Nine months of bedaquiline, linezolid, levofloxacin, clofazimine, and cycloserine chemotherapy for rifampicin/multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a multicenter, randomized, open-label non-inferiority trial in China.

Background: We concurrently developed a prospective study to assess clinical outcomes among patients receiving 9-month bedaquiline (BDQ)-containing regimens, aiming to provide valuable data on the use of this short-course regimen in China.

Methods: This open-label, randomized, controlled, multicenter, non-inferiority trial was conducted at sixteen hospitals, and enrolled participants aged 18 years and older with pulmonary rifampicin/multidrug tuberculosis. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio.

Real-time recombinase-aided amplification assay for rapid amplification of the IS1081 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), is the leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of MTB is critical for controlling TB especially in resource-limited countries, since any diagnosis delay increases the chances of transmission. Here, a real-time recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay targeting conserved positions in IS1081 gene of MTB, is successfully established to detect MTB.

Efficacy of ultra-short course chemotherapy for new smear positive drug susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis: study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Shortening the standard 6-month treatment for drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis (DS-PTB) would be a major improvement for TB case management and disease control.

Methods: We are conducting a randomized, open-label, controlled, non-inferiority trial involving patients with smear-positive, newly diagnosed DS-PTB cases nationwide to assess the efficacy and safety of two 4.5- month regimens in comparison to the standard 6-month WHO recommended regimen.

Prevalence of tuberculosis among health care workers in tuberculosis specialized hospitals in China.

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) specialized hospitals are playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with TB in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of TB among health care workers (HCWs) in TB specialized hospitals in China.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to collect longitudinal information on the number of HCWs and patients with TB from HCWs among 203 TB hospitals in China.

Tuberculosis Hospitalization Fees and Bed Utilization in China from 1999 to 2009: The Results of a National Survey of Tuberculosis Specialized Hospitals.

Background: China is transitioning towards concentrating tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic and treatment services in hospitals, while the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) system will retain important public health functions. Patient expenditure incurred through hospitalization may lead to barriers to TB care or interruption of treatment.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a national survey of TB specialized hospitals to determine hospitalization fees and hospital bed utilization in 1999, 2004, and 2009.

Screening of patients with diabetes mellitus for tuberculosis in community health settings in China.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and results of screening of patients with DM for TB in routine community health services in China.

Method: Agreement on how to screen patients with DM for TB and monitor and record the results was obtained at a stakeholders meeting. Subsequent training was carried out for staff at 10 community health centres, with activities implemented from June 2013 to April 2014.

Survey of tuberculosis hospitals in China: current status and challenges.

Background: Hospitals will play an increasingly important role in delivering TB services in China, however little is known in terms of the current landscape of the hospital system that delivers TB care.

Methodology/principal Findings: In order to examine the status of TB hospitals we performed a study in which a total of 203 TB hospitals, with 30 beds or more, were enrolled from 31 provinces and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Of the 203 hospitals, 93 (45.

Is resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus? A register review in Beijing, China.

Background: China has a high burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the following in patients with culture-confirmed TB: 1) demographic characteristics and disease patterns in relation to the presence or absence of type 2 diabetes and 2) presence or absence of drug resistance to isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP) or both in relation to duration of diabetes and control of diabetes.

Design: This is a cross-sectional and retrospective study involving record reviews.

Diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis: pattern of tuberculosis, two-month smear conversion and treatment outcomes in Guangzhou, China.

Objective: There is a high burden of both diabetes (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) in China. We evaluated the association between DM and the pattern of disease, 2-month sputum smear conversion and treatment outcomes of patients with TB in Guangzhou, China.

Method: All patients registered with TB from September 2011 to June 2012 were screened for DM and assessed for treatment outcomes in relation to presence or absence of DM and quality of DM control using patient registers, treatment cards and electronic record systems.

Screening patients with diabetes mellitus for tuberculosis in China.

Objective: There is a high burden of both diabetes (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) in China, and as DM increases the risk of TB and adversely affects TB treatment outcomes, there is a need for bidirectional screening of the two diseases. How this is best performed is not well determined. In this pilot project in China, we aimed to assess the feasibility and results of screening DM patients for TB within the routine healthcare setting of five DM clinics.

Screening of patients with tuberculosis for diabetes mellitus in China.

Objective: There is a high burden of both diabetes (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) in China, and this study aimed to assess feasibility and results of screening patients with TB for DM within the routine healthcare setting of six health facilities.

Method: Agreement on how to screen, monitor and record was reached in May 2011 at a stakeholders' meeting, and training was carried out for staff in the six facilities in July 2011. Implementation started in September 2011, and we report on 7 months of activities up to 31 March 2012.