Extensively and pre-extensively drug resistant tuberculosis in clinical isolates of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis using classical second line drugs (levofloxacin and amikacin)

The burden of pre-extensively and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis among MDR-TB patients in the Amhara region, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The emergence of pre-extensively and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (Pre-XDR/XDR-TB) is the major hurdle for TB prevention and care programs especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. The less emphasis on universal access to laboratory techniques for the rapid diagnosis of TB and drug susceptibility testing (DST) makes the management of MDR-TB a challenge. Early detection of second line anti-TB drugs resistance is essential to reduce transmission of Pre-XDR/XDR-TB strains and adjusting the treatment regimen in MDR-TB.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and resistance pattern of Pre-XDR- and XDR-TB among MDR-TB patients in the Amhara region, Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was carried out in nine MDR-TB treatment centers in the Amhara region. Sputum samples were collected from all pulmonary rifampicin resistant (RR) or MDR-TB patients prior to anti-TB treatment. Lӧwenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture, Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear, MTBDRplus and MTBDRsl assays were performed according to the standard procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software. Chi-square and/or Fishers exact test was employed.

RESULTS

Overall, 6.3% of MDR-TB isolates were resistant to at least one second line drugs. Pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB isolates accounted 5.7% and 0.6% respectively. Moreover, 3.4% were resistant to FQs and 3.4% were resistant to second line injectable drugs. All isolates were susceptible for low level kanamycin. Almost all pre-XDR-TB strains (90%) were previously treated with anti-TB drugs. Drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were disproportionately distributed in districts of the Amhara region and the majorities were concentrated in urban areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The high proportion of MDR-TB patients resistant to at least one second line drug is alarming. Strengthening the laboratory facilities to monitor pre-XDR and XDR-TB patients is crucial. The TB programs need to give emphasis on the effective and rational use of second line drugs for newly diagnosed MDR-TB patients to prevent the emergence of pre-XDR/XDR-TB strains.

Disease characteristics and management of hospitalised adolescents and adults with community-acquired pneumonia in China: a retrospective multicentre survey

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical characteristics and management of patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China.

DESIGN

This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

SETTING

13 teaching hospitals in northern, central and southern China from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 PARTICIPANTS: Information on hospitalised patients aged ≥14 years with radiographically confirmed pneumonia with illness onset in the community was collected using standard case report forms.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Resource use for CAP management.

RESULTS

Of 14 793 patients screened, 5828 with radiographically confirmed CAP were included in the final analysis. Low mortality risk patients with a CURB-65 score 0-1 and Pneumonia Severity Index risk class I-II accounted for 81.2% (4434/5594) and 56.4% (2034/3609) patients, respectively. 21.7% (1111/5130) patients had already achieved clinical stability on admission. A definite or probable pathogen was identified only in 12.7% (738/5828) patients. 40.9% (1575/3852) patients without pseudomonal infection risk factors received antimicrobial overtreatment regimens. The median duration between clinical stability to discharge was 5.0 days with 30-day mortality of 4.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrated the overuse of health resources in CAP management, indicating that there is potential for improvement and substantial savings to healthcare systems in China.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02489578; Results.

Management of multidrug-resistant TB: novel treatments and their expansion to low resource settings

Despite overall progress in global TB control, the rising burden of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) threatens to undermine efforts to end the worldwide epidemic. Of the 27 countries classified as high burden for MDR-TB, 17 are in ‘low’ or ‘low–middle’ income countries. Shorter, all oral and less toxic multidrug combinations are required to improve treatment outcomes in these settings. Suitability for safe co-administration with HIV drugs is also desirable. A range of strategies and several new drugs (including bedaquiline, delamanid and linezolid) are currently undergoing advanced clinical evaluations to define their roles in achieving these aims. However, several clinical questions and logistical challenges need to be overcome before these new MDR-TB treatments fulfil their potential.