perform epidemiological analyses of TB in the Archangelsk region and to evaluate the molecular method GenoType®MTBDRplus in this type of setting.