Sessions

*Please scroll down for more information*
All E-posters are accessible via the "E-posters" section of the conference platform until 30 November.

EP18-269-22-TB contact investigation in 17 municipalities of Uganda: bringing TB screening to the household via coalition with communitiesA half of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Uganda are missed, leading to continuous transmission in a system where case finding is passive. Community-led contact tracing (CI) was done to ensure early diagnosis and increasing access.  The results demonstrate that engaging community players in designing and implementing CI is effective. Community-led visiting is recommended.
Paddy Busulwa

EP18-270-22-Breakthrough TB among people living with HIV on isoniazid preventive therapy in ZambiaUse of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) has proven effective in the fight against latent tuberculosis (TB) infection and prevention of progression to active TB disease in people living with HIV. However, it has been observed that there are patients who develop TB while on IPT and usually in the first month of treatment.
Sarah Nyangu

EP18-271-22-TB preventive treatment: global targets and progress to dateAt the United Nations High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis (TB) in 2018, Member States committed to provide TB preventive treatment (TPT) to at least 30 million people between 2018 and 2022. In this presentation, we report global progress and recent trends on the main indicators for the programmatic management of TPT.
Saskia Den Boon

EP18-272-22-Understanding barriers to latent TB treatment in people living with HIV in Cambodia: results from the KAP survey and facility assessment from the OPTICAM studyTuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) coverage for people living with HIV is low (<30%) in Cambodia. Barriers from healthcare workers and facilities to prescribing (TPT) were assessed, highlighting the need for targeted training on TPT focusing on systematic TB screening, side effects and drug-drug interactions. Improving TPT drug supplies is essential to access.
Jennifer Campbell

EP18-273-22-TB preventive therapy among contacts above 5 years in line with United Nations High-level mission commitment: the journey so far in NigeriaThe new policy to place >5years (including adults) on TB preventive therapy (TPT) was recently adopted by countries at the United Nations High-Level Meeting. Gradual uptake of TPT among this populations is observed. The best method to ensure increased completion rate among this population is the use of a shorter TPT regimen.
Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro

EP18-274-22-Prevalence of latent TB infection among household contacts of TB patients in a low-resource, high burden TB/HIV settingThe proportion of interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) positive household contacts (HHCs) in Uganda that would require tuberculosis preventive therapy was unknown. In early 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 352 HHCs in the four regions of the country. Of those that participated, 32.7% had a positive IGRA test result.
Simon Muchuro

EP18-275-22-TB preventive treatment cascade among household contacts of people with TB in Western Uganda (October 2017–September 2018)Household tuberculosis (TB) contacts are at high risk for TB infection. People living HIV and children aged <5 years are at high risk for progression to TB disease and prioritised for TB preventive treatment (TPT). We examined the TPT cascade among household contacts following TB contact tracing, including HIV testing.
Monita R. Patel

EP18-276-22-Good proportion of household contact children under 5 years were TB screened but not getting preventive therapy in two regions of EthiopiaThis study assessed the extent of household contact screening and tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy implementation in two regions of Ethiopia - SNNPR and Addis Ababa. The contact investigation was conducted for contacts of bacteriologically-confirmed index pulmonary TB patients and the TB preventive therapy was provided for eligible children aged under 5 years.
Abdulsemed Umar

EP18-277-22-Implementation and scale-up of TB preventive treatment among people living with HIV, South Sudan, 2018–2020Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) decreases tuberculosis incidence and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). In South Sudan, staff from the Ministry of Health and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief overcame barriers to TPT implementation among PLHIV during 2018–2020.
Dennis Kenyi Lodiongo

*Please scroll down for more information*
All E-posters are accessible via the "E-posters" section of the conference platform until 30 November.

EP19-278-22-Mathematical modelling of new TB diagnostics at subnational sites: evaluating the effects on health systems and patients across sites in same province with differing characteristicsDifferent tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic strategies provide different benefits and require different resources.  We collected detailed pathway data from eight sites in a single Philippine province and evaluated five diagnostic strategies at each. Strategies were evaluated from a societal and health system perspective, with factors which significantly influenced the optimum strategies identified.  
Ewan Tomeny

EP19-279-22-Social media as a tool to build capacity and efficient clinical decision making for doctors working in resource-limited settingThe clinical care of presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients in remote areas can improve significantly by providing distance learning and effectively using social media as a tool to improve knowledge and capacity. This should be practiced in other hard-to-reach areas to provide quality care and accessible health services.
Myat Kay Khine

EP19-280-22-Access to quality TB diagnostic services in Nigeria: the role of specimen transport systemsSince 2016, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) adopted and implemented the policy of using GeneXpert machine as the primary TB diagnostic tool. Adoption and strengthening a mixed model for effective sputum specimen transportation system greatly increased access to quality diagnostic services, contributing to improved TB case finding.
Sani Useni

EP19-281-22-Lateral flow lipoarabinomannan test for diagnosis of TB among people living with HIV in selected health facilities in Nigeria: hype or hope?To increase tuberculosis (TB) case detection among people living with HIV (PLHIV), we evaluated the effectiveness of the lateral flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) test for TB diagnosis in PLHIV across selected states in Nigeria. Being a urine-based point-of-care- test, LF- LAM was found to bridge the diagnostic gap for PLHIV who could not produce quality sputum.
Nkiru Nwokoye

EP19-282-22-Impact of the rapid molecular test on the incidence of TB in an endemic city in the interior of São Paulo, BrazilEcological study. The Prais-Winsten autoregression method was used to classify the time trend of tuberculosis and then the interrupted time series method was used to identify whether there was a change in incidence after the beginning of diagnosis using the rapid molecular test.
Ricardo Arcêncio

EP19-283-22-Assessment of the quality management system in 23 national reference laboratories for TB in West and Central Africa using the SLIPTA toolAs part of the TB lab project coordinated by the World Health Organization's Supranational Reference Laboratory of Cotonou, the 23 National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for tuberculosis (TB) in the West and Central Africa region were assessed between July 2019 and January 2020 using the SLIPTA (Stepwise Laboratory Improvement Process Towards Accreditation) tool.
Faridath Massou

EP19-284-22-Results from Namibia’s first TB national disease prevalence survey 2017-2018To better inform the implementation of tuberculosis (TB) control activities in Namibia, it was necessary to quantify the magnitude of the disease burden. The TB disease prevalence survey served as a tool to quantify the burden of TB in Namibia to enable improvement of TB control and, ultimately, end the TB epidemic.
Nunurai Ruswa

EP19-285-22-Bayesian latent class analysis versus composite reference standards for assessing TB pleuritis diagnostic test accuracyWe used latent class analysis to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF for tuberculosis (TB) pleurisy, the most common form of extrapulmonary TB. We found that our estimates differed dramatically from accuracies derived from a variety of composite reference standards. 
Emily MacLean

EP19-286-22-A quarterly trend analysis of the contribution of the Wellness on Wheels intervention to TB case finding in Kano State, NigeriaThe aim of the study is to analyse the contribution of the Wellness on Wheels mobile diagnostic unit (WOW MDU) to case notifications in Kano state, Nigeria. The study showed that systematic screening using the WOW MDU is an effective method of increasing tuberculosis case notification rate and this can be scaled-up.
Mustapha Tukur

EP19-287-22-ARREST-TB: Accurate, Rapid, Robust and Economical diagnostic Technologies for TBWe share the significant progress made by ARREST-TB, a multilateral project funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, the Ministry of Science and High Education of Russian Federation, and India’s Department of Biotechnology, towards the development of frugal diagnostic devices for tuberculosis and drug resistance profiling.
Seshasailam Venkateswaran

*Please scroll down for more information*
All TBScience 2020 E-posters will be displayed from 10 am Central European Summer Time (CEST), on Wednesday, 21 October for the duration of the conference and beyond

EP-TBS-01-Increased neutrophil count and decreased neutrophil CD15 expression correlate with TB disease severity and treatment response
Lerato Ndlovu

EP-TBS-02-Genome-wide identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetic markers associated with the history of BCG vaccination
Kamela Charmaine S. Ng

EP-TBS-03-Characterization of regulatory B-cells for tuberculosis management
Irene Latorre

EP-TBS-04-Different antimycobacterial activity of alveolar macrophages in various lung legions of tuberculosis patients
Sergey Skornyakov

EP-TBS-05-Plasma mediators of phagocytosis in tuberculosis patients during anti-TB treatment and zinc supplementation
Victory Edem

EP-TBS-06-Discerning divergent tuberculosis endotypes: A meta-analysis of individual patient data
Andrew DiNardo

EP-TBS-07-Plasma Interferon (IFN)-g Inducible Protein 10 (IP-10) levels but not the QuantiFERON Gold plus assay correlate with disease severity and paradoxical reactions in extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Isabelle Suarez

EP-TBS-08-Host immune factors related to non-multidrug resistant tuberculosis with treatment history in Vietnam
Naoto Keicho

EP-TBS-09-Risk factors for the development of tuberculosis in children with chronic non-specific lung diseases.
Sofya Nakonechnaya

EP-TBS-10-Polyfunctional T-cells and IL-2 production decrease during pregnancy in women with latent TB infection
Jyoti Mathad

EP-TBS-11-Neutrophils Contribute to Tuberculosis-linked Inflammation and lung pathology
Caleb Nwongbouwoh Muefong

EP-TBS-12-Association of neutrophil-derived inflammatory mediator levels with lung pathology in active tuberculosis at diagnosis
Caleb Nwongbouwoh Muefong

EP-TBS-13-Characterising the BCG-induced antibody response for antigen discovery
Rachel Tanner

EP-TBS-14-ESAT-6 / CFP-10-stimulated metabolic activity of pleural fluid cells if cured tuberculosis or TB / HIV
Sergey Skornyakov

EP-TBS-15-Blood-Based Biomarkers of Tuberculosis in Children Integrating Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Data
Jeffrey A Tornheim

EP-TBS-16-Identification of TGF-β1 in pleural tuberculosis: the possible role in fibrosis
Silvio Renan Pinheiro Victor de Araújo

EP-TBS-17-Analysis of serum microRNAs as pulmonary tuberculosis biomarkers
JaeIn Jung

EP-TBS-18-Up-regulated programmed death protein 1 expression on CD4 T cells in patients with MDR-TB  associated with lung lesion and mycobacterial load
Qi Tan

EP-TBS-19-Malnutrition affects levels of vascular endothelial growth factor levels among children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis?
Caio Pluvier Duarte Costa

EP-TBS-20-Towards identification of protein markers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv extracellular vesicles (EV)
MEHALENE JAYARAM

EP-TBS-21-Increased frequency of CD39+ regulatory T cells in the pleural fluid of patients with Tuberculosisin comparison to other exudative causes
Ana Paula Santos

EP-TBS-22-Longitudinal analysis of M. tuberculosis-specific T cell responses demonstrates dynamic T cell responses to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 during pregnancy independently of mitogen responses.
Aparajita Saha

EP-TBS-23-Serum Cytokine Profile as Biomarker for Multi-drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Alahaman Nana Boakye

EP-TBS-24-Reanalysis and validation of Tuberculosis genes signature in blood and pleural fluid from patients with exudative pleural effusion
Raquel da Silva Corrêa

EP-TBS-25-TimBre, Cough based screening of Pulmonary Tuberculosis using Machine Learning that is Explainable and Interpretable
Rahul Pathri

EP-TBS-26-HbA1C as prognostic factor in PTB
Sarang Patil

EP-TBS-27-Better intradermal delivery for bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine by microneedles in healthy adults of S. Korea
Hyejon Lee

EP-TBS-28-MULTIPLEX BIOMARKER ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS
Puneet Gupta

EP-TBS-29-Role of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in the recruitment and retention of lung resident memory T cells following a pulmonary TB vaccine. 
Warwick Britton

EP-TBS-31-Benefit of Quantiferon-TB Gold plus in incidence of TB disease in Heath care workers of Central Chest Institute of Thailand
piamlarp sangsayunh

EP-TBS-32-The blood monocyte/lymphocyte, neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios in children with pulmonary tuberculosis
Larissa Gorbach

EP-TBS-33-Pulmonary tuberculosis patients have an anaerobe-enriched microbiota associated with a pro-inflammatory peripheral host immune phenotype
Charissa Naidoo

EP-TBS-34-The epidemiologic impact and cost-effectiveness of new tuberculosis vaccines on rifampicin resistant and multidrug resistant tuberculosis in India and China
Chathika Weerasuriya

EP-TBS-36-Novel, culture-free, same-day TB diagnosis with ultrasensitive ELISA
Rikiya Takeuchi

EP-TBS-37-Tuberculosis screening in point-of-care settings: Proof-of-concept for a fast and easy sample-to-answer qPCR-based protocol
Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa

EP-TBS-38-Diagnostic accuracy of three urine lipoarabinomannan tuberculosis assays in HIV-negative outpatients
Tobias Broger

EP-TBS-39-To Study The Presence Of Live Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Resected Lung Specimens Of Patients Undergoing Lung resection Surgery For Post-Tuberculosis Sequelae
Pallavi Purwar

EP-TBS-40-What can tuberculosis prevalence surveys tell us about the duration of asymptomatic bacteriologically-positive disease?
Chu-Chang Ku

EP-TBS-41-An RNA signature for tuberculosis risk in pregnant women: a prospective cohort study from India
Jyoti Mathad

EP-TBS-42-Analysis of mycobacterial trans-renal DNA for the diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis in adults.
Manisha Dass

EP-TBS-43-Developing a tool to identify and screen Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) with likelihood of progression to active Tuberculosis (ATB)
Prashant Singh

EP-TBS-44-QuantiFERON TB plus-negative results in clinically diagnosed paediatric tuberculosis: immune suppression or misdiagnosis?
Gloria Ivy Mensah

EP-TBS-45-Evaluation of a blood-based antigen test for tuberculosis in HIV-exposed children younger than 5 years
Tony Hu

EP-TBS-46-Adverse drug reactions in MDR TB Patients on ATT
Sarang Patil

EP-TBS-47-Species and Drug Susceptibility profile of Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria isolated from presumptive TB cases
PRIYA RAJENDRAN

EP-TBS-48-MAMA-PCR assay for the detection of point mutations associated with drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates
Raquel Muñiz-Salazar

EP-TBS-49-Genomic diversity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis from human lung resections reveals a high degree of multiclonal infections in a high-burden MDR-TB setting
Miguel Moreno-Molina

EP-TBS-50-Pathogen genome sequencing to guide treatment regimen designs for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis
Hans-Peter Grobbel

EP-TBS-51-An evolutionary functional genomics approach identifies novel candidate regions involved in isoniazid resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Victoria Furió

EP-TBS-52-Antibiotic Resistance Profile Determination Using Whole Genome Sequencing
Ryan Howard

EP-TBS-53-Rapid genomic drug resistance prediction from clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis specimens using amplicon based deep sequencing based on Deeplex-MycTB
Stefan Niemann

EP-TBS-54-Multi-resistant tuberculosis and HIV infection in Kinshasa: 2011-2018. DRC “Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects”
Nicole ANSHAMBI

EP-TBS-55-Long Read DNA Sequencing of XDR/MDR Tuberculosis Samples to Investigate Factors Leading to Resistance and Virulence
Michael Harris

EP-TBS-56-Genome-wide detection of epistasis in antibiotic resistant M. tuberculosis
Anna Green

EP-TBS-57-Population structure, biogeography and transmissibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Luca Freschi

EP-TBS-58-Safety and Efficacy of an MDR-TB All-oral Short-course Regimen in China: An Preliminary Analysis of the MDR-Chi clinical trial
Liang Fu

EP-TBS-59-Drug exposure and minimum inhibitory concentration predict pulmonary tuberculosis treatment response
Xubin Zheng

EP-TBS-60-A novel therapeutic vaccine against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis by T cell-immunity in phase 1 clinical trial.
Masaji Okada

EP-TBS-61-Improving the safety of TB therapy with novel diagnostic biomarkers of liver toxicity – a study in UK and Ugandan patients
Derek Sloan

EP-TBS-62-Tuberculosis meningitis mouse model
Tuhina Gupta

EP-TBS-63-Pharmacokinetics of the three-drug fixed-dose dispersible tablet in children
Aziza Pakhlavonova

EP-TBS-64-Does BCG Vaccination protect against infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Vietnamese schoolchildren?
Puck Pelzer

EP-TBS-65-Time to positivity as a surrogate biomarker of time to culture conversion
Belén P. Solans

EP-TBS-66-Use of the contact management register to identify those with Active and Latent TB, Kenya, Jan-March 2020
RHODA POLA

EP-TBS-67-Predicting Efficacy Outcome of Nine Tuberculosis Drugs in Phase 2a First-in-patients Studies
Nan Zhang

EP-TBS-69-Predicting optimal treatment durations for tuberculosis patients: a risk stratification algorithm and clinical simulation tool
Marjorie Imperial

EP-TBS-70-Adverse Drug Reactions in MDR TB Patients on Category IV Regimen in Western Odisha
SUMAN KUMAR JAGATY

EP-TBS-71-The effect of antiretroviral therapy and preventive tuberculosis therapy with anti-TB drugs on the duration of TB remission in HIV-infected patients
Igor Medvinskiy

EP-TBS-72-A Urine Colorimetric Assay for Levofloxacin Concentrations and Optimized Regimen Development
Prakruti Rao

EP-TBS-73-Development and Application of an Integrated Biomarker - Clinical Endpoint Tool for Late Stage TB Regimen Development and Clinical Trial Design
Marjorie Imperial

EP-TBS-74-Leveraging Neural Networks and Imaging Experts in Loops for Automated Tuberculosis Screening Using Chest Radiographs in Population Screening Programs to ensure efficient workflows.
Amit Kharat

EP-TBS-75-A model for the integration of traditional medicine into conventional medicine for the treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) in Zimbabwe
Winnet Enerita Chipato

EP-TBS-76-Point-of-Care Saliva Assay for Levofloxacin Concentrations and Personalized Dosing in Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Tanzania
Sagal Mohamed

EP-TBS-77-PBPK Model Informed Prediction to Evaluate the Effect of Renal Impairment and OCT genotypes on the Ethambutol Disposition
Yumi Park

EP-TBS-78-Development of Population Pharmacokinetic Model of the First-line anti-TB drugs in Korean patients with TB for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Guided Dose Adjustment
Yumi Park

EP-TBS-79-Model Informed Personalized Dosing Algorithm Development for TB Therapy in Center for Personalized Precision Medicine (cPMTb)
Yumi Park

EP-TBS-80-Classifying adherence trajectories: an innovative tool for​ regimen development
Stephanie Law

EP-TBS-81-Predicting pretomanid penetration into patient lesions of tuberculosis
Jacqueline Ernest

EP-TBS-82-Rifapentine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics: murine and human models to identify optimal dosing for treatment of latent M. tuberculosis infection
Jacqueline Ernest

EP-TBS-83-SLCO1B1 and SLC10A1 polymorphism and plasma rifampin concentrations in patients with co-morbidity tuberculosis-diabetes mellitus in Baja California, Mexico
Ricardo Perea-Jacobo

EP-TBS-84-Individual-Level Data Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events from Clinical Trials of Drug Sensitive Tuberculosis Treatment Regimens
Leah Jarlsberg

EP-TBS-85-G-clamp-inspired ligands and their effects on G-quadruplexes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Egor Shitikov

EP-TBS-86-Prediction of early bacterial activity (EBA) of bedaquiline in tuberculosis
Federico Romano

Community, Rights and Gender Assessments have been undertaken in Bangladesh, India and Indonesia - as a partnership between TB survivors, civil society, national TB Programme and Stop TB. These assessments have identified barriers to access and laid foundations for follow up work, including CRG Action Plans, Gender Frameworks and community led initiatives to help overcome the barriers identified. This session will being together stakeholders from each of the three focus countries to unpack the experiences and lessons learned from these assessments, and subsequent work, which can help other countries to get on track to achieve CRG related UNHLM TB targets and commitments.

Co-chaired by Stop TB and Stop TB NGO Delegation
Ms. Ani Hernasari, TB Survivor & PHD Candidate, POP TB, Indonesia
Dr Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, Deputy Director General, Head Central TB Division, India
Dr Imran Pambudi, National TB Programme Manager, Indonesia
Dr Rupali Sisir Banu, National TB Programme Coordinator Bangladesh
Dr Ramya Ananthakrishnan, Director, REACH, India
Mr Abhishek Kumar, TB survivor, India
Dr Heny Akhmad, Director, Stop TB Partnership Indonesia
Dr Akramul Islam, Director, BRAC, Bangladesh

*Please scroll down for more information*


11:00 - 11:05: Introduction


11:05 - 11:13: OA-10-556-22-Engaging private healthcare providers to intensify TB case detection Private healthcare providers play a key role in tuberculosis (TB) referral, diagnosis and treatment. Engaging them effectively can help to close the TB notification gap and ensure that patients receive proper TB care.

Rajesh Sah

11:13 - 11:21: OA-10-557-22-Rational medicine use when presented with TB symptoms: private sector prescribing practices in two urban regions of South Africa Are South African patients with tuberculosis (TB) and TB-HIV, who present to the private sector, diagnosed efficiently and effectively? Do they receive care that is of an acceptable cost to them and their community? We explore prescribing practices of private GPs and the potential contributors to TB diagnostic delay and antimicrobial drug resistance.

Angela Salomon

11:21 - 11:29: OA-10-558-22-Engaging informal providers to screen and refer TB presumptive cases for formal TB diagnosis: use of barcode sticker system to refer TB presumptives The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the national TB programme developed a systematic package of actively engaging traditional healers, pharmacies and drug stores to actively screen, refer and follow up TB presumptives for formal TB diagnosis at the facility in two districts in Malawi. It demonstrated the potential to increase TB notifications.

Godwin Nyirenda

11:29 - 11:37: OA-10-559-22-Integrating services of TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria at the community level: lessons from community systems', strengthening pilot project in Kenya Delivering  health services for each condition separately, contributes to fragmented service delivery at the community level. This abstract is about assessing the possibility of integrating services for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria at the community level, and monitoring if there was improvement in performance of the health indicators.

Paul Maleya

11:37 - 11:45: OA-10-560-22-Adherence to TB screening and treatment initiation guidelines in urban Nigeria: a study of TB care quality among private clinical providers in two states A study of private clinical providers’ management of presumptive and confirmed TB patients in urban Nigeria - using standardised patient and vignette survey methodology - reveals a minority of providers were able to demonstrate fully correct case management. Bottlenecks to correct management include provision, or referral, for diagnostics and counselling for confirmed patients.

Lauren Rosapep

11:45 - 11:53: OA-10-561-22-Provider-initiated active TB case finding in high volume, healthcare facilities: preliminary results from an ongoing project in Nigeria KNCV Nigeria's active tuberculosis (TB) case finding project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development, introduced provider–initiated TB case finding in health facilities. Designated screening officers and facility staff were trained on the use of a symptom checklist for TB screening in order to identify presumptive TB, linkage for diagnostic evaluation and treatment for confirmed TB cases.

Ogoamaka Chukwuogo

11:53 - 12:01: OA-10-562-22-Significant boost needed to ensure sustainable procurement by governments of WHO-recommended TB medicines in high burden countries while shifting from donor-supported to domestically-funded procurement While countries are increasingly required to purchase tuberculosis (TB) medicines with domestic funds, access to all World Health Organization (WHO) recommended TB medicines is not secured. Local registration of at least one source meeting WHO quality standards, up-to-date nEMLs, transparent national tenders. More focused technical assistance from donors and WHO is urgently required.

Christophe Perrin

12:01 - 12:20: Q&A

*Please scroll down for more information*


11:00 - 11:05: Introduction


11:05 - 11:13: OA-11-563-22-Comparison of three bacteriological methods of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid Detection of cell-free DNA of pathogens has got good results in the diagnosis studies of various diseases. We prospectively detect the cell-free DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), culture and Xpert MTB/RIF in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and evaluated the diagnostic value of this three methods for TBM.

Xuelian Li

11:13 - 11:21: OA-11-564-22-Non-invasive respiratory aerosol sampling using masks for detection of pulmonary TB in children The development of a non-invasive sampling method for paediatric tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is a priority research area. Respiratory aerosols collected on patients masks can be a simple and non-invasive source for diagnosis. This study provides a proof of concept that respiratory aerosols can be used for detection of pulmonary TB in children.

Kalpana Sriraman

11:21 - 11:29: OA-11-565-22-Stool-based Xpert Ultra testing for childhood TB in Kampala, Uganda We evaluated the performance of a centrifuge-free, rapid stool processing kit for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children using the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay. We present the diagnostic accuracy among children prospectively enrolled in Kampala, Uganda, and added yield with a repeat test.

Mariam Nakabuye

11:29 - 11:37: OA-11-566-22-Development of a treatment decision algorithm for HIV-uninfected children with presumptive pulmonary TB We developed treatment decision algorithms and demonstrated that, clinical history and examination, provides sufficient evidence to make a treatment decision for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) without chest radiography and Xpert. Starting more children on anti-TB treatment, based on clinical evidence, will contribute substantially to reducing TB mortality in children globally.

Kenneth Gunasekera

11:37 - 11:45: OA-11-567-22-Evaluation of mycobacterial smart probes: novel fluorescent probes for the detection of live mycobacteria in diagnostic samples The study focuses on the development of a new method for rapid screening of tuberculosis (TB) - new fluorescent dyes incorporated into the mycobacteria cell wall. At the University of Edinburgh, novel trehalose-based fluorescent probes (mycobacterial smart probes) were developed and evaluated in CTRI (Moscow, Russia).

Assel Baibek

11:45 - 11:53: OA-11-568-22-Identification and validation of efflux pump inhibitors against Rv1218c in multidrug-resistant TB clinical isolates To prevent resistance mediated by efflux pumps, designing inhibitors which in turn increases the activity of the antibiotics. Rv1218c is a major ABC transporter which causes efflux of multiple substrates, novobiocins and pyridines. We identified raffinose and palmitic acid as a potent efflux pump inhibitor, reducing the MICs of RMP.

Rajesh Mondal

11:53 - 12:20: Q&A

*Please scroll down for more information*
In March 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) consolidated guidelines on rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) included the recommendation that modified all-oral regimens to treat RR-TB should be adopted under operational research conditions.  Based on newly available data, the WHO released a Rapid Communication in December 2019 that recommended a specific all-oral, bedaquiline-containing regimen for programmatic use.  This workshop shares insights from countries that have early programmatic or operational research experience with all-oral shorter RR-TB treatment regimens, with particular focus on implementation planning and interim treatment outcomes.  

11:00 - 11:05: Introduction

11:05 - 11:17: Early adoption of a modified, all-oral shorter rifampicin-resistant TB regimen with group A and group B drugs in GeorgiaGiven a high prevalence of intolerance/confirmed resistance to several drugs in the standardised, injectable-based shorter regimen, Georgia initiated guideline revisions and protocol development after the World Health Organization consolidated guidelines in December 2018. In addition to guidance for longer, all-oral rifampicin-resistant TB regimens, national guidelines recommend a modified, all-oral shorter regimen (mSTR) of bedaquiline/linezolid/levofloxacin/clofazimine/cycloserine for nine months, with delamanid substitution for toxicities.  The guidelines and protocol were submitted to the Ministry of Health in January 2019, approved in June 2019, and fully implemented the same month.  To ensure rapid transition, drug quantification and ordering, along with training for all clinicians and staff, took place in parallel to approval processes.  While national policy allows use of mSTR programmatically, Georgia is committed to evidence generation as part of the World Health Organization Euro’s operational research initiative. As of April 2020, 106 patients have received mSTR; 17 have completed treatment with cure, 2 lost to follow-up, and 87 remain on treatment.
Nino Lomtadze

11:17 - 11:29: Rapid implementation of an all-oral, shorter rifampicin-resistant TB regimen during the COVID-19 pandemic in the PhilippinesTo improve on successful treatment outcomes of 58% in patients with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) in 2016, the Philippines introduced the standardised, injectable-based shorter regimen (SSTR) in January 2017 under programme conditions.  Treatment success of 68% for patients receiving the SSTR in 2017, revealed high rates of lost to follow up primarily due to adverse events from the injectable agent.  The national TB control programme met in January 2020 to plan the transition to an all-oral,shorter regimen based on the World Health Organization's December 2019 Rapid Communication; a departmental memorandum in February 2020 mandated all health facilities providing drug-resistant TB services to implement a standardised, shorter, all-oral bedaquiline based RR-TB regimen (SSOR) by 1 March 2020. Additional orientation and training on the guideline update were provided March-April 2020. Despite the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, within one month from release of local guidelines, there are more than 150 patients enrolled on SSOR in the Philippines.
Mary Rosary Santiago

11:29 - 11:41: Adopting best practices in rifampicin-resistant TB management in Zambia: implementation of WHO recommendations for all-oral RR-TB regimensOf the 507 patients started on treatment in Zambia in 2018, 357 (70%) started on the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standardised shorter regimen, 132 (26%) started on a longer, conventional regimen, and 18 (4%) started on an individualised regimen with bedaquiline. By the end of second quarter 2019, 60% of all patients started on rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) treatment were receiving a fully oral, bedaquiline-based longer regimen.  The National TB Programme of Zambia has kept pace with WHO recommendations, most recently with an addendum to the national RR-TB guidelines, finalised in September 2019, with immediate plans to phase out the injectable- based shorter regimen and move to fully-oral regimens for a majority of newly diagnosed RR-TB patients. By the start of 2020, all RR-TB patients are being commenced on injectable-free regimens. This presentation will describe the subsequent transition from injectable agents to bedaquiline, within the shorter regimen, from the perspective of clinicians and patients. 
Patrick Lungu

11:41 - 11:53: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on full implementation of all-oral shorter RR-TB regimens in PakistanThe National TB Programme (NTP) is among the lead countries with prompt implementation of World Health Organization (WHO) rifampicin- resistant/multidrug-resistant TB(RR/MDR-TB) recommendations and guidelines whenever required. The all-oral, longer treatment regimen containing bedaquiline was initiated in July 2019, with over 900 patients having received bedaquiline by December 2019. Following the issuing of WHO's Rapid Communication on the use of an all-oral, shorter treatment regimen in the same month, the NTP subsequently circulated an advisory in January 2020 to start enrolling eligible patients on a shorter regimen containing bedaquiline instead of amikacin. The advisory was immediately put into implementation at all 33 PMDT sites across the country. However, due to the emergence of the current COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, enrolments on the all-oral, shorter regimen have not met full potential and the pandemic response is seen as a huge challenge in optimum implementation.  
Abdul Ghafoor

11:53 - 12:20: Q&A session

*Please scroll down for more information*
The unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 warned the health system of its poor preparedness to combat any pandemic globally. Tobacco and tuberculosis (TB) are major global public health problems. Each year, tobacco kills around 8 million people and TB kills about 1.8 million. Evidences suggest that there is a deadly combination between TB and tobacco.  Emerging data shows that smokers and people with non-communicable diseases are more likely to suffer severe COVID-19 illness. The World Health Organization has estimated that eliminating smoking could reduce TB rates by as much as 20 percent. Government’s preparedness with adequate resources, cessation, prevention policies and taxation are critical to end TB and tobacco.

11:00 - 11:05: Introduction

11:05 - 11:15: The Union approach in establishing tobacco control into health systemsTobacco smoking appears to be an important and entirely avoidable risk factor for a poorer prognosis in COVID-19. COVID-19 has not only severely constrained health systems but with the looming danger of economic recession, it becomes even more vital to avert the huge financial cost of tobacco use to the global economy. The urgency to prioritise stronger action on integration of tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco control measures are mandatory. The Union approach ABC (ask, brief advice, cessation support) can be universally applied as it has produced more than 60% smoking quit rates among people with TB in India, Indonesia, China, Bangladesh and Philippines. Time to scale-up.
Tara Singh Bam

11:15 - 11:25: How effective is the systemic integration of smoking cessation into TB control programmes in creating smoke-free environments in Manila?We conducted a prospective observational study with an intervention group comprised of tuberculosis (TB) patients, receiving the modified ABC (ask, brief advice, cessation support) smoking cessation approach, and a control group receiving only regular health education, at selected health centres in Manila City. We enrolled 1,144 and 1,030 TB patients as an intervention and a control group, respectively. Tobacco smoking rates at registration indicated no significant difference between the groups, 31.6% vs. 27.3%, respectively. Both tobacco smoking and second-hand smoking rates throughout the TB treatment period were lower in the intervention group than in the control group. In contrast, there was no significant difference in TB treatment success rate between these groups, 85.0% vs.87.3% (P=0.201), respectively and the self-claimed health status at month 12 (P=0.132).
Akihiro Ohkado

11:25 - 11:35: COVID-19: a window of opportunity to prompt tobacco cessationAn initiative from academia, professional associations and civil society from several Latin American countries and Spain regarding COVID-19 and tobacco use will be presented. We prepared an evidence-based position statement focused on two questions: do smokers have higher risk of acquiring SARS-COV-2 infection and developing COVID-19?  And, do they have a more acute progression or a worse prognosis? The document was disseminated through webs, social media and traditional media, placing tobacco cessation on the COVID-19 agenda. As a result of this initiative, further steps regarding tobacco cessation and tobacco surveillance in the COVID- 19 contingency were achieved.
Maria Laura Llambi

11:35 - 11:45: Workplace-based health education strongly associated with improved knowledge of tobacco harm and reduced SHS exposureA cross-sectional study was conducted among 14,195 employees with, and without, previously treated tuberculosis (TB) in China. Findings show that health education was strongly associated with better awareness of tobacco harm (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.64-2.00, P<0.05), lower odds of SHS exposure (OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85, P<0.05), higher odds of perceived working in a healthy environment (OR=1.75, 95% CI 1.61-1.90, P<0.05) and improved health information seeking behaviour (OR=1.71, 95% CI 1.59-1.84, P<0.05). In a further analysis of those employees with a leading role in the company as a category variable, it showed significantly an association with perceived working in a healthy environment (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.73, P<0.05) and improved health information seeking behaviour (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.06-1.44, P<0.05). This study demonstrates positive association of health education with improved awareness of tobacco harm, lower SHS exposure and better health information seeking behaviour. Policy makers need to give attention to health education as a strategy for building smoke-free environments.
Yan Lin

11:45 - 11:55: Tobacco cessation among people with TB in Dhaka, BangladeshAn intervention of tobacco cessation in people with tuberculosis (TB) was made with the support of the national TB programme in Dhaka city. Frontline health workers identified tobacco users and level of addiction to tobacco, through interview. Every patient with a history of tobacco use was registered for counselling for tobacco cessation. Brief advice was given at registration and follow-up visits (2/3, 5, 6 months). In 2018 and 2019, a total of 13,579 patients were registered in BRAC support TB centres. Of them, 3012 patients were tobacco users (86% male, 14% female). Of the total tobacco users, 938 (31%) have high level of tobacco addiction and 2074 (69%) have low level of tobacco addiction. At the end of treatment, a total of 1716 (57%) TB patients quit tobacco use. This simple intervention could help to stop tobacco use in over 505 of the TB patients at the end of treatment.
Md Akramul Islam

11:55 - 12:20: Q&A session

*Please scroll down for more information*
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Laboratory Initiative recently updated policies, recommendations and resources for tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic testing for persons living with HIV (PLHIV). Implementation of WHO endorsed rapid molecular diagnostic assays and a urine based, rapid lateral flow assay must now shift to optimally detect TB among PLHIV. Expansion of TB diagnostic landscapes across test types, locations and sub-populations increases opportunity for patients and complexity for TB programmes. In this session, speakers will share their expertise and experience with the updates and directly interact with participants through audience polling and remote question and answer tools.

11:05 - 11:15: The TB-HIV testing landscape: World Health Organization policy updatesIn 2018, an estimated 0.86 million (8.6%) of the 10.0 million people who developed tuberculosis (TB) worldwide were HIV-positive. Traditional diagnostic methods often are less sensitive in HIV-positive TB patients, as these patients often have paucibacillary forms of TB. Unlike traditional diagnostic methods, urinary LAM assays demonstrate improved sensitivity for the diagnosis of TB among this group of patients. In May 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a Guideline Development Group (GDG) meeting, where the evidence on use of commercially available urinary LAM test were evaluated. The outcome was extending WHO recommendations on use of the test to broader groups of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Conventional NAAT tests are recommended for PLHIV as well. In December 2019 WHO convened a GDG meeting, where the evidence on use of several NAATs was evaluated and recommendations updated. Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert Ultra, Truenat MTB, MTB Plus, MTB-RIF Dx were recommended for broader patients groups, including PLHIV.
Alexei Korobitsyn

11:15 - 11:25: How? Practical global laboratory initiative resources to support updated WHO TB-HIV testing guidanceOn behalf of the Stop TB partnership’s Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI), Dr Heather Alexander will review GLI resources to support countries to review, implement and ensure quality for TB-HIV diagnostic testing strategies, policies, algorithms and networks. Highlights will include presentation of the GLI TB diagnostics implementation manual, the revised TB model algorithm for persons living with HIV and the practical guide for TB LAM implementation. Polling with be used throughout the presentation to review anonymous audience familiarity with up-to-date TB-HIV testing concepts and resources, and provide real-time feedback to GLI on themes of interest for further support. Participant responses may be used to guide live GLI website review of materials and resources for audience familiarity and quick reference.
Heather Alexander

11:25 - 11:35: Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and LF-LAM: lessons learned from South AfricaSouth Africa is an early adopter of new tuberculosis (TB) tools. Two such diagnostics implemented are the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and the LF-LAM. Whilst the improved sensitivity of the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra allows detection of more cases, a challenge emerged in managing a ‘trace’ result especially in light of the high proportion of previously treated TB in the country. Using the preliminary findings of the national TB prevalence survey an algorithm, addressing the management of Xpert Ultra ‘trace’ results, was developed and will be shared.
The LF-LAM testing algorithm for people living with HIV was developed in 2018 through National TB Think, taking into account clinical considerations. Training was initiated nationwide, for a roll out as a point of care diagnostic, and introduced in a phased approach. Several challenges have hampered implementation: kit availability, recording of results, competency in performing the test, task shifting etc. A hybrid model is now considered.
Farzana Ismail

11:35 - 11:45: Molbio Diagnostics Truenat™ MTB, MTB Plus and MTB-RIF: lessons Learned from IndiaMolbio Diagnostics (India) has developed chip-based RT-PCR assays for detection of tuberculosis (TB) i.e. Truenat™ MTB and the MTB-RIF Dx reflex assay for detection of RIF resistance. Basis interim data from a FIND coordinated multicentric, prospective field evaluation study, the performance of Truenat MTB, MTB Plus and MTB-RIF Dx assays showed comparable accuracy with Xpert MTB/RIF and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for TB detection and for sequential rifampicin resistance detection (WHO 2020). Truenat has been approved for use by India’s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) as a potential replacement for the smear microscopy test. There are currently 300+ Truenat platforms in India with a majority of them in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The Government of India is in the process of adding another ~1500 Truenat machines within the NTEP. The presentation will focus on the initial learnings from implementation that can be leveraged for a successful national, and potentially international, scale-up.
Sanjay Sarin

11:45 - 11:55: Challenges with maintaining quality of TB Xpert results in a low-resource countryAs tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic networks expand in test scope across far-reaching geography and across tiers of the laboratory network, additional resources are needed to ensure that accurate, reliable and timely test results are produced. Since 2011, the TB Xpert diagnostic network has expanded significantly in Uganda to include 250 testing sites that have evolved from use of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay to the more sensitive, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra. Quality assurance efforts have had to similarly expand to support training at the site, and above site, levels of production and use of quality management system documentation, conductance of internal and external quality assurance activities, and that all efforts are matched with appropriate monitoring, evaluation and corrective action, as needed. In a resource-limited setting, these dual expansions challenge the health system and programme and require innovative approaches for support.
Moses Joloba

11:55 - 12:20: Q&A session

*Please scroll down for more information*
This session describes activities of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Laboratory Initiative (ELI) with emphasis on development of integrative capacity to diagnose multiple diseases including, most recently, SARS-CoV-2. The ELI has developed and implemented policy statements for diagnostic and therapeutic integration, diagnostic algorithms, biosafety training, electronic external quality assurance dashboards for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), online training courses for the use and interpretation of WHO recommended rapid molecular techniques, and determined European laboratory readiness for the diagnosis of resistance to the drugs within the new multidrug-resistant TB treatment regimens, removal of western blot testing for HIV, and building behavioural science approaches into guidance strategies.

11:00 - 11:05: Introduction

11:05 - 11:15: European Laboratory Initiative (ELI) on TB, HIV and viral Hepatitis: supporting countries of the WHO European Region on integrated laboratory capacity building strategiesThe WHO European Region established the European Laboratory Initiative in 2012, in collaboration with the Global Laboratory Initiative, to strengthen laboratory capacities for accurate diagnosis and early detection of TB and drug resistant TB in the WHO European Region.
In 2018, ELI’s mission was expanded to upscale the detection of TB/HIV coinfection, HIV and viral hepatitis, with the ultimate objective of strengthening and making more efficient use of existing capacities for all 3 diseases.
During the COVID-19 pandemic this integrative capacity building approach has proven to be beneficial not only for TB, HIV and viral Hepatitis but also for SARS-CoV-2 testing. This presentation gives an overview of the Eli's activities.
Soudeh EHSANI

11:15 - 11:25: Algorithm for laboratory diagnosis and treatment monitoring of pulmonary TB and drug-resistant TB using state-of-the-art rapid molecular diagnostic technologiesThe World Health Organization (WHO) European Laboratory Initiative (ELI) has produced a key technical document describing how tuberculosis (TB) laboratories and programmes in the WHO European Region can increase the timely and accurate detection of TB and multidrug-resistant TB. The approach emphasises the importance of molecular-based diagnostics through the use of detailed algorithms for diagnostic and treatment progression. It helps laboratories and clinicians improve their joint understanding of what the test results mean, their limitations and the therapeutic actions that follow. It builds on the ELI online courses which provide practical training on the interpretation of WHO-endorsed tests for drug-resistant TB.
Francis Drobniewski

11:25 - 11:35: European Laboratory Initiative online course on drug-resistant TB: how to interpret rapid molecular test resultsThe European Laboratory Initiative for tuberculosis (TB), HIV and viral hepatitis has recently launched a free online course that provides practical guidance and expert advice on the interpretation of selected World Health Organization-endorsed tests for drug-resistant TB. More specifically, it covers the latest guidance for the interpretation of rapid molecular drug-susceptibility testing assays by Cepheid (GeneXpert MTB/RIF and GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra) and Hain Lifescience (GenoTypeMTBDRplus VER 2.0 and GenoTypeMTBDRsl VER 2.0). This presentation will introduce the course, assess its reception to date and outline future plans.

Claudio Koeser

11:35 - 11:45: Integration of multi-disease testing platforms for infectious diseases to maximise the benefit in time of need: using TB, HIV, and hepatitis C as an example.The presentation will focus on the role that integrated diagnosis and monitoring responses can have in the region as a means to provide high quality, more person-centred services, making use of the systems already in place. Drawing on examples from tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis C, it will reflect on opportunities and barriers moving forward, and provide examples of how systems can adjust in order to provide more effective responses.

Daniel Simoes

11:45 - 11:55: External quality assurance dashboard for TB drug-susceptibility testing: why a once-a-year evaluation is insufficient to guarantee for quality drug susceptibility testing resultsThe use of World Health Organization-recommended new anti-tuberculosis (TB) medications is emphasised in the new guidelines. High quality drug susceptibility testing (DST) and high DST coverage for notified TB cases is required. There is a global challenge with the number of bacteriologically-confirmed notified TB cases, despite excellent annual panel testing results. To ensure the quality of phenotypic DST and to verify the steps of diagnostic process, a comprehensive DST assessment tool has been developed to be used in future independently by laboratory workers. The tool aims to identify gaps and suggest ways to improve the drug susceptibility testing: i) evaluation of the performance and role of the laboratory in bacteriological confirmation among notified TB cases; ii) quick identification of weak points in the existing laboratory workflow; iii) recommendations for laboratory development; iv) standardisation of assessment process, uniform results; v) help in implementation of the recommended algorithm and laboratory quality indicators calculation.

Natalia Shubladze

11:55 - 12:20: Q&A session