Diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in children with a novel skin test and the traditional tuberculin skin test: An observational study.

Background: A novel skin test-called Diaskintest (DT)-containing specific M. tuberculosis antigens is in clinical use in the Russian Federation (RF). This test may improve diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Urine biomarkers of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Introduction: Sputum-based tuberculosis diagnosis does not address the needs of certain categories of patients. Active development of a noninvasive urine-based diagnosis could provide an alternative approach. We reviewed publications covering more than 30 urine biomarkers proposed as significant for TB diagnosis.

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases in Arkhangelsk, Russia.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are acid-fast bacilli (AFB) that can cause disease in human. Patients with NTM pulmonary disease can be falsely diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) due detection of AFB in sputum and similar clinical and chest X-ray picture. Laboratory detection of NTM is complicated and does not always mean presence of the disease, but can be attributed to colonization or sample contamination.

The Impact of a Line Probe Assay Based Diagnostic Algorithm on Time to Treatment Initiation and Treatment Outcomes for Multidrug Resistant TB Patients in Arkhangelsk Region, Russia.

Background: In the Arkhangelsk region of Northern Russia, multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) rates in new cases are amongst the highest in the world. In 2014, MDR-TB rates reached 31.7% among new cases and 56.

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.