Biography
Debrah Vambe is a distinguished public health specialist and leader in the fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Her expertise has driven transformative advancements in TB management, particularly in the Kingdom of Eswatini. In recognition of her outstanding work, she was honored as a 2024 Global TB Elimination Champion for her exceptional contributions to TB treatment and care globally. She currently serves as the Global TB Program Instructor at Baylor College of Medicine and the Regional Study Manager for the TB GAPS Project across Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Key Impacts
The hidden challenge: Impact of M. tuberculosis strains With rpoB I491F mutation on outcomes of the BPaLM regimen
The high prevalence of rpoB I491F mutation in this cohort highlights the need for expanded molecular diagnostics to guide DR-TB treatment. Moreover, its strong association with bedaquiline and clofazimine resistance raises concerns about potential treatment challenges. Although this study did not find a statistically significant impact of rpoB I491F-associated resistance on BPaLM treatment outcomes, further research is warranted to assess its long-term effects, particularly on treatment efficacy and the selection of additional resistance.
Source: Conference 2024