HIV-associated extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Thailand: epidemiology and risk factors for death

SummaryBackgroundWe conducted a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study in Thailand to characterize the epidemiology of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected persons and to identify risk factors for death.MethodsFrom May 2005 to September 2006, we enrolled, interviewed, examined, and performed laboratory tests on HIV-infected adult TB patients and followed them from TB treatment initiation until the end of TB treatment. We conducted multivariate proportional hazards analysis to identify factors associated with death.ResultsOf the 769 patients, pulmonary TB only was diagnosed in 461 (60%), both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB in 78 (10%), extrapulmonary TB at one site in 223 (29%), and extrapulmonary TB at more than one site in seven (1%) patients. Death during TB treatment occurred in 59 of 308 patients (19%) with any extrapulmonary involvement. In a proportional hazards model, patients with extrapulmonary TB had an increased risk of death if they had meningitis, and a CD4+ T-lymphocyte count <200 cells/μl. Patients who received co-trimoxazole, fluconazole, and antiretroviral therapy during TB treatment had a lower risk of death.ConclusionsAmong HIV-infected patients with TB, extrapulmonary disease occurred in 40% of the patients, particularly in those with advanced immune suppression. Death during TB treatment was common, but the risk of death was reduced in patients who took co-trimoxazole, fluconazole, and antiretroviral therapy

Antiretroviral Therapy during Tuberculosis Treatment and Marked Reduction in Death Rate of HIV-Infected Patients, Thailand1

Antiretroviral therapy is associated with a substantial reduction in deaths during TB treatment for HIV-infected TB patients

HIV care and treatment factors associated with improved survival during TB treatment in Thailand: an observational study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Southeast Asia, HIV-infected patients frequently die during TB treatment. Many physicians are reluctant to treat HIV-infected TB patients with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and have questions about the added value of opportunistic infection prophylaxis to ART, the optimum ART regimen, and the benefit of initiating ART early during TB treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a multi-center observational study of HIV-infected patients newly diagnosed with TB in Thailand. Clinical data was collected from the beginning to the end of TB treatment. We conducted multivariable proportional hazards analysis to identify factors associated with death.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 667 HIV-infected TB patients enrolled, 450 (68%) were smear and/or culture positive. Death during TB treatment occurred in 112 (17%). In proportional hazards analysis, factors strongly associated with reduced risk of death were ART use (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07–0.36), fluconazole use (HR 0.34; CI 0.18–0.64), and co-trimoxazole use (HR 0.41; CI 0.20–0.83). Among 126 patients that initiated ART after TB diagnosis, the risk of death increased the longer that ART was delayed during TB treatment. Efavirenz- and nevirapine-containing ART regimens were associated with similar rates of adverse events and death.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Among HIV-infected patients living in Thailand, the single most important determinant of survival during TB treatment was use of ART. Controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings that early ART initiation improves survival and that the choice of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor does not.</p

Evaluating the potential impact of the new Global Plan to Stop TB: Thailand, 2004–2005

OBJECTIVE: WHO's new Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015 advises countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) to expand case-finding in the private sector as well as services for patients with HIV and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The objective of this study was to evaluate these strategies in Thailand using data from the Thailand TB Active Surveillance Network, a demonstration project begun in 2004. METHODS: In October 2004, we began contacting public and private health-care facilities monthly to record data about people diagnosed with TB, assist with patient care, provide HIV counselling and testing, and obtain sputum samples for culture and susceptibility testing. The catchment area included 3.6 million people in four provinces. We compared results from October 2004-September 2005 (referred to as 2005) to baseline data from October 2002-September 2003 (referred to as 2003). FINDINGS: In 2005, we ascertained 5841 TB cases (164/100 000), including 2320 new smear-positive cases (65/100 000). Compared with routine passive surveillance in 2003, active surveillance increased reporting of all TB cases by 19% and of new smear-positive cases by 13%. Private facilities diagnosed 634 (11%) of all TB cases. In 2005, 1392 (24%) cases were known to be HIV positive. The proportion of cases with an unknown HIV status decreased from 66% (3226/4904) in 2003 to 23% (1329/5841) in 2005 (P< 0.01). Of 4656 pulmonary cases, mycobacterial culture was performed in 3024 (65%) and MDR-TB diagnosed in 60 (1%). CONCLUSION: In Thailand, piloting the new WHO strategy increased case-finding and collaboration with the private sector, and improved HIV services for TB patients and the diagnosis of MDR-TB. Further analysis of treatment outcomes and costs is needed to assess this programme's impact and cost effectiveness

Implementing an isoniazid preventive therapy program for people living with HIV in Thailand

<div><p>Treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection using isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce the risk of TB disease, however, the scale-up of IPT among PLHIV in Thailand and worldwide has been slow. To hasten the implementation of IPT in Thailand, we developed IPT implementation training curricula and tools for health care providers and implemented IPT services in seven large government hospitals. Of the 659 PLHIV enrolled, 272 (41.3%) reported symptoms of TB and 39 (14.3% of those with TB symptoms) were diagnosed with TB. A total of 346 (52.4%) participants were eligible for IPT; 318 (91.9%) of these participants opted to have a tuberculin skin test (TST) and 52 (16.3% of those who had a TST) had a positive TST result. Among the 52 participants with a positive TST, 46 (88.5%) initiated and 39 (75.0%) completed 9 months of IPT: physicians instructed three participants to stop IPT, two participants were lost to follow-up, one chose to stop therapy, and one developed TB. IPT can be implemented among PLHIV in Thailand and could reduce the burden of TB in the country.</p></div

Results of generalized estimating equations logistic regression analysis of characteristics of people living with HIV with tuberculosis symptoms^* to control for site-level clustering and to determine predictors of TB disease diagnosis at seven hospitals in Thailand, 2010–2011.

<p>Results of generalized estimating equations logistic regression analysis of characteristics of people living with HIV with tuberculosis symptoms^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0184986#t002fn002" target="_blank">*</a>} to control for site-level clustering and to determine predictors of TB disease diagnosis at seven hospitals in Thailand, 2010–2011.</p

Assessment of 272 people living with HIV who reported tuberculosis symptoms at baseline.

<p>Assessment of 272 people living with HIV who reported tuberculosis symptoms at baseline.</p