Goal: to detect the best mode of in vitro photodynamic inactivation of M. tuberculosis by Radahlorin.

Subjects and methods. The activity of culture of M. tuberculosis, H37Rv strain, photosensitized by 0.00005% Radohlorin was compared and the intensity of growth was assessed after photodynamic inactivation by different doses of light energy with 662 nm wavelength.

Results. For the first time, anti-microbial properties of E6 chlorine in the form of medicamental photosensitizer (0.00005% Radohlorin) suppressing museum strain of M. tuberculosis of H37Rv were detected. Photoinactivation of M. tuberculosis depends on the dose and achieves its maximum in 10 minutes of light exposure with light energy of 0.5 W. 

The article presents a comprehensive description of tuberculous infection nidi, where children were exposed to this infection and developed multiple drug resistant tuberculosis. It was found out that the risk to develop MDR TB in children was also related to exposure to a TB case with undetected resistance to rifampicin, which was to be taken into account when prescribing the chemotherapy regimen.

When prescribing preventive treatment to children exposed to MDR tuberculosis one should consider the potential risks and benefits. 

The article presents the analysis of specific clinical and X-ray forms of tuberculosis and results of its etiologic diagnostics in 159 patients with TB/HIV co-infection in the Republic of Karelia from 2001 to 2016. In the Republic of Karelia, it was found out that cavities in lung tissue were less frequent (38.5%) in those with TB/HIV co-infection, however, such patients had infectious forms more often (68.5%) versus pulmonary tuberculosis patients (data from Form no.33). It was defined that improvement of sputum collection would significantly enhance the frequency of tuberculous mycobacteria detection (at least by 20%) in those with pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV infection, which was very important for rapid diagnostics of the disease and prescription of adequate treatment, especially given the fact that nearly ½ (52.8%) of patients suffered from multiple drug resistance. 

The objective of the study: to estimate the age and gender-related and standardized incidence of tuberculosis in migrants versus incidence of tuberculosis in the countries of their origin and resident population.

Subjects and Methods. Age and gender-related and standardized incidences of tuberculosis in the migrants were compared as well as incidence in the countries of their origin and among the resident population in Kaliningrad Region.

Results. The standardized incidence of tuberculosis in the migrants is compatible with the incidence in the countries of their origin but it is two-fold higher versus the incidence among resident population. Tuberculosis incidence is higher in migrants compared to the population in the countries of their origin and residents of Kaliningrad Region in the age of 7-14 and 18-24 years old which is related to screening deficiencies in the countries of origin. No gender-related specific features of tuberculosis incidence were found in migrants.

Conclusions. The standardized incidence in migrants corresponds to the standardized incidence in the countries of their origin, however, it is twice higher compared to the resident population of Kaliningrad Region. It would be appropriate to consider screening for tuberculosis in migrants in the age of 7-14 and 18-24 years old. Data on age and gender of migrants allow accurate estimation of their contribution to incidence of tuberculosis. 

About 90% of HIV positive women are of the reproductive age, which results in the higher number children with perinatal exposure to HIV. Subjects and Methods. Data of case histories of 20 children with TB/HIV co-infection and 30 HIV negative children with tuberculosis were analyzed. Certain cases of late diagnostics of HIV with perinatal exposure to HIV were found. Tuberculosis was more detected in children with HIV infection based on clinical signs compared to children with HIV negative status (in 25 and 5% cases respectively). More than one third (35%) of patients with TB/HIV co-infection had a negative sensitivity to tuberculin and 50% of patients responded negatively to diaskintest. 

The objective of the study: to analyze efficiency of an aerosol method of M. tuberculosis deactivation in the air and on surfaces versus the conventional methods of the disinfectants' application.

Subjects and Methods. The article describes the evaluation of efficiency of the aerosol method of M. tuberculosis, H37Rv strain, deactivation on surfaces (tested objects made of linoleum) and in the air using the disinfectant of Green Dez based on chlorine dioxide versus deactivation through wiping and irrigation.

The efficiency of disinfectant was tested by the device of 099С А4224 manufactured by Glas-Col, USA, using the air sampler of PU-1B, Russia.

The Mobile Hygienic Center (MNC), Russia, was used for application of the disinfectant, wiping and irrigation was done using the disperser of Avtomaks AO-2, Russia.

The bacterial aerosol was generated in the Glass-Col chamber with the concentration 5 ± 2.5 × 102 CFU/cm3, by spraying the suspension of M. tuberculosis, H37Rv strain. After that, the disinfectant spray was supplied to the chamber, where linoleum objects were placed horizontally on a variety of surfaces. In order to evaluate efficiency of surface treatment by wiping, the test objects were wiped with a tissue, soaked with the solution of Green Dez, based on consumption of 100-150 ml/m2. In 15, 30 and 60 minutes, the samples of inactivated M. tuberculosis aerosol were collected using an aspirator, chambers with test objects were closed and placed in the vent hood. To monitor efficiency of disinfection of the test object surfaces, the rinse blanks were done by wiping the surface with a sterile gauze wad, soaked with 0.5% of sodium thiosulfate solution.

The samples of deactivated aerosol and rinse blanks from the surfaces of test objects were put into Petri dishes with Middlebrook 7H11 medium. The cultures were incubated in the thermostat at the temperature of 37 ± 1° C for 10-21 days, and the number of colonies was counted.

Sterile water was used instead of disinfectant for control tests treating the tests objects contaminated in the same manner.

Results. The good disinfection properties of Green Dez aerosol were proved during the simulation of M. tuberculosis, H37Rv strain, disinfection on the surfaces and in the air.

The efficiency analysis of the aerosol method of disinfection proved the reduction of disinfectant consumption by 4-5 times versus wiping and irrigation, due to this the aerosol treatment can be regarded as a safer and more environmentally friendly method.

The finely dispersed disinfectant aerosol, produced by MNC, effectively decontaminated the whole space, including the remote and hard-to-reach places. Full automation of disinfection implies no human presence providing high safety of disinfection. 

The objective of the study: to investigate the changes in preferable coping-strategies during treatment of the school-age children in a TB sanatorium. 77 patients (children and adolescents) were enrolled into the study, they all had rehabilitation due to respiratory tuberculosis. All patients were divided into two groups: 8-12 years old (17 boys and 13 girls) and 13-17 years old (24 boys and 23 girls). Coping strategies in the school-age children were investigated twice: at admission and discharge from the sanatorium, using a questionnaire adapted by N.A. Sirota and V.N. Yaltonsky and modified by R. M. Granovskaya and I.M. Nikolskaya. Analysis of the structure of the responses identified a group of patients who were oriented in the direction from the problem. This group presented a lower number of scores of the problem solution scale and a higher number of scores in the scales of avoidance, denial, fantasy formation. The other group of patients, focused in the direction towards the problem, characterized by a higher number of scores of the scales of problem solution and communication and a lower number of scores for the scales of denial and fantasy formation. Statistically significant changes were observed in the scale assessing communication (p = 0.03); there was a statistically significant reduction in the scores reflecting avoidance and denial (p < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the other scores. 

The article describes a clinical case of concurrent disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary lesions caused by М. fortuitum in the HIV negative patient. This clinical case proves the need to isolate the culture of the causative agent and to type mycobacteria for accurate and timely diagnostics and prescription of effective etiotropic individual therapy. 

The article describes the history of the classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which leads to Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease ‒ GOLD, a document describing all aspects of this disease which are currently known.