No abstract

No abstract

SummaryIn tuberculosis, oxidative stress is a result of tissue inflammation, poor dietary intake of micronutrients due to illness, free radical burst from activated macrophages, and anti-tuberculosis drugs. These free radicals may in turn contribute towards pulmonary inflammation if not neutralized by antioxidants. The total antioxidant status (TAS) of individuals is a function of dietary, enzymatic, and other systemic antioxidants and is therefore an indicator of the free radical load. Our aim was to evaluate the TAS of healthy and M. tuberculosisinfected persons from a high TB incidence community, as well as tuberculosis patients at various stages of antituberculosis drug treatment and to correlate results with plasma micronutrient levels. Blood plasma samples from TB infected patients and following antituberculosis drug treatment were assayed for TAS, vitamins A, E and Zinc. Statistical analysis of results was by one-way ANOVA and the Tukey multiple comparison post test. Active TB patients showed a significantly lower TAS (P 5 0.001) compared to the community controls. We also show that TAS values increase during therapy. Results correlated with micronutrients vitamin A and zinc but vitamin E remained unaffected. We suggest that total antioxidant status of TB patients should be considered for more effective disease control and that diets low in antioxidants may render individuals susceptible to tuberculosis.

Aims:  To develop and evaluate an antimicrobial supplement for use with phage‐based tests for rapid detection of drug resistance of tuberculosis (TB). Methods and Results:  An antimicrobial formulation containing nystatin, oxacillin and aztreonam (NOA) (final concentrations of 50 000 IU l−1, 2 mg l−1, and 30 mg l−1 respectively) was developed. This formulation was tested for its influence on detection of a number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains using the phage amplification (FASTPlaque) assay. Addition of the supplement did not lead to significant reduction in assay sensitivity. Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed with a range of Gram‐positive and ‐negative organisms. The NOA supplement had a broad antimicrobial effect. The supplement was tested for its effect on growth of MTB culture, and on determination of rifampicin resistance using the phage‐based methodology (FASTPlaque–Response). NOA did not significantly affect the growth of a range of rifampicin susceptible and resistant MTB strains, nor did it have an adverse effect on the number of interpretable results, nor the ability to discriminate between rifampicin susceptibility and resistance. Conclusion, Significance and Impact of Study:  Use of NOA antimicrobial supplement with rapid phage‐based tests for TB will increase the proportion of interpretable results obtained, and enable their wider implementation in disease‐endemic countries by improved control of specimen‐related contamination.

No abstract