View clinical trials related to Drug-resistant Tuberculosis.
Filter by:The investigators will determine the bactericidal activity of high-dose isoniazid against M. tuberculosis isolates that are (1) susceptible to isoniazid at 2.0 mcg/ml but resistant at 0.1 and 0.4 mcg/ml or (2) susceptible at 0.4 mcg/ml but resistant at 0.1 mcg/ml when tested in the BD MGIT 960 system. Further, the investigators will investigate the molecular genetic determinants of these differences in susceptibility. To achieve these objectives the investigators will carry out an innovative variation on early bactericidal activity (EBA) study methodology. Patients at risk for drug-resistant TB will be screened for INH resistance using approved molecular assays. In those with INH-resistant TB, the investigators will quickly perform phenotypic DSTs using the direct method in the Bactec Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 system, so results will be available within 7 days. If the DST results show the susceptibility patterns noted above, patients will receive 900 mg/d INH (600 mg if <45kg), and assess its effect with serial quantitative sputum cultures for 6 days. If the concentration of viable bacteria decreases significantly, the investigators will interpret this to mean the drug is having an effect. If not, the drug is ineffective. After 6 days, the patients will resume treatment according to national guidelines. In case the investigators identify drugs that are effective under these conditions, the investigators will sequence known and putative genes associated with the action of these drugs for the mycobacterial isolates from these patients.
This pilot project is an evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of offering an economic reward, in the form of a shopping voucher, to the household contacts of index patients (outpatient drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB patients) who present at the study clinic for TB screening and optional HIV testing, providing a reward to the index patients for participating, and entering index patients whose contacts do present into a lottery to win a prize.The effectiveness of the intervention in screening a high proportion of contacts will be compared to existing published data from studies of active case-finding through home visits and of the status quo passive case finding. If successful, this pilot project will create a demand for screening among high risk patients, who will be rewarded for identifying themselves to the healthcare system, and could prove to be an affordable alternative to resource-intensive home visits. It will also shift responsibility for contact tracing from overburdened clinic staff to those who have the most to gain from early case detection-the patients and their families.