KNOW TB: GET LITERATE
GeneXpert: An imperfect rollout
[caption id="attachment_1504" align="alignnone" width="567"] Photo by Jose Cendon, courtesy of Médecins Sans Frontières[/caption] The GeneXpert tuberculosis (TB) test promises to revolutionise TB detection in South Africa. But will the rollout and implementation of this new system be good enough to fulfil its potential? “If a minister can do it, it…
Testing stool can help detect TB in kids
Diagnosing tuberculosis is difficult in people who struggle to cough up sputum samples – a particular problem in children and people living with HIV. One promising alternative to testing sputum is to test stool. Tiyese Jeranji unpacks the latest developments in this area.
Important TB drug as effective at lower dose, study finds
The treatment of drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis has been transformed over the last decade with treatment becoming more effective, safer, and treatment duration in many cases dropping to under a year. Even so, treatment can still come with serious side effects and for some, it can still last over a year and a half. In a finding that may help further reduce side effects, new research has found that the dosage of a key drug can be lowered without compromising how well it works. Tiyese Jeranji and Marcus Low report.