Tuberculosis: an overview of current literature on types, diagnosis and drug therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It is a global problem and increases in case rates are occurring not only in the developing countries of the world but also in several industrialized nations. There has also been an alarming increase in the number and proportion of cases caused by strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are resistant to multiple first-line drugs. The increase in multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis has re-taught physicians about the importance of pursuing and ensuring treatment until cure. In many low-income and middle-income countries, TB continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and drug-resistant TB is a major concern in many settings. This article offers an overview of types, diagnosis and management of TB.

Download Full-text

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Among Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.721817 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Wan-mei Song ◽

Yi-fan Li ◽

Yun-xia Liu ◽

Yao Liu ◽

Chun-bao Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Mdr Tb

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), especially multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a public health threat. Little is known about estimates of different profiles and rates of DR-TB among children globally.Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting DR-TB among children by searching Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases from January 1, 2000 to October 1, 2020. Publications reporting more than 60 children with bacteriological confirmed tuberculosis and phenotypical drug susceptibility testing (DST) results were included. Pooled proportions of MDR-TB and sub-analysis by age subgroups, regions, economical levels were performed.Results: We identified 4,063 studies, of which 37 were included. Of 23,652 pediatric TB patients, the proportions of DR-TB, MDR-TB, mono-resistant TB, polydrug resistant TB, extensively drug-resistant TB were 13.59% (1,964/14,453), 3.72% (881/23,652), 6.07% (529/8,719), 1.61% (119/7,361), 0.44% (30/6,763), respectively. The pooled proportion of MDR-TB among 23,652 children of 37 studies was 3.7% (95% CI, 3.5–4.0%). Rate of MDR-TB was much lower in high-income countries (1.8%) than that in lower-middle-income countries (6.3%) and upper-middle-income countries (7.3%). More specifically, the rates of MDR-TB were 1.7% in USA, 1.7% in UK, 2.9% in India, 6.0% in South Africa, 9.8% in China, respectively.Conclusions: The burden of DR-TB remains high in children, and there are potential associations between rates of pediatric MDR-TB and national economical levels. More interventions on child TB cases in low-income countries may be urgently needed in future.

Download Full-text

Clofazimine: History and Perspectives

Tuberculosis and lung diseases ◽

10.21292/2075-1230-2021-99-5-64-70 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (5) ◽

pp. 64-70

Author(s):

G. N. Mozhokina ◽

A. G. Samoylova

Keyword(s):

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽

Mechanism Of Action ◽

Multiple Drug ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Resistant Tuberculosis ◽

Multiple Drug Resistant ◽

Safety Parameters ◽

Group B

The review analyses 47 publications that follow the pathway of clofazimine from its discovery to recognition as a Group B drug for treatment of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis. It describes its mechanism of action and effects on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pharmacokinetics, and safety parameters.

Download Full-text