Comparison of different treatments for isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Isoniazid-resistant, rifampicin-susceptible (INH-R) tuberculosis is the most common form of drug resistance, and is associated with failure, relapse, and acquired rifampicin resistance if treated with first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. The aim of the study was to compare success, mortality, and acquired rifampicin resistance in patients with INH-R pulmonary tuberculosis given different durations of rifampicin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide (REZ); a fluoroquinolone plus 6 months or more of REZ; and streptomycin plus a core regimen of REZ.

Methods: Studies with regimens and outcomes known for individual patients with INH-R tuberculosis were eligible, irrespective of the number of patients if randomised trials, or with at least 20 participants if a cohort study.

Tuberculosis microepidemics among dispersed migrants, Birmingham, UK, 2004-2013.

To determine if local transmission was responsible for rising tuberculosis incidence in a recently dispersed migrant community in Birmingham, UK, during 2004-2013, we conducted enhanced epidemiologic investigation of molecular clusters. This technique identified exact locations of social mixing and chains of apparent recent transmission, which can be helpful for directing resources.

Time-to-detection in culture predicts risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission: a cohort study.

Background: Contact screening is an essential component of all tuberculosis control strategies. We hypothesize that time-to-detection (TTD) in liquid culture of spontaneously produced sputum samples may help identify index cases at high risk of transmission.

Methods: We studied retrospectively a cohort of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Birmingham, United Kingdom (January 2010-December 2012).