BackgroundNon-sputum based diagnostic approaches are crucial in children at high risk of disseminated tuberculosis [TB] who cannot expectorate sputum. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF from stool and urine AlereLipoarabinomannan [LAM] test in this group of children.MethodsHospitalised children with presumptive TB and either age <2 years, HIV-positive or severe malnutrition were enrolled in a diagnostic cohort. At enrolment, we attempted to collect two urine, two stool and two respiratory samples. Urine and stool were tested with AlereLAM and Xpert MTB/RIF, respectively. Respiratory samples were tested with Xpert MTB/RIF and mycobacterial culture. Both a microbiological and a composite clinical reference standard were used.ResultsThe study enrolled 219 children; median age 16.4 months, 72 (32.9%) HIV-positive and 184 (84.4%) severely malnourished. Twelve (5.5%) and 58 (28.5%) children had confirmed and unconfirmed TB respectively. Stool and urine were collected in 219 (100%) and 216 (98.6%) children. Against the microbiological reference standard the sensitivity and specificity (n/N, 95% confidence intervals) of stool Xpert MTB/RIF was 50.0% (6/12, 21.1–78.9) and 99.1% (198/200 96.4–99.9), while that of urine AlereLAM was 50.0% (6/12, 21.1–78.9) and 74.6% (147/197, 67.9–80.5) respectively. Against the composite reference standard sensitivity was reduced to 11.4% (8/70) for stool and 26.2% (17/68) for urine, with no major difference by age group (<2 and >2 years) or HIV status.ConclusionThe Xpert MTB/RIF assay has excellent specificity on stool, but sensitivity is suboptimal. Urine AlereLAM is compromised by poor sensitivity and specificity in children.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children experience high tuberculosis (TB)-related mortality but causes of death among those with presumptive TB are poorly documented. We describe the mortality, likely causes of death, and associated risk factors among vulnerable children admitted with presumptive TB in rural Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of vulnerable children, defined as <2 years of age, HIV-positive, or severely malnourished, with a clinical suspicion of TB. Children were assessed for TB and followed for 24 weeks. TB classification and likely cause of death were assessed by an expert endpoint review committee, including insight gained from minimally invasive autopsies, when possible. RESULTS: Of the 219 children included, 157 (71.7%) were <2 years of age, 72 (32.9%) were HIV-positive, and 184 (84.0%) were severely malnourished. Seventy-one (32.4%) were classified as “likely tuberculosis” (15 confirmed and 56 unconfirmed), and 72 (32.9%) died. The median time to death was 12 days. The most frequent causes of death, ascertained for 59 children (81.9%), including 23 cases with autopsy results, were severe pneumonia excluding confirmed TB (23.7%), hypovolemic shock due to diarrhea (20.3%), cardiac failure (13.6%), severe sepsis (13.6%), and confirmed TB (10.2%). Mortality risk factors were confirmed TB (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.84 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–6.77]), being HIV-positive (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.37–4.38]), and severe clinical state on admission (aHR = 2.45 [95% CI: 1.29–4.66]). CONCLUSIONS: Vulnerable children hospitalized with presumptive TB experienced high mortality. A better understanding of the likely causes of death in this group is important to guide empirical management.
Background One of the main barriers of the management of household tuberculosis child contacts is the necessity for parents to bring healthy children to the facility. We assessed the feasibility of a community intervention for tuberculosis (TB) household child contact management and the conditions for its evaluation in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Cameroon and Uganda. Methods We assessed three dimensions of feasibility using a mixed method approach: (1) recruitment capability using retrospective aggregated data from facility registers; (2) acceptability of the intervention using focus group discussions with TB patients and in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and community leaders; and (3) adaptation, integration, and resources of the intervention in existing TB services using a survey and discussions with stakeholders. Results Reaching the sample size is feasible in all clusters in 15 months with the condition of regrouping 2 facilities in the same cluster in Uganda due to decentralization of TB services. Community health worker (CHW) selection and training and simplified tools for contact screening, tolerability, and adherence of preventive therapy were key elements for the implementation of the community intervention. Healthcare providers and patients found the intervention of child contact investigations and TB preventive treatment management in the household acceptable in both countries due to its benefits (competing priorities, transport cost) as compared to facility-based management. TB stigma was present, but not a barrier for the community intervention. Visit schedule and team conduct were identified as key facilitators for the intervention. Conclusions This study shows that evaluating a community intervention for TB child contact management in a cluster randomized trial is feasible in Cameroon and Uganda. Trial registration Clini calTr ials. gov NCT03832023. Registered on February 6th 2019.
Background Social network analysis can elucidate Tuberculosis (TB) transmission dynamics outside of the home and may inform novel network-based case-finding strategies. Methods We assessed the association between social network characteristics and prevalent TB infection among residents (≥15 years) of 9 rural communities in Eastern Uganda. Social contacts named during a census were used to create community-specific non-household social networks. We evaluated whether social network structure and characteristics of first-degree contacts (gender, HIV status, TB infection) were associated with prevalent TB infection (positive TST) after adjusting for individual-level risk factors (age, gender, HIV status, TB contact, wealth, occupation, and BCG vaccination) with Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation. Results Among 3,335 residents sampled for TST, 32% had a positive TST, 4% reported a TB contact. The social network contained 15,328 first-degree contacts. Persons with the most network centrality (top 10%) (aRR: 1.3 (1.1-1.1) and the most (top 10%) male contacts (aRR: 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.9) had a higher risk of prevalent TB, compared to those in the remaining 90%. People with ≥1 contacts with HIV (aRR 1.3; 95% CI:1.1-1.6) and ≥2 contacts with TB infection were more likely to themselves have TB (aRR: 2.6; 95% CI: 2.2-2.9). Conclusions Social networks with higher centrality, more men, contacts with HIV, and TB infection, were positively associated with TB infection. TB transmission within measurable social networks may explain prevalent TB not associated with a household contact. Further study on network-informed TB case finding interventions is warranted.
BackgroundOne of the main barriers of the management of household tuberculosis child contacts is the necessity for parents to bring healthy children to the facility. We assessed the feasibility of a community intervention for tuberculosis (TB) household child contact management and the conditions for its evaluation in a cluster randomized controlled trial in Cameroon and Uganda.MethodsWe assessed three dimensions of feasibility using a mixed method approach: (1) recruitment capability using retrospective aggregated data from facility registers; (2) acceptability of the intervention using focus group discussions with TB patients and in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and community leaders; and (3) adaptation, integration and resources of the intervention in existing TB services using a survey and discussions with stakeholders.ResultsReaching the sample size is feasible in all clusters in 15 months with the condition of regrouping 2 facilities in the same cluster in Uganda due to decentralization of TB services. Community health worker (CHW) selection and training and simplified tools for contact screening, tolerability and adherence of preventive therapy were key elements for the implementation of the community intervention Healthcare providers and patients found the intervention of child contact investigations and TB preventive treatment management in the household acceptable in both countries due to its benefits (competing priorities, transport cost) as compared to facility-based management. TB stigma was present, but not a barrier for the community intervention. Visit schedule and team conduct were identified as key facilitators for the interventionConclusionsThis study shows that evaluating a community intervention for TB child contact management in a cluster randomized trials is feasible in Cameroon and Uganda.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03832023. Registered on February 6th 2019
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