Journal Article > LetterSubscription Only
Eur Clin Respir J. 1 October 2023; Volume 62 (Issue 4); 2300556.; DOI:10.1183/13993003.00556-2023
Soares KA, Ehrlich J, Camara MS, Chaloub S, Emeka E, et al.
Eur Clin Respir J. 1 October 2023; Volume 62 (Issue 4); 2300556.; DOI:10.1183/13993003.00556-2023
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1 June 2018; Volume 112 (Issue 6); DOI:10.1093/trstmh/try054
Timire C, Takarinda KC, Harries AD, Mutunzi H, Manyame-Murwira B, et al.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1 June 2018; Volume 112 (Issue 6); DOI:10.1093/trstmh/try054
In Zimbabwe, while the Xpert MTB/RIF assay is being used for diagnosing tuberculosis and rifampicin-resistance, re-treatment tuberculosis (TB) patients are still expected to have culture and drug sensitivity testing (CDST) performed at national reference laboratories for confirmation. The study aim was to document the Xpert MTB/RIF assay scale-up and assess how the CDST system functioned for re-treatment TB patients.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
Public Health Action. 21 June 2013; Volume 3 (Issue 2); DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0002
Mlilo N, Sandy C, Harries AD, Kumar AMV, Masuka N, et al.
Public Health Action. 21 June 2013; Volume 3 (Issue 2); DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0002
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Public Health Action. 21 June 2013; Volume 3 (Issue 2); 146-148.; DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0002
Mlilo N, Sandy C, Harries AD, Kumar AMV, Masuka N, et al.
Public Health Action. 21 June 2013; Volume 3 (Issue 2); 146-148.; DOI:10.5588/pha.13.0002
Zimbabwe National Tuberculosis Guidelines advise that direct observation of anti-tuberculosis treatment (DOT) can be provided by a family member/relative as a last resort. In 2011, in Nkayi District, of 763 registered tuberculosis (TB) patients, 59 (8%) received health facility-based DOT, 392 (51%) received DOT from a trained community worker and 306 (40%) from a family member/relative. There were no differences in TB treatment outcomes between the three DOT groups, apart from a higher frequency rate of 'no reported outcomes' for those receiving family-based DOT. Family members should be trained to use a suitable DOT support package.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Public Health Action. 1 September 2017; Volume 7 (Issue 3); DOI:10.5588/pha.17.0024
Ncube RT, Takarinda KC, Zishiri C, van den Boogaard W, Mlilo N, et al.
Public Health Action. 1 September 2017; Volume 7 (Issue 3); DOI:10.5588/pha.17.0024
Setting: A high tuberculosis (TB) incidence, resource-limited urban setting in Zimbabwe. Objectives: To compare treatment outcomes among people initiated on first-line anti-tuberculosis treatment in relation to age and other explanatory factors. Design: This was a retrospective record review of routine programme data. Results: Of 2209 patients included in the study, 133 (6%) were children (aged <10 years), 132 (6%) adolescents (10-19 years), 1782 (81%) adults (20-59 years) and 162 (7%) were aged ⩾60 years, defined as elderly. The highest proportion of smear-negative pulmonary TB cases was among the elderly (40%). Unfavourable outcomes, mainly deaths, increased proportionately with age, and were highest among the elderly (adjusted relative risk 3.8, 95%CI 1.3-10.7). Having previous TB, being human immunodeficiency virus positive and not on antiretroviral treatment or cotrimoxazole preventive therapy were associated with an increased risk of unfavourable outcomes. Conclusion: The elderly had the worst outcomes among all the age groups. This may be related to immunosuppressant comorbidities or other age-related diseases mis-classified as TB, as a significant proportion were smear-negative. Older persons need better adapted TB management and more sensitive diagnostic tools, such as Xpert® MTB/RIF.