Team approach to manage difficult-to-treat TB cases: Experiences in Europe and beyond

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018-12-08

Authors

Duarte R (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Pulmonology

Vol. 24

Pages: 132-141

ISSN: 2531-0429

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-AH1

DOI: 10.1016/j.rppnen.2017.10.005

Abstract (EN): As recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), optimal management of MDR-TB cases can be ensured by a multi-speciality consultation body known as 'TB Consilium'. This body usually includes different medical specialities, competences and perspectives (e.g., clinical expertise both for adults and children; surgical, radiological and public health expertise; psychological background and nursing experience, among others), thus lowering the risk of making mistakes - or managing the patients inappropriately, in order to improve their clinical outcomes. At present, several high MDR-TB burden countries in the different WHO regions (and beyond) have introduced TB Consilium-like bodies at the national or subnational level to reach consensus on the best treatment approach for their patients affected by TB. In addition, in countries/settings where a formal system of consultation does not exist, specialized staff from MDR-TB reference centres or international organizations usually spend a considerable amount of their working time responding to phone or e-mail clinical queries on how to manage M/XDR-TB cases. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the different experiences with the TB Consilia both at the international level (European Respiratory Society - ERS/WHO TB Consilium) and in some of the countries where this experience operates successfully in Europe and beyond. The Consilium experiences are described around the following topics: (1) history, aims and focus; (2) management and funding; (3) technical functioning and structure; (4) results achieved. In addition a comparative analysis of the TB Consilia in the different countries has been performed. (C) 2017 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10