“E-DETECT TB brings together a unique group of TB experts, world leading universities, charities and national TB programmes to contribute to the global and European effort to end the TB epidemic. The project combines the diverse and rich contributions of our partners in order to exploit new technology and advances in knowledge to control TB”

– Professor Abubakar, Scientific Coordinator for the project

This project will contribute to the eventual elimination of tuberculosis in the European Union by utilising evidence-based interventions to ensure early diagnosis, improve integrated care and support community and prison outreach activities in low- and high-incidence countries.

The E-DETECT TB group aims to achieve this by working through their network of partners in six member states (Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK).

They will jointly evaluate evidence-based interventions, taking best practice approaches from countries where co-applicants have developed national strategic plans and provide a framework, in collaboration with the Directorate for Health and Food Safety (DGSANTE) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), to support the adaptation and implementation of these measures.

E-DETECT TB will prioritise migrants, homeless persons, prisoners, problem drug users and those with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.

Work packages

• Outreach for early diagnosis: Using a mobile x ray unit equipped with computer- aided diagnostics and molecular test to detect tuberculosis in Romania and Bulgaria, and ensure appropriate support to complete treatment.
  

Photo Credit: DELFT Imaging Systems

• Migrant TB detection, prevention and treatment: In Italy, we will actively screen new and settled migrants for active and latent TB respectively ensuring that those testing positive are appropriately managed and generating the evidence to support future European policy.

• Establishing a database of latent and active TB in Europe starting with Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK to inform epidemiological analysis and future interventions to control TB.

• Supporting national TB programmes to develop action plans and national TB control strategies by establishing an action framework.