ERASE-TB
ERASE-TB: Early risk assessment in TB contacts by new diagnostic tests
Principal Investigator(s): Prof Katharina Kranzer, Dr Junior Mutsvanga, Dr Norbert Heinrich, Dr Celso Khosa
Funder(s): European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCPT), German Canter for Infection Research (DZIF)
Partner(s): London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Mbeya Medical Research Centre, Karolinska Institute, Medical centre of the University of Munich, Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Cepheid, Biomerieux, Beckman Coulter, SD Biosensor, Ministry of Health and Child Care Zimbabwe, Harare City Health, National TB Program Zimbabwe
Background
Tuberculosis is responsible for almost 1.5 million deaths every year, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for around a third of them. Globally an estimated 4 million people with tuberculosis go undiagnosed each year. Late diagnosis can lead to extensive lung damage, with long-term consequences for peoples’ respiratory health, and onward transmission.
Project aim
ERASE-TB aimed to validate novel diagnostics for early diagnosis of tuberculosis.
Study design
ERASE-TB is a multi-country prospective cohort study implemented in three Southern African countries (Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe). A total of 2108 household contacts of 903 people diagnosed with tuberculosis were enrolled in the study and followed every 6 months for a maximum of 24 months. At each visit participants were screened for tuberculosis, novel diagnostic tests were performed and samples were bio-banked for future testing.
Duration
February 2021 to January 2025.