Alvaro Schwalb
@aschwalbc.bsky.social
Infectious disease epidemiologist | TB mathematical modeller | Research Fellow @LSTHM | Associate Researcher @IMTAvH
🇵🇪 in 🇬🇧 | Tell your dog I said hi
🇵🇪 in 🇬🇧 | Tell your dog I said hi
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
New comment:
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
Undernutrition is a key driver of the global tuberculosis epidemic, increasing the
risk of people developing tuberculosis disease and of poor outcomes in those who do.1
Each year, WHO publishes estima...
www.thelancet.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
New comment:
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Tuberculosis and undernutrition: improving estimates to reinforce the policy imperative
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
When fluoroquinolone resistance status is unknown, empirical use of BPaLM (adding moxifloxacin to BPaL) is cost-effective as a replacement for BPaL even with high fluoroquinolone resistance levels! 🦠💊
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Impact of fluoroquinolone resistance on the cost-effectiveness of empiric treatment for multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis
The WHO recommends the bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL) regimen with the additional fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (BPaLM) for initial treatment of multidrug- or rifampicin-resis...
doi.org
October 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
When fluoroquinolone resistance status is unknown, empirical use of BPaLM (adding moxifloxacin to BPaL) is cost-effective as a replacement for BPaL even with high fluoroquinolone resistance levels! 🦠💊
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
5 million of them are about research
October 13, 2025 at 11:19 AM
5 million of them are about research
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Understanding patterns of #TB exposure and transmission is needed for targeted prevention strategies. In our latest pre-print, @petedodd24.bsky.social and I estimated the proportion of TB exposure to and transmission from sex and age groups for 177 countries.
bit.ly/4nbV492
bit.ly/4nbV492
A global analysis of patterns of tuberculosis exposure and transmission
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern and the leading infectious cause of mortality globally. The disease exhibits strong prevalence patterns by age and sex, but the implications of these...
www.medrxiv.org
October 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Understanding patterns of #TB exposure and transmission is needed for targeted prevention strategies. In our latest pre-print, @petedodd24.bsky.social and I estimated the proportion of TB exposure to and transmission from sex and age groups for 177 countries.
bit.ly/4nbV492
bit.ly/4nbV492
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
In a new preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we continue to explore the challenge of overtreatment in community screening. It seems the benefits of TB treatment far outweigh the harms, especially once we accept that sputum culture is not perfect. Important food for thought. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Do no harm - re-evaluating the risks of overtreatment in community-wide tuberculosis screening
Background Community-wide screening is a crucial strategy to end tuberculosis (TB), but a common concern is potential harm from overtreatment following false positive diagnoses. However, current refer...
www.medrxiv.org
October 7, 2025 at 9:17 AM
In a new preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we continue to explore the challenge of overtreatment in community screening. It seems the benefits of TB treatment far outweigh the harms, especially once we accept that sputum culture is not perfect. Important food for thought. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 22, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Our systematic review of rural/urban differences in #TB prevalence shows evidence of rapidly urbanising epidemics in many settings, with differences across countries and regions.
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Are there more people with #TB in cities or rural areas?
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
In a 🚨new🚨 preprint (NOT PEER REVIEWED) we modelled urban-rural TB trends from 2000-2023 in 26 countries with 4.6 billion people.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Our systematic review of rural/urban differences in #TB prevalence shows evidence of rapidly urbanising epidemics in many settings, with differences across countries and regions.
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Link to preprint below ⬇️
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
1/ It’s been 10 years (😮) since we reported that #TB prevalence was twice as high in men as in women.
📢 Our new preprint explores how sex differences have shifted with more recent national prevalence surveys and growing attention to #gender responsive TB prevention and care.
bit.ly/4gqP1LH
📢 Our new preprint explores how sex differences have shifted with more recent national prevalence surveys and growing attention to #gender responsive TB prevention and care.
bit.ly/4gqP1LH
Differences in Tuberculosis Prevalence by Sex Over 1993-2024: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence is higher among men than women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, summary measures of sex difference
bit.ly
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
1/ It’s been 10 years (😮) since we reported that #TB prevalence was twice as high in men as in women.
📢 Our new preprint explores how sex differences have shifted with more recent national prevalence surveys and growing attention to #gender responsive TB prevention and care.
bit.ly/4gqP1LH
📢 Our new preprint explores how sex differences have shifted with more recent national prevalence surveys and growing attention to #gender responsive TB prevention and care.
bit.ly/4gqP1LH
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Still trying to figure out what MAHA hates more: women or vaccines.
I still can't get over the suggestion for pregnant women to 'tough it out' spoken by the softest man that has ever lived.
September 23, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Still trying to figure out what MAHA hates more: women or vaccines.
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
We must unite against those who seek to divide us.
September 15, 2025 at 7:16 PM
We must unite against those who seek to divide us.
Our work on modelling population-wide screening in Viet Nam is now available in PLOS Global Public Health! tinyurl.com/3ymhuj5s
September 11, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Our work on modelling population-wide screening in Viet Nam is now available in PLOS Global Public Health! tinyurl.com/3ymhuj5s
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Nutritional status is a key determinant of TB. In this updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (43 cohorts inc > 26 million people) we redefined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and TB. doi.org/10.1093/ije/...
Body mass index and tuberculosis risk: an updated systematic literature review and dose–response meta-analysis
AbstractBackground. The relationship between nutritional status and tuberculosis is critically important but poorly understood. We extended a 2009 review c
doi.org
September 9, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Nutritional status is a key determinant of TB. In this updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis (43 cohorts inc > 26 million people) we redefined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and TB. doi.org/10.1093/ije/...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
At a time when global resources for #TB research, development, prevention, and care are limited, which interventions should be prioritised in high burden settings?
📢 Our new pre-print compares the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of 9 TB interventions in 3 countries. 1/n
bit.ly/3V3vXth
📢 Our new pre-print compares the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of 9 TB interventions in 3 countries. 1/n
bit.ly/3V3vXth
The potential impact, cost and cost-effectiveness of tuberculosis interventions - a modelling exercise
Background While a range of interventions exist for tuberculosis prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment, their potential population impact and cost-effectiveness are seldom directly compared,...
bit.ly
September 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
At a time when global resources for #TB research, development, prevention, and care are limited, which interventions should be prioritised in high burden settings?
📢 Our new pre-print compares the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of 9 TB interventions in 3 countries. 1/n
bit.ly/3V3vXth
📢 Our new pre-print compares the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of 9 TB interventions in 3 countries. 1/n
bit.ly/3V3vXth
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival
August 31, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Community screening for #tuberculosis could extend the reach of #TB services, but evidence on its effectiveness is limited.
In our latest preprint, we examine the epidemiological impact of trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of screening. 1/n
bit.ly/3UK7pFD
In our latest preprint, we examine the epidemiological impact of trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of screening. 1/n
bit.ly/3UK7pFD
Exploring trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of community screening for tuberculosis
Background Current tuberculosis (TB) prevention and care strategies have failed to reduce disease burden at the pace required to meet global targets. Community screening may enable more rapid declines...
www.medrxiv.org
August 27, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Community screening for #tuberculosis could extend the reach of #TB services, but evidence on its effectiveness is limited.
In our latest preprint, we examine the epidemiological impact of trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of screening. 1/n
bit.ly/3UK7pFD
In our latest preprint, we examine the epidemiological impact of trade-offs in diagnostic algorithm, population coverage, and duration of screening. 1/n
bit.ly/3UK7pFD
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
July 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Our work estimating the potential impacts of reductions in international donor funding for #TB is now out in @lancetgh.bsky.social:
bit.ly/3TDl28T
@raclark18.bsky.social @cfmcquaid.bsky.social @alexandra-richards.bsky.social @top-j.bsky.social @reinhouben.bsky.social @richardwhite321.bsky.social
bit.ly/3TDl28T
@raclark18.bsky.social @cfmcquaid.bsky.social @alexandra-richards.bsky.social @top-j.bsky.social @reinhouben.bsky.social @richardwhite321.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Our work estimating the potential impacts of reductions in international donor funding for #TB is now out in @lancetgh.bsky.social:
bit.ly/3TDl28T
@raclark18.bsky.social @cfmcquaid.bsky.social @alexandra-richards.bsky.social @top-j.bsky.social @reinhouben.bsky.social @richardwhite321.bsky.social
bit.ly/3TDl28T
@raclark18.bsky.social @cfmcquaid.bsky.social @alexandra-richards.bsky.social @top-j.bsky.social @reinhouben.bsky.social @richardwhite321.bsky.social
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
New systematic review led by @hannahrickman.bsky.social shows annual risk of Mycobacterium #tuberculosis conversion in men and women diverges during adolescence and remains higher among men throughout adulthood.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
New systematic review led by @hannahrickman.bsky.social shows annual risk of Mycobacterium #tuberculosis conversion in men and women diverges during adolescence and remains higher among men throughout adulthood.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
In our latest personal view in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social, we argue for the inclusion asymptomatic #tuberculosis in vaccine trial endpoints to potentially reduce the size, length, and cost of trials.
doi.org/10.1016/S221...
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/S221...
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
In our latest personal view in @lancetrespirmed.bsky.social, we argue for the inclusion asymptomatic #tuberculosis in vaccine trial endpoints to potentially reduce the size, length, and cost of trials.
doi.org/10.1016/S221...
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/S221...
@lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social
Kicking off the #CausalIntroCourse in Leeds. Hoping this will finally give me the tools to convince my mum that walking around the house barefoot ^^doesn’t^^ cause a cold.
July 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Kicking off the #CausalIntroCourse in Leeds. Hoping this will finally give me the tools to convince my mum that walking around the house barefoot ^^doesn’t^^ cause a cold.
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
The facts are simple and devastating: Aid cuts have already cost lives, and the number of deaths will continue to rise. Here’s the evidence.
July 3, 2025 at 11:21 PM
The facts are simple and devastating: Aid cuts have already cost lives, and the number of deaths will continue to rise. Here’s the evidence.
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
LSHTM's Director writes to UK Government about #Gaza public health catastrophe
Professor Liam Smeeth's letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urges action to prevent a greater #PublicHealth disaster:
👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Professor Liam Smeeth's letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urges action to prevent a greater #PublicHealth disaster:
👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
June 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
LSHTM's Director writes to UK Government about #Gaza public health catastrophe
Professor Liam Smeeth's letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urges action to prevent a greater #PublicHealth disaster:
👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Professor Liam Smeeth's letter to the Prime Minister & Foreign Secretary urges action to prevent a greater #PublicHealth disaster:
👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
Can you believe it’s already been 25 years!?
Come join us on 20 June 2025 at 4pm UK time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to #Infectious Disease #Modelling course delivered by @lshtm.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social!
More info 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
Come join us on 20 June 2025 at 4pm UK time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to #Infectious Disease #Modelling course delivered by @lshtm.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social!
More info 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
25th anniversary celebrations of the Introduction to Infectious Disease
Our special event will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to Infectious Disease Modelling and its Applications course, delivered by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
www.lshtm.ac.uk
May 28, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Can you believe it’s already been 25 years!?
Come join us on 20 June 2025 at 4pm UK time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to #Infectious Disease #Modelling course delivered by @lshtm.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social!
More info 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
Come join us on 20 June 2025 at 4pm UK time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Introduction to #Infectious Disease #Modelling course delivered by @lshtm.bsky.social and @ukhsa.bsky.social!
More info 👉 www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
Reposted by Alvaro Schwalb
TB & climate change: @who.int report out now, building on an analytical framework we developed to explore the intersections and implications for the TB epidemic. Key message? TB should be considered a climate-sensitive disease www.who.int/publications...
Tuberculosis and climate change: analytical framework and knowledge gaps
This report explores the intersection of tuberculosis (TB) and climate change, highlighting how climate-related challenges such as food and water insecurity, displacement, and disrupted healthcare acc...
www.who.int
May 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
TB & climate change: @who.int report out now, building on an analytical framework we developed to explore the intersections and implications for the TB epidemic. Key message? TB should be considered a climate-sensitive disease www.who.int/publications...