Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Saima Sultana, Sadia Afrin, Mahamudul Hasan, Adnan Ansar, K. M. Saif-Ur-Rahman
Summary: This systematic review examined the diagnostic accuracy of stool specimens for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in adults. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, but the current data did not provide conclusive evidence on the accuracy of stool specimens for PTB diagnosis in adults.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christophe Perrin, Katy Athersuch, Greg Elder, Manuel Martin, Alain Alsalhani
Summary: Two novel drugs for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) have recently become available, but their access and optimal use in clinical practice are limited. The current pharmaceutical research and development paradigm does not prioritize the generation of evidence on how to provide improved treatment regimens and patient outcomes. This critical research is often left to non-sponsor partners and researchers without coordinated efforts.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Luan Nguyen Quang Vo, Viet Nhung Nguyen, Nga Thi Thuy Nguyen, Thuy Thi Thu Dong, Andrew Codlin, Rachel Forse, Huyen Thanh Truong, Hoa Binh Nguyen, Ha Thi Minh Dang, Vinh Van Truong, Lan Huu Nguyen, Tuan Huy Mac, Phong Thanh Le, Khoa Tu Tran, Nduku Ndunda, Maxine Caws, Jacob Creswell
Summary: To eliminate tuberculosis (TB), the study assessed the feasibility of using interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) at lower healthcare levels and the performance of 3-month and 9-month daily TB preventive therapy (TPT) regimens. The results showed that providing IGRAs at lower healthcare levels and using shorter TPT regimens may help expand access and uptake towards meeting TPT targets, but scale-up may require advocacy and education.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mackwellings Maganizo Phiri, Effie Makepeace, Margaret Nyali, Moses Kumwenda, Elizabeth Corbett, Katherine Fielding, Augustine Choko, Peter MacPherson, Eleanor Elizabeth MacPherson
Summary: Men have a higher prevalence of undiagnosed tuberculosis than women, and various factors such as precarious socioeconomic conditions, gendered social norms, and constraints in the health system contribute to their delayed care-seeking behavior. Interventions to improve men's pathways to care need to address individual level socioeconomic factors and broader structural factors of gendered social dynamics and health systems environment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ariunzaya Saranjav, Christina Parisi, Xin Zhou, Khulan Dorjnamjil, Tumurkhuyag Samdan, Sumiya Erdenebaatar, Altantogoskhon Chuluun, Tserendagva Dalkh, Gantungalag Ganbaatar, Meredith B. Brooks, Donna Spiegelman, Davaasambuu Ganmaa, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of using the Zero TB Indicator Framework to assess the quality of tuberculosis (TB) services in Mongolia. The results showed that the framework provided a feasible and adaptable approach for evaluating TB care quality and identifying individual and health system factors associated with it. Age and gender were found to be predictors of TB treatment completion and preventive therapy initiation and completion.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Kalpita Shringarpure, Meera Gurumurthy, Karuna D. Sagili, Melissa Taylor, Paul Garner, Jamie Tonsing, Raghuram Rao, Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva
Summary: This study synthesized qualitative studies from the Indian subcontinent to understand the factors influencing adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment. The findings showed that personal factors, healthcare provider interactions, and social, economic, and cultural factors all influence treatment adherence. Therefore, TB programs need to adopt more flexible and people-centered approaches to improve adherence and treatment outcomes.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexandra Brito Souza, Maria B. Arriaga, Gustavo Amorim, Mariana Araujo-Pereira, Betania M. F. Nogueira, Artur T. L. Queiroz, Marina C. Figueiredo, Michael S. Rocha, Aline Benjamin, Adriana S. R. Moreira, Jamile G. Oliveira, Valeria Rolla, Betina Durovni, Jose R. Lapa e Silva, Afranio L. Kritski, Solange Cavalcante, Timothy Sterling, Bruno B. Andrade, Marcelo Cordeiro-Santos
Summary: Factors associated with losses in the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cascade of care in contacts of TB patients were investigated in a multicentre prospective cohort from highly endemic regions in Brazil. The study found losses at all stages of the LTBI cascade, particularly at the initial screening and examination steps. Close contacts of low socioeconomic status and living with HIV were at heightened risk of not completing the LTBI cascade of care in Brazil.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sacha Roxanne Le Roux, Waasila Jassat, Lindy Dickson, Leila Mitrani, Helen Cox, Koleka Mlisana, John Black, Marian Loveday, Alison D. Grant, Mosa Moshabela, Karina Kielmann, Mark P. Nicol
Summary: In this study, the role, strategies, and organizational context of policy champions in implementing decentralized drug-resistant tuberculosis care in South Africa were examined. The findings revealed that champions, who held senior managerial positions, were recognized and empowered by their communities. Two types of champions were identified: disease-centered champions with clinical expertise and a focus on clinical governance, and patient-centered champions promoting pathways of care to optimize patients' recovery.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Frank H. O. Verbeek, Marleen H. Lovink, Miranda G. H. Laurant, Anneke J. A. H. van Vught
Summary: The healthcare industry is undergoing changes due to aging population, complex care demands, and the growing importance of person-centered care. In order to provide high-quality care, professionals in nursing homes need to collaborate and learn from each other intensively. However, there is a lack of an interprofessional learning and working culture. This study aims to provide insights into the development of such a culture.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Abdulazeez Imam, Sopuruchukwu Obiesie, Jalemba Aluvaala, Jackson Michuki Maina, David Gathara, Mike English
Summary: This study identified a lack of literature on nurse staffing and patient care outcomes in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) through a synthesis of published systematic reviews. The available data from LMICs were limited, and the data from high-income countries might not be representative of LMICs. This highlights the critical need for research on nurse staffing in LMIC contexts.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Samridhi Nigam, Ravendra K. Sharma, Rajiv Yadav, Vikas Gangadhar Rao, Prashant Mishra, Mercy Aparna Lingala, Jyothi Bhat
Summary: This study investigated the experiences and needs of patients with DR-TB among the Saharia tribe, revealing challenges in treatment adherence due to lack of education and awareness, poor living conditions, and insufficient healthcare facilities. It is crucial to adopt a patient-centric approach tailored to the socio-cultural setup of tribal people to reduce attrition rate and alleviate the burden of TB in the community. Regular counseling of tribal patients is also recommended to enhance their confidence in treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pragya Rimal, Nandini Choudhury, Pawan Agrawal, Madhur Basnet, Bhavendra Bohara, David Citrin, Santosh Kumar Dhungana, Bikash Gauchan, Priyanka Gupta, Tula Krishna Gupta, Scott Halliday, Bharat Kadayat, Ramesh Mahar, Duncan Maru, Viet Nguyen, Sanjaya Poudel, Anant Raut, Janaki Rawal, Sabitri Sapkota, Dan Schwarz, Ryan Schwarz, Srijana Shrestha, Sikhar Swar, Aradhana Thapa, Poshan Thapa, Rebecca White, Bibhav Acharya
Summary: Despite high burden of depression in low-income countries, access to effective care is limited. The CoCM model shows clinical effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes. Real-world evidence is needed to inform its expansion in low-resource settings.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yunxia Wang, Jing Feng, Juanjuan Zhang, Xin Shen, Zihui Lei, Yi Zhu, Xin Meng, Hongkun Di, Wenqi Xia, Zuxun Lu, Yanfang Guo, Qing Yuan, Xiaojun Wang, Yong Gan
Summary: The study found that 84.0% of elderly individuals were willing to seek medical care if they discovered suspicious TB symptoms. Factors such as family annual income and positive attitudes or practices towards TB were associated with a higher willingness to seek medical care for TB. Strategies to improve elderly individuals' willingness to seek medical care for TB should focus on these determinants.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kritika Dixit, Olivia Biermann, Bhola Rai, Tara Prasad Aryal, Gokul Mishra, Noemia Teixeira de Siqueira-Filha, Puskar Raj Paudel, Ram Narayan Pandit, Manoj Kumar Sah, Govinda Majhi, Jens Levy, Job van Rest, Suman Chandra Gurung, Raghu Dhital, Knut Lonnroth, S. Bertel Squire, Maxine Caws, Kristi Sidney, Tom Wingfield
Summary: The study highlights that socioeconomic barriers to accessing TB services in Nepal include lack of TB knowledge and advocacy, high food and transportation costs, income loss, and stigma. However, facilitators include enhanced advocacy for TB services, social protection measures, and financial support for food and transportation. The findings suggest that interventions integrating TB education, psychosocial support, and cash transfer schemes could effectively address these barriers and improve engagement with TB services in Nepal.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Richa Misra, Vasudha Kesarwani, Alok Nath
Summary: A study at a tertiary care center in northern India found that about 21.6% of patients with TB were rifampicin monoresistant, with higher resistance rates in pulmonary samples compared to extrapulmonary samples. Among 62 cases tested for second-line drugs, nearly 80% were resistant to FQs, with 11 cases being extensively drug resistant.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Patricia Turimumahoro, Austin Tucker, Amanda J. Gupta, Radhika P. Tampi, Diana Babirye, Emmanuel Ochom, Joseph M. Ggita, Irene Ayakaka, Hojoon Sohn, Achilles Katamba, David Dowdy, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: This study measured the costs of implementing an mHealth-facilitated strategy for TB contact investigation in Uganda. The results highlighted that a significant portion of the costs were dedicated to establishing mHealth infrastructure and capacity. The study emphasized the importance of considering infrastructure needs, program reach, and epidemiological yield in cost-effectiveness analyses.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mari Armstrong-Hough, Joseph Ggita, Amanda J. Gupta, Tyler Shelby, Joanita Nangendo, Daniel Okello Ayen, J. L. Davis, Achilles Katamba
Summary: This study aims to increase the willingness of household contacts to undergo HIV testing through an intervention, comparing the effectiveness of a norming strategy and a standard strategy. The study will be evaluated through a household-randomized controlled trial, enrolling approximately 198 households in three public health facilities in Kampala, Uganda.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Irene Ayakaka, Mari Armstrong-Hough, Alisse Hannaford, Joseph M. Ggita, Patricia Turimumahoro, Achilles Katamba, Anne Katahoire, Adithya Cattamanchi, Sheela Shenoi, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: This study aimed to investigate stakeholder perceptions of tuberculosis education and counseling (TEC) in a public healthcare facility in Kampala, Uganda. The results revealed that high-quality TEC is rarely provided due to factors such as lack of time, space, staff, planning, and prioritization. To improve TEC, participants suggested adopting practices that have proven effective in HIV clinics.
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Natasha Spottiswoode, Joshua D. Bloomstein, Saharai Caldera, Abdul Sessolo, Kathryn McCauley, Patrick Byanyima, Josephine Zawedde, Katrina Kalantar, Sylvia Kaswabuli, Rachel L. Rutishauser, Monica K. Lieng, J. Lucian Davis, Julia Moore, Amanda Jan, Shoko Iwai, Meera Shenoy, Ingvar Sanyu, Joseph L. DeRisi, Susan Lynch, William Worodria, Laurence Huang, Charles R. Langelier
Summary: We demonstrate the feasibility of using metatranscriptomics for epidemiologic surveillance of pneumonia in HIV patients in Uganda.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ariunzaya Saranjav, Christina Parisi, Xin Zhou, Khulan Dorjnamjil, Tumurkhuyag Samdan, Sumiya Erdenebaatar, Altantogoskhon Chuluun, Tserendagva Dalkh, Gantungalag Ganbaatar, Meredith B. Brooks, Donna Spiegelman, Davaasambuu Ganmaa, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of using the Zero TB Indicator Framework to assess the quality of tuberculosis (TB) services in Mongolia. The results showed that the framework provided a feasible and adaptable approach for evaluating TB care quality and identifying individual and health system factors associated with it. Age and gender were found to be predictors of TB treatment completion and preventive therapy initiation and completion.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tyler Shelby, Cailin Arechiga, Amanda J. Gupta, Rachel Hennein, Christopher Schenck, Brian Weeks, Maritza Bond, Linda Niccolai, J. Lucian Davis, Lauretta E. Grau
Summary: This study examined the engagement in contact tracing for COVID-19 and found that experiences, environments, and individual characteristics influence the participation. To improve engagement, programs should address physical and emotional needs, clarify public communications, address structural and social factors, and establish trust.
Article
Microbiology
Patrick Byanyima, Sylvia Kaswabuli, Emmanuel Musisi, Catherine Nabakiibi, Josephine Zawedde, Ingvar Sanyu, Abdul Sessolo, Alfred Andama, William Worodria, Laurence Huang, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: This study found that molecular testing of saliva for active tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis was feasible and almost as sensitive as molecular testing of sputum in a high TB burden setting.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kelly Johnson, Kadijatou Diallo, Rachel Hennein, Tyler Shelby, Xin Zhou, Amanda J. Gupta, Avital Ludomirsky, June-Marie Weiss, Marcella Nunez-Smith, Kristen Soto, J. Lucian Davis
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected vulnerable populations and those with lower socioeconomic status. In an effort to improve participation in contact tracing among these groups, the Connecticut Department of Public Health established the Community Outreach Specialist (COS) program. The program recruited workers from target communities and trained them to provide contact tracing services to vulnerable and non-English-speaking populations. The program was found to be more effective at reaching contacts than the standard contact tracing program.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rebecca A. Abelman, Jessica Fitzpatrick, Josephine Zawedde, Ingvar Sanyu, Patrick Byanyima, Sylvia Kaswabuli, Emmanuel Musisi, Jenny Hsieh, Kendall Gardner, Michelle Zhang, Katerina L. Byanova, Abdul Sessolo, Peter W. Hunt, Rejani Lalitha, J. Lucian Davis, Kristina Crothers, William Worodria, Laurence Huang
Summary: In a study conducted in Uganda, it was found that HIV infection increases the risk of obstructive lung disease to a greater extent in women than in men.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Godwin Anguzu, Amanda J. Gupta, Emmanuel Ochom, Ashley S. Tseng, Meixin Zhang, Ruanne V. Barnabas, Abraham D. Flaxman, Achilles Katamba, J. Lucian Davis, Jennifer M. Ross
Summary: This study compared the proportions of HIV serodifferent couples in TB-affected households and in the general population of Kampala, Uganda. The results showed that the proportion of HIV serodifferent couples was higher in TB-affected households than in the general population. This suggests that TB household contact investigation can be an effective strategy for identifying HIV at-risk individuals and linking them to prevention services.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abdulwahab Sessolo, Emmanuel Musisi, Sylvia Kaswabuli, Josephine Zawedde, Patrick Byanyima, Wilber Sabiiti, Stanley Walimbwa, Joseph Ola, Ingvar Sanyu, Rejani Lalitha, Moses Kamya, Lucian Davis, William Worodria, Laurence Huang
Summary: OM-S sample transport reagent has the potential to improve the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with difficulty in expectorating, reducing the rates of indeterminate results in Xpert and MGIT culture.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Dan Li, Tyler Shelby, Marie Brault, Rajit Manohar, Sten Vermund, Ashley Hagaman, Laura Forastiere, Tyler Caruthers, Emilie Egger, Yizhou Wang, Nathan Manohar, Peter Manohar, J. Lucian Davis, Xin Zhou
Summary: This study aimed to address the limitations of traditional interview-format contact tracing (TCT) by using a Hardware-Assisted Bluetooth-based Infection Tracking (HABIT) device. The implementation of HABIT in a high school setting was evaluated, and it was found that the device identified a significant number of unique contacts not reported by interview. However, technical difficulties hindered the implementation and sustained use of HABIT.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jairo E. Palomares E. Velosa, Jorge E. Figueroa E. Gomez, Claudia N. Rojas N. Zuniga, Gustavo Diaz, Beatriz E. Ferro, J. Lucian Davis, Lauretta E. Grau
Summary: This study describes the barriers and facilitators of TB contact investigation in Cali, Colombia from the perspective and experience of key stakeholders. The main barriers to conducting household visits include low data quality, stigma and mistrust, safety concerns for health workers, and limited resources. On the other hand, good communication skills and accurate TB knowledge among health workers facilitate successful household visits and TB test uptake.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Letter
Respiratory System
Barnabas Bakamutumaho, Julius J. Lutwama, Nicholas Owor, John Kayiwa, Jocelyn Kiconco, Mercy Haumba, Moses Muwanga, Christopher Nsereko, Emmanuel Rwamutwe, Irene Nayiga, Stephen Kyebambe, Henry Kyobe Bosa, Felix Ocom, Benjamin Watyaba, Bernard Kikaire, Stevens Kisaka, Noah Kiwanuka, Max R. O'Donnell, Matthew J. Cummings
ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jeremy Schwartz, Sahr Wali, Martha Nabadda, Cinderella Ngonzi Muhangi, Ann R. Akiteng, Kaicheng Wang, Rebecca Gillman, J. Lucian Davis, Enock Kibalizi, Nelson Sewankambo, Peter S. Lwabi, Christine Nalwadda, Heather Joan Ross, Joseph Cafazzo, Isaac Ssinabulya
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
