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From Antigens to Immune Responses: Shaping the Future of TB Detection and Prevention
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The stages of Mtb infection exist on a continuum, ranging from an eliminated infection to contagious TB disease. Standard diagnostics for determining whether someone has latent, non-infectious TB include the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon- γ release assay (IGRA). However, due to the complexity of the Mtb infection and heterogeneity between individuals, there is currently a debate whether it is correct to use IGRA to determine the presence of truly “latent” TB infection (LTBI), i.e., which can reactivate to the co...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sudhasini Panda, Kendall Kearns, Catherine Cheng, Cecilia S. Lindestam Arlehamn Tags: Review Source Type: research

Diagnostic markers reflecting dysregulation of the host response in the transition to TB disease
There is a need to identify biomarkers to predict progression and to diagnose TB disease at an early stage. Following infection with Mtb, only about 10% of individuals progress to TB disease, while the majority mount a protective immune response that clears the infection or controls it in the long term [1]. Those Individuals whose immune system exhibit measurable memory response to Mtb are termed Mtb-immunoreactive. The immune profile of Mtb-immunoreactive individuals, without TB disease, reflects a more protective pattern compared to individuals with TB disease, who have failed to control Mtb growth [2]. (Source: Internat...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gunilla K ällenius, Margarida Correia-Neves, Christopher Sundling Tags: Review Source Type: research

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in vaccine-na ïve participants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Liberia, and Mali
In the four years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, more than 760 million cases have been reported worldwide leading to a death toll of almost 7 million people [1]. During the first year of the pandemic, while high rates of SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported globally, initial reports suggested that infection rates were significantly lower in sub-Saharan Africa than in other parts of the world [2,3]. Subsequent studies revealed that although seroprevalence was rapidly increasing in sub-Saharan African countries during the start of the pandemic, it was estimated that less than 1% of infections...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Laverdure Sylvain, Kazadi Donatien, Kone Kadidia, Callier Viviane, Dabitao Djeneba, Dennis Dehkontee, Haidara Mory Cherif, Hunsberger Sally, Mbaya Olivier Tshiani, Ridzon Renee, Sereti Irini, Shaw-Saliba Katy, the InVITE Study Team Source Type: research

Understanding the time-driven shifts of vaccine effectiveness against any and severe COVID-19 before and after the surge of Omicron variants within 2.5 years of vaccination: a meta-regression
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitated the implementation of specific measures to minimize its impact on global public health. Non-pharmaceutical precautions played a crucial role in preventing the massive spread of SARS-CoV-2.[1] However, it was widely recognized that only widespread and global vaccination could effectively bring the virus under control.[2] The rapid development of various types of vaccines, supported by numerous countries and international organizations, was successfully completed within less than a year, enabling the commencement of widespread vaccination of the world's population in December 2020. (Sourc...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Marek Petr áš, Daniela Janovská, Danuše Lomozová, Martina Franklová, Pavel Dlouhý, Jozef Rosina, Ivana Králová Lesná Source Type: research

Perspectives on Development and Advancement of New Tuberculosis Vaccines
Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is responsible for an estimated 1.3 million deaths each year, despite effective treatment being available for the past six decades. Progress in the development and point of care rollout of improved vaccines, diagnostics and treatments has been very slow, and TB remains a neglected global health problem. Moreover, access to available WHO recommended TB diagnostics and treatment regimens for all forms of TB remains a major challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of annual TB case load occurs [1]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Christopher da Costa, Christine S Benn, Thomas Nyirenda, Evans Mpabalwani, Harleen M.S. Grewal, Rizwan Ahmed, Nathan Kapata, Peter S Nyasulu, Markus Maeurer, David S Hui, Delia Goletti, Alimuddin Zumla Tags: Perspective Source Type: research

Towards a molecular microbial blood test for tuberculosis infection
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a major human pathogen, responsible for an estimated 10.6 million cases of active tuberculosis (TB) and 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2022.[1] Most adult cases of active TB arise from progression of asymptomatic Mtb infection, whose global prevalence has been estimated at 23%.[2] Risk of progression from infection to disease can be significantly reduced by administration of preventive antimicrobial therapy,[3] and global roll-out of this intervention will be needed to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) target of TB elimination by 2050. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Adrian R. Martineau, Shruthi Chandran, Winnie Palukani, Patricia Garrido, Jonathan Mayito, Stephen T Reece, Divya Tiwari Source Type: research

Interferon-gamma release assay conversion after Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure specifically associates with greater risk of progression to tuberculosis: A prospective cohort study in Leicester, UK
Tuberculosis infection (TBI) comprises a spectrum of asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection states, with varying risk of developing to active TB disease [1] that reflects underlying heterogeneity of the dynamic balance between pathogen and host. Reliable identification of subgroups at greatest risk for targeted TB preventive treatment (TPT) is a critical component of the global TB prevention strategy [2]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 23, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jee Whang Kim, Joshua Nazareth, Joanne Lee, Hemu Patel, Gerrit Woltmann, Raman Verma, Anne O'Garra, Pranabashis Haldar Source Type: research

Interferon-gamma release assay conversion after M. tuberculosis exposure specifically associates with greater risk of progression to tuberculosis: a prospective cohort study in Leicester (UK)
Tuberculosis infection (TBI) comprises a spectrum of asymptomatic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection states, with varying risk of developing to active tuberculosis disease (TB) [1] that reflects underlying heterogeneity of the dynamic balance between pathogen and host. Reliable identification of subgroups at greatest risk for targeted TB preventive treatment (TPT) is a critical component of the global TB prevention strategy [2]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 23, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Jee Whang Kim, Joshua Nazareth, Joanne Lee, Hemu Patel, Gerrit Woltmann, Raman Verma, Anne O'Garra, Pranabashis Haldar Source Type: research

Does the healthy vaccinee bias rule them all? Association of COVID-19 vaccination status and all-cause mortality from an analysis of data from 2.2 million individual health records
Vaccination against COVID-19 was the key measure in battling the pandemic and its effectiveness against death and severe course has been demonstrated in a multitude of studies. However, a vast majority of these studies (apart from registration studies) were observational. It has been proposed that observational studies are subject to inherent biases, including differences in testing strategies between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups or in determining the cause of death (with COVID vs due to COVID) [1,2]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tom áš Fürst, Angelika Bazalová, Tadeáš Fryčák, Jaroslav Janošek Source Type: research

Cefazolin vs cloxacillin in MSSA endocarditis: too good to be true?
With great interest, I read the article by Herrera-Hidalgo et al. on cefazolin versus cloxacillin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) endocarditis [1]. This topic is relevant for clinical practice because MSSA endocarditis is difficult to treat and new studies comparing treatment strategies are urgently needed. However, I have a few concerns regarding the methodological and statistical approach used and their consequences for the conclusions reached. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: David Tijmen Paulus Buis Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

PASS to End TB in Europe: Accelerated efforts on Prevention and Systematic Screening to End Tuberculosis in the WHO European Region by 2030
In 2022, an estimated 230 000 people fell ill with TB in the WHO European Region (the European Region)i [1], which translates to about 25 cases per 100 000 population, and an estimated 18 000 people died of TB (about 2 deaths per 100 000 population) [1]. TB burden and epidemiology differ markedly across the 53 countries of the Region, with an incremental gradient as one moves from western Europe towards the eastern and central Asian extent of the Region (Figure 1, PANEL A). Most (85%) incident TB cases in the European Region occur in 18 countries that are designated by WHO as high TB priority countriesii [1]. (Source: Inte...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Andrei Dadu, Askar Yedilbayev, Giovanni Battista Migliori, Sevim Ahmedov, Dennis Falzon, Saskia den Boon, Avinash Kanchar, Alberto Matteelli Source Type: research

Cefazolin vs. cloxacillin in MSSA endocarditis: too good to be true?
With great interest, I read the article by Herrera-Hidalgo et al. on cefazolin versus cloxacillin for MSSA endocarditis [1]. This topic is relevant for clinical practice, since MSSA endocarditis is difficult to treat and new studies comparing treatment strategies are urgently needed. However, I have a few concerns regarding the methodological and statistical approach used and their consequences for the conclusions reached. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: D.T.P. Buis Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Does the healthy vaccinee bias rule them all? Association of COVID-19 vaccination status and all cause mortality from an analysis of data from 2.2 million individual health records
Vaccination against COVID-19 was the key measure in battling the pandemic and its effectiveness against death and severe course has been demonstrated in a multitude of studies. However, a vast majority of these studies (apart from registration studies) were observational. It has been proposed that observational studies are subject to inherent biases, including differences in testing strategies between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups or in determining the cause of death (with COVID vs due to COVID)[1,2]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tom áš Fürst, Angelika Bazalová, Tadeáš Fryčák, Jaroslav Janošek Source Type: research

Pumice Stone Sign: Emphysematous Osteomyelitis in Diabetic Ketoacidosis
A 72-year-old female presents with lethargy, fever, and right hip pain for six days. She denies any trauma and had no prior surgical history. Investigations revealed leucocytosis (18.85  × 10^9/L), elevated serum glucose (46.3 mmol/L), ketosis (serum Beta-Hydroxy-butyrate 2.4 mmol/L), and mild acidosis (pH 7.30). (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 22, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tan Wei Chuan, Samuel Chuan Xian Lau, Lim Yi Ting Tags: Medical Imagery Source Type: research

Getting to the heart of the matter —are two agents really better than one for the treatment of staphylococcal infective endocarditis?
The recently published 2023 update from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) regarding the management of infective endocarditis introduces many welcome changes. Commendable is the transition toward outpatient care and the adoption of oral therapeutic regimens for carefully selected and clinically stable patients [1]. However, the management of these patients still presents numerous challenges, particularly in the context of selecting the most appropriate antimicrobial regimen. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 21, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: James Donnelly, Helene McDermott, Sadhbh Gash, Ciara O'Connor, Karina O'Connell, Sinead O'Donnell, Binu Dinesh, Karen Burns, Fidelma Fitzpatrick Tags: Perspective Source Type: research