KLAIPEDA - With Lithuania’s EU presidency just around the corner, luxury Vilnius hotels are dusting off their pillows in preparation of meeting the throngs of foreign guests from all over the European Union. The army consisting both of the EU institutions’ callous interns, and top EU decision-makers, will swarm over Vilnius for the EU chairmanship, held from July 1- December 31. They evidently seek not only the “European commonness” in the conference rooms and glitzy reception halls, but will perhaps be on the lookout for a more earthly and exciting cohesion.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health have identified an enzyme that will trigger the rapid breakdown of several mycobacteria species, including the bacteria known to cause tuberculosis. This discovery could lead to better tests for the deadly disease.

Johnson & Johnson will shortly begin shipping supplies of the first new drug developed for tuberculosis in half a century, following US regulatory approval this week.

High mortality rates have been reported for patients co-infected with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and HIV, but treatment outcomes have not been reported. We report treatment outcomes for adult XDR TB patients in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Initial data were obtained retrospectively, and outcomes were obtained prospectively during 24 months of treatment. A total of 114 XDR TB patients were treated (median 6 drugs, range 3–9 drugs); 82 (73%) were HIV positive and 50 (61%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy. After receiving treatment for 24 months, 48 (42%) of 114 patients died, 25 (22%) were cured or successfully completed treatment, 19 (17%) withdrew from the study, and 22 (19%) showed treatment failure. A higher number of deaths occurred among HIV-positive patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy and among patients who did not show sputum culture conversion. Culture conversion was a major predictor of survival but was poorly predictive (51%) of successful treatment outcome.

Check out the website of the Sentinel Project on Pediatric Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis by clicking the following link:

Several new classes of anti-tuberculosis agents are likely to become available in the coming decade. Ensuring prompt access to these drugs for patients without other treatment options is an important medical and public health issue. This article reviews the current state of ‘compassionate use’ and ‘expanded access’ programs for these new drugs, and identifies several shortcomings that will limit patient access to the drugs. A series of five steps is outlined that will need to be taken by national health bodies, international agencies and non-governmental organizations to prevent undue delays in access to new tuberculosis drugs for patients who could benefit from them. Following these steps can ensure that patients will be able to benefit from access to these drugs, while minimizing the risk of emergence of resistance to the drug.

The levels of MDR-TB documented in Belarus are among the highest ever recorded globally. Rapid testing for drug resistance for all patients with TB, a revised treatment regimen for patients with a history of previous TB treatment, an uninterrupted supply of second-line drugs, and measures to reduce the nosocomial transmission of M. tuberculosis, including the shortened hospitalization of non-contagious patients, should be rapidly introduced. Furthermore, the positive association between MDR-TB and HIV infection calls for stronger collaboration between TB and HIV control programmes to provide greater support to co-infected patients. To improve TB treatment adherence and reduce opportunities for the development of MDR-TB, the integration of treatment for alcohol use disorders with TB services and the strengthening of patient incentives and enablers should also be explored.

Having tuberculosis in the past approximately tripled the risk of later active TB in a large study of HIV-positive Tanzanians with or without prior TB.

On 29-30 January the World Health Organization (WHO) will convene an expert group meeting on the use of bedaquiline for treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

TB Online now has its own Facebook page. Take a minute and check out the page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/TB-Online/234621373332022?ref=ts&fref=ts