The COVID-19 pandemic presents multiple challenges to programs working to prevent and treat tuberculosis (TB). We offer here recent webinars, guidance documents, and other resources that shed light on the implications of COVID-19 on TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Webinars and presentations
USAID, Global Health/Infectious Disease/TB Division. (June 30, 2020). The Intersection of TB and COVID-19. This PowerPoint covers elements of TB programs relevant to the COVID-19 response and maintenance of TB programs in the context of COVID-19 restrictions. See https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oR8P7QwGtcI4Cg8wuvVCnfH3MxV7kmZHrYFUANlSaA8/edit#slide=id.g7284a8c2e8_0_1633
Bhekisisa Center for Health Journalism. (June 9, 2020). When epidemics collide: TB, HIV and COVID-19. A panel of South African experts discussed what the COVID-19 response has meant for programs to diagnose and treat TB in this 80-minute webinar. See https://bhekisisa.org/multimedia/2020-06-09-standing-by-when-epidemics-collide-does-hiv-tb-cause-worse-covid-19
HIV Learning Network & CQUIN Project for Differentiated Service Delivery. (May 27, 2020). Supporting TB Preventive Therapy for Clients Accessing DSD During COVID-19. This webinar offers presentations from India, Zambia, and Uganda, and a talk by Dr. Teeb Al-Samarrai in the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator outlining PEPFAR guidance on data on TB preventive therapy within HIV programs during COVID-19. See https://cquin.icap.columbia.edu/news/archived-webinar-differentiated-service-delivery-dsd-and-covid-19-response-webinar-9
Guidance and Research
World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Compendium of TB/COVID-19 studies. The WHO Global TB Programme has developed open access databases for research publications, clinical trials, and ongoing research projects at the interface of TB and COVID-19. This online library contains full-text articles on topics such as prevention, screening, clinical observation, treatment, and modelling. See https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosis-programme/covid-19/compendium
World Health Organization (WHO). (June 1, 2020). Maintaining essential health services: Operational Guidance for the COVID-19 context: Interim Guidance. This updated guidance document recommends practical actions that countries can take at national, subregional, and local levels to reorganize and safely maintain access to high-quality, essential health services in the pandemic context. It also outlines sample indicators for monitoring essential health services and describes considerations on when to stop and restart services as COVID-19 transmission recedes and surges. See https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/10665-332240
International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). (April 2, 2020). Critical changes to services for TB patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Published in the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, this article outlines key adaptations to TB service delivery that should be considered in high TB burden settings to provide uninterrupted TB treatment, with a focus on the primary care level to reduce the risks of COVID-19 exposure during clinic attendance. See https://www.theunion.org/news-centre/news/critical-changes-to-services-for-tb-patients-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (2020). Global Fund Survey: Majority of HIV, TB and Malaria Programs Face Disruptions as a Result of COVID-19. The results of the Global Fund qualitative survey, completed June 1, indicate challenges to HIV prevention; testing and case finding for HIV, TB and malaria; cancelled or delayed prevention activities; and medical and laboratory staff being reassigned to the fight against COVID-19. See https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/covid-19/news/2020-06-17-global-fund-survey-majority-of-hiv-tb-and-malaria-programs-face-disruptions-as-a-result-of-covid-19
World Health Organization. (May 12, 2020). WHO Information Note: Tuberculosis and COVID 19 COVID-19 – Considerations for TB Care. This note is intended to assist national TB programs and health personnel to urgently maintain continuity of essential services for people affected with TB during the COVID-19 pandemic, maximizing joint support to tackle both diseases. See https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/tuberculosis/infonote-tb-covid-19.pdf
Stop TB Partnership. (2020). The Potential Impact of the COVID-19 Response on Tuberculosis in High-Burden Countries: A Modelling Analysis. Experts from the Stop TB Partnership and USAID prepared a set of scenarios to reflect the potential effects of a lockdown on different stages of the TB care cascade. The modelling focuses on three high-burden settings: India, the Republic of Kenya, and Ukraine. See www.stoptb.org/assets/documents/news/Modeling%20Report_1%20May%202020_FINAL.pdf
International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). (April 22, 2020). Frequently Asked Questions: COVID-19 and Tuberculosis. What should programs do to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on TB prevention and care services? What alternatives are available to ensure people in treatment for TB can continue to be given the proper support if directly observed therapy is restricted due to social distancing and national quarantine measure? These and other questions are answered in The Union’s FAQ. https://www.theunion.org/news-centre/covid-19/body/2020_04_22_FAQ-Version-2-English-FINAL-1.pdf