ICMR to begin research for intensified case finding for pulmonary TB in institutional healthcare settings
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon begin research for Intensified Case Finding (ICF) for pulmonary tuberculosis in institutional healthcare settings in the country. For this purpose, ICMR on behalf of India TB Research Consortium has solicited Letters of Interest (LoI) from interested institutes or organizations in the area of implementation research for TB for a large multi-centric project for which protocol has been developed by the ICMR.
The ICMR proposes to conduct an implementation study where
certain high risk groups like Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
clinic attendees (antenatal, post-natal), diabetics,
hospitalized patients in medical wards, elderly people and
People Living with HIV (PLHIV) visiting ART (Anti Retroviral
Therapy) centers will be screened to find out the prevalence of
microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB and to determine the
acceptability & feasibility of ICF in these groups. The
results obtained will provide vital inputs for incorporation
into the programme and the experience gained will be useful for
planning its scalability. Implementation studies in other high
risk patient groups may be taken up at a later stage.
The ICMR's initiative is significant as India
presents largest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world.
Despite the availability of improved diagnostic services in the
recent past, many people still remain undiagnosed or are
diagnosed late. This leads to continuing transmission of disease
and higher mortality as well as economic loss and more suffering
to patients. Provider initiated ICF could be an important tool
to identify TB patients amongst high risk populations. However,
India lacks appropriate algorithms to be used in high risk
groups in India. The WHO Global End TB Strategy aims for 90%
reduction in TB incidence, 95% reduction in TB deaths and
elimination of catastrophic costs due to TB in comparison to
2015 by the year 2035. In India, the strategy is to achieve
these goals much earlier i.e. by 2025 as mandated by government
of India.
To achieve the goals of the End TB
strategy; novel tools, strategies and magnified efforts are
required. Case finding and treatment of TB disease are the
primary means of controlling transmission and reducing
incidence. ICF has the potential to markedly reduce TB incidence
in high burden areas when applied to epidemiologically
appropriate settings coupled with strong and effective DOTS
programs. .
The ICMR has now invited LoI from
medical colleges, research organizations, institutions,
universities, academic institutions; and private hospitals and
practitioners/ non-government organisations for the
project.
The target population for this
programme would include pregnant and post-natal women attending
MCH clinics of district level public sector hospitals; diabetic
patients attending any of the departments of the selected
district hospitals – both out-patient and
in-patient; dlderly (=60 years) patients attending any of
the departments of the selected district hospitals – both
out-patient and in-patient; patients hospitalized in medical
wards; and PLHIV: Attending ART centers and those found to be
HIV reactive after counselling and testing in ICTC centers.
Source:
Pharmabiz.com
