Uptake and Completion of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Using 12-Dose, Weekly Isoniazid-Rifapentine Regimen in Bangladesh: A Community-Based Implementation Study.

BACKGROUND: The United Nations high-level meeting (UNHLM) pledged to enroll 30 million in tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) by 2022, necessitating TPT expansion to all at tuberculosis (TB) risk. We assessed the uptake and completion of a 12-dose, weekly isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) TPT regimen. METHODS: Between February 2018 and March 2019 in Dhaka, community-based TPT using 3HP targeted household contacts of 883 confirmed drug-sensitive pulmonary TB patients. Adhering to World Health Organization guidelines, contacts underwent active TB screening before TPT initiation. RESULTS: Of 3193 contacts who were advised health facility visits for screening, 67% (n = 2149) complied. Among these, 1804 (84%) received chest X-rays. Active TB was diagnosed in 39 (2%) contacts; they commenced TB treatment. Over 97% of 1216 contacts began TPT, with completion rates higher among females, those with more education and income, non-slum residents, and those without 3HP-related adverse events. Adverse events, mainly mild, occurred in 5% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: The 3HP regimen, with its short duration, self-administered option, and minimal side effects, achieved satisfactory completion rates. A community-focused TPT approach is feasible, scalable nationally, and aligns with UNHLM targets.

Incorporating patient reporting patterns to evaluate spatially targeted TB interventions.

PURPOSE: Tuberculosis (TB) is geographically heterogeneous, and geographic targeting can improve the impact of TB interventions. However, standard TB notification data may not sufficiently capture this heterogeneity. Better understanding of patient reporting patterns (discrepancies between residence and place of presentation) may improve our ability to use notifications to appropriately target interventions. METHODS: Using demographic data and TB reports from Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation, we identified wards of high TB incidence and developed a TB transmission model. We calibrated the model to patient-level data from selected wards under four different reporting pattern assumptions and estimated the relative impact of targeted versus untargeted active case finding. RESULTS: The impact of geographically targeted interventions varied substantially depending on reporting pattern assumptions. The relative reduction in TB incidence, comparing targeted with untargeted active case finding in Dhaka North City Corporation, was 1.20, assuming weak correlation between reporting and residence, versus 2.45, assuming perfect correlation. Similar patterns were observed in Dhaka South City Corporation (1.03 vs. 2.08). CONCLUSIONS: Movement of individuals seeking TB diagnoses may substantially affect ward-level TB transmission. Better understanding of patient reporting patterns can improve estimates of the impact of targeted interventions in reducing TB incidence. Incorporating high-quality patient-level data is critical to optimizing TB interventions.

Mortality risk associated with surgical treatment of female genital fistula.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the mortality risk associated with surgical treatment of female genital fistula and the contributory and contextual factors. METHODS: In a descriptive study, confidential inquiries and clinical audits were conducted at 14 fistula repair sites in seven resource-poor countries between January 2005 and March 2013. Data collection included interviews with key personnel involved in the clinical management of the deceased, and a review of hospital records and patient files following an audit protocol. RESULTS: Overall, 26060 fistula repairs were performed at 44 sites located in 13 countries; 30 deaths were reported in this period. Twenty-one deaths were attributable to surgery, yielding a case fatality of 0.08 per 100 procedures. The cause of death in nearly half of the cases was various manifestations of sepsis and inflammation. CONCLUSION: The case fatality rate for fistula repair surgery in resource-poor countries was in the same range as that for comparable gynecologic operations in high-resource settings. Clinical and systemic issues to be addressed to reduce the case fatality rate include improvement of perioperative care and follow-up, assuring prudent referral or deferral of difficult cases, and maintaining better records.