About us
About
The Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet) is an international network of healthcare and public health professionals dedicated to advancing clinical research in childhood tuberculosis (TB). By sharing expertise and fostering collaboration, we aim to improve the care and outcomes of children affected by TB.
Originally founded as the paediatric branch of TBnet in 2009, ptbnet is now an independent entity registered as a charitable organisation, but continues to work closely with TBnet. The network is kindly supported by the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), and has also received support from the Penta Foundation and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).
To date ptbnet has more than 600 members in 32 European countries, and 22 countries outside Europe. Our membership is diverse, both culturally and professionally, with most members working in paediatric infectious diseases or paediatric pulmonology, while others work in microbiology, with NGOs or in public health.
Ptbnet primarily focuses on the following areas:
- Facilitating collaborative research on paediatric TB, with emphasis on clinical and translational research
- Clinical discussions and advice for healthcare professionals
- Providing education regarding paediatric TB to healthcare and allied professionals
- Advocacy for children & adolescents with TB and their families
- Advising public health bodies and NGOs on matters related to paediatric TB
Through our online forum, members can:
- Participate in real-time case discussions and receive expert advice on patient management
- Collaborate in the design and execution of future research projects
- Share updates on drug shortages and treatment challenges
Our mission
- Advance understanding of paediatric active and latent tuberculosis
- Facilitate collaborative research studies on childhood TB in Europe
- Build a strong evidence base for the diagnosis and treatment of TB in children
- Provide expert advice through excellence in science, teaching, and clinical practice
Advocacy
ptbnet actively engages with WHO Europe, ECDC, and national health authorities to provide insights into emerging trends in TB epidemiology, treatment, and diagnostics. In addition, ptbnet fulfils its advocacy role by publishing letters and co-authoring position statements. Recent publications in this area include the following:
- Clinical standards for drug-susceptible TB in children and adolescents. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2023; 27(8): 584-598.
- Availability of fixed-dose, child-friendly formulations of first-line tuberculosis drugs in Europe. Eur Respir J. 2021; 58(3): 2101196.
- Use of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assays among paediatric tuberculosis experts in Europe. Eur Respir J. 2018; 51(5): 1800346.
- Management of child MDR-TB contacts across countries in the WHO European Region: a survey of current practice. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017; 21(7): 774-777
- The impact of Bacille Calmette-Guérin shortage on immunisation practice and policies in Europe – A Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet) survey. Tuberculosis (Edinb). 2016; 101: 125-129.
- European shortage of purified protein derivative and its impact on tuberculosis screening practices. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2016; 20(10): 1293-1299.
- Tuberculosis in young refugees. Lancet. 2015; 386(10012): 2475-6.
- Current status of Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) immunisation in Europe – A ptbnet survey and review of current guidelines. Vaccine. 2015; 33(38): 4994-9.
- Shortage of purified protein derivative for tuberculosis testing. Lancet. 2014; 384(9959): 2026.
- Availability and use of molecular microbiological and immunological tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in europe. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6): e99129.
- Management of patients with multidrug-resistant/extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe: a TBNET consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2014; 44(1): 23-63.
- Inclusion of latent tuberculosis infection as a separate entity into the international classification of diseases. Thorax. 2013; 68(6): 588.
- The risk of tuberculosis in transplant candidates and recipients: a TBNET consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2012; 40(4): 990-1013.
- The risk of tuberculosis related to tumour necrosis factor antagonist therapies: a TBNET consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2010; 36(5): 1185-206.
- LTBI: latent tuberculosis infection or lasting immune responses to M. tuberculosis? A TBNET consensus statement. Eur Respir J. 2009; 33(5): 956-73.
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is running the Test Avoid Cure Tuberculosis in Children (TACTiC) project in 12 countries in Africa and Asia. Its goal: to reduce deaths from tuberculosis in children, by increasing the number of children put on treatment and preventive treatment, especially in non-specialized facilities and nutrition programs, which have a high burden of undiagnosed tuberculosis in children.
Learn more about MSF’s TACTiC project here: https://www.msf.org/tactic-tuberculosis-children
