Active clinical trials for "Tuberculosis"

Currently in Taiwan, most clinicians use sputum smear and culture for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and apply nucleic acid amplification (NAA) test in a selected manner. In 2013, the World Health Organization issued conditional recommendation that Xpert MTB/RIF may be used rather than conventional microscopy and culture as the initial diagnostic test in all adults suspected of having TB. The newly published Taiwan guidelines for TB diagnosis and treatment has recommended NAA test, together with smear and culture, as the initial diagnostic test in individuals suspected of having TB. The investigators conduct a prospective study to investigate the use of Xpert MTB/RIF as the initial diagnostic test of pulmonary TB under a pragmatic trial design.

This study has two main objectives. First, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with symptomatic Covid-19 disease will be compared between persons with a history of past or current TB infection or disease and those, who have had no TB history. The possible impact of an HIV-coinfection will be also addressed in the planned investigations and analysis. Second, the long-term consequences and clinical outcomes of Covid-19 up to 12 months post-infection will be analysed in both groups (with and without TB history) with the main focus on cardio-pulmonary outcomes.

In tuberculosis patients, salivary concentrations will be compared to plasma/serum concentrations of several anti-tuberculosis drugs. If salivary concentrations correctly represent blood concentrations, this non-invasive sampling of saliva could be used for TDM of the tested drugs.

The investigators think that the health care workers who contact frequently with active tuberculosis patients have more increased prevalence of LTBI compared with those who don't.

All patients who were alive at the end of the dexamethasone treatment trial conducted by Oxford University CLinical Research Unit from 2001-2005 (n=340) will be eligible to participate in this long-term follow-up study. All eligible and consenting patients will undergo an assesment consisting of a simple questionnaire, a clinical examination and a blood test. Data collected will focus on survival, neurological disability and tuberculosis relapse. Data will be collected in individual case record forms and entered into a computer database.

The Pulmonary Colonization Test is a non-invasive breath test for markers of lower respiratory tract infection, which may predict the probability of mycobacterial organisms in the lower respiratory tract. It consists of: A breath collection apparatus for collection of volatile organic compounds in breath onto a sorbent trap and Tedlar bag, as well as for the collection of a separate sample of room air. Analysis of the volatile organic compounds in breath and room air by short acoustic wave/gas chromatography. Interpretation of the volatile organic compounds with a proprietary algorithm in order to predict the probability of lower respiratory tract colonization and infection. Analysis of the volatile organic compounds in sputum culture by short acoustic wave/gas chromatography. This study will test the hypothesis that the investigators can identify the presence of mycobacteria in an individual by sampling the breath of patients with active tuberculosis and by sampling "head space" above culture media of sputum provided. This study will test the hypotheses: that the investigators can identify positive cultures for mycobacterium tuberculosis through sampling of the headspace above the cultures prior to standard laboratory culture identification that the investigators can identify control of tuberculosis by sampling exhaled breath

The Principle objective of this study is To evaluate the performance of NRA, NRA-p and REMA-p for the detection of M. tuberculosis complex from sputum samples from adult pulmonary TB suspects in a high TB and HIV prevalence setting, using LJ and MGIT culture as gold standard. The Secondary objectives are: To measure the performance of each assay (NRA, NRA-p, REMA-p) in sputum smear-negative patients To describe the results of the colorimetric methods in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients To assess the time to detection of both NRA/NRA-p, REMA-p methods. To evaluate the feasibility of the NRA, NRA-p, REMA-p methods. To determine the rate of contamination of the NRA, NRA-p and REMA-p assays. To evaluate the proportion and the clinical relevance of NTM among TB suspects in a high TB and HIV prevalence setting. To provide capacity building for TB diagnosis in Mbarara.

The purpose of this study is to test whether a saline nebulization (breathing in a mist of moist air through a mask) will help an individual cough up a better sputum sample to test for tuberculosis (TB). In addition, this study will test whether samples obtained with saline nebulization are better at finding TB in people with HIV infection. The study will enroll up to 600 individuals, aged 12 and older, with suspected pulmonary TB. Participants will be asked to cough up a sample of sputum into a container. Then, participants will be asked to breathe a mist of moist air from an oxygen mask followed by moist salty air, which will help individuals to cough up a second sputum sample. This mist of moist air will contain salbutamol, a medicine to help open up the airways. The sputum samples will be sent to a laboratory to test for TB. Additionally, participants will be tested for HIV with a blood sample collection. Participants will be involved in study related procedures for up to 61 days.

This study aims to compare the performance of the tuberculin skin test, used for more than 50 years as a diagnostic tool for latent tuberculosis infection, with 2 blood tests which have recently become commercially available (Interferon-gamma release assays) in a population of immunosuppressed individuals with chronic renal failure undergoing long term hemodialysis

In face of the increased rates of tuberculosis in residents of long term care facilities, annual screening for latent tuberculosis is recommended. Tuberculin skin testing using purified protein derivative (PPD) is used for this purpose. Sensitivity of the PPD testing is, however, dependent on a normal T cell function. It is now evident that the immune system undergoes age-associated alteration known as immune senescence. The depressed T-cell responses may clinically manifest as attenuated delayed-type hypersensitivity. This attenuated reaction may affect the sensitivity of the PPD in detection of latent TB in the elderly. This prospective study will examine the utility of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) based assay, T-SPOT.TB, for detection of latent tuberculosis in nursing home patients who are 65 years of age or older.