The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jan 2012
Integrated detection of multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis using the nitrate reductase assay.
It currently takes 2-3 months to obtain a diagnosis for multidrug-resistant (MDR-) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). We evaluated the rapid non-commercial nitrate reductase assay (NRA), which is capable of the simultaneous detection of MDR- and XDR-TB, and compared the results with the proportion method (PM). ⋯ The turnaround time for NRA was 10-14 days, compared to 4-6 weeks for the PM. Our study showed that NRA provided sensitive and specific detection of resistance to first- and second-line drugs.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jan 2012
A national infection control evaluation of drug-resistant tuberculosis hospitals in South Africa.
The importance of infection control (IC) in health care settings with tuberculosis (TB) patients has been highlighted by recent health care-associated outbreaks in South Africa. ⋯ These findings demonstrate a clear need to improve and standardize IC infrastructure in drug-resistant TB settings in South Africa.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jan 2012
Patient and doctor perspectives on incorporating smoking cessation into tuberculosis care in Beijing, China.
Tuberculosis (TB) hospital in Beijing, China. ⋯ Despite the presence of a 'teachable moment', TB patients experience significant barriers to quitting smoking. Patient education in TB treatment programs should address the specific effects of smoking on TB and the general health benefits of cessation. Smoke-free policies should be strictly enforced in TB facilities. Successful integration of smoking cessation interventions within TB treatment regimens may require that providers adopt smoking cessation as an essential part of TB treatment.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jan 2012
Risk factors for mortality among MDR- and XDR-TB patients in a high HIV prevalence setting.
Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in sub-Saharan Africa may be rising. This is of concern, as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB has been associated with exceedingly high mortality rates. ⋯ Mortality due to MDR- and XDR-TB was associated with greater degree of immunosuppression and drug resistance. Efforts to reduce mortality must focus on preventing the amplification of resistance by strengthening TB treatment programs, as well as reducing the pool of immunosuppressed HIV-infected patients through aggressive HIV testing and ART initiation.