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A woman from eastern Europe in her late 40s undergoing treatment for stage III cervical adenocarcinoma was found to have a right upper lobe pulmonary nodule. Pathology from tissue biopsy [...]

Background Rifampin-resistant tuberculosis is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide; only one-third of persons start treatment, and outcomes are often inadequate. Several trials demonstrate 90% efficacy using an all-oral, 6-month regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL), but significant toxicity occurred using 1200-mg linezolid. After US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2019, some US clinicians rapidly implemented BPaL using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose adjusted by serum drug concentrations and clinical monitoring. Methods Data from US patients treated with BPaL between 14 October 2019 and 30 April 2022 were compiled and analyzed by the BPaL Implementation Group (BIG), including baseline examination and laboratory, electrocardiographic, and clinical monitoring throughout treatment and follow-up. Linezolid dosing and clinical management was provider driven, and most patients had linezolid adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring. Results Of 70 patients starting BPaL, 2 changed to rifampin-based therapy, 68 (97.1%) completed BPaL, and 2 of the 68 (2.9%) experienced relapse after completion. Using an initial 600-mg linezolid dose daily adjusted by therapeutic drug monitoring and careful clinical and laboratory monitoring for adverse effects, supportive care, and expert consultation throughout BPaL treatment, 3 patients (4.4%) with hematologic toxicity and 4 (5.9%) with neurotoxicity required a change in linezolid dose or frequency. The median BPaL duration was 6 months. Conclusions BPaL has transformed treatment for rifampin-resistant or intolerant tuberculosis. In this cohort, effective treatment required less than half the duration recommended in 2019 US guidelines for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Use of individualized linezolid dosing and monitoring likely enhanced safety and treatment completion. The BIG cohort demonstrates that early implementation of new tuberculosis treatments in the United States is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) are widely used for detecting tuberculosis (TB) infection, tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) remain preferred for children under the age of 2 years. The preference for TST stems from concern over IGRA sensitivity in young children. However, TSTs are susceptible to false-positive results following Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, which is common in infancy, and exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria. We reviewed available data for IGRA performance in children under age 2 years. Across four cohorts of high-risk children under age 2 (mostly case contacts or those born in tuberculosis endemic regions), 0 of 575 untreated children with negative IGRA test results progressed to tuberculosis disease—including 0 of 70 who were TST positive but IGRA negative. While neither TSTs nor IGRAs are perfectly sensitive for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection, IGRAs are an acceptable alternative to TST in children <2 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to explore and describe the relationships between preference for online training and traditional face-to-face training. Included were variables of race, gender, age, education, experience of library […]

The article explores Clinicians who treat tuberculosis (TB) have enjoyed high treatment success rates (generally around 90%) using a "one size-fits-all approach." For more than 30 years, patients with pan-susceptible TB in the United States and globally have been treated with the same 4 drugs, at the same dosages; occasional exceptions are made for patients at the extremes of weight or age.

The article presents a report from a meeting of the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Interest Group Meeting which took place during the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in January 2007. RFID activity and standardization were discussed along with the return-on-investment of RFID systems. It also examines privacy concerns, security, and best practices for RFID usage.

The article offers information on the group meeting of the LITA RFID Interest Group held in San Antonio, Texas on January 2006. The discussion focused on the development of a strategic plan for the group and sharing experiences. A panel discussion was also held to address critical issues of RFID technology in libraries.

There are approximately 56 million people who harbor Mycobacterium tuberculosis that may progress to active tuberculosis (TB) at some point in their lives. Modeling studies suggest that if only 8% of these individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI) were treated annually, overall global incidence would be 14-fold lower by 2050 compared to incidence in 2013, even in the absence of additional TB control measures. This highlights the importance of identifying and treating latently infected individuals, and that this intervention must be scaled up to achieve the goals of the Global End TB Strategy. The efficacy of LTBI treatment is well established, and the most commonly used regimen is 9 months of daily self-administered isoniazid. However, its use has been hindered by limited provider awareness of the benefits, concern about potential side effects such as hepatotoxicity, and low rates of treatment completion. There is increasing evidence that shorter rifamycin-based regimens are as effective, better tolerated, and more likely to be completed compared to isoniazid. Such regimens include four months of daily self-administered rifampin monotherapy, three months of once weekly directly observed isoniazid-rifapentine, and three months of daily self-administered isoniazid-rifampin. The success of LTBI treatment to prevent additional TB disease relies upon choosing an appropriate regimen individualized to the patient, monitoring for potential adverse clinical events, and utilizing strategies to promote adherence. Safer, more cost-effective, and more easily completed regimens are needed and should be combined with interventions to better identify, engage, and retain high-risk individuals across the cascade from diagnosis through treatment completion of LTBI.