Showing posts with label IPT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IPT. Show all posts
Saving lives from TB-HIV co-infection through integrated care
Josephine Chinele, CNS Correspondent, Malawi
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Over 50% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Malawi develop TB at some point of time and 7% of TB patients die whilst on treatment. International Union against TB and Lung Disease Press Statement titled TB 2016 and AIDS 2016: Jointly Tackling the Co-epidemic released in July this year says that these diseases together make up a co-epidemic, posing unique challenges to individuals and communities that bear the burden of both diseases at the same time.
Why The World cannot fight AIDS by ignoring TB?
Francis Okoye, CNS Correspondent, Nigeria
Medical and historical evidence now abound, showing that the world cannot fight AIDS by ignoring TB. In 2015, the world recorded 10.4 million new TB cases of which people living with HIV (PLHIV) accounted for 1.2 million (11%) cases. There were an estimated 1.4 million TB deaths, with 400,000 deaths resulting from TB disease among PLHIV.
Integrated care is critical to saving lives from TB-HIV co-infection
Aarti Dhar, CNS Correspondent, India
(First published in theindiasaga.com)
Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pose a serious health risk. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the risk of developing TB is estimated to be between 26 and 31 times greater in people living with HIV (PLHIV). In 2015, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide, of which PHLIV accounted for 1.2 million (11%) cases.
Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pose a serious health risk. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the risk of developing TB is estimated to be between 26 and 31 times greater in people living with HIV (PLHIV). In 2015, there were an estimated 10.4 million new TB cases worldwide, of which PHLIV accounted for 1.2 million (11%) cases.
TB-HIV in pregnant women: Does drug metabolism change?
Dr Diana Wangari, CNS Special Correspondent, Kenya
In a global conference where lung health is addressed in different tracks through parallel and equally stimulating sessions, with emphasis on TB, one often finds oneself struggling about what session to attend and which one to forego on behalf of the other. I was often faced with a similar dilemma while attending the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health. Therefore, when I came across the session 'Maternal and Infant TB: Advancing our understanding of pathogenesis, treatment and prevention', I had to pause.
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| Photo credit: CNS: citizen-news.org |
Tackling the burden of HIV and TB: When to initiate ART?
Dr Balu Mote, CNS Correspondent, India
TB is one of the world’s ancient and deadliest diseases with a current estimated burden of 9.0 million people infected with it globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2014, 1.5 million people died of TB, of which 360000 were people living with HIV (PLHIV). Though the burden of TB is decreasing slowly, the deaths attributed to this curable disease are not acceptable. The burden of HIV among TB patients and burden of TB among HIV patients is not uncommon, even as efforts for preventing mortality due to TB and/or HIV go on.
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| Photo credit: CNS: citizen-news.org |
Time to walk the talk for accelerating towards TB-free India
India's fight against tuberculosis (TB) has made remarkable progress despite which formidable challenges remain. With the launch of 'Call To Action For TB Free India' last week amidst strong commitment from India's Health Ministry and other partners in fight against TB, it is high time to start preparing and acting upon the promises made towards ending TB in India, and eventually, the world.
Integrating TB-HIV services with maternal and child healthcare
Nenet L Ortega, CNS Special Correspondent
TB is the third leading cause of death for women worldwide in their childbearing years. Maternal TB leads to poor outcome for the mother and child, especially when the mother is infected with HIV. Intensified case finding, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), and infection control ("3 Is") remain the cornerstones of TB-HIV collaborative activities, but have not been systematically integrated into maternal and child healthcare (MCH) settings.
TB is the third leading cause of death for women worldwide in their childbearing years. Maternal TB leads to poor outcome for the mother and child, especially when the mother is infected with HIV. Intensified case finding, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), and infection control ("3 Is") remain the cornerstones of TB-HIV collaborative activities, but have not been systematically integrated into maternal and child healthcare (MCH) settings.
WHO launches new guidelines on management of latent TB infection
Shobha Shukla, Citizen News Service - CNS
For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines on testing, treating and managing latent TB infection (LTBI) in individuals with high risk of developing the disease. These guidelines were launched today at the Global TB Symposium just before the start of the 45th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona.
For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines on testing, treating and managing latent TB infection (LTBI) in individuals with high risk of developing the disease. These guidelines were launched today at the Global TB Symposium just before the start of the 45th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona.
'When a virus (HIV) and a bacteria (TB) can work so well together, why can't we?'
1st December: World AIDS DayWords of UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Michel Sidibe which I heard first at the Stop TB Partners' Forum in 2009: 'When a virus (HIV) and a bacteria (TB) can work so well together, why can't we?,' still hold true as all countries where TB and HIV co-infection is setting off alarm bells haven't yet fully implemented the TB-HIV collaborative activities as recommended by the WHO. "Countries where the TB epidemic is driven by HIV, such as Zimbabwe and other southern African countries, it is important that ministries of health adopt the 12 point package of collaborative TB HIV activities recommended by WHO" said Dr Riitta Dlodlo, TB-HIV Programme Coordinator, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) who is also a member of the TB/HIV Working Group of Stop TB Partnership housed in WHO Geneva.
Spotlight on TB-HIV co-infection at AIDS 2010
It is so nice to see that TB/HIV has been given due importance, focus and limelight in the recently observed IAC of Vienna. There were several oral sessions and poster presentation in the conference to share research, clinical and programmatic experiences on combined TB/HIV interventions around the world, chiefly from Africa. The conference has given us opportunity to know about the key lessons learned from the TB/HIV collaborative activities in the countries though it is also felt that the experiences of Asia should have been highlighted more. Read more
Should tuberculosis (TB)-preventive therapy (IPT) be given to all?
Denying IPT to people-with latent TB is a human rights violation
Denying IPT to people-with latent TB is a human rights violation
"In Lesotho, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease, is not available for ordinary citizens but only for health workers. Those people who have latent TB infection have a right to protect themselves and access IPT services to prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease. I consider these people have a right to get IPT. Everybody has a right to health, when it comes to TB prevention" said Maketekete Alfred Thotolo, Treatment Literacy & Advocacy Coordinator, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Lesotho, who also represents AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA). Alfred was speaking to this Key Correspondent on the sidelines of pre-conference sessions before the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health opens in Cancun, Mexico this week (3-7 December 2009).
The Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership has clearly stated that: IPT works, IPT is safe, and IPT works with ART or by itself.
TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV, even in those taking antiretroviral therapy. TB could be prevented in millions of people infected with both HIV and TB through the use of IPT. IPT is an important intervention for preventing and reducing active TB in communities affected by HIV - preventing active TB can prevent millions of people from being infected in the community and in health care services.
IPT is safe and effective and the treatment lasts for 6-9 months. It is only given to people who have confirmed latent TB infection (not to be given to those with active TB disease). Effective IPT treatment reduces the development of active TB disease in 40-60% of patients.
Despite of the potential public health outcomes of using IPT effectively in high burden TB countries, and IPT being one of the key interventions recommended by WHO in 1998 to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV, the uptake of IPT has been very low. Clearly there is a need to mobilize TB-HIV affected communities and other stakeholders to integrate IPT as part of the package of health services.
Alfred is possibly right on-spot: everybody has a right to health - and this includes the right to access IPT services to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease. It also means increasing TB screening in the communities so that people go for TB test to ascertain whether they have latent TB or active TB disease or no TB at all. IPT advocacy boosts the effort behind scaling up TB screening among people living with HIV - so that appropriate services can be provided and this does include IPT if the person has latent TB. Is denying IPT and putting people at risk of developing active TB disease,not a human rights violation?
Integrating IPT services for TB prevention doesn't mean upping the cost at country level, possibly. A 2007 World Bank research report "The Economic Benefit of Global Investments in Tuberculosis Control" found that 22 countries with the world’s highest numbers of TB cases could earn significantly more than they spend on TB diagnosis and treatment if they signed onto a global plan to sharply reduce the numbers of TB-related deaths. Highly affected African countries could gain up to 9 times their investments in TB control. When the economic benefits of effective TB care and control are estimated to be greater than the cost, governments shouldn't delay improving TB responses by preventing TB in those who have latent TB effectively.
After all, Alfred is right: health is a fundamental human right and this includes right to have IPT for those who are eligible for it.
"In Lesotho, Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease, is not available for ordinary citizens but only for health workers. Those people who have latent TB infection have a right to protect themselves and access IPT services to prevent latent TB from becoming active TB disease. I consider these people have a right to get IPT. Everybody has a right to health, when it comes to TB prevention" said Maketekete Alfred Thotolo, Treatment Literacy & Advocacy Coordinator, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Lesotho, who also represents AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA). Alfred was speaking to this Key Correspondent on the sidelines of pre-conference sessions before the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health opens in Cancun, Mexico this week (3-7 December 2009).
The Global TB/HIV Working Group of the Stop TB Partnership has clearly stated that: IPT works, IPT is safe, and IPT works with ART or by itself.
TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV, even in those taking antiretroviral therapy. TB could be prevented in millions of people infected with both HIV and TB through the use of IPT. IPT is an important intervention for preventing and reducing active TB in communities affected by HIV - preventing active TB can prevent millions of people from being infected in the community and in health care services.
IPT is safe and effective and the treatment lasts for 6-9 months. It is only given to people who have confirmed latent TB infection (not to be given to those with active TB disease). Effective IPT treatment reduces the development of active TB disease in 40-60% of patients.
Despite of the potential public health outcomes of using IPT effectively in high burden TB countries, and IPT being one of the key interventions recommended by WHO in 1998 to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV, the uptake of IPT has been very low. Clearly there is a need to mobilize TB-HIV affected communities and other stakeholders to integrate IPT as part of the package of health services.
Alfred is possibly right on-spot: everybody has a right to health - and this includes the right to access IPT services to prevent latent TB infection from becoming active TB disease. It also means increasing TB screening in the communities so that people go for TB test to ascertain whether they have latent TB or active TB disease or no TB at all. IPT advocacy boosts the effort behind scaling up TB screening among people living with HIV - so that appropriate services can be provided and this does include IPT if the person has latent TB. Is denying IPT and putting people at risk of developing active TB disease,not a human rights violation?
Integrating IPT services for TB prevention doesn't mean upping the cost at country level, possibly. A 2007 World Bank research report "The Economic Benefit of Global Investments in Tuberculosis Control" found that 22 countries with the world’s highest numbers of TB cases could earn significantly more than they spend on TB diagnosis and treatment if they signed onto a global plan to sharply reduce the numbers of TB-related deaths. Highly affected African countries could gain up to 9 times their investments in TB control. When the economic benefits of effective TB care and control are estimated to be greater than the cost, governments shouldn't delay improving TB responses by preventing TB in those who have latent TB effectively.
After all, Alfred is right: health is a fundamental human right and this includes right to have IPT for those who are eligible for it.
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