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September 14-15, 2007
Welcome Message
Dear Colleague,
please take a few minutes time to receive a brief update on the TBNET activities and an invitation for the forthcoming annual TBNET meeting during September 14th and 15th prior to the ERS conference in Stockholm.
What has been achieved in the past 6 months since our meeting in Borstel?
i. Priority research projects:
1. IGRA (ELISA, ELISPOT) compared to TST in immunocompromised patients
With the help of collaborators from 7 European countries Martina Sester from Homburg (Germany) has drafted a protocol for this study. We are aiming to enrol 1000 patients (200 from each group: HIV-infection, RA, CRI, post stem cell Tx, post solid organ Tx) and 200 healthy controls. The protocol has now been send to the manufacturers of the commercially available MTB-specific ELISA and ELISPIOT tests with a request to support the study with free test kits. If funding is secured and ethical permission granted, the study could start this fall.
2. IGRA in tuberculosis contact tracing: Database supported analysis
The i-care based database for TB contact tracing has been established in Switzerland and is ready to be used. An opportunity for training will soon be announced by Jean-Pierre Zellweger. The database will also be presented at our forthcoming meeting in Stockholm. The study could start this fall.
3. Guidelines for contact tracing in different countries
Apart from Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Luxemburg and Malta Graham has now collected the national Guidelines for TB contact tracing from all other 34 countries in the european region! For this study to be finished please get in contact with Graham Bothamley (UK)
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if you do know a colleague from the missing countries. Results of this TBNET-study will be presented at the Stockholm ERS conference.
4. Retrospective and prospective analysis of clinical aspects associated with MDR/ XDR TB
The first TBNET article has been published on May 5th 2007: Migliori GB et al. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, Italy and Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13 (5):780-82. A second manuscript on the evaluation of the clinical aspects of MDR/XDR TB in a large European cohort has been submitted for publication. This TBNET-study will be presented by Giovanni B Migliori (I) at the Stockholm ERS conference.
With a workpackage on training healthcare workers on MDR-TB, TBNET will be participating in partnership with the ERS in a EU grant proposal which will be lead by Daniella Cirillo (I).
5. Rapid diagnosis of smear negative TB by MTB-specific ELISPOT and PCR
This study is now underway at different >10 TBNET centers in Europe and will yield results about the performance of an MTB-specific ELISPOT and PCR performed on BAL for the diagnosis of smear negative TB. Interim results of this TBNET-study on approx. 100 patients evaluated will be presented at the Stockholm ERS conference by Claudia Jafari (G).
6. RD1 selected peptides as markers of active tuberculosis vs. LTBI and as a tool to monitor the effect of therapy
This study is now also underway at several centers in Europe. Results of this TBNET-study will be presented by Delia Goletti (I) at the Stockholm ERS conference. In an extension of this study Delia Goletti has submitted a grant application to the EU which involves several partners within the TBNET as well as partners in India and South Africa.
7. Use of a commercial T-cell interferon-g release assay for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy
An existing collaborative study by TBNET members was finished in spring 2007 and has been submitted for publication. Results of this TBNET-study will be presented by Monica Losi (I) at the Stockholm ERS conference.
ii. TBNET website
Thanks to the commitment of Massimo Amicosante (I) we have established a website at
www.tb-net.org
The website presentation will soon be complete and all TBNET activities will be posted there for easy access.
iii. TBNET meeting in Stockholm, September 14. and 15. 2007
The 2007 TBNET meeting will be held prior to the ERS conference in Stockholm, Sweden, and is organized by Susanna Brighenti from the Center of Infectious Medicine at the Karolinska Institute.
The meeting will be held at Huddinge University Hospital on Friday, September 14th (room to be announced) and at the Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Center (site of the ERS congress)on September 15th in room K24. The room and food/beverages are kindly provided by the ERS .
Please see the attached invitation for detailed information and return the sign-up form to
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not later than July 15th 2007
iv. NEW research proposals
Please be invited to submit a new collaborative research proposal for TBNET not later than July 15th 2007 on the attached one page form to Christoph Lange at
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. Projects will be reviewed based on the scientific quality, the clinical impact and the feasibility to be conducted within the network by the steering committee. Up to six new projects will be choosen for presentation and discussion at the TBNET meeting in Stockholm.
We are looking forward to meet you all again in Stockholm.
With best regards, on behalf of the steering committee, yours sincerely
Christoph Lange
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