Systems analysis and improvement approach to optimize tuberculosis (SAIA-TB) screening, treatment, and prevention in South Africa: a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.

Background: The use of systems engineering tools, including the development and use of care cascades using routinely collected data, process mapping, and continuous quality improvement, is used for frontline healthcare workers to devise systems level change. South Africa experiences high rates of tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease as well as HIV co-infection. The Department of Health has made significant gains in HIV services over the last two decades, reaching their set "90-90-90" targets for HIV.

Policy and programmatic directions for the Lesotho tuberculosis programme: Findings of the national tuberculosis prevalence survey, 2019.

Introduction: The Kingdom of Lesotho has one of the highest burdens of tuberculosis (TB) in the world. A national TB prevalence survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB disease among those ≥15 years of age in 2019.

Method: A multistage cluster-based cross-sectional survey where residents ≥15 years in 54 clusters sampled from across the country were eligible to participate.

Examining the cost of community-based tuberculosis treatment in South Africa.

While South Africa has improved access to tuberculosis (TB) treatment and care, the 2015 treatment success rate for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) remains low, at 55%. Community-based TB treatment and care improves patient retention compared to the standard of care alone. To assess the cost of a USAID-funded community-based TB model in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District (NMBHD), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa compared to the national standard of care alone.

Decentralized, Community-Based Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Bangladesh Program Experience.

Background: Bangladesh is a highly populous country where the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is growing. With the rapid increase in DR-TB notifications through GeneXpert technology, it was imperative to come up with a new treatment strategy that could keep up with the increase of patients diagnosed.

Intervention: Intervention was designed to support national transition of DR-TB management of World Health Organization-approved long course (20-to-24-month regimen) treatment from a hospital-based approach to the decentralized model of community-based programmatic management of DR-TB (cPMDT).