Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases is an open access publication that provides a forum for clinically relevant articles on all aspects of tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.

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Featured Articles

Bacterial Co-occurrence with Pulmonary TB, a Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI): A Cross-sectional Study in a Resource-limited Setting

Bacterial co-infections significantly impact tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings. This study investigated bacterial co-infections in TB patients in rural Vhembe, Limpopo, South Africa. Samples from 100 TB patients were analyzed using PCR assays to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and drug resistance. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were found in 67% of participants, with Aeromonas spp. (19%), Vibrio spp. (2%), and E. coli (2%) also detected. Multidrug-resistant MTB strains were identified in 2% of the cohort. Significant associations were found between employment status, age, and HIV status. Most Aeromonas spp. and NTM cases were among HIV-positive participants. The study highlights the role of age, socioeconomic status, and gender in TB, HIV, and bacterial infections, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce TB-HIV co-infection and related bacterial infections.

Operational Considerations of Select New Treatment Recommendations for Drug -Susceptible and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Recent updates in tuberculosis (TB) treatment highlight new options for drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB. The American Thoracic Society and CDC now recommend a 4-month regimen of isoniazid, rifapentine, moxifloxacin, and pyrazinamide for drug-susceptible TB, reducing treatment duration from the traditional 6 months. For multidrug-resistant TB, combinations including bedaquiline, linezolid, and pretomanid show promise. Pediatric TB treatment has also been shortened to 4 months for non-severe cases. These advancements aim to improve patient compliance and outcomes, though challenges like pill burden and drug supply sustainability remain. The inclusion of moxifloxacin requires confirmation of fluoroquinolone drug activity against the M. tuberculosis isolate, which may necessitate additional lab testing.