The next several issues of the e-newsletter for the virtual 2020 National Tuberculosis Conference (NTC) will focus on the agenda, providing an in-depth look at the planned educational content, the faculty identified to deliver the content, suggested resources to review in advance of the session, and other information. These issues are prepared to provide an overview of the sessions and to generate excitement and enthusiasm around this year’s virtual TB conference. 
Second session of the virtual TB conference
is tomorrow, Wednesday, 09.23.2020!
  • Are you curious about how the recent MDR TB Treatment Guidelines were developed, including how the US-based guidelines differ from those released by WHO? 

  • Are you interested in learning more about the BPaL regimen (BDQ, pretomanid, and linezolid)? Would you like to hear about the early experiences prescribing this newest MDR treatment regimen in the United States?

  • Would you welcome the opportunity to learn from, and ask questions of, some of the leading US-based experts in MDR-TB treatment?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to join us for the second session of the Virtual 2020 NTC! 
Treatment of Drug-resistant TB: MDR Guidelines Overview and Current Use of BPaL in the United States
Session Description:

The diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant TB continues to challenge even the most experienced clinicians equipped with the latest tools and medications. In this session, we will delve into the latest knowledge on drug-resistant TB treatment.Together with the lead author, we will explore the scientific basis behind the 2019 clinical practice guidelines for treatment of drug-resistant TB, differentiate the US recommendations from those issued by WHO, and explore implications for clinical decision-making by our members. The so-called “BPaL” regimen offers hope for an effective all-oral and short regimen for drug-resistant TB, but experience in the United States is very limited. We will share what is currently known about the key drug in this regimen, Pretomanid, and early clinical experience on this largely unmarked path.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify two critical decisions that formed recommendations for improved patient outcomes in the ATS/CDC/ERS/IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines: Treatment of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis.
  • Understand why drugs were ranked in the prioritization order recommended.
  • Summarize the current evidence for use of the BPaL regimen to improve patient outcomes from tuberculosis treatment.
  • Describe clinical situations in which treatment with BPaL can be considered for patients with tuberculosis.
  • Describe the treatment and monitoring recommended for patients on the BPaL regimen for tuberculosis treatment.
Session Faculty
Payam Nahid, MD
Dr. Nahid is Professor in Residence in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director of the UCSF Center for Tuberculosis, Associate Director of Clinical Trials Operations in the UCSF Office of Research, and Medical Director of the UCSF CTSA Trials Innovation Network Hub. Dr. Nahid leads NIH and CDC-funded field studies of new TB diagnostics and also oversees NIH and BMGF-funded TB biomarker discovery and qualification programs to identify improved biomarkers of treatment effect. Dr. Nahid serves as Chair of the CDC-TBTC Core Science Group and has led the WHO Task Force for New TB Drugs and Treatment Regimens. He leads and has contributed to the development of US and international practice guidelines for the treatment of TB, and provides clinical TB consultation and trainings as part of the UCSF Curry International TB Center of Excellence
Barbara Seaworth, MD
Dr. Seaworth is the Medical Director for the Heartland National Tuberculosis Center of Excellence in San Antonio, Texas. She serves as an expert tuberculosis consultant to Texas Binational Projects along the Texas border with Mexico. She is the Co-Medical Director for San Antonio Metropolitan Health District TB Clinic, Co-Chair of the Community Research Advisory Group for the CDC sponsored TB Trial Consortium, is a Professor of Medicine at University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, and is a Fellow of Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Connie Haley, MD
Dr. Haley has worked in the field of tuberculosis since 2001, serving as Medical Director and TB Control Officer of the Tuberculosis Elimination Program at the Tennessee Department of Health (TDOH), then as Director of Tuberculosis Research and as the Principle Investigator for the Tennessee site of the TB Epidemiology Studies Consortium. and has conducted global health research for both the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Dr. Haley maintains academic appointments at both the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University. Dr. Haley works as a Medical Consultant for the Southeast National Tuberculosis Center at the University of Florida, one of 4 regional CDC-funded TB Centers of Excellence.
Session Moderators
Masa Narita, MD
Lisa Armitige, MD, PhD
The moderators for this session include the current president of the National Society of TB Clinicians (NSTC), Masa Narita, and a former NSTC president, Lisa Armitige.

Dr. Masa Narita is the TB Control Officer of Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Dr. Armitige is the Assistant Medical Director for the Heartland National TB Center and is the Co-Medial Director of the San Antonio, Texas TB Clinic.
IT’S NOT TO LATE TO JOIN US!
As the virtual conference platform, and our ability to provide enduring materials credit, allows for a rolling registration, we encourage you to consider joining us even if you are unable to join today's session.

If you have any questions about the registration process or the Virtual 2020 National TB Conference, email 2020NTC@tbcontrollers.org for more information.
Continuing Education Credits
NTCA has partnered with the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine’s Office of Continuing Medical Education and the Eastern New Mexico University’s for continuing education (CE) credits for the Virtual 2020 NTC. In addition to credits for the live broadcast, these accredited providers have also approved enduring materials credit. If you cannot attend on the original broadcast dates, video recordings of the session will be available for enduring credits for up to a year. Further, after completing sessions, your registration will grant you access to the recordings for a year, to review and revisit the content.

We hope these accommodations provide our participants with the reassurance that content will remain accessible and resemble an on-demand learning environment and that this increased flexibility will encourage broad participation in this year’s virtual TB conference.
Conference Agenda
We are excited about the Virtual 2020 Conference agenda and think you will be too! Check it out!
CONTACTS :
Sherry Brown, NTCA: sbrown@tbcontrollers.org
Donna Wegener, NTCA: dhwegener@tbcontrollers.org