Hosted by the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, we aim to implement the Regional Framework for Action on Implementation of the End TB Strategy in the Western Pacific Region, 2016-2020; and the End TB Strategy in the Western Pacific Region.
The newly designated World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tuberculosis (WHO Collaborating Centre for TB) at the听University of Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute (Sydney ID)听serves as a regional resource to reduce the global burden of tuberculosis (TB), which remains the leading infectious disease killer on the planet.
The Sydney WHO Collaborating Centre for TB is working with WHO to develop the evidence base and strategies required to meet the ambitious targets of the听End TB听strategy, including a strong focus on the threat posed by drug-resistant TB (DR-TB).
It will complement support provided by colleagues at the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis, the Japanese Research Institute of Tuberculosis and the National Center for TB Control and Clinical Medicine, CDC China, to address major gaps in evidence synthesis, strategic analysis, policy development, testing of novel elimination strategies and support of countries with limited capacity, specifically in Western Pacific Region.听
The WHO Collaborating Centre for TB will link closely with the听听(罢叠-颁搁贰).
TB remains an enormous health problem worldwide and rising rates of drug resistant TB in the Asia-Pacific region pose a particular threat to Australia.
The WHO鈥檚听End TB听strategy aims to drastically reduce TB case numbers, deaths and socio-economic impacts by 2035.
This CRE will harness expertise in clinical, laboratory and community research to help provide the necessary evidence and new tools to eliminate TB transmission in Australia and strengthen TB control in our region.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains an enormous health problem worldwide and rising rates of drug resistant TB in the Asia-Pacific region pose a particular threat to Australia.
The WHO鈥檚 new End TB strategy aims to drastically reduce TB case numbers, deaths and socio-economic impacts by 2035. The the "鈥 听at the University of Sydney will harness expertise in clinical, laboratory and community research to help provide the necessary evidence and new tools to eliminate TB transmission in Australia and strengthen TB control in our region.听
The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant strains of听Mycobacterium tuberculosis听is a major concern globally. Within the Pacific, tuberculosis (TB) hotspots such as Kiribati pose a particular challenge and threat.
The overarching objective of the proposed body of work is to mitigate the threat posed by drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in the Pacific, by enhancing knowledge and testing new strategies to combat DR-TB. DR-TB emerges through drug resistance acquisition due to the selective pressure of antibiotics (called secondary resistance) and transmission of these DR-TB strains within the community (called primary resistance); this research project will address both of these drivers of the DR-TB epidemic.
Drug resistance acquisition occurs when patients with initial drug susceptible TB receive inadequate drug exposure resulting from a weak treatment regimen, poor drug quality, or non-adherence to treatment. Optimal care of drug susceptible (DS)-TB cases is essential to 鈥渢urn off the tap鈥 and prevent newly acquired drug resistance, while enhanced care of DR-TB cases is important to prevent multiplication of drug resistance (acquisition of resistance to additional TB drugs), as well as ongoing transmission of drug resistant strains within communities.听
This research will provide a pathway towards DR-TB prevention and TB elimination in the Pacific by:
Drug resistant tuberculosis is a major barrier to global TB control. 罢丑别听听a randomised controlled trial, is being undertaken in Vietnam to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral antibiotic, levofloxacin, upon the incidence of tuberculosis among contacts of patients with drug-resistant TB.
The trial has recruited over 2,000 participants across 10 provinces of Vietnam. It will provide evidence to inform global guidelines regarding prevention of drug resistant TB. The study is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and implemented in collaboration with the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Program.听
Treatment for drug-resistant TB is a substantial challenge, particularly due to its toxicity and prolonged duration. 罢丑别听听trial is evaluating the effectiveness of a smartphone App to support patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Vietnam to complete their treatment. The trial is underway in 6 provinces of Vietnam, in partnership with the Vietnam National Tuberculosis.听
罢丑别听听is a community-based study in rural Vietnam evaluating the effect of a community-wide programme of tuberculosis preventive therapy. We will enrol over 100,000 people, and offer treatment with antibiotics to prevent tuberculosis.
The study aims to reduce the prevalence of TB, and contribute evidence to guide global TB elimination efforts. The study is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and implemented in collaboration with the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Program.听
An Expert review was undertaken for the WHO Guideline Development Group on TB Screening. The evidence review was led by Professor and Dr Kavi Velen at the University of Sydney.
The review focused upon TB screening among household contacts of patients with TB, contributing to updated 2021 WHO TB Screening Guidelines.
WHOCC-TB has been designated a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre in support of WHO鈥檚 work in implementation of the End TB Strategy in the Western Pacific and broader Asia-Pacific Region, particularly through the facilitation of research collaboration, evidence synthesis,听provision of technical advice and supporting links with the Australian TB community.
Email
tbcre.support@sydney.edu.au
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Mailing address
Westmead Hospital
Level 5, Block K听
Westmead NSW 2145
