Journal of Clinical TB

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

Tuberculosis Infection Control in MDR-TB Designated Hospitals

Hospital-acquired tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious concern for healthcare workers and patients. A study in Jiangsu Province assessed TB infection control (TBIC) practices in TB outpatient and inpatient departments and laboratories. At baseline, implementation rates for administrative, environmental, and respiratory protection measures were 57.3%, 59.2%, and 66.6%, respectively.

To address these gaps, a comprehensive intervention introduced triage for coughing patients, improved ventilation, consistent mask use, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) where needed. After two years of monitoring and corrective actions, rates rose to 86.3% (administrative), 87.4% (environmental), and 98.4% (respiratory protection). Despite progress, some hospitals still faced challenges due to architectural limitations. Strengthening TBIC measures is practical and scalable, and continued evaluation is essential for sustainability.

Symptomatic (STB) and Asymptomatic (ATB) Tuberculosis in Italy: Results from a Multicenter Retrospective Study

A multicenter study from Italy found that 36% of pulmonary TB cases were asymptomatic, making them harder to detect and potentially contributing to ongoing transmission. While symptomatic TB (STB) was linked to more adverse events and longer hospital stays, treatment outcomes were similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.

These findings highlight the need for improved screening and awareness of asymptomatic TB (ATB) in global elimination efforts.

The World Health Organization’s 2024 report on asymptomatic TB offers further insights into its epidemiology, detection challenges, and implications for public health.