Accuracy of C-Reactive Protein for Tuberculosis Detection in General-Population Screening and Ambulatory-Care Triage in Uganda.

C-reactive protein (CRP) has demonstrated utility as a point-of-care triage test for tuberculosis (TB) in clinical settings, particularly among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but its performance for general-population TB screening is not well characterized. To assess the accuracy of CRP for detecting pulmonary TB disease among individuals undergoing community-based screening or presenting for evaluation of TB symptoms in Kampala, Uganda. We pooled data from two case-control studies conducted between May 2018 and December 2022 among adolescents and adults (⩾15 yr) in Kampala, Uganda.

Tuberculin test using Indian indigenous purified-protein derivative (PPD) shows only moderate agreement with international standard PPD.

Background: In India, the prevalence of Latent TB infection (LTBI) is estimated to be around 40%. Various formulations of PPD(Purified protein derivative) are available, for diagnosis of LTBI, which may give variable responses. The commercially available PPD in India is by Arkray Healthcare (TST-Arkray).

Integrating services for HIV and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A global cross-sectional survey among ART clinics in low- and middle-income countries.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death among PLHIV and multidrug-resistant-TB (MDR-TB) is associated with high mortality. We examined the management for adult PLHIV coinfected with MDR-TB at ART clinics in lower income countries. Between 2019 and 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey at 29 ART clinics in high TB burden countries within the global IeDEA network.

Impact of Undernutrition on Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes in India: A Multicenter, Prospective, Cohort Analysis.

Background: Undernutrition is the leading risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) globally. Its impact on treatment outcomes is poorly defined.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of adults with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB at 5 sites from 2015-2019.

Tuberculosis (TB) Aftermath: study protocol for a hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation non-inferiority randomized trial in India comparing two active case finding (ACF) strategies among individuals treated for TB and their household contacts.

Background: Approximately 7% of all reported tuberculosis (TB) cases each year are recurrent, occurring among people who have had TB in the recent or distant past. TB recurrence is particularly common in India, which has the largest TB burden worldwide. Although patients recently treated for TB are at high risk of developing TB again, evidence around effective active case finding (ACF) strategies in this population is scarce.

Acceptability, Adaptability, and Feasibility of a Novel Computer-Based Virtual Counselor-Delivered Alcohol Intervention: Focus Group and In-depth Interview Study Among Adults With HIV or Tuberculosis in Indian Clinical Settings.

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among persons with HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Computer-based interventions (CBIs) can reduce unhealthy alcohol use, are scalable, and may improve outcomes among patients with HIV or TB.

Objective: We assessed the acceptability, adaptability, and feasibility of a novel CBI for alcohol reduction in HIV and TB clinical settings in Pune, India.

Mental health and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare professionals (HCP) in stressful circumstances with increased patient loads and a high risk of exposure. We sought to assess the mental health and quality of life (QoL) of Indian HCPs, the fourth highest-burden country for COVID-19.

Method: Using snowball sampling, we conducted an online survey in May 2020 among HCPs.

Tuberculosis preventive treatment should be considered for all household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in India.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently changed its guidance for tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) recommending TPT for all pulmonary TB (PTB) exposed household contacts (HHC) to prevent incident TB disease (iTBD), regardless of TB infection (TBI) status. However, this recommendation was conditional as the strength of evidence was not strong. We assessed risk factors for iTBD in recently-exposed adult and pediatric Indian HHC, to determine which HHC subgroups might benefit most from TPT.

Feasibility of Identifying Household Contacts of Rifampin-and Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Cases at High Risk of Progression to Tuberculosis Disease.

Background: We assessed multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases and their household contacts (HHCs) to inform the development of an interventional clinical trial.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult MDR-TB cases and their HHCs in 8 countries with high TB burdens. HHCs underwent symptom screenings, chest radiographies, sputum TB bacteriologies, TB infection (TBI) testing (tuberculin skin test [TST] and interferon gamma release assay [IGRA]), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.