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In This Issue:
Experts from a variety of disciplines gathered at the “Rethinking the Global Response to Tuberculosis” summit last month to discuss big ideas and new approaches that could transform hospitals’ response to tuberculosis (TB), an airborne disease that kills approximately 1.5 million people worldwide each year.
Big ideas don’t have to be new, as Salmaan Keshavjee, MD, PhD, ScM, an associate physician in the Division of Global Health Equity at BWH, reminded the audience. Some of the oldest strategies we have to fight TB, including detecting active cases and providing supportive services to patients, are also some of our most effective.
Focusing on pediatric TB, Mercedes Becerra, ScD, associate epidemiologist at BWH, declared that children are the most vulnerable and least visible victims of the disease. Becerra highlighted the lack of reliable estimates about the burden of TB in children, and highlighted how difficult it will be to make progress in this vulnerable population without knowing how far there is to go. TB in children can be prevented and treated with existing tools and medications—political will and the right resources are needed to mobilize them, she said.
The importance of quickly starting effective therapy for TB was highlighted by Edward Nardell, MD, an associate physician in BWH’s Division of Global Health Equity. Nardell shared data demonstrating the rapid and powerful impact of drugs on TB transmission. He argued that TB has to be diagnosed and treated, but if it is diagnosed and treated quickly, it can be stopped before it spreads to family, friends and coworkers.
One of the challenges with treating TB is the growing rate of drug resistance. Carole Mitnick, ScD, an associate epidemiologist at BWH, discussed the work being done through a UNITAID-funded effort called endTB, which seeks to identify newer, simpler, shorter, less toxic and more effective drug regimens for TB. UNITAID is a global health organization that expands access to diagnostics and treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB in low-income countries.
Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, chief of the BWH Division of Global Health Equity, closed the program with the message to challenge defeatism with determination and create larger partnerships to evaluate new tests, treatments and other discoveries.