Peter MacPherson
@petermacp.bsky.social
Professor of Global Public Health | Head of Public Health l University of Glasgow | Infections | #Tuberculosis | #HIV | #epidemiology | #episky | #IDSky | #TBsky 🧪🛟
Pinned
In meta analysis of data from nearly half a million people, we found that men have higher M. #tuberculosis immunoreactivity risk than women.
Likely to be key driver of
sex differences in global tuberculosis morbidity & mortality
@hannahrickman.bsky.social 🛟🧪
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Likely to be key driver of
sex differences in global tuberculosis morbidity & mortality
@hannahrickman.bsky.social 🛟🧪
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
Ahead of The Union World Conference on Lung Health, Katherine Horton provides @the-independent.com with insights into the devastating impact of the funding cuts on global health, particularly tuberculosis.
Be sure to read about the threat of UK aid cuts: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Be sure to read about the threat of UK aid cuts: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
UK to put 250,000 lives at risk from HIV, TB and malaria with aid cuts
Exclusive: The UK is expected to pledge £850m to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria – a cut of 15 per cent – despite previous assurances that funding would be protected
www.independent.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Ahead of The Union World Conference on Lung Health, Katherine Horton provides @the-independent.com with insights into the devastating impact of the funding cuts on global health, particularly tuberculosis.
Be sure to read about the threat of UK aid cuts: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Be sure to read about the threat of UK aid cuts: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
Every year, ~500,000 people develop TB in Nigeria — but 30% go undiagnosed.
Dr. Chukwuebuka Ugwu’s DESTINE study shows how gender-tailored, locally co-created TB interventions can close this gap.
🎥 Watch here: youtu.be/JOFzgHOwFFk?...
@zanklic.bsky.social
Dr. Chukwuebuka Ugwu’s DESTINE study shows how gender-tailored, locally co-created TB interventions can close this gap.
🎥 Watch here: youtu.be/JOFzgHOwFFk?...
@zanklic.bsky.social
Chuwuebuka Ugwu - DESTINE Study, Nigeria
YouTube video by LIGHT Consortium
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Every year, ~500,000 people develop TB in Nigeria — but 30% go undiagnosed.
Dr. Chukwuebuka Ugwu’s DESTINE study shows how gender-tailored, locally co-created TB interventions can close this gap.
🎥 Watch here: youtu.be/JOFzgHOwFFk?...
@zanklic.bsky.social
Dr. Chukwuebuka Ugwu’s DESTINE study shows how gender-tailored, locally co-created TB interventions can close this gap.
🎥 Watch here: youtu.be/JOFzgHOwFFk?...
@zanklic.bsky.social
Was very fortunate to see Counting Crows play last night… only 27 years since I last saw them play in Scotland.
October 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Was very fortunate to see Counting Crows play last night… only 27 years since I last saw them play in Scotland.
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
With declining donor aid, Ministries of Health in high-tuberculosis burden nations need to be more ambitious, but will have to do more with less
Embedding tuberculosis within the PHC and UHC agenda is an obvious way to do it
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Embedding tuberculosis within the PHC and UHC agenda is an obvious way to do it
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Integration of tuberculosis services within primary health care: converting challenges into opportunities
www.sciencedirect.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
With declining donor aid, Ministries of Health in high-tuberculosis burden nations need to be more ambitious, but will have to do more with less
Embedding tuberculosis within the PHC and UHC agenda is an obvious way to do it
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Embedding tuberculosis within the PHC and UHC agenda is an obvious way to do it
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
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 Peter MacPherson
The recognition of asymptomatic #TB is both fascinating and worrying. The recognition of symptoms is the gate-keeper to so much of our public health response. Seems like another important argument for broader community access to diagnostic services!
About half of people with #TB are asymptomatic (aTB). Calls have been made to stratify treatment and estimate incidence based on aTB case definitions
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
October 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The recognition of asymptomatic #TB is both fascinating and worrying. The recognition of symptoms is the gate-keeper to so much of our public health response. Seems like another important argument for broader community access to diagnostic services!
New preprint (NOT PEER-REVIEWED)
Community screening for #TB can reduce incidence. But we don’t know how best to target.
Targeting based on neighbourhood ARTI from convenience samples can substantially improve health and cost-effectiveness vs untargeted screening.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Community screening for #TB can reduce incidence. But we don’t know how best to target.
Targeting based on neighbourhood ARTI from convenience samples can substantially improve health and cost-effectiveness vs untargeted screening.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 4, 2025 at 6:50 AM
New preprint (NOT PEER-REVIEWED)
Community screening for #TB can reduce incidence. But we don’t know how best to target.
Targeting based on neighbourhood ARTI from convenience samples can substantially improve health and cost-effectiveness vs untargeted screening.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Community screening for #TB can reduce incidence. But we don’t know how best to target.
Targeting based on neighbourhood ARTI from convenience samples can substantially improve health and cost-effectiveness vs untargeted screening.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
⚡️New publication⚡️
We investigated the risk and determinants of mortality in people notified with Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease in Scotland between Jan 2017 and Dec 2024.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
@uofgshw.bsky.social
We investigated the risk and determinants of mortality in people notified with Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease in Scotland between Jan 2017 and Dec 2024.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
@uofgshw.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
⚡️New publication⚡️
We investigated the risk and determinants of mortality in people notified with Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease in Scotland between Jan 2017 and Dec 2024.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
@uofgshw.bsky.social
We investigated the risk and determinants of mortality in people notified with Invasive Group A Streptococcal disease in Scotland between Jan 2017 and Dec 2024.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ij...
@uofgshw.bsky.social
⚡️New publication⚡️
WHO clinical staging is not sufficiently accurate to identify advanced #HIV.
CD4 testing remains essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.
doi.org/10.1111/hiv....
@uofgshw.bsky.social
@joejarvis.bsky.social
WHO clinical staging is not sufficiently accurate to identify advanced #HIV.
CD4 testing remains essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.
doi.org/10.1111/hiv....
@uofgshw.bsky.social
@joejarvis.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
⚡️New publication⚡️
WHO clinical staging is not sufficiently accurate to identify advanced #HIV.
CD4 testing remains essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.
doi.org/10.1111/hiv....
@uofgshw.bsky.social
@joejarvis.bsky.social
WHO clinical staging is not sufficiently accurate to identify advanced #HIV.
CD4 testing remains essential to reduce morbidity and mortality.
doi.org/10.1111/hiv....
@uofgshw.bsky.social
@joejarvis.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
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 ⬇️
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...
Men are more than twice as likely as women to have prevalent #TB.
We did updated meta-analysis including over 4million people in 99 surveys.
Despite increasing focus on gender equitable TB responses, this gap has widened since we last assessed these data over a decade ago.
We did updated meta-analysis including over 4million people in 99 surveys.
Despite increasing focus on gender equitable TB responses, this gap has widened since we last assessed these data over a decade ago.
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 1:14 PM
Men are more than twice as likely as women to have prevalent #TB.
We did updated meta-analysis including over 4million people in 99 surveys.
Despite increasing focus on gender equitable TB responses, this gap has widened since we last assessed these data over a decade ago.
We did updated meta-analysis including over 4million people in 99 surveys.
Despite increasing focus on gender equitable TB responses, this gap has widened since we last assessed these data over a decade ago.
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
6/ @petermacp.bsky.social and I seem to be the only coauthors on Bluesky, but this work comes from a great team across @hsph.harvard.edu @uofglasgow.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
6/ @petermacp.bsky.social and I seem to be the only coauthors on Bluesky, but this work comes from a great team across @hsph.harvard.edu @uofglasgow.bsky.social @tb-lshtm.bsky.social @lshtm-tbmod.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
5/ These findings show that, despite calls for gender responsive TB prevention and care, disparities have increased over the past three decades. Effective strategies to reduce men’s risk of TB and to engage men in TB prevention and care remain essential to end TB.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
5/ These findings show that, despite calls for gender responsive TB prevention and care, disparities have increased over the past three decades. Effective strategies to reduce men’s risk of TB and to engage men in TB prevention and care remain essential to end TB.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
4/ The stability of pooled estimates doesn't mean sex ratios have remained consistent. We found evidence that male-to-female ratios likely increased 1.6% (95% CrI -1.0-6.2%) annually over the period 1994–2021, with the greatest increase in the Western Pacific region.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
4/ The stability of pooled estimates doesn't mean sex ratios have remained consistent. We found evidence that male-to-female ratios likely increased 1.6% (95% CrI -1.0-6.2%) annually over the period 1994–2021, with the greatest increase in the Western Pacific region.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
3/ We fitted multi-level Bayesian regression models to estimate a pooled male-to-female prevalence ratio of 2.21 (95% CrI 1.94-2.50) for bacteriologically-confirmed TB.
That's the same point estimate as our previous review, but the two studies used different analytical methods.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
That's the same point estimate as our previous review, but the two studies used different analytical methods.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
3/ We fitted multi-level Bayesian regression models to estimate a pooled male-to-female prevalence ratio of 2.21 (95% CrI 1.94-2.50) for bacteriologically-confirmed TB.
That's the same point estimate as our previous review, but the two studies used different analytical methods.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
That's the same point estimate as our previous review, but the two studies used different analytical methods.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
2/ We updated our systematic review and identified 99 TB prevalence surveys reporting sex-disaggregated results (with >4 million participants) conducted between 1993 and 2024 in 33 low- or middle-income countries.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
2/ We updated our systematic review and identified 99 TB prevalence surveys reporting sex-disaggregated results (with >4 million participants) conducted between 1993 and 2024 in 33 low- or middle-income countries.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
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 Peter MacPherson
🆕paper co-authored by @petermacp.bsky.social
Key finding - Open tibia fractures result in significant costs to patients, the healthcare system and society in Malawi.
Re-balancing of health budgets is needed to prioritise trauma care.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Key finding - Open tibia fractures result in significant costs to patients, the healthcare system and society in Malawi.
Re-balancing of health budgets is needed to prioritise trauma care.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Economic burden and cost-effectiveness of treatments for open tibia fractures in Malawi: Economic analysis of a multicentre prospective cohort study
Background Open tibia fractures result in substantial lifelong disability for patients, and are expensive to treat. As the injury typically affects young working men, the societal costs from open tibi...
doi.org
September 9, 2025 at 8:46 AM
🆕paper co-authored by @petermacp.bsky.social
Key finding - Open tibia fractures result in significant costs to patients, the healthcare system and society in Malawi.
Re-balancing of health budgets is needed to prioritise trauma care.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Key finding - Open tibia fractures result in significant costs to patients, the healthcare system and society in Malawi.
Re-balancing of health budgets is needed to prioritise trauma care.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
As well as the modelling study by Molaro and colleagues that looks specifically at the effects of #health #aid reductions in #Malawi
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
The potential impact of declining development assistance for health on population health in Malawi: A modelling study
Author summary Why was this study done? Development assistance for health (DAH) is an important source of funding for public healthcare services in Malawi. Its contribution is expected to decline...
journals.plos.org
September 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
As well as the modelling study by Molaro and colleagues that looks specifically at the effects of #health #aid reductions in #Malawi
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
Check out this new Perspective by #PLOSMedicine academic editor @petermacp.bsky.social and colleagues on the devastating effects on progress of health funding cuts in Africa:
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
Reductions in development assistance for health funding threaten decades of progress in Africa
Countries across Africa face health crises driven by aid cuts, shifting demography, and infectious and environmental threats. Renewed public health strategies, smarter investment, and stronger surveil...
journals.plos.org
September 4, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Check out this new Perspective by #PLOSMedicine academic editor @petermacp.bsky.social and colleagues on the devastating effects on progress of health funding cuts in Africa:
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
Reductions in development assistance for health funding threaten decades of progress in Africa
🦠🧪🛟
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
🦠🧪🛟
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
August 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reductions in development assistance for health funding threaten decades of progress in Africa
🦠🧪🛟
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
🦠🧪🛟
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
About half of people with #TB are asymptomatic (aTB). Calls have been made to stratify treatment and estimate incidence based on aTB case definitions
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
August 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
About half of people with #TB are asymptomatic (aTB). Calls have been made to stratify treatment and estimate incidence based on aTB case definitions
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
In this preprint we raise concerns that symptoms are an inadequate & inconsistent classifier of TB state, being highly influenced by context
⬇️link
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
⚡️New preprint (not peer-reviewed)⚡️
In the SaDAPT trial with people with #HIV and #tuberculosis symptoms in 🇲🇼🇱🇸, we investigated if antiretroviral therapy should be initiated immediately, or delayed until TB results available. ssrn.com/abstract=523...
Outcomes (incl. IRIS) similar across both arms.
In the SaDAPT trial with people with #HIV and #tuberculosis symptoms in 🇲🇼🇱🇸, we investigated if antiretroviral therapy should be initiated immediately, or delayed until TB results available. ssrn.com/abstract=523...
Outcomes (incl. IRIS) similar across both arms.
May 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
⚡️New preprint (not peer-reviewed)⚡️
In the SaDAPT trial with people with #HIV and #tuberculosis symptoms in 🇲🇼🇱🇸, we investigated if antiretroviral therapy should be initiated immediately, or delayed until TB results available. ssrn.com/abstract=523...
Outcomes (incl. IRIS) similar across both arms.
In the SaDAPT trial with people with #HIV and #tuberculosis symptoms in 🇲🇼🇱🇸, we investigated if antiretroviral therapy should be initiated immediately, or delayed until TB results available. ssrn.com/abstract=523...
Outcomes (incl. IRIS) similar across both arms.
Reposted by Peter MacPherson
We are excited to share that the new @who.int Consolidated Guidelines - National TB Prevalence Surveys is out now!🎉
👏Our KNCV colleagues, Petra de Haas and Edine Tiemersma, contributed to the development of this valuable resource for #TB care and prevention.
www.who.int/publications...
#TBSky
👏Our KNCV colleagues, Petra de Haas and Edine Tiemersma, contributed to the development of this valuable resource for #TB care and prevention.
www.who.int/publications...
#TBSky
July 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
We are excited to share that the new @who.int Consolidated Guidelines - National TB Prevalence Surveys is out now!🎉
👏Our KNCV colleagues, Petra de Haas and Edine Tiemersma, contributed to the development of this valuable resource for #TB care and prevention.
www.who.int/publications...
#TBSky
👏Our KNCV colleagues, Petra de Haas and Edine Tiemersma, contributed to the development of this valuable resource for #TB care and prevention.
www.who.int/publications...
#TBSky