News

WHO Approves Six AI Tools for TB Detection via Chest X-Rays

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved six AI-powered software tools for detecting tuberculosis (TB) on chest X-rays. These computer-aided detection (CAD) tools are designed to support systematic TB screening in people aged 15 and older.
The approval follows a rigorous independent evaluation led by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and reviewed by WHO’s Technical Advisory Group. While CAD tools have been recommended since 2021, this marks the first time six products have met WHO’s updated performance standards.

Note: A positive CAD result should always be confirmed with diagnostic testing before treatment begins.

WHO Updates Drug-Resistant TB Treatment Guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an update to the Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis (TB) - Module 4: Treatment and Care, with multiple novel 6- to 9-month regimens for multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB), which can be considered if there are barriers to use of the BPaLM regimen introduced in the last update.

Key Updates

• New 6-Month Regimen:  An all-oral, 6-month regimen composed of bedaquiline, delamanid, linezolid, levofloxacin and clofazimine (BDLLfxC) for treating MDR/RR-TB, including cases with additional resistance to fluoroquinolones (pre-XDR-TB).
• Modified 9-Month Regimens: Several potential 9-month regimens including bedaquiline, linezolid, moxifloxacin and pyrazinamide (BLMZ) are suggested as options for patients who are ineligible or who lack access to the 6-month regimens.
• New Two 4-month Regimens: A new regimen for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), marking a significant advancement in TB care. This update formally includes two 4-month regimens for the treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB), marking a pivotal advancement in TB care.

This chapter incorporates recommendations that were made in 2022, based on new evidence that was available to WHO on the following: the use of the bedaquiline, pretomanid,  linezolid and moxifloxacin (BPaLM) regimen for patients with MDR/RR-TB, and the use of 9-month all-oral bedaquiline-containing regimens for patients with MDR/RR-TB. It also includes new recommendations developed in June 2024 based on new evidence from the BEAT Tuberculosis (BEAT-TB) and endTB trials.

TB Elimination Champions

The CDC has announced the 2025 US TB Elimination Champions, recognizing them for their outstanding efforts. Congratulations to all the award recipients for their dedication and hard work in the fight against tuberculosis!

Check out the 2025 U.S. TB Elimination Champions!

We also want to acknowledge the crucial contributions of everyone in our region. Your tireless efforts in TB elimination, both locally and globally, are truly appreciated and make a significant impact. Thank you for your commitment to creating a healthier world for all.

Provisional 2024 Tuberculosis Data, United States

• Provisional 2024 Tuberculosis Data, United States | Tuberculosis Data | CDC

The CDC's provisional report on tuberculosis (TB) in the United States for 2024 reveals a slight increase in TB cases and rates compared to 2023.  
In 2024, 10,347 TB cases were reported, with a rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 population, marking an 8% increase in case counts and a 6% increase in rates from the previous year. This rise is attributed to recovery from pandemic-related healthcare disruptions, increased travel, and outbreaks in several states.  

Despite these increases, most people in the U.S. remain at low risk for TB. The CDC emphasizes the importance of continued public health efforts to test and treat both TB disease and latent TB infection to prevent further spread and protect communities. 

Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment Guideline Updates

• Updates on the Treatment of Drug-Susceptible and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: An Official ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline

The new tuberculosis (TB) treatment guidelines recommend a novel 4-month regimen for people with pulmonary TB and a shortened 4-month regimen for children with nonsevere TB. For drug-resistant TB, the updated regimens include bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid, with or without moxifloxacin. These recommendations emphasize the use of all-oral, shorter treatment regimens for eligible individuals.

Tuberculosis (TB) Survivor Personal Stories Series

CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination is proud to share seven new stories as part of our ongoing Tuberculosis (TB) Survivor Personal Stories series. These new stories feature six TB survivors discussing their experiences with TB disease.

You can view the videos and print stories on CDC’s TB Personal Stories website.

Thank you to Renee, RJ, Preeni, Kate, Taylor, and Greg for sharing your experiences to help others and raise awareness about TB disease. CDC would also like to acknowledge and thank our partners We Are TB, The National TB Coalition of America (NTCA), and Stop TB USA for their contributions to this project.

Recent Development on Availability of PZA Test Kits

In late September, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) began releasing new lots of the BD BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960 PZA kits for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) to pyrazinamide (PZA) after supply interruptions due to a Medical Device Correction that was implemented because of reported intermittent false resistance. BD issued another letter in November to inform customers that because of a recent raw materials error, batches of test kits that were in progress had to be discarded. Given this development, supply interruption is anticipated with BD BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960 PZA kits not available for shipment until early 2025.

Assistance with pncA sequencing of MTBC as described in the August 7, 2024, Dear Colleague Letter from CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is continuing. National data from 2018–2022 comparing whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for pncA to PZA phenotypic susceptibility test data show that pncA mutations have a 96% sensitivity and 94% specificity for predicting PZA phenotypic resistance in MDR TB patients. Please see the updated table below for where samples may be sent for testing, if needed.  

Please note that CDC’s MDDR service remains available to all jurisdictions for testing when drug resistance is known or suspected. 

See the Specific Laboratories and States Contact List.

When triaging these requests, submitters should communicate with the testing laboratories to ensure that the number of specimens submitted is acceptable in terms of the testing laboratories’ available capacity. If further prioritization of samples is required, submitting laboratories should work with their clinicians and TB programs to determine the best approach.

New NTCA Isolation Guidelines published in Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal

• Duration of Effective Tuberculosis Treatment, not Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Smear Status, as the Determinant for Deisolation in Community Settings
• NTCA Guidelines for Respiratory Isolation and Restrictions to Reduce Transmission of Pulmonary TB in Community Settings

CDC Calendar

Follow this link to CDC's Calendar of tuberculosis related events.

Department of Health and Human Services Notices

• 2024 Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis (TB TIs) for Panel Physicians
• 2024 Technical Instructions (TB TIs) for Civil Surgeons

MMWR Releases

• June 2024 Progress Toward TB Elimination and TB Program Performance
• March 2024 Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Update:  U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 
• January 2024 Second Nationwide TB Outbreak Caused by Bone Allografts Containing Live Cells

Our newsletter is dedicated to the critical mission of tuberculosis (TB) education and prevention. Each newsletter will include event announcements, updates on the latest TB research, and highlights of our region’s collaborative efforts toward TB elimination.

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