TB COVID-19
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TB-COVID19 - Multi-centre, observational study on patients with Tuberculosis and COVID-19.
IRAS ID
287656
Contact name
Simon PL Tiberi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 4 days
Research summary
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health emergency, as the ninth cause of death worldwide. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) pandemic has attracted interest because of its global rapid spread, clinical severity, high mortality rate, and capacity to overwhelm healthcare systems. SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs mainly through droplets, although surface contamination contributes and debate continues on aerosol transmission.
The disease is usually characterized by initial signs and symptoms similar to those of related viral infections (e.g., SARS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [MERS]) and tuberculosis (TB), although prognosis and complications sometimes differ. Experience with concomitant TB and COVID-19 is extremely limited.
One case-control study of COVID-19 patients with IGRA-confirmed TB infection and a single case of TB with COVID-19 were submitted but not yet published in peer-reviewed journals. In a recent analysis of 1,217 consecutive respiratory specimens collected from COVID-19 patients Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not detected. The first 2 published cohorts suggest that COVID-19 can be diagnosed before, simultaneously or after TB and can appear in patients with post-TB sequelae. Furthermore, in the countries surveyed (Belgium, Brazil -Rio Grande do Sul State; France, Italy , Russia (Moscow Region), Singapore, Spain and Switzerland (Vaud Canton) mortality is limited to patients with severe morbidities and older age. However, the numbers available (69 patients in 2 cohorts) are not sufficient to allow a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between the 2 diseases.
This retroprospective, anonymised, non-interventional study will aim to describe the characteristics of the patients with COVID-19 and TB (including patients with post-treatment sequelae).REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0037
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion