TB research amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Daniel Graciaa, Emory University; Russell Kempker, Emory University; E Sanikidze, David Tvildiani Medical University; S Tukvadze, Georgian American University, Tbilisi; L Mikiashvili, National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases; R Aspindzelashvili, National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; D Alkhazashvili, National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; Henry Blumberg, Emory University; Z Avaliani, National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; N Tukvadze, National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-03-01
• Publisher: INT UNION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS LUNG DISEASE (I U A T L D)
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 The Union
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.20.0830
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 167
• End Page: 170
• Grant/Funding Information: This editorial was supported in part by grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA (UL1TR002378, TL1TR002382, and D43TW007124). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views of the NIH.
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Infectious Diseases; Respiratory System; Science & Technology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to catastrophic worldwide health consequences, with .56 million confirmed cases and .1.3 million deaths to date.1 Essential public health interventions such as limitations on travel and the need for social distancing have disrupted research and public health activities related to other diseases including TB.2–4 From the beginning of the pandemic, the COVID-19 response has been recognized as both a challenge and an opportunity for TB control.5 Modeling studies suggest an additional 6.3 million cases and 1.4 million deaths due to TB through 2025.6,7 Indeed, data indicate that people are accessing services for TB less than usual, as case notifications, TB-related hospital discharges, active TB, and latent TB infection outpatient visits decreased substantially in early 2020, suggesting that cases and interventions are already being missed.8,9 As the response progresses, adapting TB research and clinical care to restrictions imposed by the pandemic presents opportunities for innovation globally. Our experience as members of a community advisory board, a patient treated for TB, clinicians, and investigators provides an example that may be relevant to other settings.