CROI 2022 TB round up; Other TB scientific highlights

Treatment Action Group (TAG) released an overview of TB data reported at the 29th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2022) held virtually on 12-16 February 2022. A summary of major findings and TAG’s take on them are available here.

Other TB scientific highlights:

• Johns Hopkins Medicine: Higher dose antibiotic shown safe in TB patients likely more effective in treating deadliest form of TB

A study in animals, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggested that high doses of rifampin may safely treat and reduce the duration of treatment for the deadliest form of TB that affects the brain, TB meningitis, potentially improving survival rates for patients and decreasing the likelihood of lasting adverse effects of the disease.

• The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Accelerating research and development of new vaccines against TB: a global roadmap

To eliminate TB globally, new effective and affordable vaccines are needed. Initiated and funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), a Global Roadmap for Research and Development of Tuberculosis Vaccines was developed between September 2019 and February 2021. A review, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, listed the actions needed to accelerate the development and implementation of new TB vaccines using a participatory process.

• Healio: Study uncovers high rate of subclinical TB among people with HIV

The incidence of subclinical TB among people with HIV in a South African study was similar to the incidence of clinical TB, suggesting that guidelines recommending symptom-based screening may need to be updated.

• Pharmacy Times: Managing drug interactions in HIV and TB coinfection is complex

Managing drug-drug interactions in HIV/TB coinfection can be complex. As new studies are published and recommendations may change, best practices call for referring to resources such as the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services HIV guidelines or the University of Liverpool HIV drug interaction checker.

For more TB news, check out the latest edition of the TB Online Weekly Newsletter (#9, 22 March 2022), dedicated to World TB Day (24 March)