Optimizing Moxifloxacin Dose in MDR-TB Participants with or without Efavirenz Coadministration Using Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling.

Moxifloxacin is included in some treatment regimens for drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). Aiming to optimize dosing, we described moxifloxacin pharmacokinetic and MIC distribution in participants with MDR-TB. Participants enrolled at two TB hospitals in South Africa underwent intensive pharmacokinetic sampling approximately 1 to 6 weeks after treatment initiation. Plasma drug concentrations and clinical data were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling with simulations to evaluate doses for different scenarios. We enrolled 131 participants (54 females), with median age of 35.7 (interquartile range, 28.5 to 43.5) years, median weight of 47 (42.0 to 54.0) kg, and median fat-free mass of 40.1 (32.3 to 44.7) kg; 79 were HIV positive, 29 of whom were on efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy. Moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics were described with a 2-compartment model, transit absorption, and elimination via a liver compartment. We included allometry based on fat-free mass to estimate disposition parameters. We estimated an oral clearance for a typical patient to be 17.6 L/h. Participants treated with efavirenz had increased clearance, resulting in a 44% reduction in moxifloxacin exposure. Simulations predicted that, even at a median MIC of 0.25 (0.06 to 16) mg/L, the standard daily dose of 400 mg has a low probability of attaining the ratio of the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h to the MIC (fAUC0-24)/MIC target of >53, particularly in heavier participants. The high-dose WHO regimen (600 to 800 mg) yielded higher, more balanced exposures across the weight ranges, with better target attainment. When coadministered with efavirenz, moxifloxacin doses of up to 1,000 mg are needed to match these exposures. The safety of higher moxifloxacin doses in clinical settings should be confirmed.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis due to Rickettsia conorii infection.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an immune-mediated acute inflammatory demyelinating disorder, which typically occurs after viral infections or immunisation. We present a case of a man with acute Rickettsia conorii infection whose diagnosis was delayed. He presented with fever, headache, an eschar and an acute paraplegia. The R. conorii IgM serum titre was 1:128. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multifocal lesions in the brain and spinal cord consistent with inflammatory demyelination. The patient responded well to doxycycline and a short course of high-dose corticosteroids. To our knowledge this is the first case of ADEM associated with Mediterranean spotted fever - we found a previous report of ADEM in a child with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, whose diagnosis of rickettsial infection was also delayed. We hypothesise that delayed diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsial infections could rarely result in ADEM.

The treatment gap for mental disorders in adults enrolled in HIV treatment programmes in South Africa: a cohort study using linked electronic health records.

AIMS: Mental disorders are common in people living with HIV (PLWH) but often remain untreated. This study aimed to explore the treatment gap for mental disorders in adults followed-up in antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes in South Africa and disparities between ART programmes regarding the provision of mental health services. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using ART programme data and linked pharmacy and hospitalisation data to examine the 12-month prevalence of treatment for mental disorders and factors associated with the rate of treatment for mental disorders among adults, aged 15-49 years, followed-up from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017 at one private care, one public tertiary care and two pubic primary care ART programmes in South Africa. We calculated the treatment gap for mental disorders as the discrepancy between the 12-month prevalence of mental disorders in PLWH (aged 15-49 years) in South Africa (estimated based on data from the Global Burden of Disease study) and the 12-month prevalence of treatment for mental disorders in ART programmes. We calculated adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) for factors associated with the treatment rate of mental disorders using Poisson regression. RESULTS: In total, 182 285 ART patients were followed-up over 405 153 person-years. In 2017, the estimated treatment gap for mental disorders was 40.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.5-52.9) for patients followed-up in private care, 96.5% (95% CI 95.0-97.5) for patients followed-up in public primary care and 65.0% (95% CI 36.5-85.1) for patients followed-up in public tertiary care ART programmes. Rates of treatment with antidepressants, anxiolytics and antipsychotics were 17 (aRR 0.06, 95% CI 0.06-0.07), 50 (aRR 0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.03) and 2.6 (aRR 0.39, 95% CI 0.35-0.43) times lower in public primary care programmes than in the private sector programmes. CONCLUSIONS: There is a large treatment gap for mental disorders in PLWH in South Africa and substantial disparities in access to mental health services between patients receiving ART in the public vs the private sector. In the public sector and especially in public primary care, PLWH with common mental disorders remain mostly untreated.

Implementing novel regimens for drug-resistant TB in South Africa: what can the world learn?

Worldwide uptake of new drugs in the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) has been extremely low. In June 2018, ahead of the release of the updated WHO guidelines for the management of RR-TB, South Africa announced that bedaquiline (BDQ) would be provided to virtually all RR-TB patients on shorter or longer regimens. South Africa has been the global leader in accessing BDQ for patients with RR-TB, who now represent 60% of the global BDQ cohort. The use of BDQ within a shorter modified regimen has generated the programmatic data underpinning the most recent change in WHO guidelines endorsing a shorter, injectable-free regimen. Progressive policies on access to new drugs have resulted in improved favourable outcomes and a reduction in mortality among RR-TB patients in South Africa. This supported global policy change. The strategies underpinning these bold actions include close collaboration between the South African National TB Programme and partners, introduction of new TB diagnostic tools in closely monitored conditions and the use of locally generated programmatic evidence to inform country policy changes. In this paper, we summarise a decade´s work that led to the bold decision to use a modified, short, injectable-free regimen with BDQ and linezolid under carefully monitored programmatic conditions.

Essential medicine selection during the COVID-19 pandemic: Enabling access in uncharted territory.

The COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent decisions regarding treatment policy in the face of rapidly evolving evidence. In response, the South African Essential Medicines List Committee established a subcommittee to systematically review and appraise emerging evidence, within very short timelines, in order to inform the National Department of Health COVID-19 treatment guidelines. To date, the subcommittee has reviewed 14 potential treatments, and made recommendations based on local context, feasibility, resource requirements and equity. Here we describe the rapid review and evidence-to-decision process, using remdesivir and dexamethasone as examples. Our experience is that conducting rapid reviews is a practical and efficient way to address medicine policy questions under pandemic conditions.

Effect of tablet crushing on drug exposure in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

SETTING: Treatment outcomes in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are poor. Due to drug toxicity and a long treatment duration, approximately half of patients are treated successfully. Medication is often crushed for patients who have difficulty swallowing whole tablets. Whether crushing tablets affects drug exposure in MDR-TB treatment is not known.OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We performed a sequential pharmacokinetic study in patients aged >18 years on MDR-TB treatment at two hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. We compared the bioavailability of pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin, isoniazid (INH), ethambutol and terizidone when the tablets were crushed and mixed with water before administration vs. swallowed whole. We sampled blood at six time points over 10 h under each condition separated by 2 weeks. Non-compartmental analysis was used to derive the key pharmacokinetic measurements.RESULTS: Twenty participants completed the study: 15 were men, and the median age was 31.5 years. There was a 42% reduction in the area under the curve AUC0-10 of INH when the tablets were crushed compared with whole tablets (geometric mean ratio 58%; 90%CI 47-73). Crushing tablets of pyrazinamide, moxifloxacin, ethambutol and terizidone did not affect the bioavailability significantly.CONCLUSION: We recommend that crushing of INH tablets in the MDR-TB treatment regimen be avoided. Paediatric INH formulations may be a viable alternative if the crushing of INH tablets is indicated.

Effect of lidocaine on kanamycin injection-site pain in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

SETTING: Reducing pain from intramuscular injection of kanamycin (KM) could improve the tolerability of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment. Lidocaine has been shown to be an effective anaesthetic diluent for some intramuscular injections, but has not been investigated with KM in the treatment of adult patients with MDR-TB. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We performed a randomised single-blinded crossover study to determine if lidocaine reduces KM injection-site pain. We recruited patients aged 18 years on MDR-TB treatment at two TB hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa. KM pharmacokinetic parameters and a validated numeric pain scale were used at intervals over 10 h following the injection of KM with and without lidocaine on two separate occasions. RESULTS: Twenty participants completed the study: 11 were males, the median age was 36 years, 11 were HIV-infected, and the median body mass index was 17.5 kg/m2. The highest pain scores occurred early, and the median pain score was 0 by 30 min. The use of lidocaine with KM significantly reduced pain at the time of injection and 15 min post-dose. On multiple regression analysis, lidocaine halved pain scores (adjusted OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.3-0.9). The area under the curve at 0-10 h of KM with and without lidocaine was respectively 147.7 and 143.6 µg·h/ml. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine significantly reduces early injection-site pain and has no effect on KM pharmacokinetics.

Steady state pharmacokinetics of cycloserine in patients on terizidone for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

SETTING: Terizidone/cycloserine (TRD/CS) is included in standard treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in many countries. The steady state pharmacokinetics (PKs) of CS after TRD administration are not known. OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN: We recruited in-patients treated with 250-750 mg oral TRD daily as part of standard treatment regimens for pulmonary MDR-TB in Cape Town, South Africa. Plasma CS assays were performed in samples taken pre-dose and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h post-dose. CS concentrations were measured using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Non-compartmental PK analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 35 participants enrolled, 22 were males, and 20 (57%) were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus; the median age was 37 years. The median duration on TRD at the time of sampling was 33 days (interquartile range [IQR] 28-39). The area under the concentration-time curve at 0-10 h (AUC0-10) was 319 µg.h/ml (IQR 267.5-378.7), and peak concentration was 38.1 µg/ml (IQR 32.6-47.2). On multiple regression, dose (mg/kg) was the only factor independently associated with AUC0-10. CONCLUSION: Steady state concentrations of CS in patients treated with TRD for MDR-TB were higher than those reported with CS formulations. Our findings support once-daily dosing.

Pharmacokinetic interaction between bedaquiline and clofazimine in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Bedaquiline (BDQ) and clofazimine (CFZ) are both recommended for treating drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). As CFZ is an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 3A4 (CYP3A4) in vitro, and BDQ a substrate of CYP3A4, there is a potential for pharmacokinetic (PK) drug-drug interaction that may result in increased BDQ exposure when co-administered with CFZ, which could increase the toxicity of BDQ. METHODS: We assessed the effect of co-administered CFZ on BDQ bioavailability, or on clearance of BDQ and its N-monodesmethyl metabolite (M2), in patients with DR-TB using a population PK model developed from data of patients with DR-TB. This was a secondary analysis of a study designed to explore drug-drug interactions between BDQ and antiretrovirals. RESULTS: Of 46 participants, 30 were on concomitant CFZ when intensive PK sampling of BDQ was done. CFZ did not have a statistically significant effect on BDQ bioavailability (-9.1%, 90%CI -22.8 to +7.1; P = 0.19) or on BDQ and M2 clearance (+12.2%, 90%CI -13.7 to +38; P = 0.32). CONCLUSION: We did not find a statistically significant PK drug-drug interaction between BDQ and CFZ, but cannot exclude a potentially clinically relevant interaction due to the wide confidence intervals of the estimated interaction effects.

Bioavailability of two licensed paediatric rifampicin suspensions: implications for quality control programmes.

SETTING: To assess the revised World Health Organization-recommended dose of 10-20 mg/kg rifampicin (RMP), we studied the steady state pharmacokinetics of RMP in South African children who received standard treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To determine the formulation effect on the pharmacokinetics of RMP. DESIGN: RMP plasma concentrations were characterised in 146 children (median age 1.4 years, range 0.2-10.2). The morning dose on the day of the pharmacokinetic evaluation was administered as one of two RMP single-drug oral suspensions. RESULTS: While one formulation achieved 2 h concentrations in the range of those observed in adults (median 6.54 mg/l, interquartile range [IQR] 4.47-8.84), the other attained a median bioavailability of only 25% of this, with a median 2 h concentration of 1.59 mg/l (IQR 0.89-2.38). CONCLUSION: RMP is a key drug for the treatment of TB. It is critical that the quality of RMP suspensions used to treat childhood TB is ensured.

The interaction between artemether-lumefantrine and lopinavir/ritonavir-based antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Artemether-lumefantrine is currently the most widely recommended treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Lopinavir-based antiretroviral therapy is the commonly recommended second-line HIV treatment. Artemether and lumefantrine are metabolised by cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP3A4, which lopinavir/ritonavir inhibits, potentially causing clinically important drug-drug interactions. METHODS: An adaptive, parallel-design safety and pharmacokinetic study was conducted in HIV-infected (malaria-negative) patients: antiretroviral-naïve and those stable on lopinavir/ritonavir-based antiretrovirals. Both groups received the recommended six-dose artemether-lumefantrine treatment. The primary outcome was day-7 lumefantrine concentrations, as these correlate with antimalarial efficacy. Adverse events were solicited throughout the study, recording the onset, duration, severity, and relationship to artemether-lumefantrine. RESULTS: We enrolled 34 patients. Median day-7 lumefantrine concentrations were almost 10-fold higher in the lopinavir than the antiretroviral-naïve group [3170 versus 336 ng/mL; p = 0.0001], with AUC(0-inf) and Cmax increased five-fold [2478 versus 445 µg.h/mL; p = 0.0001], and three-fold [28.2 versus 8.8 µg/mL; p < 0.0001], respectively. Lumefantrine Cmax, and AUC(0-inf) increased significantly with mg/kg dose in the lopinavir, but not the antiretroviral-naïve group. While artemether exposure was similar between groups, Cmax and AUC(0-8h) of its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin were initially two-fold higher in the lopinavir group [p = 0.004 and p = 0.0013, respectively]. However, this difference was no longer apparent after the last artemether-lumefantrine dose. Within 21 days of starting artemether-lumefantrine there were similar numbers of treatment emergent adverse events (42 vs. 35) and adverse reactions (12 vs. 15, p = 0.21) in the lopinavir and antiretroviral-naïve groups, respectively. There were no serious adverse events and no difference in electrocardiographic QTcF- and PR-intervals, at the predicted lumefantrine Tmax. CONCLUSION: Despite substantially higher lumefantrine exposure, intensive monitoring in our relatively small study raised no safety concerns in HIV-infected patients stable on lopinavir-based antiretroviral therapy given the recommended artemether-lumefantrine dosage. Increased day-7 lumefantrine concentrations have been shown previously to reduce the risk of malaria treatment failure, but further evidence in adult patients co-infected with malaria and HIV is needed to assess the artemether-lumefantrine risk : benefit profile in this vulnerable population fully. Our antiretroviral-naïve patients confirmed previous findings that lumefantrine absorption is almost saturated at currently recommended doses, but this dose-limited absorption was overcome in the lopinavir group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registration number NCT00869700. Registered on clinicaltrials.gov 25 March 2009.

Selected questions and controversies about bedaquiline: a view from the field.

Although there has been a slow decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence worldwide, the prevalence of drug-resistant TB in most high-burden countries has increased. Drug-resistant TB is associated with high mortality, is a threat to health care workers in TB-endemic countries and is prohibitively costly, which diverts resources away from drug-susceptible cases. Amplification of resistance means that there is an increasing proportion of patients with multidrug-resistant TB who have extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) or are programmatically untreatable. Thus, new treatment options are urgently needed. Bedaquiline (BDQ) is the first new drug specifically developed for TB to be licensed for use in almost 40 years. BDQ has sterilising activity and also shows promise as a component of new treatment-shortening regimens for drug-susceptible TB. Here we review insights from the field into the use of BDQ, issues relevant to the practising clinician, implications for the selection for antiretroviral therapy, pharmacokinetic issues relevant to clinical practice and implications for combination therapy. Given the increasing prevalence of resistance beyond XDR-TB, we also discuss how the development of resistance to BDQ can be minimised.

Clinician Compliance with Laboratory Monitoring and Prescribing Guidelines in HIV-1-Infected Patients Receiving Tenofovir

BACKGROUND:Tenofovir is part of the preferred first-line regimen for HIV-infected patients in South Africa (SA); but is associated with kidney toxicity. SA antiretroviral therapy (ART) guidelines recommend creatinine monitoring at baseline (ART start) and at 3; 6 and 12 months; and substituting tenofovir with zidovudine; stavudine or abacavir should creatinine clearance (CrCl) decrease to etlt;50 mL/min. OBJECTIVE:To assess clinician compliance with tenofovir monitoring and prescribing guidelines.METHODS:We described the proportion of adult patients on tenofovir-based first-line ART who were screened for baseline renal impairment; were monitored according to the SA antiretroviral treatment guidelines; and were switched from tenofovir if renal function declined.RESULTS:We included 13 168 patients who started ART from 2010 to 2012. Creatinine concentrations were recorded in 11 712 (88.9%) patients on tenofovir at baseline; 9 135/11 657 (78.4%) at 3 months; 5 426/10 554 (51.4%) at 6 months; and 5 949/ 8 421 (70.6%) at 12 months. At baseline; 227 (1.9%) started tenofovir despite a CrCl etlt;50 mL/min. While on tenofovir; 525 patients had at least one CrCl of etlt;50 mL/min. Of 382 patients with =3 months' follow-up after a CrCl etlt;50 mL/min; 114 (29.8%) stopped tenofovir within 3 months. Clinicians were more likely to stop tenofovir in patients with lower CrCl and CD4 count. Of 226 patients who continued to receive tenofovir and had further CrCls available; 156 (69.0%) had a CrCl =50 mL/min at their next visit.CONCLUSIONS:Creatinine monitoring is feasible where access to laboratory services is good. Kidney function recovered in most patients who continued to receive tenofovir despite a CrCl etlt;50 mL/min. Further research is needed to determine how best to monitor renal function with tenofovir in resource-limited settings

The pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir when given with isoniazid in South African HIV-infected individuals.

Isoniazid preventive therapy is recommended in patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) with latent tuberculous infection to prevent progression to active tuberculosis disease. Isoniazid (INH) inhibits cytochrome (CY) P3A4, which metabolises lopinavir (LPV). The administration of INH may cause higher LPV concentrations, which may increase LPV toxicity. LPV bioavailability is increased by co-formulated ritonavir (r), which may enhance the interaction of INH on LPV. We studied the effect of INH on LPV concentrations by administering INH for 7 days and performing intensive pharmacokinetic sampling in 16 human immunodeficiency virus infected patients established on LPV/r-based ART. INH did not significantly increase steady-state LPV area under the plasma concentration-time curve calculated for the 12 h-dosing interval.

Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis with bedaquiline in a high HIV prevalence setting: an interim cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: South Africa has a large burden of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB); only 15% of XDR-TB patients have successful outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To describe the safety and effectiveness of bedaquiline (BDQ) in the South African BDQ Clinical Access Programme. DESIGN: An interim cohort analysis. RESULTS: Of the first 91 patients enrolled between March 2013 and July 2014 (with follow-up until August 2014), 54 (59%) were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected. The median CD4 count was 239 cells/µl, and all patients were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at initiation of BDQ; 33 had XDR-TB, 41 were pre-XDR-TB with fluoroquinolone resistance and 17 were pre-XDR-TB with resistance to an injectable. Of the 91 patients, 58 (64%) had completed 24 weeks of BDQ, 28 were still on BDQ, 3 were lost to follow-up, 1 had died and 1 had BDQ withdrawn following atrial fibrillation. Of the 63 patients with 6 months follow-up, 48 (76%) had either culture-converted or remained culture-negative after initiation of BDQ. QTcF was monitored monthly and exceeded 500 ms in three participants; this resolved in all three. CONCLUSION: Interim safety and culture conversion outcomes for patients accessing BDQ in South Africa, including HIV-infected patients on ART and patients with pre-XDR- and XDR-TB, suggest that BDQ may be both efficacious and safe.

Clinical access to Bedaquiline Programme for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

While clinical disease caused by drug-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) can usually be treated successfully, clinical disease caused by drug-insensitive MTB is associated with a poorer prognosis. In December 2012, a new drug, bedaquiline, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This article documents the process whereby the National Department of Health, Right to Care and Médecins Sans Frontières obtained access to this medication for South Africans who might benefit from subsequent implementation of the Clinical Access to Bedaquiline Programme.

Systematic review of the evidence for rational dosing of colistin.

BACKGROUND: There is an alarming global increase in the incidence of nosocomial infections with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, which are often only susceptible to colistin. Colistin was developed prior to current methods of establishing dosing using pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships. Dosing regimens differ in package inserts from different manufacturers and in different guidelines. It is imperative to avoid under-dosing with colistin in order to limit the development of resistance, as it is the last line of defence. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature to develop guidelines for rational dosing of intravenous colistin, with a particular focus on critically ill patients. RESULTS: Colistin is administered as the inactive pro-drug colistimethate sodium. Colistin demonstrates concentration-dependent bacterial killing, suggesting that higher doses should be administered less frequently to achieve higher peak concentrations. Dose-related nephrotoxicity occurs, making it impossible to safely achieve concentrations that prevent the selection of resistant mutants or the effective eradication of bacteria with higher minimum inhibitory concentrations. Theoretically, combination therapy should be used to reduce the risk of selection of resistant bacteria. In critically ill patients, a loading dose should be given to rapidly achieve therapeutic concentrations, followed by maintenance doses of 4.5 MU 12-hourly. Maintenance dose adjustment is necessary with renal impairment. CONCLUSION: Easier access to colistin is needed in South Africa, where it is not a registered medicine. Further research is needed to better characterise colistin's pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships in humans and to establish whether combinations of colistin with other antimicrobials result in improved clinical outcomes or a reduction in selection of resistant bacteria.

Strengthening pharmacovigilance in South Africa.

This report outlines findings and recommendations of a national pharmacovigilance workshop held in August 2012 in South Africa (SA). A survey of current pharmacovigilance activities, conducted in preparation for the meeting, identified multiple programmes collecting drug safety data in SA, with limited co-ordination at national level. The meeting resolved that existing pharmacovigilance programmes need to be strengthened and consolidated to ensure that important local safety issues are addressed, data can be pooled and compared and outputs shared more widely. Pharmacovigilance activities should inform treatment guidelines with the goal of improving patient care. A variety of pharmaco-epidemiological approaches should be employed, including nesting drug safety studies within existing sentinel cohorts and the creation of a pregnancy exposure registry. The attendees agreed on key principles that will inform a national pharmacovigilance plan and compiled a list of priority pharmacovigilance issues facing public health programmes in SA.

Diagnostic accuracy and clinical role of rapid C-reactive protein testing in HIV-infected individuals with presumed tuberculosis in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy and role of rapid C-reactive protein (CRP) testing in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals with presumed tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN: We enrolled HIV-infected adults (≥18 years)with a cough of ≥2 weeks and negative sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants were evaluated for pulmonary TB (PTB) by a nurse with rapid CRP, and independently by a physician by chest radiograph. Rapid CRP test results were compared with laboratory CRP and sputum sent for confirmation of TB. RESULTS: Among 93 participants, 55 (59%) were female, the mean age was 35 years, and the median CD4 count was 177/mm3. Forty-five (54%) participants were diagnosed with PTB. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were respectively 95% (95%CI 74­99) and 51%(95%CI 35­66) for rapid CRP >8 mg/l, 87% (95%CI 73­96) and 53% (95%CI 38­68) for nurse assessment, and 69% (95%CI 52­83) and 76% (95%CI 61­87) for physician examination. Combining a negative rapid CRP(≤8 mg/l) with nurse and physician assessments reduced the post-test probability of PTB from 22% to 6% and from 32% to 6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Rapid CRP testing helped exclude PTB,and may be a valuable test in assisting nurses and physicians in TB-endemic regions.