Drug-resistant tuberculosis: an experience from Qatar.

This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics, treatment outcome and risk factors associated with 223 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) cases in the State of Qatar. A descriptive records-based retrospective study was conducted on patients registered at Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Qatar to all consecutive microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis cases for the period January 2010 - March 2015. Demographic, clinical data, drug-resistance pattern of isolated mycobacteria and treatment outcome was assessed for the patient who completed their treatment in Qatar.

Tuberculosis of pancreas, the first case reported from Qatar.

Despite the high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in developing countries, primary pancreatic TB is a rare entity. We present a case of pancreatic TB in an immunocompetent patient who was found to have pancreatic mass resembling malignancy. A 40-year-old Indian male presented to the medical emergency room with complaints of abdominal pain and fever for 2 weeks' duration.

Childhood tuberculosis in Qatar.

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) has been long neglected but has gained attention in recent years. In 2012, the World Health Organization annual report included an estimate for childhood TB for the first time, and in the following year, the TB Alliance received a grant from UNITAID (International Drug Purchase Facility) to develop pediatric TB formulations. Qatar is a low-incidence country.

Increased case finding of tuberculosis from sputum and sputum deposits after magnetic bead concentration of mycobacteria.

Concentration of mycobacteria from sputum by centrifugation prior to acid-fast microscopy increases case finding compared to direct microscopy of the sputum (direct smear). However, centrifugation has to be performed outside the safety cabinet and many laboratories do not have access to a centrifuge. Magnetic bead extraction of the mycobacteria is an alternative method that can be performed in a cabinet with just a magnet.

External quality control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing: results of two rounds in endemic countries.

Setting: Quality assurance for the World Health Organization (WHO)/International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) global tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance surveillance programme.

Objective: To monitor the quality of drug susceptibility testing (DST) in different countries.

Methods: In 2002-2003 and 2005-2006, 20 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were sent by the WHO/Union Supranational Reference Laboratory of Rome to TB reference laboratories in Albania, Bahrain, Kosovo, Mozambique, Oman, Qatar and Turkey for external quality control (EQC).