Lessons Learned From a Peer-Supported Differentiated Care and Nutritional Supplementation for People With TB in a Southern Indian State.

Two critical components of patient support systems for people with TB are regular counseling and locally managed nutritional support. As part of an ongoing differentiated TB care initiative called Tamil Nadu Kasanoi Erappila Thittam (meaning TB death-free initiative in Tamil, TN-KET) to reduce TB deaths, adults with TB with very severe undernutrition, respiratory insufficiency, or poor performance status are identified at diagnosis (triage-positive) and prioritized for referral, comprehensive clinical assessment, and inpatient care. Between January and June 2023, in 6 districts, a pilot exercise was conducted in which trained TB survivors, known as TB champions, provided baseline counseling and additional counseling (if required) to triage-positive people with TB at diagnosis. Additionally, people with TB with severe undernutrition were prioritized for nutritional supplementation for at least 3 months. Among 652 people with TB who were triage-positive at diagnosis, the program staff shared details of 145 (22%), and all were counseled by TB champions (baseline counseling). Program staff identified 74 (11%) triage-positive people with TB who required additional counseling (i.e., those refusing referral or admission or continued admission), and 71 (96%) were counseled by TB champions. Among these, 54 (76%) were admitted or readmitted and successfully discharged. In addition, among 1,042 people with TB with severe undernutrition, program staff shared details of 390 (38%), of which 60% received nutritional supplementation through the efforts of TB champions. We conclude that TB champions were able to provide quality and timely peer support through direct counseling and by mobilizing local resources for nutritional support. The engagement of TB champions can be further strengthened by establishing robust coordination mechanisms with the TB program. Lessons from this pilot will contribute to the Tamil Nadu State TB Cell's plans to expand the role of TB champions and enhance community participation to end TB in India.

How can TB Mukt Panchayat initiative contribute towards ending tuberculosis in India?

Community Engagement (CE) for disease control and health has been tested for a long time across the globe for various health programmes. Realizing the need for true multisectoral action and CE and ownership for ending TB on an accelerated timeline, the Government of India launched a nationwide campaign for 'TB Mukt Panchayat' (meaning 'TB free village council' in Hindi language) on 24 March 2023, banking on the system of local self-governments in the country. Though it is an initiative with huge potential to contribute to India's efforts to end the TB epidemic, it is not without a few shortcomings. We critically analyse the TB Mukt Panchayat initiative and suggest a few recommendations for the way forward.

Barriers to engagement in the care cascade for tuberculosis disease in India: A systematic review of quantitative studies.

BACKGROUND: India accounts for about one-quarter of people contracting tuberculosis (TB) disease annually and nearly one-third of TB deaths globally. Many Indians do not navigate all care cascade stages to receive TB treatment and achieve recurrence-free survival. Guided by a population/exposure/comparison/outcomes (PECO) framework, we report findings of a systematic review to identify factors contributing to unfavorable outcomes across each care cascade gap for TB disease in India. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We defined care cascade gaps as comprising people with confirmed or presumptive TB who did not: start the TB diagnostic workup (Gap 1), complete the workup (Gap 2), start treatment (Gap 3), achieve treatment success (Gap 4), or achieve TB recurrence-free survival (Gap 5). Three systematic searches of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 2000 to August 14, 2023 were conducted. We identified articles evaluating factors associated with unfavorable outcomes for each gap (reported as adjusted odds, relative risk, or hazard ratios) and, among people experiencing unfavorable outcomes, reasons for these outcomes (reported as proportions), with specific quality or risk of bias criteria for each gap. Findings were organized into person-, family-, and society-, or health system-related factors, using a social-ecological framework. Factors associated with unfavorable outcomes across multiple cascade stages included: male sex, older age, poverty-related factors, lower symptom severity or duration, undernutrition, alcohol use, smoking, and distrust of (or dissatisfaction with) health services. People previously treated for TB were more likely to seek care and engage in the diagnostic workup (Gaps 1 and 2) but more likely to suffer pretreatment loss to follow-up (Gap 3) and unfavorable treatment outcomes (Gap 4), especially those who were lost to follow-up during their prior treatment. For individual care cascade gaps, multiple studies highlighted lack of TB knowledge and structural barriers (e.g., transportation challenges) as contributing to lack of care-seeking for TB symptoms (Gap 1, 14 studies); lack of access to diagnostics (e.g., X-ray), non-identification of eligible people for testing, and failure of providers to communicate concern for TB as contributing to non-completion of the diagnostic workup (Gap 2, 17 studies); stigma, poor recording of patient contact information by providers, and early death from diagnostic delays as contributing to pretreatment loss to follow-up (Gap 3, 15 studies); and lack of TB knowledge, stigma, depression, and medication adverse effects as contributing to unfavorable treatment outcomes (Gap 4, 86 studies). Medication nonadherence contributed to unfavorable treatment outcomes (Gap 4) and TB recurrence (Gap 5, 14 studies). Limitations include lack of meta-analyses due to the heterogeneity of findings and limited generalizability to some Indian regions, given the country's diverse population. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review illuminates common patterns of risk that shape outcomes for Indians with TB, while highlighting knowledge gaps-particularly regarding TB care for children or in the private sector-to guide future research. Findings may inform targeting of support services to people with TB who have higher risk of poor outcomes and inform multicomponent interventions to close gaps in the care cascade.

Need for operational simplicity and timely disbursal of benefits-a qualitative exploration of the implementation of a direct benefit transfer scheme for persons with tuberculosis in India.

BACKGROUND: Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) is a direct benefit transfer scheme of the Government of India introduced in 2018 to support the additional nutritional requirements of persons with TB (PwTB). Our recent nationwide evaluation of implementation and utilization of NPY using programmatic data of PwTB from nine randomly selected Indian states, reported a 70% coverage and high median delay in benefit credit. We undertook a qualitative study between January and July 2023, to understand the detailed implementation process of NPY and explore the enablers and barriers to effective implementation and utilization of the NPY scheme. METHODS: We followed a grounded theory approach to inductively develop theoretical explanations for social phenomena through data generated from multiple sources. We conducted 36 in-depth interviews of national, district and field-level staff of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and NPY beneficiaries from 30 districts across nine states of India, selected using theoretical sampling. An analytical framework developed through inductive coding of a set of six interviews, guided the coding of the subsequent interviews. Categories and themes emerged through constant comparison and the data collection continued until theoretical saturation. RESULTS: Stakeholders perceived NPY as a beneficial initiative. Strong political commitment from the state administration, mainstreaming of NTEP work with the district public healthcare delivery system, availability of good geographic and internet connectivity and state-specific grievance redressal mechanisms and innovations were identified as enablers of implementation. However, the complex, multi-level benefit approval process, difficulties in accessing banking services, perceived inadequacy of benefits and overworked human resources in the NTEP were identified as barriers to implementation and utilization. CONCLUSION: The optimal utilization of NPY is enabled by strong political commitment and challenged by its lengthy implementation process and delayed disbursal of benefits. We recommend greater operational simplicity in NPY implementation, integrating NTEP activities with the public health system to reduce the burden on the program staff, and revising the benefit amount more equitably.

Direct benefit transfer for nutritional support of patients with TB in India-analysis of national TB program data of 3.7 million patients, 2018-2022.

BACKGROUND: Patients with TB have additional nutritional requirements and thus additional costs to the household. Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana(NPY) is a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme(NTEP) in India which offers INR 500 monthly to all notified patients with TB for nutritional support during the period of anti-TB treatment. Five years after its implementation, we conducted the first nationwide evaluation of NPY. METHODS: In our retrospective cohort study using programmatic data of patients notified with TB in nine randomly selected Indian states between 2018 and 2022, we estimated the proportion of patients who received at least one NPY instalment and the median time to receive the first instalment. We determined the factors associated (i) with non-receipt of NPY using a generalised linear model with Poisson family and log link and (ii) with time taken to receive first NPY benefit in 2022 using quantile regression at 50th percentile. RESULTS: Overall, 3,712,551 patients were notified between 2018 and 2022. During this period, the proportion who received at least one NPY instalment had increased from 56.9% to 76.1%. Non-receipt was significantly higher among patients notified by private sector (aRR 2.10;2.08,2.12), reactive for HIV (aRR 1.69;1.64,1.74) and with missing/undetermined diabetic status (aRR 2.02;1.98,2.05). The median(IQR) time to receive the first instalment had reduced from 200(109,331) days in 2018 to 91(51,149) days in 2022. Patients from private sector(106.9;106.3,107.4days), those with HIV-reactive (103.7;101.8,105.7days), DRTB(104.6;102.6,106.7days) and missing/undetermined diabetic status (115.3;114,116.6days) experienced longer delays. CONCLUSIONS: The coverage of NPY among patients with TB had increased and the time to receipt of benefit had halved in the past five years. Three-fourths of the patients received at least one NPY instalment, more than half of whom had waited over three months to receive the first instalment. NTEP has to focus on timely transfer of benefits to enable patients to meet their additional nutritional demands, experience treatment success and avoid catastrophic expenditure.

Antibiotic resistance and consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Valle del Cauca, Colombia

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To assess changes in antibiotic resistance of eight of the World Health Organization priority bug-drug combinations and consumption of six antibiotics (ceftriaxone, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin) before (March 2018 to July 2019) and during (March 2020 to July 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in 31 hospitals in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Methods. This was a before/after study using routinely collected data. For antibiotic consumption, daily defined doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days were compared. Results. There were 23 405 priority bacterial isolates with data on antibiotic resistance. The total number of isolates increased from 9 774 to 13 631 in the periods before and during the pandemic, respectively. While resistance significantly decreased for four selected bug-drug combinations (Klebsiella pneumoniae, extended spectrum beta lactamase [ESBL]-producing, 32% to 24%; K. pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant, 4% to 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant, 12% to 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resis- tant, 23% to 9%), the level of resistance for Enterococcus faecium to vancomycin significantly increased (42% to 57%). There was no change in resistance for the remaining three combinations (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant; Escherichia coli, ESBL-producing; E. coli, carbapenem-resistant). Consumption of all anti- biotics increased. However, meropenem consumption decreased in intensive care unit settings (8.2 to 7.1 DDD per 100 bed-days). Conclusions. While the consumption of antibiotics increased, a decrease in antibiotic resistance of four bug-drug combinations was observed during the pandemic. This was possibly due to an increase in commu- nity-acquired infections. Increasing resistance of E. faecium to vancomycin must be monitored. The findings of this study are essential to inform stewardship programs in hospital settings of Colombia and similar contexts elsewhere.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Evaluar los cambios en la resistencia a los antibióticos de ocho de las combinaciones de fármacos y agentes patógenos incluidos en la lista prioritaria de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y el consumo de seis antibióticos (ceftriaxona, cefepima, piperacilina/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacina, vancomicina) antes de la pandemia de COVID-19 (de marzo del 2018 a julio del 2019) y durante la pandemia (de marzo del 2020 a julio del 2021) en 31 hospitales del Valle del Cauca (Colombia). Métodos. En este estudio se analiza el antes y el después empleando datos recopilados de forma rutinaria. Para el consumo de antibióticos, se compararon las dosis diarias definidas (DDD) por 100 días-cama. Resultados. Hubo 23 405 cepas bacterianas aisladas prioritarias con datos sobre la resistencia a los antibióti- cos. El número total de cepas aisladas aumentó de 9 774 antes de la pandemia a 13 631 durante la pandemia. Si bien la resistencia disminuyó significativamente en las cuatro combinaciones seleccionadas de agentes patógenos y fármacos (Klebsiella pneumoniae, productora de betalactamasa de espectro extendido [BLEE], de 32% a 24%; K. pneumoniae, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 4% a 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 12% a 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 23% a 9%), el nivel de resistencia de Enterococcus faecium a la vancomicina aumentó significativamente (de 42% a 57%). No hubo cambios en la resistencia en las tres combinaciones restantes (Staphylococcus aureus, resistente a la meticilina; Escherichia coli, productora de BLEE; E. coli, resistente a los carbapenémi- cos). El consumo de todos los antibióticos aumentó. Sin embargo, el consumo de meropenem disminuyó en los entornos de las unidades de cuidados intensivos (de 8,2 a 7,1 DDD por 100 días-cama). Conclusiones. Aunque el consumo de antibióticos aumentó, se observó una disminución en la resistencia a los antibióticos de cuatro combinaciones de agentes patógenos y medicamentos durante la pandemia, que posiblemente se debió a un aumento en las infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad. Es necesario vigilar el aumento de la resistencia de E. faecium a la vancomicina. Los resultados de este estudio son esenciales para que sirvan de orientación en los programas de optimización del uso de los antibióticos en los entornos hospitalarios de Colombia y en contextos similares en otros lugares.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Avaliar as mudanças na resistência a antibióticos em oito das combinações microrganismo/anti- microbiano prioritárias da Organização Mundial da Saúde e o consumo de seis antibióticos (ceftriaxona, cefepima, piperacilina/tazobactam, meropeném, ciprofloxacino, vancomicina) antes (março de 2018 a julho de 2019) e durante (março de 2020 a julho de 2021) a pandemia de COVID-19 em 31 hospitais em Valle del Cauca, Colômbia. Métodos. Este foi um estudo antes/depois utilizando dados coletados rotineiramente. Para avaliar o consumo de antibióticos, foram comparadas doses diárias definidas (DDD) por 100 leitos-dias. Resultados. Havia dados sobre resistência a antibióticos para 23.405 isolados bacterianos prioritários. O número total de isolados aumentou de 9.774 para 13.631 antes e durante a pandemia, respectivamente. Embora a resistência tenha diminuído significativamente para quatro das combinações microrganismo/antimi- crobiano selecionadas (Klebsiella pneumoniae, produtora de betalactamase de espectro estendido [ESBL], 32% a 24%; K. pneumoniae, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 4% a 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 12% a 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 23% a 9%), o nível de resistência de Enterococcus faecium a vancomicina aumentou significativamente (42% a 57%). Não houve mudança na resistência para as três combinações restantes (Staphylococcus aureus, resistente a meticilina; Escherichia coli, produtora de ESBL; E. coli, resistente a carbapenêmicos). O consumo de todos os antibióti- cos aumentou. Entretanto, o consumo de meropeném nas unidades de terapia intensiva diminuiu (de 8,2 para 7,1 DDD por 100 leitos-dias). Conclusões. Embora o consumo de antibióticos tenha aumentado, observou-se uma diminuição na resistên- cia a antibióticos de quatro combinações microrganismo/antimicrobiano durante a pandemia. Isso ocorreu possivelmente devido a um aumento nas infecções adquiridas na comunidade. O aumento da resistência de E. faecium à vancomicina deve ser monitorado. Os achados deste estudo são essenciais para guiar os pro- gramas de gerenciamento de antimicrobianos em ambientes hospitalares da Colômbia e em outros contextos similares.

Antibiotic resistance and consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Valle del Cauca, Colombia / Resistencia antibiótica y consumo de antibióticos antes y durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en el Valle del Cauca, Colombia / Resistência a antibióticos e consumo de antibióticos antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no Valle del Cauca, Colômbia

ABSTRACT Objective. To assess changes in antibiotic resistance of eight of the World Health Organization priority bug-drug combinations and consumption of six antibiotics (ceftriaxone, cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin) before (March 2018 to July 2019) and during (March 2020 to July 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in 31 hospitals in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Methods. This was a before/after study using routinely collected data. For antibiotic consumption, daily defined doses (DDD) per 100 bed-days were compared. Results. There were 23 405 priority bacterial isolates with data on antibiotic resistance. The total number of isolates increased from 9 774 to 13 631 in the periods before and during the pandemic, respectively. While resistance significantly decreased for four selected bug-drug combinations (Klebsiella pneumoniae, extended spectrum beta lactamase [ESBL]-producing, 32% to 24%; K. pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant, 4% to 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant, 12% to 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant, 23% to 9%), the level of resistance for Enterococcus faecium to vancomycin significantly increased (42% to 57%). There was no change in resistance for the remaining three combinations (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant; Escherichia coli, ESBL-producing; E. coli, carbapenem-resistant). Consumption of all antibiotics increased. However, meropenem consumption decreased in intensive care unit settings (8.2 to 7.1 DDD per 100 bed-days). Conclusions. While the consumption of antibiotics increased, a decrease in antibiotic resistance of four bug-drug combinations was observed during the pandemic. This was possibly due to an increase in community-acquired infections. Increasing resistance of E. faecium to vancomycin must be monitored. The findings of this study are essential to inform stewardship programs in hospital settings of Colombia and similar contexts elsewhere.

RESUMEN Objetivo. Evaluar los cambios en la resistencia a los antibióticos de ocho de las combinaciones de fármacos y agentes patógenos incluidos en la lista prioritaria de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y el consumo de seis antibióticos (ceftriaxona, cefepima, piperacilina/tazobactam, meropenem, ciprofloxacina, vancomicina) antes de la pandemia de COVID-19 (de marzo del 2018 a julio del 2019) y durante la pandemia (de marzo del 2020 a julio del 2021) en 31 hospitales del Valle del Cauca (Colombia). Métodos. En este estudio se analiza el antes y el después empleando datos recopilados de forma rutinaria. Para el consumo de antibióticos, se compararon las dosis diarias definidas (DDD) por 100 días-cama. Resultados. Hubo 23 405 cepas bacterianas aisladas prioritarias con datos sobre la resistencia a los antibióticos. El número total de cepas aisladas aumentó de 9 774 antes de la pandemia a 13 631 durante la pandemia. Si bien la resistencia disminuyó significativamente en las cuatro combinaciones seleccionadas de agentes patógenos y fármacos (Klebsiella pneumoniae, productora de betalactamasa de espectro extendido [BLEE], de 32% a 24%; K. pneumoniae, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 4% a 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 12% a 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, resistente a los carbapenémicos, de 23% a 9%), el nivel de resistencia de Enterococcus faecium a la vancomicina aumentó significativamente (de 42% a 57%). No hubo cambios en la resistencia en las tres combinaciones restantes (Staphylococcus aureus, resistente a la meticilina; Escherichia coli, productora de BLEE; E. coli, resistente a los carbapenémicos). El consumo de todos los antibióticos aumentó. Sin embargo, el consumo de meropenem disminuyó en los entornos de las unidades de cuidados intensivos (de 8,2 a 7,1 DDD por 100 días-cama). Conclusiones. Aunque el consumo de antibióticos aumentó, se observó una disminución en la resistencia a los antibióticos de cuatro combinaciones de agentes patógenos y medicamentos durante la pandemia, que posiblemente se debió a un aumento en las infecciones adquiridas en la comunidad. Es necesario vigilar el aumento de la resistencia de E. faecium a la vancomicina. Los resultados de este estudio son esenciales para que sirvan de orientación en los programas de optimización del uso de los antibióticos en los entornos hospitalarios de Colombia y en contextos similares en otros lugares.

RESUMO Objetivo. Avaliar as mudanças na resistência a antibióticos em oito das combinações microrganismo/antimicrobiano prioritárias da Organização Mundial da Saúde e o consumo de seis antibióticos (ceftriaxona, cefepima, piperacilina/tazobactam, meropeném, ciprofloxacino, vancomicina) antes (março de 2018 a julho de 2019) e durante (março de 2020 a julho de 2021) a pandemia de COVID-19 em 31 hospitais em Valle del Cauca, Colômbia. Métodos. Este foi um estudo antes/depois utilizando dados coletados rotineiramente. Para avaliar o consumo de antibióticos, foram comparadas doses diárias definidas (DDD) por 100 leitos-dias. Resultados. Havia dados sobre resistência a antibióticos para 23.405 isolados bacterianos prioritários. O número total de isolados aumentou de 9.774 para 13.631 antes e durante a pandemia, respectivamente. Embora a resistência tenha diminuído significativamente para quatro das combinações microrganismo/antimicrobiano selecionadas (Klebsiella pneumoniae, produtora de betalactamase de espectro estendido [ESBL], 32% a 24%; K. pneumoniae, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 4% a 2%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 12% a 8%; Acinetobacter baumannii, resistente a carbapenêmicos, 23% a 9%), o nível de resistência de Enterococcus faecium a vancomicina aumentou significativamente (42% a 57%). Não houve mudança na resistência para as três combinações restantes (Staphylococcus aureus, resistente a meticilina; Escherichia coli, produtora de ESBL; E. coli, resistente a carbapenêmicos). O consumo de todos os antibióticos aumentou. Entretanto, o consumo de meropeném nas unidades de terapia intensiva diminuiu (de 8,2 para 7,1 DDD por 100 leitos-dias). Conclusões. Embora o consumo de antibióticos tenha aumentado, observou-se uma diminuição na resistência a antibióticos de quatro combinações microrganismo/antimicrobiano durante a pandemia. Isso ocorreu possivelmente devido a um aumento nas infecções adquiridas na comunidade. O aumento da resistência de E. faecium à vancomicina deve ser monitorado. Os achados deste estudo são essenciais para guiar os programas de gerenciamento de antimicrobianos em ambientes hospitalares da Colômbia e em outros contextos similares.