BACKGROUND Although the importance of concurrent treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and HIV co-infection has been increasingly recognized, there have been few studies reporting outcomes of MDR-TB and HIV co-treatment. We report final outcomes of comprehensive, integrated MDR-TB and HIV treatment in Lesotho and examine factors associated with death or treatment failure. ME...

OBJECTIVE To obtain more accurate calculations of maternal and pregnancy-related mortality ratios in Sweden from 1988 to 2007 by using information from national registers and death certificates. DESIGN A national register-based study, supplemented by a review of death certificates. SETTING Sweden, 1988-2007. POPULATION The deaths of 27 957 women of reproductive age (15-49 years). METHOD...

Introduction: Latin American and Mediterranean (LAM) is a family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Drug resistant in M. tuberculosis LAM family is a major problem in the world population. Our objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of M. tuberculosis LAM family with multi-drug resistant (MDR) in the worldwide by a meta-analysis and systematic review. Materials an...

Reduction in maternal mortality requires an in-depth knowledge of the causes of death. This study was conducted to explore the circumstances and events leading to maternal mortality through a holistic approach. Using narrative text analysis, all documents related to maternal deaths occurred from 2007 to 2011 in Kerman province/Iran were reviewed thoroughly by an expert panel. A 93-item chart ab...

SETTING Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has emerged as a significant public health threat in South Africa. OBJECTIVE To describe treatment outcomes and determine risk factors associated with unfavorable outcomes among MDR-TB patients admitted to the provincial TB referral hospital in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. DESIGN Retrospective observational study of MDR-TB patients ...

We read with interest the excellent letter by HOLTZ and CEGIELSKI [1] contributing to the current discussion on extensively drug-resistant (XDR)-tuberculosis (TB). Several publications have already demonstrated that resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQ) is independently associated with poor outcome and/or that the possibility of including FQ in regimens improves treatment outcomes of multidrug-re...

OBJECTIVES To explore the experiences, acceptance, and effects of conducting facility death review (FDR) of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths at or below the district level in Bangladesh. METHODS This was a qualitative study with healthcare providers involved in FDRs. Two districts were studied: Thakurgaon district (a pilot district) and Jamalpur district (randomly selected from th...

BACKGROUND Despite the existence of effective drug treatments, tuberculosis (TB) causes 2 million deaths annually worldwide. Effective treatment is complicated by multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) strains that respond only to second-line drugs. We projected the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of using drug susceptibility testing and second-line drugs in a lower-middle-income setting with h...