The TBPod

 TB is in the global top 10 leading causes of death in children under five. Migration and international travel have caused TB rates to have risen even in typically low burden countries. A child with infected TB may not have active disease. As a result, children are at risk of becoming reservoirs where TB may become reactivated in adulthood thus fuelling the future epidemic. 

 Professor Ben Marais from the Marie Bashir Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, discusses paediatric TB testing, diagnosis, epidemiology, COVID-19, drug resistance in a resource-limited setting, and general TB treatment. 

Post TB lung disease is am important yet, difficult area to research. The number of those affected by post TB lung disease is unknown however, is thought to be significant. Additionally, those affected by post TB lung disease are associated with an increased burden of symptoms along with an economic cost. Dr Anthony Bryne discusses the importance of post TB lung disease.

Dr Anthony Byrne is a thoracic physician and clinical lead for tuberculosis at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. Dr Byrne has a strong interest in respiratory infections, asthma, and structural lung disease. His doctoral studies focused on the link between tuberculosis and chronic respiratory disease including chronic pulmonary disease and asthma among patients in Lima, Peru.

Dr Kerry Viney from the Australian National University and Mr Neil Heron a Clinical Nurse Consultant from NSW Health TB Program, discuss the controversial yet, important topic on patient TB treatment adherence. 

What is latent tuberculosis infection? How does it affect patients? How should we treat it? These questions are addressed by Associate Professor Justin Denholm and Dr James Trauer in this podcast.

Associate Professor Justin Denholm is the Medical Director of the Victorian Tuberculosis Program. Justin is an infectious diseases physician and ethicist, and is actively involved in clinical and public health tuberculosis research and supervision. Dr James Trauer is a practising respiratory, sleep, general and public health physician with a primary interest in tuberculosis. He is the head of the Epidemiological Modelling Unit for the School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine at Monash University.