Challenging MDR-TB clinical problems - The case for a new Global TB Consilium supporting the compassionate use of new anti-TB drugs.

MDR-TB is a growing challenge worldwide, and an obstacle to TB elimination. It is apparent that TB is being replaced by small but growing number of resistant cases with an anticipated 2 million cases of MDR-TB within the next two decades. One of the potential causes of MDR-TB is iatrogenic and we risk losing our new drugs through inexperience and repetition of basic errors of adding single active drugs to failing regimens. Discussion of MDR-TB cases with senior colleagues is not only best practice; it is now embedded in the WHO and many national and local guidelines.TB Consilia act as gatekeepers to the new drugs, monitor guideline adherence and mandate active drug safety monitoring. TB Consilia are also excellent educational tools.TB Consilia are now recommended by funding bodies, the WHO and manufacturers of drugs available for compassionate use in the hope that these drugs will be protected and will continue to be useful in the future. This article briefly discusses Consilia, their origin and evolution and gives some examples of how they operate. Keywords: TB, MDR-TB, TB Consilium, Prevention, New TB drugs, Compassionate use, Alderott

Bedaquiline and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic and critical analysis of the evidence

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Do we need a new Fleming époque: The nightmare of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis represents an important clinical and public health problem globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. During the last 20 years, two relevant events has changed the epidemiology of the disease: the spread of the TB/HIV co-infection and the emergence and spread of the multi-drug resistance tuberculosis (i.e., tuberculosis caused by strains resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin). The latter phenomenon has been generated by the inappropriate management of the anti-tuberculosis drugs. Currently, the World Health Organization estimates at least 600,000 MDR-TB cases worldwide, particularly in China, India, South Africa, and in former Soviet Union countries. Unfortunately, new difficult-to-treat MDR-TB cases have been described, named XDR- or TDR-TB (extensively or totally drug-resistant tuberculosis, respectively). Numerous observational retrospective studies proved the poorer prognostic profile of the MDR-TB cases when compared with drug-susceptible tuberculosis. The clinical management of the patients with an XDR and beyond pattern is complicated owing to the poorest, expensive, and toxic therapeutic options. MDR-TB is currently under-reported because of methodological issues, mainly related to the poor proficiency of laboratory testing. National public health strategies should reduce the increase of tuberculosis cases without therapeutic alternatives. Furthermore, research and development activities, based on continuous and sustained funding, should be improved, together with the implementation and the scale-up of effective infection control measures in healthcare settings and in the community. © 2013 Asian-African Society for Mycobacteriology

Drug resistant TB - latest developments in epidemiology, diagnostics and management

AIM: The aim of this review is to inform the reader on the latest developments in epidemiology, diagnostics and management. EPIDEMIOLOGY: Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be a current global health threat, and is defined by higher morbidity and mortality, sequelae, higher cost and complexity. The WHO classifies drug-resistant TB into 5 categories: isoniazid-resistant TB, rifampicin resistant (RR)-TB and MDR-TB, (TB resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin), pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) which is MDR-TB with resistance to a fluoroquinolone and finally XDR-TB that is TB resistant to rifampicin, plus any fluoroquinolone, plus at least one further priority A drug (bedaquiline or linezolid). Of 500,000 estimated new cases of RR-TB in 2020, only 157 903 cases are notified. Only about a third of cases are detected and treated annually. DIAGNOSTICS: Recently newer rapid diagnostic methods like the GeneXpert, whole genome sequencing and Myc-TB offer solutions for rapid detection of resistance. TREATMENT: The availability of new TB drugs and shorter treatment regimens have been recommended for the management of DR-TB. CONCLUSION: Despite advances in diagnostics and treatments we still have to find and treat two thirds of the drug resistant cases that go undetected and therefore go untreated each year. Control of TB and elimination will only occur if cases are detected, diagnosed and treated promptly

Pulmonary Tuberculosis Management: 2015 Update

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Materials for SDGs: A Synergy Towards Sustainable Development

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a tangible and holistic vision of sustainable development, embodying a systemic vision that integrates environmental, social, and economic aspects. By adopting such a systemic vision, designers can drastically reduce the negative impact of their products. Materials represent a design element capable of influencing the entire life cycle of a product. Indeed, in the last decade there has been a frenetic race towards greener materials, focusing mostly on the environmental aspects of sustainability and neglecting economic and social dimensions. This paper aims to investigate a new thread of thought regarding sustainability within the design process, analysing the connections between SDGs and materials. The result is a taxonomy of materials that meet the SDGs and enhance their relationships by offering designers a new approach to sustainable material selection and development

Tuberculosis control in prisons: current situation and research gaps

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in penitentiary services (prisons) is a major challenge to TB control. This review article describes the challenges that prison systems encounter in TB control and provides solutions for the more efficient use of limited resources based on the three pillars of the post-2015 End TB Strategy. This paper also proposes research priorities for TB control in prisons based on current challenges. Methods: Articles (published up to 2011) included in a recent systematic review on TB control in prisons were further reviewed. In addition, relevant articles in English (published 1990 to May 2014) were identified by searching keywords in PubMed and Google Scholar. Article bibliographies and conference abstracts were also hand-searched. Results: Despite being a serious cause of morbidity and mortality among incarcerated populations, many prison systems encounter a variety of challenges that hinder TB control. These include, but are not limited to, insufficient laboratory capacity and diagnostic tools, interrupted supply of medicines, weak integration between civilian and prison TB services, inadequate infection control measures, and low policy priority for prison healthcare. Conclusions: Governmental commitment, partnerships, and sustained financing are needed in order to facilitate improvements in TB control in prisons, which will translate to the wider community

Multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis treatment regimens and patient outcomes: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 9,153 patients.

Treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is lengthy, toxic, expensive, and has generally poor outcomes. We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis to assess the impact on outcomes of the type, number, and duration of drugs used to treat MDR-TB