Tuberculosis contact tracing, Angola.

Objective: To assess the outcomes of a contact-tracing programme to increase the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Cubal, Angola and offer preventive treatment to high-risk groups. Methods: A health centre-based contact-tracing programme was launched in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in March 2015 and we followed the programme until 2022. In that time, staffing and testing varied which we categorized as four periods: medical staff reinforcement, 2015-2017, with a doctor seconded from Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Spain; routine staff, 2017-2021, with no external medical support; community directly observed treatment (DOT), 2018-2019 with community worker support; and enhanced contact tracing, 2021-2022, with funding that allowed free chest radiographs, molecular and gastric aspirate testing. We assessed differences in contacts seen each month, and testing and treatment offered across the four periods. Findings: Overall, the programme evaluated 1978 contacts from 969 index cases. Participation in the programme was low, although it increased significantly during the community DOT period. Only 16.6% (329/1978) of contacts had a chest radiograph. Microbiological confirmation increased to 72.2% (26/36) after including molecular testing, and 10.1% (200/1978) of contacts received treatment for tuberculosis. Of 457 contacts younger than 5 years, 36 (7.9%) received preventive tuberculosis treatment. Half of the contacts were lost to follow-up before a final decision was taken on treatment. Conclusion: Contact tracing increased the diagnosis of tuberculosis although engagement with the programme was low and loss to follow-up was high. Participation increased during community DOT. Community-based screening should be explored to improve participation and diagnosis.

Molecular characterization of rpoB gene mutations in isolates from tuberculosis patients in Cubal, Republic of Angola.

BACKGROUND: The importance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with disputed rpoB mutations remains to be defined. This study aimed to assess the frequency and types of rpoB mutations in M. tuberculosis isolates from Cubal, Angola, a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis. METHODS: All isolates included (n = 308) were analyzed using phenotypic drug susceptibility testing and GenoType MTBDRplus assay. DNA sequencing of the rpoB gene and determination of rifampicin MIC by macrodilution method were additionally performed on isolates yielding discordant results (n = 12) and those in which the mutation detected was not characterized (n = 8). RESULTS: In total, 85.1% (74/87) of rifampicin-resistant strains had undisputed rpoB mutations -S450L (49), D435V (15), H445D (3), H445Y (2), Q432ins (1), L449M plus S450F (1), S450F (1), S450W (1) and S450Y (1)-; 10.3% (9/87) had disputed rpoB mutations-L430P plus S493L (1), N437del (1), H445L (3), D435Y (2), L452P (2)-, 2.3% (2.3%) showed no rpoB mutations and 2.3% (2/87) showed heteroresistance-D435Y plus L452P and L430P plus S493L-. CONCLUSION: Disputed rpoB mutations were common, occurring in 10.3% of rifampicin resistant isolates. Current phenotyping techniques may be unable to detect this resistance pattern. To increase their sensitivity, a lower concentration of RIF could be used in these tests or alternatively, rpoB mutations could be screened and characterized in all M. tuberculosis strains.

Telemedicine experience between two hospitals from Angola and Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Telemedicine uses information and communication technologies to provide services in the field where the distance is a critical factor. The aim of the present study is to describe the experience of a synchronous telemedicine between two hospitals in Spain and Angola. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of all synchronous telemedicine sessions conducted between the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Angola and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Spain from January 2011 to December 2014. RESULTS: Seventy-two cases were discussed in the telemedicine sessions. The average age of patients was 18.02 (SD 13.75) years and mostly women (54.38 percent). Reasons to discuss the cases were 46.47 percent doubts in the diagnosis and therapeutic management, 15.47 percent were purely formative cases, and only 8.45 percent treatment doubt. At the time of presentation, 29 percent of the patients were already diagnosed, 95 percent of whom with infectious disease diagnostic, and from the undiagnosed patients 36 percent presented a febrile syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study shows the viability of synchronous telemedicine between European and African countries without an excessively sophisticated technology.

Drug Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex in a Rural Setting, Angola.

We found high prevalence rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among retreatment patients (71.1%) and persons with new cases (8.0%) in Angola. These findings are of concern but should be interpreted with caution. A national drug-resistance survey is urgently needed to determine the actual prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Angola.

A non-randomized pragmatic historically controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and safety of a bedaquiline or a linezolid-based short regimen for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Short all-oral regimens for Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (ShORRT) have been a turning point in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Despite this, access to drugs, stockouts, or adverse effects may limit the use of the recommended regimens. METHODS: Pragmatic non-randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a ShORRT strategy for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant Tuberculosis (RR-TB) at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz (Angola). The strategy assigned participants to receive a bedaquiline (BDQ) or a linezolid-based (LZF) regimen supplemented with levofloxacin, clofazimine, and cycloserine for up to 9 months. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-one participants with pulmonary RR-TB were treated with the ShORRT strategy; 69 received the bedaquiline- and 52 the linezolid-based regimen. Overall, 98 (81%) participants had successful treatment outcomes, which was significantly higher compared to a 20-month historical injectable-based regimen (successful outcome rate including cure and treatment completed: 53.7%) (p < 0.001). No significant differences between treatment success rates (85.5% vs. 75.0%), treatment failure (0.0% vs. 1.9%), death (5.8% vs. 13.5%), or lost to follow-up (LTFU) (8.7% vs. 9.6%) were seen between the BDQ and the LZF-based regimen. Globally, 72 adverse events (AE) occurred in 36 (29.7%) participants. Eighteen (14.9%) of these were grade ≥3 and were more frequently observed in those receiving the LZD-based regimen (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The ShORRT strategy with a nine-month BDQ- or LZD-based regimen supports the efficacy of shorter all-oral regimens for the treatment of RR-TB and presents real-world data from schemes without bedaquiline, nitroimidazole, or injectables.

Treatment Outcomes and Adverse Events from a Standardized Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Regimen in a Rural Setting in Angola.

Treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) is associated with adverse events (AE). Patients treated with an MDR TB regimen in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola, were prospectively enrolled from May 2013 to July 2015. Baseline characteristics, AE, and clinical and microbiological outcomes were recorded. A total of 216 patients were treated with an MDR TB regimen and 179 (82.9%) patients developed at least one AE. The most common AE were elevation of liver enzymes (46.8% of patients), elevated creatinine (44.4% of patients), and ototoxicity (40.7% of patients). Previous TB treatment was associated with the occurrence of AE (OR 4.89, 95% CI: 2.09-11.46, P < 0.001) and months on treatment was associated to severe AE (OR 1.11 95% CI: 1.04-1.18, P = 0.001). Successful treatment was achieved in 117 (54.2%) patients. Incidence of AE was associated with an unsuccessful outcome (OR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09-1.40, P = 0.001). Patients treated with MDR TB treatment frequently experience AE, and these are related with previous TB treatment and duration of treatment. Given the high percentage of patients experiencing AE and the low treatment success rates, more effective and less toxic drugs to treat MDR TB are urgently needed.

Tuberculosis diagnosed in a rural setting in Angola. Accuracy of follow-up sputum smears to predict outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze treatment outcome and the accuracy of positive sputum smear at 2 months to predict treatment failure in a cohort of patients with tuberculosis (TB) in a rural setting in Angola. DESIGN: Observational study of patients with TB from January 2009 to August 2010 in Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Angola. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify variables associated with treatment failure and death. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios to define the accuracy of a positive sputum smear at 2 months to predict treatment failure were calculated. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred and twenty-five patients were diagnosed with TB. Overall, 526 patients were cured from TB and 419 had treatment completed, so 945 (66·3%) patients achieved treatment success. The outcomes of the remaining patients were: 91 (6·4%) had treatment failure, 100 (7%) died, 49 (3·4%) interrupted treatment, and 240 (16·8%) were transferred out. Variables associated with a higher risk of treatment failure were previously treated patients (odds ratio, 2·36; 95% confidence interval, 1·32-4·2) and positive sputum smear at 2 months (odds ratio, 9·81; 95% confidence interval, 5·88-16·36). Among the group of 551 patients with sputum smear confirmed at diagnosis and specimens taken at 2 and 5 months, the positive predictive value (31%) and the positive likelihood ratio (3·21) of a positive sputum smear taken at 2 months to predict treatment failure were low. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with positive sputum smear at 2 months have a higher risk of treatment failure. However, this by itself is a poor predictor of treatment failure.