Outcome of treatment of MDR-TB or drug-resistant patients treated with bedaquiline and delamanid: Results from a large global cohort.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends countries introduce new anti-TB drugs in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The aim of the study is to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of bedaquiline (and/or delamanid)- containing regimens in a large cohort of consecutive TB patients treated globally. This observational, prospective study is based on data collected and provided by Global Tuberculosis Network (GTN) centres and analysed twice a year. All consecutive patients (including children/adolescents) treated with bedaquiline and/or delamanid were enrolled, and managed according to WHO and national guidelines. Overall, 52 centres from 29 countries/regions in all continents reported 883 patients as of January 31st 2021, 24/29 countries/regions providing data on 100% of their consecutive patients (10-80% in the remaining 5 countries). The drug-resistance pattern of the patients was severe (>30% with extensively drug-resistant -TB; median number of resistant drugs 5 (3-7) in the overall cohort and 6 (4-8) among patients with a final outcome). For the patients with a final outcome (477/883, 54.0%) the median (IQR) number of months of anti-TB treatment was 18 (13-23) (in days 553 (385-678)). The proportion of patients achieving sputum smear and culture conversion ranged from 93.4% and 92.8% respectively (whole cohort) to 89.3% and 88.8% respectively (patients with a final outcome), a median (IQR) time to sputum smear and culture conversion of 58 (30-90) days for the whole cohort and 60 (30-100) for patients with a final outcome and, respectively, of 55 (30-90) and 60 (30-90) days for culture conversion. Of 383 patients treated with bedaquiline but not delamanid, 284 (74.2%) achieved treatment success, while 25 (6.5%) died, 11 (2.9%) failed and 63 (16.5%) were lost to follow-up.

Nutritional status and morbidity pattern among governmental primary school children in the Eastern Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status and morbidity pattern of primary school children. METHODS: Descriptive, cross sectional study was administered in the five governmental schools located in Dhankuta town (Dhankuta district) and Ineruwa town (Sunsari district). The schools were selected using simple random sampling technique. From these selected schools, a total number of 818 students studying from Grade I to V were enumerated in the study using census survey method. RESULTS: Among 818 students, 61% of the students were found to be malnourished. The students were more stunted (21.5%) than wasted (10.4%). Only 5.4 % of the students were found to be both wasted and stunted. The collected blood and stool samples from the students revealed parasitic infestation of 65.8% and anaemia of 58%. The most common diseases in those schools were: skin diseases (20%), dental caries (19.8%), and lymphodenopathy (10.5%). Among skin diseases, pediculosis was more common among girls while ringworms and scabies were common among boys. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that high percentage of primary school students was malnourished. It was found that there was a high prevalence of parasitic infestation and anaemia. The study result revealed the urgent need for initiation of school health program with specific emphasis on prevention of diseases, improvement of personal hygiene and nutritional status with the collaboration of governmental and non governmental institutions.