Decentralisation of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) management and use of the Xpert MTB/RIF test improves the time from clinic presentation to treatment from 50 days to 7 days in a population with a high burden of HIV and TB co-infection, according to a study from Khayelitsha, South Africa, presented at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2014) on Monday.

A novel TB drug regimen could treat drug-sensitive and some forms of drug-resistant TB far more quickly than current standard TB therapy, according to findings from a phase IIb trial were presented today at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2104) in Melbourne, Australia.

The presence of tuberculosis (TB) at the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) predicts retention in care, according to a study presented by Dr Enegela at the 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), held in Cape Town, South Africa from 7 to 11 December 2013. 

Bedaquiline, the first agent in a new class of TB drug, has been recommended for accelerated approval by the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

BCG vaccination, routinely given at birth to protect from tuberculosis (TB), causes an immune-activation of CD4 T cells, the HIV target cells, according to a South African study presented at the Nineteenth International AIDS Conference in Washington DC.

HIV infection did not have an impact on the time it took for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) adult to reach culture conversion, according to a study from Botswana presented at the 19^th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in Washington DC. However, high rates of drug toxicity were found overall and were more likely to be associated with HIV co-infection.