Cioboata Ramona, Biciusca Viorel, Olteanu Mihai, Vasile Corina Maria
Department of Pneumology, University of Pharmacy and Medicine Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.
Department of Pneumology, Victor Babes Clinical Hospital, 030303 Craiova, Romania.
J Clin Med. 2023 Jul 19;12(14):4784. doi: 10.3390/jcm12144784.
The year 2020 will likely be remembered as the year dominated by COVID-19, or coronavirus disease. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for this pandemic, can be traced back to late 2019 in China. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the tuberculosis (TB) care system, reducing TB testing and reporting. This can be attributed to the disruption of TB services and restrictions on patient movement, consequently increasing TB-related deaths. This perspective review aims to highlight the intersection between COVID-19 and TB, highlighting their dual threat and identifying shared solutions to address these two infectious diseases effectively. There are several shared commonalities between COVID-19 and tuberculosis, particularly the transmission of their causative agents, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Both pathogens are transmitted via respiratory tract secretions. TB and COVID-19 are diseases that can be transmitted through droplets and airborne particles, and their primary target is typically the lungs. Regarding COVID-19 diagnostics, several methods are available for rapid and accurate detection. These include RT-PCR, which can provide results within two hours, and rapid antigen test kits that offer results in just a few minutes. The availability of point-of-care self-testing further enhances convenience. On the other hand, various approaches are employed for TB diagnostics to swiftly identify active TB. These include sputum microscopy, sputum for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and chest X-rays. These methods enable the rapid detection of active TB on the same day, while culture-based testing may take significantly longer, ranging from 2 to 8 weeks. The utilization of diverse diagnostic tools helps ensure the timely identification and management of COVID-19 and TB cases. The quality of life of patients affected by COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) can be significantly impacted due to the nature of these diseases and their associated challenges. In conclusion, it is crucial to emphasize the urgent need to address the dual threat of COVID-19 and TB. Both diseases have devastated global health, and their convergence poses an even greater challenge. Collaborative efforts, research investments, and policy reforms are essential to tackle this dual threat effectively.
2020年很可能会被铭记为受新冠疫情，即冠状病毒病主导的一年。导致这场大流行的严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的出现可追溯到2019年末的中国。新冠疫情对结核病防治体系产生了重大影响，减少了结核病检测和报告。这可归因于结核病服务中断和对患者行动的限制，从而增加了与结核病相关的死亡人数。这篇观点综述旨在突出新冠疫情与结核病的交叉点，强调它们的双重威胁，并确定有效应对这两种传染病的共同解决方案。新冠疫情和结核病之间存在一些共同之处，尤其是它们的病原体，即严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）和结核分枝杆菌的传播方式。这两种病原体均通过呼吸道分泌物传播。结核病和新冠疫情都是可通过飞沫和空气传播颗粒传播的疾病，它们的主要靶器官通常是肺部。关于新冠疫情的诊断，有几种方法可用于快速准确检测。这些方法包括能在两小时内出结果的逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR），以及只需几分钟就能出结果的快速抗原检测试剂盒。即时自检的可用性进一步提高了便利性。另一方面，结核病诊断采用了各种方法来迅速识别活动性结核病。这些方法包括痰涂片显微镜检查、用于逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）的痰液检测以及胸部X光检查。这些方法能在同一天快速检测出活动性结核病，而基于培养的检测可能需要长得多的时间，从2周到8周不等。使用多种诊断工具有助于确保及时识别和管理新冠疫情及结核病病例。由于这些疾病的性质及其相关挑战，受新冠疫情和结核病影响的患者的生活质量可能会受到重大影响。总之，必须强调迫切需要应对新冠疫情和结核病的双重威胁。这两种疾病都对全球健康造成了破坏，它们的共同出现构成了更大的挑战。合作努力、研究投入和政策改革对于有效应对这一双重威胁至关重要。
