To describe incidence, presentation, treatment and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children. Design: Observational study of TB diagnosed in HIV-infected children in 2011-2013. Results: Of 4265 children aged <16 years, 127 (3%) were diagnosed with TB: 6 (5%) in Western Europe, 80 (63%) in Eastern Europe, 27 (21%) in Thailand and 14 (11%) in Brazil, with estimated TB incidence rates of respectively 239, 982, 1633 and 2551 per 100,000 person-years (PY). The majority (94%) had acquired HIV perinatally. The median age at TB diagnosis was 6.8 years (interquartile range 3.0-11.5). Over half (52%) had advanced/severe World Health Organization stage immunodeficiency; 67 (53%) were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at TB diagnosis. Preventive anti-tuberculosis treatment was given to 23% (n=23) of 102 children diagnosed with HIV before TB. Eleven children had unfavourable TB outcomes: 4 died, 5 did not complete treatment, 1 had recurrent TB and 1 had an unknown outcome. In univariable analysis, previous diagnosis of acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, not being virologically supressed on ART at TB diagnosis, and region (Brazil) were significantly associated with unfavourable TB outcomes. Conclusion: Most TB cases were from countries with high TB prevalence. The majority (91%) had favourable outcomes. Universal ART and TB prophylaxis may reduce missed opportunities for TB prevention.

In this number, we begin publication of case series devoted to epidemiology, clinical picture, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, medical and social consequences of COVID-19. Taking into account the situation anxiety, infection scope and spread rate, involvement of the whole nation into the problem irrespective of gender, age, social affiliations along with comprehensive observing social and medical prevention measures, preemptive training and continuing education of medical specialists are essential considering that novel coronavirus is new not only viewed from its molecular biological features perspective but also from the perspective of possible difficulties of diagnosis and treatment, clinical features, high risk of development of critical con- ditions and complications, high mortality rate that has been shown by an example of China, USA, and European Countries.In the first report, we tried to highlight the experience gained in the study of novel coronavirus nature, epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, give information from literature sources based on the experience of our colleagues in coping with serious disease and its consequences.

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The Scientific Board of the I.P. Pavlov St. Petersburg State Medical University announced organization of a new department - of socially-important infections - such as Viral Human Infections, chronic viral hepatitis, infections transmitted by sexual contacts and tuberculosis. The new department has adopted the long-term traditions of the infection service and is oriented on complex training of the medical personal. The interdisciplinary approach to training of specialists in the sphere of socially important infections garantees the expediency of realization of all forms of training.

The stages of the Department of socially significant infections formation, starting from the training course for laboratory diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the Department of Infectious Diseases, scientific, educational and practical association «AIDS and AIDS-defining illnesses» at the Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (nowadays - Northwest Medical University), approved by the order of Healthcare ministry of USSR №467 in 1987, which in 1992 came under the jurisdiction of Russia, headed by Professor A.G. Rakhmanova, up to creating the Department of the Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University. In the late 90s and early this century, Department of Infectious Diseases with the course of the AIDS laboratory diagnosis was virtually the only one in the country for training on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, its laboratory diagnostics and other related diseases. As a result of scientific, educational and practical association «AIDS and AIDS-defining illness» activity, for over 20 years scientific staff was trained on HIV Medicine and associated socially significant infections. As a part of that effort, more than 25 doctors of science and 60 PhDs who are currently teaching HIV medicine and associated co-infections: chronic viral hepatitides, tuberculosis, herpes and other diseases in Russia and countries of the former post-Soviet space, were trained. The next step was the establishment of «HIV Medicine» course in 2009 in the Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, and later in 2013 - creation of an independent Department of socially significant diseases.