Evidence for Tuberculosis in Individuals With Xpert Ultra "Trace" Sputum During Screening of High-Burden Communities.

BACKGROUND: "Trace" results on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra ("Ultra"; Cepheid) -a molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB)-are often interpreted as an indication for TB treatment, but may also represent detection of nonviable bacilli or analytical error. In community-screening settings where individual TB risk is low, there is limited guidance on how to interpret Ultra-trace results. METHODS: We conducted systematic Ultra TB screening of adults and adolescents (≥15 years) in Kampala, Uganda, through door-to-door and event-based sputum collection. We enrolled individuals with trace-positive sputum for detailed clinical, radiographic, and microbiological (including 2 sputum cultures, repeat Ultra, and for people with HIV, urine lipoarabinomannan) evaluation, and compared those findings with similar evaluations in controls with Ultra-negative and Ultra-positive (non-trace) sputum. RESULTS: Of 21 957 people screened with Ultra, 211 (1.0%) tested positive, including 96 (46% of positives) with trace results. Of 92 people enrolled with trace-positive sputum; 12% (11/92) were HIV-positive and 14% (13/92) had prior TB. The prevalence of TB among participants with trace-positive sputum results was 14% (13/92) by culture, 24% (22/92) using broader microbiological criteria, and 26% (24/92) after accounting for clinical diagnosis. The prevalence of cough and of abnormal chest computed tomography (CT) findings were 32% and 26%, respectively, if Ultra-negative; 34% and 54% if trace-positive/non-microbiologically confirmed; 72% and 95% if trace-positive/microbiologically confirmed; and 71% and 93% if Ultra-positive (more than trace). CONCLUSIONS: Most individuals with trace-positive sputum in Ugandan communities did not have microbiologically confirmed TB but had more symptoms and chest CT abnormalities than people with Ultra-negative sputum.

Accuracy of C-Reactive Protein for Tuberculosis Detection in General-Population Screening and Ambulatory-Care Triage in Uganda.

Rationale: C-reactive protein (CRP) has demonstrated utility as a point-of-care triage test for tuberculosis (TB) in clinical settings, particularly among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but its performance for general-population TB screening is not well characterized. Objective: To assess the accuracy of CRP for detecting pulmonary TB disease among individuals undergoing community-based screening or presenting for evaluation of TB symptoms in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: We pooled data from two case-control studies conducted between May 2018 and December 2022 among adolescents and adults (⩾15 yr) in Kampala, Uganda. We conducted community-based screening for TB, regardless of symptoms. We enrolled people with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra-positive (including trace) sputum results and a sample of people with Ultra-negative results. We also enrolled symptomatic patients diagnosed with TB and controls with negative TB evaluations from ambulatory care settings. Participants underwent further evaluation, including sputum culture, CRP, and HIV testing. We assessed the accuracy of CRP alone or with symptom screening against a bacteriologic reference standard. Our primary analysis evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of CRP at a cutoff of 5 mg/L. Diagnostic performance was summarized by calculating the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Results: In the community setting (n = 544), CRP ⩾ 5 mg/L had a sensitivity of 55.3% (95% confidence interval, 47.0-63.4%) and specificity of 84.7% (79.7-88.8%) for confirmed TB; AUC was 0.75 (0.70-0.79). Screening for CRP ⩾ 5 mg/L or positive symptoms increased sensitivity to 92.0% (86.4-95.8%) at the expense of specificity (57.1% [50.8-63.2%]). In the ambulatory care setting (n = 944), sensitivity of CRP ⩾ 5 mg/L was 86.7% (81.8-90.7%), specificity was 68.6% (64.8-72.2%), and AUC (0.84 [0.81-0.87]) did not differ significantly by HIV status. CRP ⩾ 5 mg/L was >90% sensitive among individuals with a medium or high semiquantitative Xpert result in both settings. Conclusions: Although CRP did not meet World Health Organization (WHO) TB screening benchmarks in the community, it demonstrated high specificity, and sensitivity was high among individuals with high sputum bacillary burden who are likely to be most infectious. In ambulatory care, estimated sensitivity and specificity were each within 4 percentage points of WHO benchmarks, with no meaningful difference in performance by HIV status.

The Declaration on Palliative Care in a Pandemic: report of the African Ministers of Health Meeting and the 7th International African Palliative Care Conference, held from the 24th to 26th August 2022 in Kampala, Uganda and virtually.

The 7th International African Palliative Care Conference and the 4th African Ministers of Health Meeting were held in Kampala from the 24th to 26th August 2022. The theme of the conference - Palliative Care in a Pandemic - reflected the reality of palliative care provision on the continent, and the experience of patients and providers over the past 2 years. It was hosted by the African Palliative Care Association and the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance with co-sponsors being the International Children's Palliative Care Network, the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care, Global Partners in Care and Palliative care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies. The conference was held in Kampala as a hybrid event, with a mix of in-person, pre-recorded and virtual presentations. The African Ministers of Health Meeting held on the 24th August was attended by delegates from 25 Ministries of Health, with 92 participants in-person and 122 attending virtually. Hosted by the Minister of State for Primary Health Care in Uganda, the participants at the meeting endorsed a Declaration on Palliative Care in a Pandemic. The main conference, held on the 25th and 26th August, was attended by 334 delegates from 40 countries, 199 (60%) of whom attended in-person. Key themes discussed throughout the conference included: contagious compassion; building a business case and evidence for palliative care in Africa; palliative care policy, funding and sustainability; the importance of collaboration and global partnerships; palliative care for all ages, children through to the elderly, and all conditions; the need to be innovative and creative, embracing technology; and a feeling of hopefulness in the future of palliative care in the region as we go forward together. The impact of the pandemic has been significant on everyone. Despite this, and the limitations imposed by the pandemic, the African palliative care community has come through it stronger, is committed to continuing the development of palliative care across the region, working together and is hopeful for the future.