Category Archives: Tuberculosis
Risk factors for multidrug resistant tuberculosis in Europe: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: The resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in western countries has been attributed to the HIV epidemic, immigration, and drug resistance. Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is caused by the transmission of...
Association between HIV/AIDS and multi-drug resistance tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR) is emerging as major challenge facing tuberculosis control programs worldwide particularly in Asia and Africa. Findings from different studies on associations...
Strategies for integrating primary health services in low- and middle-income countries at the point of delivery
BACKGROUND: In some low- and middle-income countries, separate vertical programmes deliver specific life-saving interventions but can fragment services. Strategies to integrate services aim to bring together inputs, organisation, and delivery...
Treatment of active tuberculosis in HIV-coinfected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and tuberculosis have an increased risk of death, treatment failure, and relapse. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials...
Estimating the resource needs of scaling-up HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review for national policy makers and planners
Considerable effort has been made to estimate the global resource requirements of scaling-up HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) interventions. There are currently several medium- and long-term global estimates available. Comprehensive country...
Isoniazid preventive therapy and risk for resistant tuberculosis
In the context of tuberculosis (TB) resurgence, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) is increasingly promoted, but concerns about the risk for development of isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis may hinder its widespread implementation. We...
Risk factors for tuberculosis in foreign-born people (FBP) in Italy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
In Italy, TB notifications in foreign-born people (FBP) are steadily increasing. To investigate this issue we did a meta-analysis on risk factors for FBP people. A systematic search was performed...
Interferon-gamma release assays for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have provided a new method for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, the role of IGRAs for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB), especially...
Effect of preventive treatment for tuberculosis in adults infected with HIV: Systematic review of randomised placebo controlled trials
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether preventive treatment for tuberculosis in adults infected with HIV reduces the frequency of tuberculosis and overall mortality. DESIGN: Systematic review and data synthesis of randomised placebo...
Sputum processing methods to improve the sensitivity of smear microscopy for tuberculosis: A systematic review
In low-income and middle-income countries, direct (unconcentrated) sputum smear microscopy is the primary method for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis. The method is fast, inexpensive, and specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in high...
