The INSTITUT Study

Launched by BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER · Oct 12, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The INSTITUT Study is looking at how nutritional support can impact the treatment outcomes for people with tuberculosis (TB) in two West African countries: Benin and Togo. In Benin, patients with TB receive special food support from the hospital, while in Togo, they do not have this assistance. This study will compare the health outcomes of TB patients in both countries to see if the nutritional support makes a difference in their recovery, including rates of treatment failure, relapse, or even death.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB and be willing to attend follow-up visits. However, those with drug-resistant TB or who are too ill to participate, among other criteria, will not be included. If you join the study, you'll be asked to keep coming back for check-ups, and your health will be monitored closely. Ultimately, the findings from this study aim to help shape future TB treatment programs by highlighting the importance of nutrition in recovery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Drug susceptible, Xpert \[polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for TB\] positive and/or sputum stain positive for AFB (≥1+)
• • Willing to attend follow-up visits and undergo study procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Drug resistant TB
• • Has received 7 or more days of antimicrobial therapy
• • Based on study staff observation, the participant is too sick to enroll. Defined as a score of 4 on the World Health Organization (WHO) Performance assessment.
• • Pregnancy at the time of enrollment
• • Individuals who are unable to participate in the 6-minute walk test due to pre-existing mobility issues due to disability, trauma, neurological compromise, or cardiopulmonary issues