Hussein H Twabi, Madalo Mukoka-Thindwa, Doris Shani, Marriott Nliwasa, Elizabeth L Corbett
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
There is a rising prevalence of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) disease in sub-Saharan Africa identified on culture specimens. However, distinguishing mycobacterial colonisations from infection from identified NTMs on culture in the sub-Saharan Africa setting remains to be established. A 49-year-old man presented with the cardinal symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) in a community TB prevalence survey in Blantyre, Malawi. Mycobacteriology was atypical, prompting a line probe assay which revealed Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) species. The epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is better known than that of NTM. Up-scaling culture and speciation may be a solution to this gap in knowledge of the burden of disease of NTM. Like most resource-poor settings, TB culture is not routinely done in the diagnosis and management of TB in Malawi. Furthermore, the treatment of NTM is not analogous to that of MTBC. The multi-drug regimens used for NTM disease treatment includes a newer macrolide (azithromycin, clarithromycin), ethambutol, and rifamycin, and require prolonged durations of therapy aimed at facilitating clearance of the mycobacteria and minimizing the emergence of drug resistance. Clinicians must thus be aware of this rising burden of NTM disease and consider other diagnostic options to better investigate this disease in patients.
期刊介绍:
Driven and guided by the priorities articulated in the Malawi National Health Research Agenda, the Malawi Medical Journal publishes original research, short reports, case reports, viewpoints, insightful editorials and commentaries that are of high quality, informative and applicable to the Malawian and sub-Saharan Africa regions. Our particular interest is to publish evidence-based research that impacts and informs national health policies and medical practice in Malawi and the broader region.
Topics covered in the journal include, but are not limited to:
- Communicable diseases (HIV and AIDS, Malaria, TB, etc.)
- Non-communicable diseases (Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc.)
- Sexual and Reproductive Health (Adolescent health, education, pregnancy and abortion, STDs and HIV and AIDS, etc.)
- Mental health
- Environmental health
- Nutrition
- Health systems and health policy (Leadership, ethics, and governance)
- Community systems strengthening research
- Injury, trauma, and surgical disorders