Chronic lung disease in adult recurrent tuberculosis survivors in Zimbabwe: a cohort study.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and magnitude of chronic lung disease (CLD) and its association with empiric anti-tuberculosis treatment (due to lack of bacteriologic confirmation) among recurrent tuberculosis (TB) survivors in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalent setting.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of retreatment TB survivors in Harare, Zimbabwe. At median follow-up of 2 years post-treatment initiation, we characterized mortality, respiratory impairment, and mental health.

A suggested algorithm for detection of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis in Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Rapid genotypic and phenotypic methods for multi-drug-resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) detection are now widely available. Zimbabwe adopted the use of GeneXpert-MTB/RIF, microscopic-observation-drug-susceptibility-assay (MODS) and Mycobacteria-Growth-Indicator-Tube (MGIT) drug-susceptibility-testing (DST). Data is limited on the ideal combination of use of these methods in resource limited settings.

Xpert(®) MTB/RIF detection of rifampin resistance and time to treatment initiation in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background: Patients at elevated risk of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) are prioritized for Xpert(®) MTB/RIF testing; however, the clinical usefulness of the test in this population is understudied.

Design: From November 2011 to June 2014, consecutive out-patients with a history of previous TB in high-density suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe, were tested using Xpert, solid and liquid culture, and the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay. Diagnostic accuracy for rifampin (RMP) resistance and time to initiation of second-line regimens were ascertained.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis in high-risk groups, Zimbabwe.

To estimate prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2012, we performed microbiologic testing on acid-fast bacilli smear-positive sputum samples from patients previously treated for TB. Twenty (24%) of 84 specimens were consistent with MDR TB. A national drug-resistance survey is needed to determine MDR TB prevalence in Zimbabwe.