TB-Related News and Journal Items
Weekly Update
Week of August 21 to August 27, 2011
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provides the TB-Related News and Journal Items Weekly Update as a public service
only. This update is a compilation of TB-related articles published for the benefit and
information of people interested in TB, and we do not confirm the accuracy of the data
in the articles that are abstracted. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on TB does not constitute CDC endorsement. This update may also
include information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases,
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be sold. For those items reproduced from the first section of the TB weekly update, the
CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited. For any other
items in the TB weekly update, you may cite the CDC TB-Related News and Journal
Items Weekly Update.
The TB Update will be on hiatus next week, and will resume publication
on September 9, 2011.
This Week's Contents
TB-Related Announcements
News Item(s) From the CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update
Headlines
Journal Articles
Job Announcements
Upcoming Conferences, Trainings, and Other Events
TB-Related Announcements
1. Round 11 Global Fund Launch: Let's Make It a TB Round!
Stop TB Partnership, August 15, 2011
Proposal submission deadline: December 15, 2011
August 15, 2011, was a very important day for all people committed to making TB care
available to all who need it. It marked the launch of Round 11 of the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 2015, the year in which the Stop TB Partnership
has committed to meet the MDGs and the targets of the Global Plan to Stop TB, is
nearing. Round 11 provides a unique and timely opportunity to move forward. The Stop
TB Partnership wants to make it as easy as possible for eligible countries to write highquality proposals that are specifically tailored to each country's context and are
inclusive, sharp, and linked to clear gap analysis and budgets.
To this end, a user-friendly web page has been established that includes guidance and
tools to help you prepare the best possible proposal and links you to other partners'
resources. The Stop TB Partnership encourages you to visit the page often, as new and
helpful materials will continually be added to the page.
On August 15, the Stop TB Partnership launched an e-mail-based Round 11 hotline –
gfr11tbhelp@who.int. The staff in the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat and colleagues
from the WHO Stop TB Department will be on a continuous duty roster, ready to
answer questions that come up as you write your proposal. The hotline will remain live
until December 15, the deadline for proposal submission.
The Stop TB Partnership urges you to include in your TB proposals strong components
on civil society strengthening and to make sure that community representatives are
included in all stages of planning and preparation of your Global Fund proposals.
You are welcome to write directly to Dr. Lucica Ditiu, Executive Secretary, Stop TB
Partnership, for advice or to share your thoughts or challenges, using the hotline address
gfr11tbhelp@who.int.
For more information, visit http://www.stoptb.org/news/stories/2011/ns11_056.asp.
2. UNITAID Seeking Letters of Intent to Promote Uptake of Diagnostic
Technologies
Stop TB Partnership, August 9, 2011
LOI deadline: September 20, 2011
Following a decision by its Board, UNITAID has issued a call for letters of intent on the
topic of diagnostics for HIV, TB and malaria. With this move, the UNITAID Board has
recognized the critical role diagnostics play in increasing access to quality treatment for
people living in low-income or low-middle-income countries with a high burden of
these diseases.
Letters of intent should target effective and accelerated scale-up of diagnostic
technologies that are of high quality and are affordable and acceptable to allow the
maximum number of people, especially those in vulnerable groups, to access them.
Letters should be submitted to letterofintentunitaid@who.int and must be received by
WHO/UNITAID by 17:00 Geneva time (GMT+1) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
Click Requests for proposals (RFP) for more information.
3. Call for Papers
Tuberculosis Research and Treatment Journal
Manuscript Due: November 18, 2011
Tuberculosis Research and Treatment invites investigators to contribute original
research articles and review articles that describe public health theory or efforts that
demonstrate the critical importance of adopting and implementing innovative
techniques and methods for detection, prevention, control, and treatment of TB.
Furthermore, space will be allocated for those that highlight the process of translation,
policy implementation, and impact. Legal and regulatory reforms are important parts of
the policy process. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Surveillance, including establishing new systems components,
innovation, and enhancements, and their relationship to public health policy
and practice
- Testing and implementation of new diagnostics into existing practice and
algorithms
-
Innovative methods for detection and control of transmission
- Development of new drugs and drug regimens for treatment of disease
and latent TB infection
-
Translating innovation into public health practice
- Importance and impact of policy, including legal and reform, for
implementation of innovative methods and techniques for control of
tuberculosis
Before submission, authors should carefully read the journal's Author Guidelines, which
are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/trt/guidelines/. Prospective authors
should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal
Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following
timetable:
Manuscript Due: November 18, 2011
First Round of Reviews: February 17, 2012
Publication Date: May 18, 2012
For more information, visit http://www.hindawi.com/journals/trt/si/pait/.
4. Manufacturers of Anti-TB Drugs Invited to Submit Expressions of Interest
Stop TB Partnership, July 26, 2011, Geneva
The Stop TB Partnership's Global Drug Facility (GDF) and the Global Fund invite
manufacturers of first-, second-, and third-line antituberculosis drugs to submit
expressions of interest for product evaluation by an expert review panel.
Manufacturers should submit dossiers for products not WHO-prequalified and/or SRAauthorized. The deadline for drug product dossier submissions is September 15, 2011.
For detailed information, read
http://stoptb.org/assets/documents/gdf/PSM_GFEOIAntiTBFV_Letter_en.pdf.
News Item(s) From the CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News
Update
1. TB Cases Go Down in Northern Ghana
Xinhua News Agency, August 10, 2011, by Albert Ansah
Northern Ghana’s TB program has seen successful treatment rates rise in the last few
years, but improving case detection remains a challenge, said the region’s TB control
coordinator. In an interview with Xinhua, Abu Accrachie said Ghana’s Northern
Region, located about 409 miles north of the capital Accra, increased its treatment
success rate to 85.2 percent in 2009. The rate was 77.8 percent in 2006, and 83 percent
in 2007; it reached a record high of 87 percent in 2008. These figures reflect a positive
outcome from the management of TB in the region, said Accrachie. The main program
goals have been to reduce morbidity and mortality, to control transmission, and to
prevent the development of TB drug resistance, Accrachie said. “We are sending
treatment to the doorsteps of patients through their relatives, caretakers, and other
supporters,” he said. “We have also adopted a standardized diagnostic tool for TB
patients, a standardized reporting system, and an uninterrupted drug supply system.”
Plans are underway to involve youth groups, churches, and schools to help TB
education efforts, according to the coordinator. But Accrachie said poor awareness of
the bacterial disease is keeping TB case detection rates well below the targets set by
health authorities. “The region was expected to record about 4,000 cases yearly, but that
is not the case for us,” he said. In 2008, an estimated 677 TB cases were detected,
dropping to 549 in 2009, and 541 in 2010. “We need more regular and committed staff,
because many of those who have been trained did not stay longer to apply their skills,”
Accrachie said.
2. TB Infection Prompts Call (North Carolina)
The Robesonian (Lumberton), August 19, 2011, by Ali Rockett
TB screening of students and staff of South Robeson High School, where a student
tested positive for the infection, has turned up 10 more positive results, the Robeson
County Health Department (RCHD) said August 18. Officials have identified 171
youths and staff members who were exposed and should be screened; at present,
however, only 71 skin tests have been administered and evaluated. Two testing sessions
have been conducted; another is planned after classes resume on Aug. 25. RCHD is
using letters and follow-up calls to reach those who should be screened. “While it is
important for the entire school to be aware of this exposure, a small number of
individuals are likely to require follow-up and testing, and no one is at immediate risk
of health problems,” said the department’s statement. Those who received a letter and
have not yet been tested should telephone RCHD at 910-671-3200.
3. Possible TB Exposure Reported at Roosevelt High (Texas)
San Antonio Express-News, August 17, 2011
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has announced plans to test 105
Roosevelt High School students and staff for TB after learning a pupil had the disease
during spring semester. Metro Health Director Dr. Thomas Schlenker said the student
developed a cough in late April but did not seek care at the TB clinic until mid-July.
Parents and faculty have been notified, North East Independent School District officials
said, while Metro Health staffers are contacting the parents of those students who need
to be screened. “We just want to assure parents that the students are coming back to a
safe and secure environment,” said district spokesperson Chrissie Kolb. Persons with
questions or concerns should contact the district or Metro Health, she added. There are
2,652 students and faculty at Roosevelt High.
Headlines
1. New Treatment Potential Found in Popular TB Drug (India)
Voice of America, www.voanews.com, August 19, 2011, by Vidushi Sinha
Pyrazinamide is used along with other drugs to treat active TB disease. According to
Dr. Clifton Barry at the US National Institutes of Health, the addition of pyrazinamide
has shortened TB treatment from two years to six months. Although pryzinamide alone
cannot kill the active TB bacterium, it kills the latent TB microbe. Researchers now
have an improved understanding of how pyrazinamide works at the molecular level, and
will be able to design a more potent form of the drug that could shorten TB treatment
possibly to two months. Dr. Barry proposes that treating people with latent TB infection
may make a big difference in how many people acquire the disease, as it would prevent
much of the TB transmission. Experts are happy about the new understanding of this
drug, but they believe that in addition to better drugs and treatment for TB, faster, more
reliable TB testing is needed.
2. Chatham County Jail Inmates to Be Screened for TB again (United States)
WSAV.com, http://www2.wsav.com/news/, August 22, 2011, by Tuquyen Mach
After an inmate who had been housed at the Chatham County Jail in Savannah,
Georgia, was diagnosed with active TB disease, the health department is now planning
to re-screen inmates who were in contact with the patient. The patient tested negative
for TB twice while in the Chatham County Jail, and was transferred to a state-run
facility two months ago.
3. Boone County Receives Money for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control
(Missouri, United States)
Columbia Missourian, www.columbiamissourian.com, August 20, 2011, by Katie
Alaimo
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $11,730 to Boone
County, Missouri, TB prevention and control programs. According to Mary Martin,
Public Health Manager at Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
Department, the money will be used for staff training in TB treatment and prevention.
Two nurses will be trained at Southeastern National TB Center, Florida, and one nurse
and a physician will attend a more intensive program at Heartland National TB Center,
Texas. The remainder of the grant will be used to recoup costs of translation services
and labs, which the agency had been paying on its own. The grant was awarded because
of the high number of TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI) cases in Boone
County. The county had the fifth highest number of latent TB cases in the state from
2007 through 2009. There were 285 cases in 2007, 217 in 2008, and 252 in 2009. In
2010 the county ranked fourth highest with 251 reported active cases of TB. So far this
year, the county has recorded 110 LTBI cases and one TB case.
4. Heat Signature Aids TB Diagnosis (Switzerland)
Medpage Today, www.medpagetoday.com, August 21, 2011, by John Gever
Olivier Braissant PhD, of the University of Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues have
determined that the small amount of heat given off by TB bacteria as they grow would
result in a rapid diagnostic test affordable to poor countries. When Braissant and
colleagues analyzed solutions containing a variety of lab-adapted mycobacterial species,
isothermal microcalorimetry measurements were able to detect TB-causing
mycobacteria as effectively as conventional culturing methods, and were much faster.
Fast-growing species were detected in about one to two days with microcalorimetry,
while it took up to 12 days to identify slower-growing organisms. Culturing can take
two months to find a definite result and are often too expensive for developing countries
where TB is endemic. The microcalorimetry instrument used in the study costs about
$60,000. The researchers noted that the samples for isothermal microcalorimetry were
simple to prepare, and after testing the samples could be used for additional testing, as
they are not altered by the passive heat-flow measurement. They suggested that a chipbased technology for calorimetry could reduce costs. The study was published in the
Journal of Applied Microbiology 2011;DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2011.05117.x.
5. TB Control Programme A Success in Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)
Newsday, www.newsday.co.zw, August 21, 2011, by Bridgette Bugalo
Thaba Moyo, mayor of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, stated that the World Health
Organization (WHO) has praised the city for its work in achieving an 83 percent success
rate in its fight against TB, and was just two percentage points short of WHO’s target of
85 percent. The TB program had achieved a three percent default rate, compared to a
national target of five percent. The mayor explained that his council was working in
collaboration with clinics and international health bodies toward the goal of eradicating
TB and HIV. The council has provided collaborative TB/HIV activities in all the clinics
for the past three years, and two clinics supported by the International Union Against
TB and Lung Disease (the Union) have led the collaboration. The mayor pledged to
continue the awareness campaigns to reduce the TB notification rate of 540 cases per
100,000 population, and will continue to pursue the sixth Millennium Development
Goal: to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
6. Govt Establishes 982 TB Diagnostic Service Centres (Pakistan)
The International News, www.thenews.com.pk , August 24, 2011
The government has set up approximately 982 microscopy centers in Pakistan that have
the capability to provide free TB diagnosis to patients. More than 700,000 TB patients
were treated for free, and 100 percent coverage of the WHO-recommended treatment
strategy for detection and cure, known as DOTS, was achieved in Pakistan. Official
sources stated that external quality assurance for sputum microscopy was implemented
in 40 districts of Pakistan, and five reference laboratories were established, including
one at the federal level and one at the provincial level. Health education and training
materials were developed, and health care providers have been trained.
7. Davao Faces Uphill Battle vs Tuberculosis (The Philippines)
Sun Star Davao, www.sunstar.com , August 11, 2011
Davao City in the Philippines has reached only 5 percent of its goals in its campaign
against TB. Dr. Ashley Lopez, Medical Coordinator of the National TB Program, stated
that in spite of the insignificant figures on record, program workers are sure that they
will be able to strengthen the program's advocacy. Lopez spoke at the Club 888 forum.
He stated that a total of 2,934 TB patients underwent treatment in 2010; however, a
greater number of people infected with TB remain untreated in the city and in other
regions. Lopez explained that the low percentage is a result of lack of facilities and
funding. Part of the city's Millennium Development Goal is to reduce by half the
number of patients infected with TB by year 2015. The global campaign also aims to
end TB by the year 2050. Dr. Parkash Mansukani, Co-Chair of the TB Regional
Coordinating Committee, said that most HIV patients die of either pneumonia or TB;
therefore, the program has added TB testing for all HIV-infected patients. Mansukani
noted that two months ago, health care workers were trained in encouraging TB patients
undergoing treatment to be tested for HIV as well. The World Health Organization
(WHO) website reveals that there are 9.4 million cases of TB for 2009, and an average
of 1.7 million die as a result of TB, including 380,000 deaths due to HIV. WHO
identifies both viruses as the "world's biggest infectious killers." To strengthen its
advocacy, the TB program has continued to use DOTS, which has been acclaimed by
the World Bank as one of the most cost-effective health strategies. Among the
strategies formulated by WHO to stop TB are to (1) pursue high-quality DOTS
expansion and enhancement; (2) address TB/HIV, multidrug-resistant TB, and the needs
of poor and vulnerable populations; (3) contribute to health system strengthening, based
on primary health care; (4) engage all care providers; (5) empower people with TB and
communities through partnership; and (6) enable and promote research.
Journal Articles
1. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2011 Jul; Volume 18, Number 7: 726-32. doi:
10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01112.x. Emergency Department Presentation of
Children with Tuberculosis; Cruz, A.T., Ong, L.T., Starke, J.R.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study described emergency department (ED) presentations of children with TB
disease and assessed the utility in children of TB screening tools developed for adults.
Subjects were children at most 18 years old with confirmed or probable TB seen at the
Children's TB Clinic from 2005 to 2009 who were initially evaluated in the ED for
symptoms compatible with TB in the preceding month. TB was classified as
microbiologically confirmed disease or probable TB disease, as defined by the World
Health Organization. Sixty children (29 with confirmed TB and 31 with probable TB)
were identified after presentation to the ED, representing 35% of all children diagnosed
with TB at the two hospitals during this interval. Eighty-eight percent were previously
healthy. Fifty-five percent were Hispanic, 30% were black or African American, 12%
were Asian, and 3% were white. Forty-four (73%) had intrathoracic disease (37
pulmonary parenchymal or pleural disease, four miliary disease, two endobronchial, one
pericarditis). Sixteen (27%) had extrathoracic disease (eight meningitis, five cervical
lymphadenopathy, two gastrointestinal, one interstitial keratitis), 11 of whom also had
abnormal chest radiographs, including all eight children with TB meningitis. Most
(76.7%) were diagnosed at the time of their first ED visit or during their first hospital
admission, 12% after their second ED visit, 10% after their third ED visit, and one
patient after six ED visits to various facilities. In 33 cases (55%), the diagnosis was
suspected in the ED because of epidemiologic risk factors (15), radiographic evaluation
(11), or symptoms (7). Hemoptysis (12%) and night sweats (10%) were uncommon.
Neither cavitary lesions (seen in two children) nor apical lesions (seen in 42%)
predominated. The five screening tools validated for adults with pulmonary disease
were 77% to 98% sensitive in identifying children with intrathoracic TB and 50% to
100% sensitive for extrathoracic TB. The point of entry to health care for many children
with TB is the ED. The more protean manifestations of TB in children can decrease the
utility of screening tools developed to identify adults with TB. While TB in adults often
is a microbiologic diagnosis, childhood TB often is an epidemiologic diagnosis.
Questioning caregivers about TB risk factors in the family may identify a higher
percentage of children with possible TB.
2. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011 Aug; Volume 53, Number 3: 291-4. Racial
Differences in Tuberculosis Infection in United States Communities: The Coronary
Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study; Nahid, P., Horne, D.J., Jarlsberg,
L.G., Reiner, A.P., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
Previously reported associations between race/ethnicity and TB infection have lacked
sufficient adjustment for socioeconomic factors. The researchers analyzed race/ethnicity
and self-reported TB infection data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in
Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a well-characterized cohort of 5,115 black and white
participants, and found that after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors,
black participants were more likely to report TB infection and/or disease (odds ratio,
2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.9).
3. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2011 Aug; Volume 53, Number 3: 234-44. Impact of
Targeted Testing for Latent Tuberculosis Infection Using Commercially Available
Diagnostics; Mancuso, J.D., Tribble, D., Mazurek, G.H., Li, Y., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
The interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) are increasingly being used as an alternative to
the tuberculin skin test (TST). Although IGRAs may have better specificity and certain
logistic advantages to the TST, their use may contribute to overtesting of lowprevalence populations if testing is not targeted. This study evaluated the accuracy of a
risk factor questionnaire in predicting a positive test result for latent TB infection
(LTBI) using the 3 commercially available diagnostics. A cross-sectional comparison
study was performed among recruits undergoing Army basic training at Fort Jackson ,
South Carolina, from April through June 2009. The tests performed included: (1) a risk
factor questionnaire; (2) the QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube test (Cellestis Limited,
Carnegie, Victoria, Australia); (3) the T-SPOT.TB test (Oxford Immunotec Limited,
Abingdon, United Kingdom); and (4) the TST (Sanofi Pasteur Ltd., Toronto, Ontario,
Canada). Prediction models used logistic regression to identify factors associated with
positive test results. RFQ prediction models were developed independently for each test.
Use of a 4-variable model resulted in 79% sensitivity, 92% specificity, and a c statistic
of 0.871 in predicting a positive TST result. Targeted testing using these risk factors
would reduce testing by >90%. Models predicting IGRA outcomes had similar
specificities as the skin test but had lower sensitivities and c statistics. As with the TST,
testing with IGRAs will result in false-positive results if the IGRAs are used in lowprevalence populations. Regardless of the test used, targeted testing is critical in
reducing unnecessary testing and treatment.
4. Collegium Antropologicum. 2011 Jun; Volume 35, Number 2: 523-8.
Epidemiological Patterns of Tuberculosis in Croatia in the Period 1996-2005;
Jurcev-Savicević, A., Katalinić-Janković, V., Gjenero-Margan, I., Simunović, A., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
The last comprehensive publication on TB in Croatia and the earliest impact of war,
besides the yearly routine reports, was done in 1996 in Croatian. The researchers were,
therefore, interested to explore incidence trends and to highlight the early post-war TB
epidemiological patterns in the next ten years period (1996-2005). A retrospective
analysis of epidemiological data on all registered TB cases in Croatia searching the
databases of 21 Croatian Public Health Institutes and the National TB Registry was
made. During the study period, the total TB incidence rates in Croatia dropped from 45
to 25.8/100,000 inhabitants. The average highest age-specific rates were recorded in the
age group > or = 65 years being in decrease in all age groups. Pediatric cases (0-14
years) represented 4.5% of all cases. TB cases among males were recorded in 64%
cases, and 83.6% were indigenous population. TB was bacteriologically confirmed in
67.7% cases. A low proportion of drug resistance (3.3%) was recorded. During 19852005, 56 TB cases among 242 AIDS cases were reported. TB mortality showed a
decreasing trend (p < 0.001). However, TB has still had the highest mortality rates
among infectious diseases in Croatia. Despite the war chain of events and TB
programmatic changes, TB incidence rates in Croatia have been decreasing but they are
still far away from national target, incidence rate of 10/100,000 declared in 1998 and
much higher than in European Union and Western Europe. TB among children,
resistance to TB drugs, and HIV prevalence, significant problems in many European
countries, have not caused problems in TB control in Croatia. This favorable
epidemiological situation must be kept and improved through strengthened TB control
measures.
5. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2011 Jul; Volume 15,
Number 7: 933-7. Reduced Tuberculosis Case Notification Associated with Scaling
up Antiretroviral Treatment in Rural Malawi; Zachariah, R., Bemelmans, M.,
Akesson, A., Gomani, P., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study reported on the trends in new and recurrent TB case notifications in a rural
district of Malawi that has embarked on large-scale roll-out of antiretroviral treatment
(ART). The descriptive study analyzed TB case notification and ART enrolment data
between 2002 and 2009. There were a total of 10,070 new and 755 recurrent TB cases.
ART scale-up started in 2003, and by 2007 an estimated 80% ART coverage had been
achieved and was sustained thereafter. For new TB cases, an initial increase in case
notifications in the first years after starting ART (2002-2005) was followed by a highly
significant and sustained decline from 259 to 173 TB cases per 100,000 population (χ(2)
for trend 261, P < 0.001, cumulative reduction for 2005-2009 = 33%, 95%CI 27-39).
For recurrent TB, the initial increase was followed by a significant drop, from 20 to 15
cases/100,000 (χ(2) for linear trend = 8.3, P = 0.004, constituting a 25% (95%CI 9-49)
cumulative reduction between 2006 and 2009. From 2005 to 2009, ART averted an
estimated 1,164 (95%CI 847-1,480) new TB cases and 78 (95%CI 23-151) recurrent TB
cases. High ART implementation coverage was associated with a very significant
declining trend in new and recurrent TB case notifications at population level.
6. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2011 Jul; Volume 15,
Number 7: 925-32. Anemia in Adults with Tuberculosis Is Associated with HIV and
Anthropometric Status in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Saathoff, E., Villamor, E.,
Mugusi, F., Bosch, R.J., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study examined the association of anemia with HIV coinfection, indicators of
socio-economic status (SES) and anthropometric status in TB-infected adults attending
out-patient TB clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Cross-sectional data collected during
screening for a clinical trial were analyzed. Overall, 750 females and, 693 males
participated in this study, of whom 49% and 24% respectively were coinfected with
HIV-1. Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower in females than in males and in
HIV-infected than in HIV-non-infected participants. HIV coinfection in this
antiretroviral-naïve population was also associated with severe anemia (hemoglobin <
85 g/l) in both women (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.07, 95%CI 1.65-2.59) and men (PR
3.45, 95%CI 2.66-4.47). Although severe anemia was negatively associated with
indicators of SES, especially in males, adjustment for SES indicators only marginally
changed its association with HIV coinfection. In both sexes, anemia was inversely
associated with anthropometric status, independently of HIV infection and SES. Among
TB-infected adults, anemia was strongly associated with HIV coinfection and
anthropometric status, independently of SES indicators. As anemia is a risk factor for
morbidity and mortality in both infections, the management of anemia in TB-HIV
coinfected patients warrants special attention.
7. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2011 Jul; Volume 15,
Number 7: 919-24. Evaluation of the World Health Organization Algorithm for the
Diagnosis of HIV-Associated Sputum Smear-Negative Tuberculosis; Wilson, D.,
Mbhele, L., Badri, M., Morroni, C., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
Outcomes from the World Health Organization's (WHO's) recommendations for the
diagnosis of smear-negative TB (SNTB) in high HIV prevalence settings are unknown.
The researchers retrospectively applied the WHO algorithm for SNTB without danger
signs to a prospectively enrolled cohort of ambulatory adult SNTB suspects in
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants fulfilling specified criteria for SNTB started
empiric anti-TB treatment; the rest of the cohort was observed. All were followed for 8
weeks. Confirmed TB was defined as positive culture or granulomata plus acid-fast
bacilli on histology. In total, 221 participants retrospectively fulfilled the WHO
ambulatory SNTB algorithm entry criteria. The diagnostic performance of the WHO
algorithm was: positive predictive value 0.34 (95%CI 0.26-0.43), negative predictive
value 0.86 (95%CI 0.76-0.92), positive likelihood ratio 1.43 (95%CI 1.34-1.48),
negative likelihood ratio 0.46 (95%CI 0.38-0.56) and diagnostic odds 3.1 (95%CI 1.526.34). Losses to follow-up (n = 4), hospitalizations (n = 6) and deaths (n = 5) did not
differ significantly in those who were and were not diagnosed with SNTB. The WHO
ambulatory SNTB algorithm had a reasonably high negative predictive value but low
positive predictive value. Mortality over an 8-week period was low in participants who
met the entry criteria for the WHO algorithm.
8. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. 2011 Jul; Volume 15,
Number 7: 912-8. Tuberculosis Surveillance in Cape Town, South Africa: An
Evaluation; Heidebrecht, C.L., Tugwell, P.S., Wells, G.A., Engel, M.E.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study evaluated the current system of TB surveillance in the Cape Metro region of
Cape Town, South Africa. This evaluation was based on the 'Updated Guidelines for
Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems' of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, modified to render the framework applicable to the context of TB
surveillance. The evaluation incorporated qualitative exploration of perceptions and
experiences of system users. System users were very accepting of the system and were
committed to seeing it achieve its purpose within public health. Some individuals
expressed concerns about the rigidity of the Electronic TB Register software and its
analysis capabilities. Dissemination of TB data and evidence-based action within the
Cape Metro region are strong attributes of Cape Town's TB surveillance system. At the
time of the evaluation, integration of TB and HIV data was weak, as was multidrugresistant TB (MDR TB) surveillance; the South African TB Control Program is
developing initiatives to improve these areas. Cape Metro's TB surveillance is strong,
although it would be strengthened by increasing availability of data reflecting TB-HIV
coinfection and MDR TB. Systems operations could be improved by increasing
software flexibility, and increased integration of electronic data across health regions
would enhance the capacity and assessment of control efforts.
9. PLoS One. 2011; Volume 6, Number 6: e20755. Epub 2011 Jun 27. Assessing
Tuberculosis Case Fatality Ratio: A Meta-Analysis; Straetemans, M., Glaziou, P.,
Bierrenbach, A.L., Sismanidis, C., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
Recently, the TB Task Force Impact Measurement acknowledged the need to review the
assumptions underlying the TB mortality estimates published annually by the World
Health Organization (WHO). TB mortality is indirectly measured by multiplying
estimated TB incidence with estimated case fatality ratio (CFR). The researchers
conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the TB case fatality ratio in TB patients having
initiated TB treatment. They searched for eligible studies in the PubMed and Embase
databases through March 4th, 2011 and by reference listing of relevant review articles.
Main analyses included the estimation of the pooled percentages of: (a) TB patients
dying due to TB after having initiated TB treatment and (b) TB patients dying during
TB treatment. Pooled percentages were estimated using random effects regression
models on the combined patient population from all studies. The researchers identified
69 relevant studies of which 22 provided data on mortality due to TB and 59 provided
data on mortality during TB treatment. Among HIV-infected persons the pooled
percentage of TB patients dying due to TB was 9.2% (95% Confidence Interval (CI):
3.7%-14.7%) and among HIV uninfected persons 3.0% (95% CI: -1.2%-7.4%) based on
the results of eight and three studies respectively providing data for this analyses. The
pooled percentage of TB patients dying during TB treatment was 18.8% (95% CI:
14.8%-22.8%) among HIV infected patients and 3.5% (95% CI: 2.0%-4.92%) among
HIV uninfected patients based on the results of 27 and 19 studies respectively. The
results of the literature review are useful in generating prior distributions of CFR in
countries with vital registration systems and have contributed toward revised estimates
of TB mortality This literature review did not provide the researchers with all the data
needed for a valid estimation of TB CFR in TB patients initiating TB treatment.
10. PLoS One. 2011; Volume 6, Number 6: e20458. Epub 2011 Jun 29. Rapid and
Accurate Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Sputum Samples by Cepheid
Xpert MTB/RIF Assay-A Clinical Validation Study; Rachow, A., Zumla, A.,
Heinrich, N., Rojas-Ponce, G., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
A crucial impediment to global TB control is the lack of an accurate, rapid diagnostic
test for detection of patients with active TB. A new, rapid diagnostic method, (Cepheid)
Xpert MTB/RIF Assay, is an automated sample preparation and real-time PCR
instrument, which was shown to have good potential as an alternative to current
reference standard sputum microscopy and culture. The researchers performed a clinical
validation study on diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay in a TB and HIV
endemic setting. Sputum samples from 292 consecutively enrolled adults from Mbeya,
Tanzania, with suspected TB were subjected to analysis by the Xpert MTB/RIF Assay.
The diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay was compared to standard
sputum smear microscopy and culture. Confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a
positive culture was used as a reference standard for TB diagnosis. Xpert MTB/RIF
Assay achieved 88.4% (95%CI = 78.4% to 94.9%) sensitivity among patients with a
positive culture and 99% (95%CI = 94.7% to 100.0%) specificity in patients who had
no TB. HIV status did not affect test performance in 172 HIV-infected patients (58.9%
of all participants). Seven additional cases (9.1% of 77) were detected by Xpert
MTB/RIF Assay among the patients with clinical TB who were culture negative. Within
45 sputum samples which grew non-tuberculous mycobacteria the assay's specificity
was 97.8% (95%CI = 88.2% to 99.9%). The Xpert MTB/RIF Assay is a highly
sensitive, specific and rapid method for diagnosing TB which has potential to
complement the current reference standard of TB diagnostics and increase its overall
sensitivity. Its usefulness in detecting sputum smear and culture negative patients needs
further study. Further evaluation in high burden TB and HIV areas under programmatic
health care settings to ascertain applicability, cost-effectiveness, robustness and local
acceptance are required.
11. PLoS One. 2011; Volume 6, Number 6: e21212. Epub 2011 Jun 23. Factors
Associated with Negative Direct Sputum Examination in Asian and African HIV-
Infected Patients with Tuberculosis (ANRS 1260); Chartier, L., Leng, C., Sire, J.M.,
Le Minor, O., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study identified factors associated with negative direct sputum examination among
African and Cambodian patients coinfected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV.
A prospective multicenter study (ANRS1260) was conducted in Cambodia, Senegal,
and the Central African Republic. Univariate and multivariate analyses (logistic
regression) were used to identify clinical and radiological features associated with
negative direct sputum examination in HIV-infected patients with positive M.
tuberculosis culture on Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Between September 2002 and
December 2005, 175 coinfected patients were hospitalized with at least one respiratory
symptom and pulmonary radiographic anomaly. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) examination
was positive in sputum samples from 110 subjects (63%) and negative in 65 patients
(37%). Most patients were at an advanced stage of HIV disease (92% at stage III or IV
of the WHO classification) with a median CD4 cell count of 36/mm(3). In this context,
the researchers found that sputum AFB negativity was more frequent in coinfected
subjects with associated respiratory tract infections (OR = 2.8 [95%CI:1.1-7.0]),
dyspnea (OR = 2.5 [95%CI:1.1-5.6]), and localized interstitial opacities (OR = 3.1
[95%CI:1.3-7.6]), but was less frequent with CD4≤50/mm(3) (OR = 0.4 [95%CI:0.20.90), adenopathies (OR = 0.4 [95%CI:0.2-0.93]) and cavitation (OR = 0.1
[95%CI:0.03-0.6]). One novel finding of this study was the association between
concomitant respiratory tract infection and negative sputum AFB, particularly in
Cambodia. This finding suggests that repeating AFB testing in AFB-negative patients
should be conducted when broad spectrum antibiotic treatment does not lead to
complete recovery from respiratory symptoms. In HIV-infected patients with a CD4 cell
count below 50/mm3 without an identified cause of pneumonia, systematic AFB direct
sputum examination is justified because of atypical clinical features (without cavitation)
and high pulmonary mycobacterial burden.
12. PLoS One. 2011; Volume 6, Number 6: e21161. Epub 2011 Jun 21. Nutrition,
Diabetes and Tuberculosis in the Epidemiological Transition; Dye, C., Bourdin
Trunz, B., Lönnroth, K., Roglic, G., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
Diabetes prevalence and body mass index reflect the nutritional profile of populations
but have opposing effects on TB risk. Interactions between diabetes and BMI could help
or hinder TB control in growing, aging, urbanizing populations. The researchers
compiled data describing temporal changes in BMI, diabetes prevalence, and population
age structure in rural and urban areas for men and women in countries with high (India)
and low (Rep. Korea) TB burdens. Using published data on the risks of TB associated
with these factors, the researchers calculated expected changes in TB incidence between
1998 and 2008. In India, TB incidence cases would have increased (28% from 1.7 m to
2.1 m) faster than population size (22%) because of adverse effects of aging,
urbanization, changing BMI, and rising diabetes prevalence, generating an increase in
TB incidence per capita of 5.5% in 10 years. In India, general nutritional improvements
were offset by a fall in BMI among the majority of men who live in rural areas. The
growing prevalence of diabetes in India increased the annual number of TB cases in
people with diabetes by 46% between 1998 and 2008. In Korea, by contrast, the number
of TB cases increased more slowly (6.1% from 40,200 to 42,800) than population size
(14%) because of positive effects of urbanization, increasing BMI, and falling diabetes
prevalence. Consequently, TB incidence per capita fell by 7.8% in 10 years. Rapid
population aging was the most significant adverse effect in Korea. Nutritional and
demographic changes had stronger adverse effects on TB in high-incidence India than in
lower-incidence Korea. The unfavorable effects in both countries can be overcome by
early drug treatment, but if left unchecked, could lead to an accelerating rise in TB
incidence. The prevention and management of risk factors for TB would reinforce TB
control by chemotherapy.
13. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2011 May;
Volume 42, Number 3: 659-63. Drug Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
Patients with AIDS at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India; Gautam, H.,
Bhalla, P., Vidyanidhi, G., Saini, S., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study determined the antituberculosis drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis (MTB) in AIDS patients. Fifty antiretroviral drug naïve new AIDS patients
with clinical evidence of pulmonary TB and no previous history of TB were recruited.
Baseline CD4 counts and plasma viral loads (PVL) were measured by flow cytometry
and RT-PCR, respectively. Sputum samples were obtained from each patient and
subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen staining and cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen medium and
using the BACTEC 460 system (B460). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested in all
isolates using the B460 system. The occurrence of MTB was found to be more common
with a PVL>4 log10 copies/ml (odds ratio: 4.6). Of 15 MTB isolates, 8 (53.3%) had
single drug resistance, 4 (26.7%) had multidrug resistance (MDR) and 1 (6.7%) had
resistance to three drugs (non-MDR). Two isolates (13.3%) were sensitive to all the four
drugs. Resistance to first line antituberculosis drugs was found to be higher among
AIDS patients with MTB.
14. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2011 May;
Volume 42, Number 3: 651-8. Hepatotoxicity in Patients Co-Infected with
Tuberculosis and HIV-1 While Receiving Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitor-Based Antiretroviral Therapy and Rifampicin-Containing AntiTuberculosis Regimen; Mankhatitham, W., Lueangniyomkul, A., Manosuthi, W.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study evaluated the rate of and risk factors for hepatotoxicity in TB and human
immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coinfected patients while receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART)
and a rifampicin (RMP)-containing anti-TB regimen. The researchers analyzed data
from the N2R study which was an open label, randomized, comparative trial comparing
treatment outcomes between 71 TB/HIV-1 coinfected patients receiving efavirenz
(EFV)-based and nevirapine (NVP)-based ART; all of whom were receiving RMPcontaining anti-TB treatment. Demographic data, liver function test, CD4 cell count,
plasma HIV-1 RNA, hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody
were collected before initiating ART (week 0). Liver enzymes and total bilirubin levels
were monitored at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after ART initiation. All patients
were followed until TB therapy was completed. Of 142 patients, 8 patients were
excluded. Among the remaining 134 patients, the mean+/-SD age was 36.8+/-8.6 years
and 67.2% were male. Severe hepatotoxicity (grade 3 or 4) developed in 4 patients
(2.9%); 3 patients (4.6%) in the NVP group and 1 patient (1.4%) in the EFV group.
Severe hyperbilirubinemia (grade 3 or 4) occurred in 7 patients (5.2%); 5 patients
(7.7%) in the NVP group and 2 patients (2.9%) in the EFV group. Grade 1 or 2
hepatotoxicity occurred in 34 patients (31.4%). Hepatitis C virus coinfection (adjusted
OR 3.03; 95%CI 1.26-7.29) was an independent risk factor associated with grade 1-4
hepatotoxicity (p=0.013). Monitoring of hepatotoxicity should be considered in
TB/HIV-1 coinfected patients who are infected with HCV and receiving NVP.
15. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2011 Mar;
Volume 42, Number 2: 331-7. Synovial Fluid Adenosine Deaminase Activity to
Diagnose Tuberculous Septic Arthritis; Foocharoen, C., Sarntipipattana, C.,
Foocharoen, T., Mahakkanukrauh, A., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
There are reports of a correlation between high adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in
body fluid and TB infection, but none have evaluated synovial fluid ADA and TB
arthritis. This study determined the proper cut-off level for synovial fluid adenosine
deaminase (SF-ADA) and the sensitivity and specificity of SF-ADA to diagnose TB
arthritis. Between January 2006 and December 2007, SF-ADA were determined using
the modified Giusti's method on patients over 15 years of age with clinically suspected
TB arthritis or having an unknown etiology of their arthritis. Synovial fluid culture for
TB was performed in all patients as a gold standard test. Forty cases were included in
the study, with a female to male ratio of 1.7:1 and a mean age of 52.3 +/- 17.4 years
(range, 16-80). The median duration of symptoms was 60 days. The prevalence of TB
arthritis was 16.7% (6 cases) while the remaining cases were rheumatoid arthritis (8),
non-TB bacterial septic arthritis (3), and miscellaneous (23). The mean SF-ADA levels
in patients with TB arthritis and non-TB arthritis were 35.7 +/- 10.4 (range, 20-51) and
15.4 +/- 9 (range, 2-34) U/1, respectively. The cut-off value for the diagnosis of TB
arthritis was 31 U/1, with a sensitivity of 83.3% (95% CI 35.9-99.6), a specificity of
96.7% (95% CI 82.8-99.9) and an agreement Kappa of 0.8 (p < 0.001). SF-ADA levels
higher than 31 U/1 were highly correlated with a diagnosis of TB arthritis, with a high
sensitivity and specificity. SF-ADA may be considered as a less invasive and timeconsuming diagnostic tool for TB arthritis.
16. Thorax. 2011 Aug; Volume 66, Number 8: 709-13. Epub 2011 Jun 15. Molecular
Epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in East Lancashire 2001-2009; Sails,
A.D., Barrett, A., Sarginson, S., Magee, J.G., et al.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
East Lancashire has had high rates of TB for 40 years. The ethnically diverse population
is predominantly of South Asian and white origin. Drug resistance data from 1960 to
1999 indirectly suggest that no significant inter-ethnic transmission has occurred. This
study used mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit variable number tandem repeat
(MIRU-VNTR) fingerprinting to assess clustering within and between ethnic groups.
All isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from January 2001 to July 2009 from East
Lancashire postcode areas were MIRU-VNTR fingerprinted. Clusters of strains with
indistinguishable profiles were also assessed epidemiologically, and their MIRU-VNTR
profiles compared with the UK M. tuberculosis Strain Typing Database. Three hundred
and thirty-two strains were typed (63 white patients, and 269 non-white patients); 198
MIRU-VNTR profiles were identified, with 144 profiles occurring only once. The
typing clustered 187 strains into 53 clusters indistinguishable at all 12 loci and these
were further characterized using the exact tandem repeat loci A, B, and C. The 15 loci
clustered 32/63 (50.8%) of white and 110/269 (40.9%) of non-white cases and all but
nine clusters were of the same ethnicity. The nine inter-racial clusters were further
assessed from an epidemiological and clinical perspective and fingerprinting using nine
additional loci. Isolates within two of the clusters were further discriminated using the
additional nine loci. However, the additional loci did not further discriminate the
isolates in the other seven inter-racial clusters. MIRU-VNTR fingerprinting indicated
that although there was evidence of a high rate of transmission within the South Asian
sub-population, the data suggested that there was little inter-ethnic transmission.
17. Tropical Doctor. 2011 Jul; Volume 41, Number 3: 172-4. Comparative Analysis of
Tuberculous and Brucellar Spondylodiscitis; Celik, A.K., Aypak, A., Aypak, C.
Click here for PubMed abstract: PubMed
This study compared the clinical, radiological, and prognostic features of spontaneous
spondylodiscitis secondary to tuberculosis (TS) and brucellosis (BS). This prospective
study involved 41 patients diagnosed with spondylodiscitis. Of these, 18 (43.1%) had
BS and 23 (56.1%) had TS. The mean age of TS patients was 52 ± 13.43 years and
older than BS patients (P < 0.001). A prolonged clinical course of the disease,
constitutional symptoms, lymphocytosis, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
(ESR), presence of posterior vertebrae lesions and psoas abscesses were significantly
more frequent in the TS group. There are significant clinical, biological and radiological
differences between TS and BS. These differences permit a presumptive etiological
diagnosis and orient the initial empirical medical treatment while awaiting a final
microbiological diagnosis.
Job Announcements
All job announcements will be posted for two months. Please notify us if a job is filled
before the end of the two-month posting period, and we will remove the job
announcement. Thank you.
1. Medical Officer, Civil Service GS-602, Grade 14
Sponsor: International Research and Programs Branch (IRPB), Division of
Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE), NCHHSTP, CDC
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Application deadline: September 9, 2011
The International Research and Programs Branch (IRPB), Division of Tuberculosis
Elimination (DTBE), NCHHSTP, announces the availability of a position for a Medical
Officer based in Hanoi, Vietnam, Civil Service GS-602, Grade 14.
The duties of the position will be to
- serve as a Medical Officer assisting in the expansion and improvement of effective
diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of tuberculosis, with particular emphasis on HIVrelated tuberculosis
- provide medical and epidemiological advice, consultation, and training as an
international expert in TB as it applies to countries with a high TB and significant
TB/HIV burden
- guide the further development of CDC-Vietnam TB and TB/HIV research and
program implementation strategy, focusing on technical support to the Vietnam
National TB Program, addressing TB and HIV program priorities, and addressing
operational research questions where there are either national or global gaps in
knowledge
- provide leadership, direction and technical expertise to the Vietnam Ministry of
Health National TB and HIV Programs, non-governmental organizations, universities,
medical institutions and other participating agencies in leading the implementation of
the CDC/Vietnam TB and TB/HIV research and program implementation strategy, in
close liaison with the CDC Divisions of Global HIV/AIDS and TB Elimination, and in
coordination with the Vietnam PEPFAR program
- develop protocols, initiate and implement operational research studies, analyze study
data through statistical methods, and disseminate study results through scientific
journals, periodic reports and public presentations as well as designing and conducting
additional special epidemiologic studies as warranted
- obtain grant support for further studies
- serve as co-project officer for the research and non-research cooperative agreements
with the Vietnam National TB Program through which CDC is supporting TB program
activities and conduct operational research.
Applications are being accepted at http://www.usajobs.com/. Interested applicants
should apply to the open/continuous Medical Officer announcements. External
applicants should apply to GS-602-13/14/15, announcement number HHS-CDC-OD11-430961 (Vietnam duty location). Internal applicants should apply to GS-60213/14/15, announcement number HHS-CDC-OM-11-432458 (Vietnam duty location).
Applications for this position announcement should be submitted through usajobs no
later than September 9, 2011.
2. Tuberculosis Program Advisor
Sponsor: University Research Co.., LLC (URC)
Location: Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, University Research Co, LLC (URC)
(http://www.urc-chs.com/) along with its non-profit affiliate Center for Human Services
(CHS), is a leader in public health consulting. Established in 1965, their work spans
over 30 countries around the globe. Their mission is to provide innovative, evidencebased solutions to health and social challenges worldwide.
URC has expertise in helping create environments where communities, health
providers, educators, managers, and stakeholders can make lasting and positive changes
in people’s lives. Current key clients include the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Global Fund, the Gates Foundation, the National Institutes
of Health, the US Department of Education (ED), the US Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Roles and Responsibilities:
This cross-cutting position provides a wide range of technical support to the USAID TB
CARE II project, which aims to complement existing and planned projects in the
Bureau for Global Health to provide global leadership and support to National TB
Programs (NTP) and other in-country partners. The project seeks to assist NTPs and
other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of TB DOTS, TB/HIV, and
Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT) programs. The USAID TB
CARE II Project works with country programs to scale up evidence-based interventions
and improve outcomes in TB prevention and control in the USAID TB Priority
countries.
Reporting to the program Corporate Monitor, the position combines technical assistance
and development of methods and tools to country and core-supported activities.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Providing technical support to programs:
• Collaborate with TB CARE II country teams and provide ongoing and tailored
technical support in the area of TB, TB/HIV, PMDT, and infection control to country
programs
• Develop a collaborative working relationship with USAID TB partners at the
headquarters and in countries of interest to TB CARE II
• Assist in the design and development of TB CARE II regional and global initiatives,
including development of innovative materials, methods for advancing new tools and
equipment (i.e., new diagnostics), and activities for measuring and scale up of
successful interventions
• Document lessons learned and best practices emerging from TB CARE II
• Collect, analyze, summarize and share information on approaches to TB control and
results achieved in TB CARE II country and core programs
• Work with the TB CARE II team at the headquarters and country levels to ensure that
reports and deliverables are developed and submitted in a timely and high quality
manner
• Assist in identifying opportunities to share results and lessons learned with other TB
partners, with an emphasis on assisting in the implementation and scale up of successful
practices
• Contribute to research and writing best practices and lessons learned from TB country
and core programs
For more information, contact Beth Wells, Recruitment Consultant, University
Research Co., LLC, Bethesda, MD 20814. E-mail bwells@urc-chs.com.
3. Bangladesh Team leader, TB CARE II Project
Sponsor: University Research Co., LLC (URC)
Position ID: FY2011.106.PD
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, University Research Co, LLC (URC)
(http://www.urc-chs.com/), along with its non-profit affiliate Center for Human
Services (CHS), is a leader in public health consulting. Established in 1965, their work
spans over 30 countries around the globe. Their mission is to provide innovative,
evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide.
URC has expertise in helping create environments where communities, health
providers, educators, managers, and stakeholders can make lasting and positive changes
in people’s lives. Current key clients include the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Global Fund, the Gates Foundation, the National Institutes
of Health, the US Department of Education (ED), the US Department of Health &
Human Services (HHS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC).
Roles and Responsibilities:
This project is funded by USAID/Bangladesh through a field support mechanism under
the Global TB CARE II Project that has been awarded to URC. This is a 5-year project
that will assist the Bangladesh National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) and
implementing partner NGOs to strengthen DOTS, Programmatic Management of MDRTB, TB/HIV, and Health Systems Strengthening. For more information, please see
www.urc.tbcare.net.
Responsibilities of the Team Leader include:
• Supervise a team of technical staff and will plan, manage and coordinate the
implementation of TB CARE II Bangladesh project activities.
• Liaise with USAID/Bangladesh, NTP, Global Fund, and sub-recipients, to plan and
coordinate implementation of the project activities.
• Provide professional guidance and technical input in the development of work plans in
consistent with national program needs and project objectives, and project
implementation.
• Coordinate approval of work plan and budget, the performance monitoring plan, and
sub-agreements.
• Monitor implementation of project performance; develop periodic reports, and
tracking budgets and expenditures.
For more information, contact Beth Wells, Recruitment Consultant, University
Research Co., LLC, Bethesda, MD 20814. E-mail bwells@urc-chs.com.
4. Technical Advisor, TB (Req ID: 1714)
Sponsor: FHI
Location: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
FHI is a global health and development organization whose science-based programs
bring lasting change to the world’s most vulnerable people. Their approach is rigorous
and evidence-driven. By applying science to programs, FHI is helping countries make
measurable progress against disease, poverty, and inequity—improving lives for
millions.
Job Description:
The successful applicant will (1) provide scientific and technical support in the design,
development, planning, implementation, execution, capacity-building, and evaluation of
TB projects and programs operating at country and regional levels; (2) provide technical
assistance and leadership to FHI country office TB projects and programs in Africa and
Asia; (3) advise on the design, development, implementation and evaluation of countryand context-specific TB projects; (4) provide technical assistance and support to FHI
country office HIV/AIDS programs to enhance integration of TB and HIV/AIDS care
and treatment; (5) ensure that project implementation adheres to the appropriate global
strategy and remains technically sound; (6) ensure the quality of implemented technical
activities and systems at all levels; (7) build capacity within FHI country offices to
produce peer-reviewed publications documenting evidence for effective TB and TBHIV programming and methods across diverse settings and populations; (8) represent
FHI as a regional technical leader in TB programmatic work and program science; (9)
build and sustain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including incountry partners, local and international NGOs, local governments, and sponsors; (10)
work with business development and in-country offices and regional and HQ teams to
identify and secure new funding to bolster FHI’s TB and TB/HIV programs and
research; (11) actively link FHI HQ and country office teams to exploit biomedical and
behavioral expertise across the organization to build TB-related strengths; (12) represent
FHI at regional scientific meetings, scientific panels, and in discussions with partners
and local institutions, multilateral agencies, government counterparts, and implementing
partners to coordinate project development and implementation; (13) serve on
committees and teams both internal and external to FHI; and (14) assure compliance
with FHI standards and all applicable federal and international regulations.
The successful applicant must have (1) technical and programmatic expertise in TB
management in high TB-burden, resource-limited settings, including experience with
TB-HIV co-management; (2) the ability to set and manage competing priorities
involving multiple projects; (3) an outstanding ability to interact effectively with experts
and collaborators across multiple disciplines, program areas, and cultures; (4) excellent
written and verbal communication skills; (5) the ability to conceptualize program needs
and sustainable responses; (6) demonstrated knowledge and ability to identify funding
opportunities and author successful funding proposals; and (7) the ability and
willingness to travel nationally and internationally as needed, largely to developing
countries.
Interested candidates may register online through FHI's Career Center at
www.fhi.org/careercenter or through the Employment section at www.fhi.org
Please submit CV/resume and cover letter, including salary requirements. Please
specify source in the application.
For more information, including the Minimum Requirements, visit
http://tbe.taleo.net/NA12/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FHI&cws=1&rid=1714
Upcoming Conferences, Trainings, and Other Events
Find up-to-date information on TB-related conferences, US training opportunities,
and other events at the DTBE Monthly Calendar.
1. Webinar: Understanding the Tuberculin Skin Test: A Primer for Non-TB Staff
NEW
Sponsor: Heartland National TB Center; State of New Mexico Department of Health;
and New Mexico Pharmacists Association.
Dates: September 8, 2011
Location: Webinar (online training)
This course is intended for the pharmacist or non-TB staff who is tasked with the
placement and reading of the tuberculin skin test. Upon completion of this training,
participants will be able to (1) Describe the cause, transmission, and pathogenesis of
TB, specifically latent TB infection (LTBI) and its progression to TB disease; (2)
Discuss significant recent trends in the epidemiology of TB and identify populations in
the United States and regionally at high-risk of LTBI and progression to TB disease; (3)
Identify the limitations inherent in the Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) and its use in
administrative TB testing in the pharmacy or other non-public health settings; (4) List
the components of a targeted TST health history/risk assessment and their significance
in interpreting TST reactions; and (5) Identify patients who would benefit from referral
for further medical evaluation and describe the appropriate referral process.
Continuing education credit is available. Registration deadline: September 6, 2011.
Register at http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training.asp#webinar To access and view the
webinar, a computer with internet access and audio capabilities (or a computer and
phone line preferably with a speaker or teleconferencing system) are required.
For more information, contact Lead Educator Mary Long. E-mail mary.long@uthct.edu;
phone (800) 839-5864; or access the web site at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training/brochure_webinar_08_sept_2011.pdf.
2. Webinar: Managing TB in the Dialysis Patient
NEW
Sponsor: Heartland National TB Center
Dates: September 28, 2011
Location: Webinar, Online Training
This course is intended for physicians, nurses, health care professionals, and support
staff that are involved in the treatment or management of TB patients who are on renal
dialysis. Additionally, it targets the renal dialysis nurse who would like a better
understanding of how to manage renal patients that also have TB. Upon completion of
this training, participants will be able to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis,
and treatment of a TB patient on dialysis; and participants will be able to discuss the
unique challenges of managing a TB patient on dialysis.
For more information, contact Lead Educator Mary Long. E-mail mary.long@uthct.edu;
phone (800) 839-5864; or access the web site at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training/brochure_webinar_sept_28_2011.pdf. The
webinar is free of charge, but pre-registration is mandatory. Enrollment is limited (100
lines with priority given to participants in the Heartland region). Register at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training.asp#webinar.
3. TB Nurse Case Management
NEW
Sponsor: Heartland National TB Center
Dates: November 2 – 4, 2011
Location: San Antonio, Texas
This course is intended for nurses and public health staff who are actively engaged in
the identification, case management, and treatment of patients with tuberculosis
infection or disease.
For more information, contact Lead Educator Jessica Quintero. E-mail
Jessica.quintero@uthct.edu; phone 210-531-4568; or access the web site at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training/brochure_sat_tx_02_nov_2011.pdf. To register,
visit http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training.asp. Pre-registration is required, and priority
enrollment will be given to participants from the Heartland region (AZ, IL, IA, KS,
MN, MO, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, TX, WI). There is no fee for this course. Nursing
continuing education hours will be available for those who successfully complete the
requirements.
4. Targeted Testing and Treatment of Latent TB Infection: An Online
Presentation (60 minutes)
Sponsor: The Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center
This slide presentation is presented by L. Masae Kawamura, M.D., TB Controller of the
San Francisco Department of Public Health and co-principal investigator of the Francis
J. Curry National TB Center/UCSF. Dr. Kawamura explores the diagnosis and
treatment of LTBI, including the rationale for TB screening and what is meant by
"targeted testing," risk factors for TB, the tuberculin skin test and new interferon
gamma release assays (IGRAs), current LTBI treatment guidelines, and how to counsel
and motivate patients. This slide presentation with streaming audio provides
information on how to effectively target test for TB as well as how to treat latent TB
infection (LTBI). A question and answer guide, a printable PowerPoint slide file, and
other useful resources are also included as supplemental materials.
For more information, visit http://www.nationaltbcenter.ucsf.edu/testing_ltbi/ .
5. Practical Solutions for TB Infection Control: Infectiousness and Isolation
Sponsor: Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center
Location: Online Course
Length: 60 minutes
This 60-minute Flash presentation with streaming audio provides information on how to
determine whether a TB patient is infectious and demonstrates practical ways to prevent
TB transmission in the clinic, in transit, and in the patient's home. Throughout the
training, interactive questions allow participants to test and apply what has been
learned. At the end of the presentation, there is a list of additional resources that
includes links to further written information as well as links to the Regional Training
and Medical Consultation Centers (RTMCCs).
For further assistance, contact Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center. E-mail
tbcenter@nationaltbcenter.ucsf.edu; telephone (415) 502-4600; or fax (415) 502-4620.
For a course description, visit http://www.nationaltbcenter.ucsf.edu/tbicweb/ .
6. Legal Interventions in TB Control: A Web-Based Seminar
Sponsor: New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute
Location: Web-Based Seminar
This web-based seminar, presented by the Global TB Institute, was originally held on
September 11, 2007 and explored successful and innovative approaches to
implementing legal interventions in TB control programs in the US. Experts shared
legal and ethical considerations, as well as hands-on experiences, practical steps, and
legal tools that can be used to improve outcomes of case management, treatment
outcomes, and contact investigations. Points were illustrated using lectures and case
presentations
Please follow the link below to view this web-based seminar:
http://www.umdnj.edu/globaltb/audioarchives/legal.htm .
7. 4th International Workshop on Clinical Pharmacology of Tuberculosis Drugs
Sponsor: Virology Education
Date: September 16, 2011
Location: Chicago, Illinois
The aim of this abstract-driven workshop is to make a significant contribution to the
optimization of TB treatment, by bringing experts together and having them present and
discuss the latest important scientific findings in the TB clinical pharmacology field.
Additionally, scientific, regulatory, or strategy issues that are highly relevant to the
optimization of TB treatment will be exchanged and discussed. Topics that will be
addressed include pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of new TB drugs,
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of approved TB drugs, new developments in
pediatric TB, and interactions between TB drugs and MDR- and XDR-TB.
For more information, contact Virology Education B.V. E-mail info@virologyeducation.com; phone +31 (0)30 230 7140; fax: +31 (0)30 230 7148; or access the
website at http://www.virology-education.com/.
8. Budget and Financial Management
Sponsor: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Dates: September 19 – 24, 2011
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
This course provides participants advanced training in budget development processes
for national health programs. The course also is ideal for those tasked with creating
international donor applications. Participants will also learn to conduct accurate and
clear financial reporting, as well as techniques on how to monitor funds throughout the
duration of a project. Participants will engage in simulated work projects that mirror
situations they will encounter in the workplace. Making use of lectures, in-class
discussions, and exercises incorporating real-life situations, this course will guide
participants to higher levels of financial expertise and responsibility.
Participants will create solid budgets for international donor applications; compare and
improve current budget practices using effective international standards; learn to
perform a workload analysis; monitor budgets throughout a project cycle; understand
how Excel functions and develop budgets with it; comprehend budget costs, issues
related to cost allocation, and cost drivers; create cash flow analyses and budget
forecasts; and design effective financial reports and incorporate useful reporting
techniques.
To register and learn more about the course, please visit
http://www.theunion.org/index.php/en/courses/international-management-developmentprogramme/item/707, or e-mail imdp@theunion.org.
9. 11th Annual TB Education and Training Network (TB ETN)
Sponsor: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dates: September 20 – 22, 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
The 11th annual TB Education and Training Network (TB ETN) Conference will
highlight the common aspects of TB education, training, and evaluation. The conference
will focus on a variety of topics including public health workforce development in
response to health care system changes, effective health education messages, and new
technology tools for TB education, training, and evaluation. Conference activities will
also include skills-based workshops, informational presentations, and networking
opportunities.
Please consider developing an abstract for a poster presentation on a significant or
innovative aspect of TB education and training or program evaluation. Posters that have
been presented at other conferences may be submitted. Appropriate topics for TB ETN
posters include techniques associated with the systematic health education process
(needs assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation). Abstract submission
deadline: July 21, 2011. Registration fee: $50.00/TB ETN members; $75.00/Nonmembers.
For more information, contact CDC DTBE, E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov; phone 800CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), TTY: (888) 232-6348; or access the website at
http://www.cdc.gov/tb/education/tbetn/conference.htm.
10. TB Nurse Case Management
Sponsor: Heartland National TB Center
Dates: September 27 - 28, 2011
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Registration is currently open and closes September 2, 2011
This course, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health TB Program, is
intended for TB program managers, TB nurse case managers, and local health
department nurses responsible for the management of patients with, or suspected of,
TB. The goal of the course is to provide an in-depth training experience covering the
knowledge and skills essential for the nurse with primary responsibility for TB case
management. The course will cover the evaluation, treatment, and case management of
medically and psychosocially difficult-to-treat patients. The workshop will go beyond
the basic TB curriculum and enhance the participant’s ability to be accountable for all
facets of case management.
The conference is free of charge, but pre-registration is mandatory, and space is limited.
Nursing continuing education credits (Iowa approved) are available.
For more information, including registration, contact Jessica Waguespack. E-mail
Jessica.waguespack@uthct.edu; phone (210) 531-4509; or access the website at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training.asp.
11. 2011 Four Corners TB/HIV Conference
Sponsor: American Lung Association
Dates: October 4 – 5, 2011
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
The agenda for the 17th annual Four Corners TB/HIV conference includes the
following topics: What's New in LTBI Treatment; TB & Diabetes: New Practice
Standards for Pacific Islands; HIV 101; HIV Resistance; TB and Drug/Drug
Interactions; Approaches and Treatment of HIV/TB Patients; Medical Interventions for
HIV Prevention, Navajo Perspective; Evaluating the HIV Infected Patient for
Mycobacterial Disease; Navajo Nation: CDC TB-Epi-Aid Report; Navajo Syphilis
Outbreak; Tuberculosis and the Everyday Geography of the Homeless Utilizing Social
Networking in TB Contact Investigations; and Using Law to Prevent and Control
Tuberculosis.
Registration fee: $75.00.
For more information, visit http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=3228 .
12. Contact Investigation
Sponsor: Heartland National TB Center
Dates: October 11 – 12, 2011
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Registration deadline: September 19, 2011
This course is intended for the health care worker involved with TB contact
investigation as a means of prevention and control. The goal of the training is to provide
information and education about contact investigation as a TB elimination strategy. It
will emphasize the importance of contact investigation as a primary means of TB
control. Identification of active TB disease by case finding, testing, and treatment of
contacts, and screening and treating high-risk contacts for latent TB infection (LTBI)
will be discussed.
The conference is free of charge, but pre-registration is mandatory, and space is limited.
Continuing education credits are available.
For more information, including registration, contact Jessica Waguespack. E-mail
Jessica.waguespack@uthct.edu; phone (210) 531-4509; or access the Website at
http://www.heartlandntbc.org/training.asp.
13. Northeast TB Controllers Conference
Sponsors: Ohio Department of Health. American Lung Association of Ohio.
MetroHealth Hospital.
Dates: October 12 – 13, 2011
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Registration deadline: September 16, 2011
The Northeast TB Controllers Conference is the region’s most comprehensive meeting
dedicated to advancing TB control and elimination activities. This conference offers TB
program staff, public health workers and health care providers from across the region an
opportunity to learn and network with colleagues. Conference activities will include
plenary sessions on Wednesday, October 12th and educational sessions on Thursday,
October 13th.
Registration fee: $50 per day includes continuing education credit. In conjunction with
the Northeast TB Controllers Conference, the NJMS Global TB Institute will sponsor 2
separate educational sessions.
For more information, contact Maureen Murphy. Email
Mareen.Murphy@odh.ohio.gov; phone (614) 387-0652; or access the Web site at
http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=3223.
14. The Denver TB Course
Sponsor: National Jewish Health
Dates: October 12 – 15, 2011
Location: Denver, Colorado
The purpose of this course is to present knowledge about the management of TB to
general internists, public health workers, infectious diseases and chest specialists,
registered nurses, and other health care providers who will be responsible for the
management and care of patients with TB. This event includes the following course
highlights: Transmission and pathogenesis of adult and pediatric TB; MDR TB and
XDR TB; Screening for and treatment of latent TB infection; Factors influencing TB
infections; Planning TB control programs with particular emphasis on organization of
outpatient chemotherapy; TB and HIV coinfection; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory
Tour.
Continuing education credits are available.
For more information, contact Nicole Austin Ross, National Jewish Health. E-mail
rossn@njhealth.org; phone (303) 398-1110; fax (303) 270-2239; or access the website
at http://www.njhealth.org/TBCourse.
15. New TB Vaccines for the Future
Sponsor: TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI)
Dates: October 17 – 18, 2011
Location: Madrid, Spain
TBVI, together with the University of Zaragoza and Fundacion Ramon Areces, will
organize an international symposium on 17-18 October in Madrid. This symposium will
provide a stage to world leaders in the field of investigation of host-pathogen
interactions and new vaccines against TB, to present their efforts and the results of the
latest research in vaccines against TB to the scientific community.
Registration is free of charge. If you have any trouble with registration because the
registration form is in Spanish, please go to the home page of Rundacion Ramon
Areces: http://www.fundacionareces.es/fundacionareces/ , click on English, click on
upcoming events, select this symposium.
For more information, contact Erna Balk, Director Communications & Advocacy
Relations. Email erna.balk@tbvi.eu; phone +31 320 277 552; or access the Web site at
http://www.tbvi.eu/news-agenda/events/event/symposium-new-tb-vaccines-for-thefuture-17-18-october-madrid.html .
16. TB Case Management and Contact Investigation Intensive
Sponsor: Curry International Tuberculosis Center
Dates: October 18 – 21, 2011
Location: San Francisco, California
Application deadline: September 2, 2011
This course is intended for physicians, nurses, and other licensed medical care providers
who manage patients with TB or who are at risk for TB. Topics covered include:
Epidemiology of TB; Fundamentals of TB case management; Completion of care; TB
contact investigation; The role of the laboratory; Medical management of TB; Quality
assurance in TB control programs; Targeted testing for TB; Treatment of latent TB
infection (LTBI); Culture, community, and TB care; Working with special populations;
and Interviewing skills. There is no fee for this course. Enrollment is limited, and preregistration is required.
For more information, contact Jennifer Kanouse, Program Manager. E-mail
tbcmci@nationaltbcenter.ucsf.edu; phone (415) 502-2712; or access the website
hct11.cfm. http://www.nationaltbcenter.edu/training/tbcmcioct11.cfm .
17. TB Management in the HIV Patient: Current Strategies and Exciting New
Possibilities Webinar
Sponsor: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology
Date: October 19, 2011
Location: Nationwide, USA
This webinar is one of the Special Webinar Series on HIV Management. Dr. Kelly E.
Dooley, Assistant Professor of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,
Clinical Pharmacology, will be the webinar speaker. Funding for this series is provided
by the Gilead Foundation and private donations to CCGHE.
No registration is required; however, access is limited to the first 200 live viewers. All
sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing from the JHU CCGHE
website at http://ccghe.jhmi.edu/ccg/index.asp .
For questions related to the course procedures or website, E-mail ccghe@jhmi.edu.
18. 42nd Union World Conference on Lung Health
Sponsor: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Dates: October 26 - 30, 2011
Location: Lille, France
The Union announces that the 42nd Union World Conference on Lung Health,
organized by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, will be hosted in
Lille, France, from October 26 to 30, 2011.
The conference theme this year is "Partnerships for Scaling-up and Care," which will
highlight the vital importance of collaboration in the common efforts to address the
conditions affecting lung health.
Together participants will not only learn about the latest developments in the fields of
TB, tobacco control, HIV, and lung health, but also connect with all levels of caregivers
from physicians and academicians, to civil society and the private sector.
For five days, participants will be able to discuss, debate, and network with colleagues
from more than 120 countries, strengthening anew the commitment to global efforts to
find and implement health solutions for the poor and underserved.
The official languages for this conference are English and French.
Online registration available at
http://registration.theunion.org/useraccount/index.php?currserv=WConf.
For more information, contact the Conference Secretariat, The Union, 68, boulevard
Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France. E-mail Lille2011@theunion.org; telephone (+33) 1
44 32 03 60; fax (+33) 1 53 10 85 54 / (+33) 1 43 29 90 87; or visit
http://www.worldlunghealth.org.
19. Late-Breaker Session on Tuberculosis at the 42nd World Conference on Lung
Health
Sponsors: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Location: Lille, France
The 42nd Union World Conference on Lung Health and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention are pleased to announce co-sponsorship of a late-breaker session related
to TB.
All aspects of TB control, elimination, and research (including basic and clinical
science, epidemiology, social, behavioral, psychosocial, educational aspects, health care
delivery and public health) are welcomed for presentation during the late-breaker
session. In keeping with the spirit of a late-breaker session we ask that only new,
innovative, and significant findings that have occurred as of April 1, 2011, or for which
information has just become available, be submitted for late-breaker presentations in the
form of a 1-page electronic file.
The late-breaker session will consist of 8 oral presentations of 10 minutes each,
followed by 5 minutes of questions. The presentations will be selected from abstracts
submitted to the late-breaker co-chairs by July 30, 2011. Persons submitting abstracts
will be notified of acceptance or rejection of their abstract by August 31, 2011.
A small number of travel grants are available for presenters of accepted abstracts who
require funding to attend the conference. If you intend to request support, an indication
of your desire and rationale for consideration for a travel grant must be submitted with
the abstract. The reviewing committee will be blinded to the request for travel funds.
Submissions should include a cover letter with (i) a statement that the work has not been
previously submitted for consideration to the general portion of The Union meeting, (ii)
the date by which the work/analysis was mostly complete, (iii) a request and rationale
for travel support if so desired, and (iv) the address, phone and Fax number, and e-mail
address where the submitter may be contacted the week of August 22, 2011.
For more information, contact Chinnambedu N Paramasivan (The Union), Phil LoBue
(CDC), or Elsa Villarino (CDC); TB Late-Breaker Session, Division of TB Elimination,
CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, MS E-10, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 USA. E-mail
Evillarino@cdc.gov; telephone (404) 639-8123; fax (404) 639-8961; or visit the website
at http://www.worldlunghealth.org/confLille/index.php/Abstracts/the-unioncdc-latebreaker-session.html .
20. Human Resources Management
Sponsor: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
Dates: November 28 – December 3, 2011
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Application deadline: October 25, 2011
Focusing on improving human resources capabilities among health organizations, this
course trains participants to align staff output with health program strategy. Participants
will also learn about how to recruit and retain the best qualified candidates for health
projects. Key topics the course addresses: (1) Determine an organization’s human
resources needs; (2) Align management of human resources with HR and organizational
strategy; (3) Practice and incorporate HR performance management systems tools and
techniques including appraisals, training, retention, and other staffing mechanisms; and
(4) Discover how to carry out a comprehensive organizational HR audit.
To register or receive more information, e-mail imdp@theunion.org, or visit
http://www.union-imdp.org.
For more information, e-mail imdp@theunion.org, or visit the website at
http://www.union-imdp.org/courses/human-resources-management.
21. 3rd Global Symposium on IGRAs 2012
Sponsor: UC San Diego School of Medicine
Dates: January 12 - 15, 2012
Locations: Waikoloa, Hawaii
Abstracts submission deadline: September 1, 2011
Students of TB have been interested in the immune response to M. tuberculosis since
the modern understanding of the clinical disease. For decades, the skin test response to
tuberculin (TST) was the primary tool clinicians have had for study. With the
development of Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) the recurrent question has
been -- which is better, the TST or an IGRA? Many papers have been written on this
topic, and numerous guidelines have been issued. The conference will provide a solid
framework for assessing this rapidly moving field, and will provide a basis for making
clinical decisions.
The meeting will present basic and developing information that will be of interest to
academic physicians and practicing physicians, such as those who practice infectious
disease, pulmonary medicine, and pediatrics. It will also be of interest to public health
physicians, dermatologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, and epidemiologists.
For registration and more information, visit http://cme.ucsd.edu/igras/