Tuberculosis is our old enemy while COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is a novel one. Both diseases have many similarities in terms of target organ affected, transmission, clinical presentations. COVID-19 is a fast-track novel pandemic while tuberculosis is a slow-moving pandemic. As control measures, countries all over the globe have enforced lockdown to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but this stringent method has a negative impact on access to the health care delivery system. It seems that there is a dropping of new case findings, but modeling projection by WHO estimates that the total number of tuberculosis cases will rise by 2025. Bangladesh is a high Tuberculosis burden country in the south Asia region. Worldwide COVID-19 has a negative impact on tuberculosis diagnosis and management strategy. Bangladesh has impending threat to rise in tuberculosis case in future because of lockdown process, densely populated nation, poverty, reallocation of tuberculosis diagnostic facility and trained staff to diagnose COVID-19 and collapse of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) program of NTP (national tuberculosis control program), rampant use of immunosuppressant’s including steroid, biologics. Prompt tuberculosis case detection, digital supervised drug delivery, avoidance of injudicious use of steroids, biologics to treat COVID-19, and testing for both COVID-19 and tuberculosis should be simultaneously undertaken to tackle this overwhelming situation. Eradication of psycho-social stigma about these two diseases is essential for preventing a perfect storm. BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 54-56

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the serum lipid profiles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and its correlation with the severity of COPD in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. A total of 100 spirometric-confirmed cases of COPD were included. Fasting blood samples for lipid profiles were collected. To identify the association between severity of COPD with lipid profiles Pearson’s correlation was used. Further multiple linear regression was done to identify the relation. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 59.0 (10.7)years. The ratio of males and females was 19:1. The mean forced expiratory volume (liters) in 1 second (FEV1) was 55.1 (18.1). Most of the patients had stage II (48%) and stage III (36%) airflow obstruction. Plasma level of total cholesterol and triglyceride tend to increase, statistically non-significant, with stages of COPD. However, the association of plasma lipids becomes statistically significant with FEV1 when the effects of age, BMI, pack-year smoking, duration of illness are accounted in multiple linear regression analysis. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2022;15(4):37-41

Background: The pattern of bacterial infection in acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis is varied with geographical area and lobar distribution of bronchiectasis. The exact pattern of bacterial infection in acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis according to lobar distribution is not known in our country. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of bacterial infection in acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis according to lobar distribution. Methods: A total of eighty-four patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis were included in this cross-sectional study in the department of respiratory medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Sputum culture and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to characterize the bacterial profile and high-resolution computed tomography scans for the location of the bronchiectasis. Before enrolment, informed written consent was obtained from the participants. Results: The mean (SD) age of this study population was 47.89 (±14.95) years, 29.8% were female and 60.7% were a non-smoker. Bronchiectasis was more common in the right middle lobe (63.1%), followed by the right lower lobe (44%), and the left lower lobe (42%). Bacteria were isolated in 66% of patients and Gram-negative bacteria were predominant (78.6%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.9%) were the most common bacteria. Conclusions: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was identified predominantly in the right upper lobe, right middle lobe, left upper lobe, and bilateral upper lobe and Klebsiella pneumoniae was in the right lower lobe, left lower lobe, and bilateral lower lobe.