A large geno-spatial cluster of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis outbreak in a western district of Thailand.

The growing issue of drug resistance, particularly multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), has exacerbated this problem. The rise of drug resistance TB is a severe global health concern. In Thailand, a persistent community outbreak of primary MDR-TB has been confirmed in the Tha Maka district of Kanchanaburi province, with an increasing prevalence of MDR-TB among newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis cases.

Catastrophic costs incurred by tuberculosis affected households from Thailand's first national tuberculosis patient cost survey.

Tuberculosis (TB) causes an economic impact on the patients and their households. Although Thailand has expanded the national health benefit package for TB treatment, there was no data on out-of-pocket payments and income losses due to TB from patients and their household perspectives. This national TB patient cost survey was conducted to examine the TB-related economic burden, and assess the proportion of TB patients and their households facing catastrophic total costs because of TB disease.

Genomic Sequencing Profiles of in Mandalay Region, Myanmar.

This study aimed to characterize whole-genome sequencing (WGS) information of (Mtb) in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. It was a cross-sectional study conducted with 151 Mtb isolates obtained from the fourth nationwide anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug-resistance survey. Frequency of lineages 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 55, 65, 9, and 22, respectively.

Treatment success among Myanmar migrants with TB in Thailand.

Two facilities, one providing clinic-based care and another providing residential care to Myanmar migrants with TB, in a Thailand-Myanmar border area. To determine the effects of health insurance, total delay and the model of care on treatment success of TB. A prospective study was conducted among adult Myanmar migrants under treatment for newly diagnosed TB.

Association of Health Insurance and Documentation with Stigma and Social Support Among Myanmar Migrants with Tuberculosis Before and During Thailand's Policy on Border Closure Due to COVID-19: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of health insurance and documentation status on tuberculosis (TB)-related stigma and social support before and during Thailand's policy on border closure.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two TB clinics in Mae Sot district, a border area of Thailand. Myanmar migrants with new TB were interviewed before (between September 2019 and March 2020) and during Thailand's policy (between April 2020 and January 2021).

Diagnostic performance of whole-genome sequencing for identifying drug-resistant TB in Thailand.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is a promising tool for the detection of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB). To date, there have been few comparisons of diagnostic performance of WGS and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) in DR-TB. We compared drug resistance-conferring mutations identified by WGS analysis using TB-Profiler and Mykrobe with phenotypic DST profiles based on the Löwenstein-Jensen proportion method using drug-resistant ( = 537) isolates from across Thailand.

Whole-genome analysis of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis reveals novel mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance.

Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) remains a global public-health challenge. Known mutations in quinolone resistance-determination regions cannot fully explain phenotypic fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The aim of this study was to look for novel mutations in Mtb associated with resistance to FQ drugs using whole-genome sequencing analysis.

Changes in health-related quality of life and the associated factors among Myanmar migrants with tuberculosis: a cohort study.

Background: Migrants are known to be predominantly poor population which are predisposing to social and health problems, particularly infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB). TB itself and effect of treatment may further result in substantial morbidity and lowering the quality of life. This study aimed to assess the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) within six months of anti-TB treatment initiation, and the associated factors in Myanmar migrants under anti-TB treatment within this border area.

Clusters of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detected by Whole-Genome Sequence Analysis of Nationwide Sample, Thailand, 2014-2017.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR TB), and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) complicate disease control. We analyzed whole-genome sequence data for 579 phenotypically drug-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates (28% of available MDR/pre-XDR and all culturable XDR TB isolates collected in Thailand during 2014-2017).

Effect of Global Fund financial support for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

The Global Fund provides financial support for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), patients' families and hospitals providing services for these patients in Thailand, but the impact of this support has not been evaluated. To assess the impact of Global Fund financial support on drug adherence, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, sputum culture conversion and the perception of the usefulness of this support. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in eight provincial hospitals with and without financial support in four regions of Thailand.

Contact tracing for tuberculosis, Thailand.

Problem: Despite implementation of universal health coverage in Thailand, gaps remain in the system for screening contacts of tuberculosis patients.

Approach: We designed broader criteria for contact investigation and new screening practices and assessed the approach in a programme-based operational research study in 2017-2018. Clinic staff interviewed 100 index patients and asked them to give household and non-household contacts an invitation for a free screening and chest X-ray.

Use of network analysis multidrug-resistant tuberculosis contact investigation in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Objective: To characterise MDR-TB outbreak and incorporate social network analysis with contact investigation to detect case-contact linkages and clusters.

Methods: MDR-TB cases registered in the district hospital between October 2012 and September 2015 were interviewed and their contacts were investigated. A relationship-based weighted network was constructed.

Evaluation of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Adverse Events in Healthy Volunteers upon Inhalation of Antituberculosis Drugs.

Inhalation therapy is a promising drug delivery approach for tuberculosis treatment. However, there is always concern about the safety of the dosage form by inhalation as it may induce inflammation. Developing a new dosage form for inhalation must include tests for its safety especially for the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukine (IL)-1β.

Non-communicable diseases increased risk of recurrent tuberculosis in epidemic area of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, Thailand.

In recent decades, many countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand reported an increase of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and are faced with double burden of NCDs and communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. Recurrent tuberculosis (TB) has been reported in association with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV) and diabetes mellitus, however the association between recurrent TB and other NCDs has not been well investigated in this region. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine risk of recurrent TB associated with NCDs in an endemic area of HIV in Thailand.

Hospital tuberculosis control activities and treatment success in Thailand during the implementation year of the admission policy for new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Objective: To demonstrate the tuberculosis (TB) control activities in hospital and treatment success rate during the implementation year of the admission policy.

Material And Method: The hospital-based survey was conducted in 12 provinces, five hospitals of each province. The medical records of hospitalized patients, with new sputum smear positive (NSS+) pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), registered between October 2008 and September 2009 were reviewed, as well as the TB control activities.

Barriers to and motivations for the implementation of a treatment programme for latent tuberculosis infection using isoniazid for people living with HIV, in upper northern Thailand.

Background: Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) has been recommended by WHO/UNAIDS for people living with HIV (PLWH) since 1993; however the uptake of IPT implementation has been very low globally. This study aims to assess the barriers to and motivations for the implementation of IPT for PLWH in upper northern Thailand, an area with a high tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden.

Methods: A survey was carried out via self-administered questionnaires mailed to healthcare workers (HCW) in all 95 public hospitals in the upper northern region of Thailand.

Physicians' practices regarding management of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

To investigate the practices of physicians regarding the diagnosis and management of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATH), a cross sectional descriptive survey using a self-administered questionnaire with multiple choice questions was conducted among physicians who treated adult tuberculosis (TB) patients at 74 public hospitals in southern Thailand. Of the 272 questionnaires mailed, 204 (75%) were returned. Sixty-two physicians (31.

Migrant workers' occupation and healthcare-seeking preferences for TB-suspicious symptoms and other health problems: a survey among immigrant workers in Songkhla province, southern Thailand.

Background: Much of the unskilled and semi-skilled workforce in Thailand comprises migrant workers from neighbouring countries. While, in principle, healthcare facilities in the host country are open to those migrants registered with the Ministry of Labour, their actual healthcare-seeking preferences and practices, as well as those of unregistered migrants, are not well documented. This study aimed to describe the patterns of healthcare-seeking behaviours of immigrant workers in Thailand, emphasizing healthcare practices for TB-suspicious symptoms, and to identify the role of occupation and other factors influencing these behaviours.

Study of tuberculosis and AIDS stigma as barriers to tuberculosis treatment adherence using validated stigma scales.

Background: Adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment is important for TB control. The effect of stigma on adherence has not been well quantified.

Objective: To identify the effects of TB and acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) stigma on missed doses during TB treatment.

Socio-demographic and AIDS-related factors associated with tuberculosis stigma in southern Thailand: a quantitative, cross-sectional study of stigma among patients with TB and healthy community members.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. A comprehensive approach towards disease control that addresses social factors including stigma is now advocated. Patients with TB report fears of isolation and rejection that may lead to delays in seeking care and could affect treatment adherence.

Tuberculosis and AIDS stigma among patients who delay seeking care for tuberculosis symptoms.

Background: Delay in presentation to a health facility is an important concern for tuberculosis (TB) control. The effect of stigma on delay in seeking care for TB symptoms is not well studied, especially in the context of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-epidemic.

Objective: To estimate the association of TB and acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (AIDS) stigma on delay in seeking care for TB symptoms.

Monitoring safety of liposomes containing rifampicin on respiratory cell lines and in vitro efficacy against Mycobacterium bovis in alveolar macrophages.

Rifampicin-encapsulated liposome suspensions were prepared by a chloroform-film method and converted to dry powders by freeze-drying with mannitol as a cryoprotectant. The liposome suspension had multilamellar nanovesicles with 50% rifampicin encapsulation. The liposome dry powder comprised particles with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.

Village health volunteer participation in tuberculosis control in southern thailand.

The study objectives were to compare the proportions of tuberculosis (TB) cases detected under a project launched in lower part of southern Thailand 1) by screener type [village health volunteer (VHV), health center staff, and hospital staff]; and 2) by region. Among 688 people with suspected TB symptoms referred to have sputum examination with or without chest radiograph, 55 (8%) were diagnosed of TB, including 44 (6%) smear-positive cases. The proportions of smear-positive cases among those screened by VHV, health center and hospital staff were 6.

Measuring stigma associated with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in southern Thailand: exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two new scales.

Objective: To develop scales to measure tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS stigma in a developing world context.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of tuberculosis patients in southern Thailand, who were asked to rate their agreement with items measuring TB and HIV/AIDS stigma. Developing the scales involved exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability and standardized summary scores.

Under- and over-consumption intermittent TB treatment among rural TB patients in south-west China.

Objective: To assess adherence to intermittent directly observed treatment (DOT) during the 2-month intensive phase of tuberculosis (TB) treatment in south-west rural China.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Simao Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. One hundred and thirty new TB patients registered under DOTS and treated during the 2-month intensive phase and their observers were separately interviewed at their homes using structured questionnaires.