Drug-Induced Hypothyroidism during Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Notes from the Field

We followed 188 euthyroidic persons undergoing treatment for multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the state of Karnataka, India to determine the incidence of hypothyroidism during anti-tuberculosis treatment. Overall, among MDR-TB patients with valid thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) values, about 23% developed hypothyroidism (TSH value ≥10 mIU/ml) during anti-tuberculosis treatment;the majority (74%) occurring after 3 months of treatment. Among 133 patients who received a regimen that contained ethionamide, 42 (32%) developed hypothyroidism. Among 17 patients that received a regimen that contained para-aminosalicylate sodium, 6 (35%) developed hypothyroidism. Among 9 HIV positive patients on antiretroviral treatment, 4 (44%) developed hypothyroidism. These results differ from previously reported 4% incidence of hypothyroidism amongst patients who passively reported thyroidal symptoms during treatment, suggesting routine serologic monitoring of TSH throughout the course of treatment for MDR-TB is warranted.

Clinical Audit on the Provision of Diabetes Care in the Primary Care Setting by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

OBJECTIVE: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides primary health care services including care for diabetes and hypertension, with limited resources under difficult circumstances in Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. A total of 114,911 people with diabetes were registered with UNRWA health centres in 2011. The aim of this cross-sectional observational study was to assess the quality of diabetes care in the UNRWA primary health care centres. METHOD: The study population consisted of 1600 people with diabetes attending the 32 largest UNRWA health centres and treated there for at least one year. Between April and Sept. 2012 data from medical records, including results of clinical examinations and laboratory tests performed during the last one year, current management including self-care education and evidence of diabetes complications were collected and recorded in a previously validated data collection form (DCF). Patients were interviewed and clinically examined on the day of the audit and blood collected for HbA1c testing which was done at a central lab using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method (HLC&reg-723G8 Tosoh Corporation, Japan). Data was transferred from paper records into a computer and analysed with Epi-info 2000. RESULTS: Type 1 diabetes was present in 4.3% and type 2 diabetes in 95.7%. Co-morbid hypertension was present in 68.5%;90.3% were either obese (64.0%) or overweight (26.3%). Clinical management of diabetes was largely in line with UNRWA’s technical instructions (TI) for diabetes. Records for 2 hour postprandial glucose (2 h PPG), serum cholesterol, serum creatinine, and urine protein analysis were available in 94.7%, 96.4%, 91.4% and 87.5%, cases, respectively. Records of annual fundoscopic eye examination were available in 47.3% cases but foot examinations were less well documented. Most patients (95.6%) were on anti-diabetic drugs—68.2% oral anti diabetic drugs (OAD) only, 14.4% combination of OAD and insulin, and 12.9% insulin only. While 44.8% patients had 2 h PPG ≤ 180 mg/dl, only 28.2% had HbA1c ≤ 7%;55.5% and 28.2% had BP ≤ 140/90 and ≤130/80 mm of Hg respectively. Serum cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dl, serum creatinine ≥ 1.2 mg/dl and macro albuminuria were noted in 39.8%, 6.4% and 10.3% cases respectively. Peripheral neuropathy (52.6%), foot infections (17%), diabetic retinopathy (11%) and myocardial infarction (9.6%) were the most common long term complications. One or more episodes of hypoglycaemia were reported by 25% cases in total and in 48% of those using insulin. 17.7% and 22.6% cases received no or ≥4 self-care education sessions respectively. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that UNRWA doctors and nurses follow TI for diabetes and hypertension fairly well. Financial constraints and the consequent effects on UNRWA TI and policies related to diabetes care were important constraints. Key challenges identified were: reliance on 2 h PPG to measure control;non-availability of routine HbA1c testing, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and statins within the UNRWA system;and high levels of obesity in the community. Addressing these will further strengthen UNRWA health system’s efforts of providing services for diabetes and hypertension at the primary care level. Given that most developing countries either have no or only rudimentary services for diabetes and hypertension at the primary care level, UNRWA’s efforts can serve as an inspiration to others.

Asymptomatic Screening of Clients on Opioid Substitution Therapy for Tuberculosis: An Experience from India

Clients on Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) may be at risk of TB. We screened for tuberculosis in asymptomatic OST clients using Chest-X-ray (CXR) and sputum from those with CXR suggestive of TB were tested using Xpert MTB/Rif. Among 472 who underwent CXR, 0.1% had CXR suggestive of TB. The number needed to screen was 118 clients for one CXR suggestive of TB. All four clients with CXR suggestive of TB underwent MTB/Rif assay and one was diagnosed with TB. The TB patient was asymptomatic and could have been missed through the passive approach. We recommend further studies to explore ACF among OST clients.

Treatment Initiation among Patients with Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis in Bhopal District, India

Revised national tuberculosis control programme in India has limited co-hort-wise information about what happens to patients diagnosed with multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB). We determined the pre-treatment loss to follow-up (non-initiation of treatment by programme within 6 months of diagnosis) and time from diagnosis to treatment initiation in Bhopal district, central India (2014). Pre-treatment loss to follow-up was 13% (0.95 CI: 7%, 23%), not significantly different from the national estimates (18%) and median time to initiate treatment was seven days, lower than that reported elsewhere in the country. Bhopal was performing well with reference to time to treatment initiation in programmatic settings.

Can Intensified Tuberculosis Case Finding Efforts at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers Lead to Pediatric Case Detection in Bihar, India?

Introduction: Seven district-level Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in Bihar, India provide clinical and nutritional care for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Aim: To assess whether intensified case finding (ICF) strategies at NRCs can lead to pediatric case detection among SAM children and link them to TB treatment under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included medical record reviews of SAM children registered for TB screening and RNTCP care during July-December 2012. Results: Among 440 SAM children screened, 39 (8.8%) were diagnosed with TB. Among these, 34 (87%) initiated TB treatment and 18 (53%) were registered with the RNTCP. Of 16 children not registered under the RNTCP, nine (56%) weighed below six kilo-grams—the current weight requirement for receiving drugs under RNTCP. Conclusion: ICF approaches are feasible at NRCs;however, screening for TB entails diagnostic challenges, especially among SAM children. However, only half of the children diagnosed with TB were treated by the RNTCP. More effort is needed to link this vulnerable population to TB services in addition to introducing child-friendly drug formulations for covering children weighing less than six kilo-grams.

Training medical undergraduates in the core disciplines of community medicine through community postings-an experience from India

Objective:Family medicine,epidemiology,health management and health promotion are the core disciplines of community medicine.In this paper,we discuss the development of a commu-nity posting program within the framework of community medicine core disciplines at a primary health centre attached to a teaching hospital in Puducherry,India.Methods:This is a process documentation of our experience.Results:There were some shortcomings which revolved around the central theme that post-ings were conducted with department in the teaching hospital as the focal point,not the primary health centre(PHC).To address the shortcomings,we made some changes in the existing com-munity posting program in 2013.Student feedback aimed at Kirkpatrick level 1(satisfaction)evaluation revealed that they appreciated the benefits of having the posting with PHC as the focal point.Feedback recommended some further changes in the community posting which could be addressed through complete administrative control of the primary health centre as urban health and training center of the teaching hospital;and also through practice of core disciplines of com-munity medicine by faculty of community medicine.Conclusion:It is important to introduce the medical undergraduates to the core disciplines of community medicine early through community postings.Community postings should be con-ducted with primary health centre or urban health and training centre as the focal point.

Assessment of household ownership of bed nets in areas with and without artemisinin resistance containment measures in Myanmar

Background:Myanmar lies in the Greater Mekong Subregion where there is artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria.As the artemisinin compound is the pillar of effective antimalarial therapies,containing the spread of artemisinin resistance is a national and global priority.The use of insecticide-treated bed nets/long-lasting insecticidal nets(ITNs/LLINs)is the key intervention for ensuring the reduction of malaria transmission and the spread of resistant strains,and for eventually eliminating malaria.This study aimed at assessing household ownership of,access to,and utilization of bed nets in areas of Myanmar with and without artemisinin resistance containment measures.Methods:Secondary data from a nationwide community-based malaria survey conducted by the National Malaria Control Program in 2014 were analyzed.Based on evidence of artemisinin resistance,Myanmar was divided into tiers 1,2,and 3:townships in tiers 1 and 2 were aggregated as the Myanmar Artemisinin Resistance Containment(MARC)areas and were compared with tier 3 townships,which were defined as non-MARC areas.The chi-square test was used to compare groups,and the level of significance was set at P≤0.05.Results:Of the 6328 households assessed,97.2%in both MARC and non-MARC areas had at least one bed net(any type),but only 63%of households had ITNs/LLINs.Only 44%of households in MARC areas and 24%in non-MARC areas had adequate numbers of ITNs/LLINs(one ITN/LLIN per two persons,P<0.001).Nearly 44%of household members had access to ITNs/LLINs.Regarding the utilization of ITNs/LLINs,45%of household members used them in MARC areas and 36%used them in non-MARC areas(P<0.001,desired target=100%).Utilization of ITNs/LLINs among children aged below five years and pregnant women(high malaria risk groups)was low,at 44%and 42%,respectively.Conclusions:This study highlights the nationwide shortfalls in the ownership of,access to,and utilization of ITNs/LLINs in Myanmar,which is of particular concern in terms of containing the spread of artemisinin resistance.It highlights the need for priority attention to be paid and mobilization of resources in order to improve bed net coverage and utilization through bed net distribution and/or social marketing,information dissemination,and awareness-raising.

Knowledge,access and utilization of bednets among stable and seasonal migrants in an artemisinin resistance containment area of Myanmar

Background:Myanmar lies in the Greater Mekong sub-region of South-East Asia faced with the challenge of emerging resistance to artemisinin combination therapies(ACT).Migrant populations are more likely than others to spread ACT resistance.A vital intervention to reduce malaria transmission,resistance spread and eliminate malaria is the use of bed nets.Among seasonal and stable migrants in an artemisinin resistance containment region of Myanmar,we compared a)their household characteristics,b)contact with health workers and information material,and c)household knowledge,access and utilization of bed nets.Methods:Secondary data from community-based surveys on 2484 migrant workers(2013 and 2014,Bago Region)were analyzed of which 37%were seasonal migrants.Bed net access and utilization were assessed using a)availability of at least one bed net per household,and b)one bed net per two persons,and c)proportion of household members who slept under abed net during the previous night(Indicator targets=100%).Results:Over 70%of all migrants were from unstable work settings with short transitory stays.Average household size was five(range 1-25)and almost half of all households had children under-five years.Roughly 10%of migrants were night-time workers.Less than 40%of households had contact with health workers and less than 30%had exposure to information education and communication(IEC)materials,the latter being significantly lower among seasonal migrants.About 70%of households were aware of the importance of insecticide-treated bed-nets/long-lasting insecticidal nets(ITNs/LLINs),but knowledge on insecticide impregnation and retreatment of ITNs was poor(<10%).Although over 95%of households had access to at least one bed net,the number with one bed net per two persons was grossly inadequate(13%for stable migrants and 9%for seasonal migrants,P=0.001).About half of all household members slept under a bed net during the previous night.Conclusions:This study reveals important short-falls in knowledge,access and utilization of bed nets among migrants in Myanmar.Possible ways forward include frequent distribution campaigns to compensate for short transitory stays,matching household distributions to household size,enhanced information campaigns and introducing legislation to make mosquito repellents available for night-time workers at plantations and farms.Better understanding through qualitative research is also merited.