COVID-19 is a viral infection and its prevalence requires investigation of different co-morbid conditions including tuberculosis, as well as operation of temporary infectious diseases hospitals (TIDH) for the treatment of COVID-19 deployed on the facilities of anti-tuberculosis institutions.

The objective: analysis of follow-up and treatment of patients with COVID-19 in the temporary infectious diseases hospitals deployed on the facilities of anti-tuberculosis institutions, and assessment of the impact of various medications and treatment methods on patient lethality including in those with co-morbid active tuberculosis.

Subjects and Methods. Data of 143 patients (39.2% men and 60.8% women) aged 31 to 93 years old were collected and systematized using the COVIZ software (developed in the Republic of Tatarstan to analyze COVID-19 patient management, C#). A positive result of polymerase chain reaction for coronavirus was found in 88.1% of patients on admission and in 89.5% of patients over the entire follow-up period. 120 (83.9%) patients recovered, and 23 (16.1%) died.

Results. Patients with different outcomes did not differ by age, sex, body mass index, and respiratory clinical manifestations. Oral anticoagulants prescribed before hospitalization, oral glucocorticosteroids prescribed on day 12 of the disease or later had a significant favorable effect on the COVID-19 outcome. Among those who received olokizumab, cure was achieved in 81.8%.

The effect of anticytokine therapy was higher among patients previously vaccinated with the anti-COVID vaccine who had no concomitant pathology. Antimicrobial therapy generally had no effect on the COVID-19 outcomes, and early administration of these drugs increased the likelihood of a lethal outcome. Among 173 tuberculosis patients who died of other causes than tuberculosis, only 5 (2.9%) died of COVID-19. Tuberculosis patients followed up in the temporary infectious diseases hospital deployed on the facilities of Republican TB Dispensary were characterized by a relatively favorable course of this viral infection. The fact that those patients had been detected in a TB hospital and their treatment had been started early provided a positive impact.

Conclusion. This study has demonstrated the potential for a rapid and appropriate public health response to emerging unpredictable infectious threats.

The objective: assessment of timeliness and efficiency of organization of TB diagnostics among foreign citizens in Novosibirsk Oblast during the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictive measures.

Subjects and Methods. A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted, it included foreign citizens above 18 years old diagnosed with tuberculosis and detected in 2018-2021. Totally 348 patients were enrolled in the study: 192 patients detected in 2018-2019 and 156 patients detected in 2020-2021.

Results. In the short-term assessment, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a significant impact on the organization of detection of tuberculosis in foreign citizens in Novosibirsk Oblast, although there is a significant increase in the number of untimely detected patients with destruction. Nevertheless, the currently existing procedure for diagnostics of tuberculosis among foreign citizens requires significant improvement. Thus, coverage with preventive examinations concerns mainly legal labor migrants, while illegally working foreign citizens remain uncovered by screening for tuberculosis. When diagnosing tuberculosis, the minimum required laboratory tests are used which do not allow verifying the diagnosis bacteriologically and assessing drug susceptibility.

The objective: to investigate the association of polymorphic gene variants of xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes (NAT2, CYP2E1, ABCB1, GSTM1, GSTT1) and cytokines (IL1B, IL-4, IL-10, TNF) with lung tissue destruction in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Subjects and Methods. An ethnically homogeneous population sample of unrelated individuals of Slavic nationalities (mainly Russians) living in Kursk Oblast suffering from new pulmonary tuberculosis was examined.

Results. New pulmonary tuberculosis with no destructive changes in the lungs was associated with the EE genotype of the GSTM1 gene (p < 0.0001) in 89.5%, while the DD genotype of the GSTM1 gene (p < 0.0001) was associated with the presence of destructive changes in the lungs in 56.1% of cases; the dominant GG genotype of the TNF-α gene was associated with destructive changes in the lungs in 93.3% (p = 0.027), and the recessive GA genotype of the TNF-α gene was associated with no destructive changes in the lungs in 71.9% (p = 0.027).

The objective: to compare efficacy of preventive treatment of children with latent tuberculosis infection using various regimens of anti-tuberculosis drugs and assess the risk of adverse events to these drugs.

Subjects and Methods. 117 children of 2-17 years old with latent tuberculosis infection [a positive result of the test with tuberculous recombinant allergen (TRA)] were enrolled in the prospective study. They received preventive treatment with the regimen containing isoniazid and rifapentine. The comparison group included 84 children who received isoniazid and rifampicin.

Results. In terms of safety and efficacy of chemotherapy regimens in the study, the best results were obtained when using the regimen containing isoniazid and rifapentine: the therapy was well tolerated, hepatotoxic reactions were registered in 1.7% of children. After a full course of preventive treatment in 24 months of follow-up, there was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of hyperergic results of the skit test with TRA from 44 (41.9%) to 0 (0%) χ² McNemar 43.00; p < 0.01; and conversion of the TRA test result from positive to negative was observed in 18.1% of children.

The objective: to assess the prevalence and structure of congenital malformations and anomalies of the chest organs and systems among adult population of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Subjects. 1,729 patients with suspected respiratory tuberculosis examined from 2016 to 2021 inclusive in Differential Diagnostic Department of TB Dispensary by the Ministry of Health of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

Results. In 89 (5.1%) patients, congenital anomalies and malformations of the chest organs and systems were detected, 42/89 (47.2%) had one more concurrent respiratory pathology; oncological diseases (42.9%) and respiratory tuberculosis (23.8%) prevailed. In patients with malformations of the musculoskeletal system of the chest organs, tuberculosis was more often detected, oncological diseases were equally frequent in patients with malformations of the musculoskeletal system and mediastinum.

The objective: to determine the incidence and drug sensitivity of the main pathogens causing community-acquired and nosocomial infections in patients staying in a multidisciplinary hospital.

Subjects and Methods: a retrospective study of the microbiological population in patients of a multidisciplinary hospital was carried out. The period over 3 years was assessed. 3,954 samples of biological materials from various sites were studied.

Results: gram-positive bacteria prevailed in the general structure of microbial environment of patients – Staphylococcus aureus (28%), and Enterococcus faecalis (10%), as well as gram-negative – Escherichia coli (26%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (13%). The majority of non-fermenting gram-negative microorganisms isolated from patients in the intensive care unit demonstrated multiple resistance and quantitatively prevailed over those in surgery units. The spectrum of antibiotic susceptibility of microorganisms of the same species isolated from patients of therapy and surgery departments differed.

The review presents up-to-date data from 88 publications devoted to the short-course regimens of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis treatment and describes characteristics of the most effective drugs – bedaquiline, linezolid, delamanid, and clofazimine. Information is also provided on the additional properties of the drugs, i.e. modulation of the key immune response and immunometabolic processes that underlie a new approach to improvement of tuberculosis treatment, the so-called host therapy.