40Cr Latent TB Carriers Biggest Hurdle To Elimination: Maha Task Force Head Dr Sushant Meshram, chairman of the Maharashtra task force committee for the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), highlighted that India faces a significant challenge in eliminating tuberculosis due to an estimated 35-40 crore people carrying latent tuberculosis infection. Speaking at a one-day workshop in Nagpur organized under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Meshram emphasized that asymptomatic carriers pose a critical barrier to TB elimination. He warned that these individuals, who show no symptoms, could progress to active disease due to factors such as malnutrition, diabetes, aging, or immunosuppression. Meshram stressed that current diagnostic tools like the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) are insufficient to predict which latent carriers will develop active TB. He called for targeted screening and preventive therapy in high-risk groups, such as those with HIV, diabetes, or close contact with TB patients. The workshop, the first dedicated CME programme on tuberculosis infection (TBI) in the country, brought together specialists from pulmonology, microbiology, internal medicine, and community health. It was inaugurated by global TB expert Dr Sunil Khaparde. Meshram underscored that TB elimination cannot be achieved by treating only active cases, stating, “Elimination is not possible by treating only active TB. The hidden burden must be addressed.” Experts at the event discussed the complexities of identifying high-risk individuals and the need for improved diagnostic methods.#dr_sushant_meshram #national_tb_elimination_programme #maharashtra_task_force #tb_mukt_bharat_abhiyan #dr_sunil_khaparde
Over 2,900 TB Patients Treated At GMCH, 60% With Alcohol Abuse More than 2,900 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients were treated at Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Superspeciality Hospital (GMCH) since 2007, with 1,736 successfully cured or completed treatment. A significant 60% of these patients had a history of alcohol use, according to data shared ahead of World Tuberculosis Day. Dr. Sushant Meshram, head of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at GMCH, highlighted that alcohol abuse weakens immunity, making individuals more susceptible to TB. He noted that 377 patients (around 13%) died from the disease, while 265 defaulted on treatment. Currently, 262 patients remain under care, reflecting ongoing efforts to manage the condition. Nearly 70% of TB patients fall within the 15-44 age group, with men accounting for 62% of cases. Health experts emphasized that many patients were underweight, underscoring the role of malnutrition alongside alcohol use in worsening outcomes. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) has been praised for its focus on awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment adherence. Dr. Meshram stressed that addressing risk factors like alcohol use and malnutrition is critical to improving treatment outcomes and reducing transmission. While the success rate of treatment is encouraging, challenges such as mortality and treatment default persist. Dr. Meshram called for stronger patient counseling and support systems to tackle these issues. The report also noted a growing shift toward all-oral treatment regimens for DR-TB, which improve patient comfort and adherence by eliminating the need for injectable drugs. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) remains a serious concern.#nagpur_district #dr_sushant_meshram #national_tuberculosis_elimination_programme #world_tuberculosis_day
