March 13, 2024 -- More than 80% of patients with tuberculosis, the world’s most deadly infection, do not have a persistent cough, despite this being seen as a key symptom of the disease. The infection is predominantly transmitted by coughing, but probably also through simply breathing. Research, led by Amsterdam UMC and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Heath and Development, analysed data on more than 600,000 individuals in Africa and Asia and found that 82.8% of those with tuberculosis had no persistent cough and 62.5% had no cough at all. These results are published today in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. 

March 12, 2024 -- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria that causes a tuberculosis infection, is present in exhaled breath of 90% of those presenting with suspected tuberculosis. This includes those who were negative on conventional sputum testing and not diagnosed with TB. This raises the possibility that those who have tested negative may be unknowingly transmitting the infection. Researchers from the University of Cape Town and Amsterdam UMC analysed results from over 100 patients who presented themselves to clinics in South Africa. These findings are published today in PNAS.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is the official publication of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

DENVER, March 7, 2024 -- In patients with tuberculosis (TB), a novel fixed-dose combination of alpibectir-ethionamide had similar levels of bactericidal activity as isoniazid, with no serious adverse events and good tolerability, a phase II randomized controlled trial showed.

On World TB Day, WHO is calling for action on several fronts to ensure that the commitments made to end TB are achieved. WHO releases an advocacy and communications World TB Day campaign package.

March 06, 2024: Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced new data from three studies evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of Biktarvy^® (bictegravir 50 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg tablets, B/F/TAF) for a broad range of people with HIV, including those with HIV/hepatitis B (HBV) coinfection and HIV/tuberculosis (TB) coinfection. These data and other studies supporting the important role of Biktarvy in the HIV treatment landscape were presented at the 31st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).

Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) is associated with increased immune activation and a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases. The ACTG A5279 trial, a phase 3 study presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), investigated the activation patterns of monocytes in individuals with HIV (PWH). This trial compared the efficacy of 4 weeks of daily rifapentine (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) against 9 months of daily INH for Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy (TPT). At baseline and week 48, PWH with LTBI, compared to those with negative TST/IGRA results, demonstrated changes in monocytes indicative of ongoing activation and tissue migration.

Treatment Action Group launches the 2023 Tuberculosis Treatment Pipeline Report.

For people starting HIV treatment, combining dolutegravir-containing antiretroviral therapy with 3HP TB preventive treatment is safe and works effectively in tandem.

RESIST-TB released its March 2024 newsletter with the latest updates and research publications on drug-resistant TB.