P61 BTS MDRTB Clinical Advice Service

Abstract

Developing an initiative begun by Professor Peter Davies and colleagues in Liverpool in 2008, the BTS has now significantly increased the functionality of this Service to offer an opportunity for genuine on line dialogue between experts and service users on all aspects of the management of patients with MDRTB.Fully operational since July 2011-64 discrete case queries were received in the first year of operation, of which 41 were confirmed as MDRTB; 4 XDRTB; 7 Isoniazid mono-resistant and 1 related to a mycobacterium infection. The remaining 11 cases discussed were never confirmed as MDRTB or were general requests for advice.This represents a 45% increase in case discussion since the BTS unveiled the new Service and the initial post is now regularly being followed by further requests for help as new difficulties in case management emerge.The BTS MDRTB Clinical Advice Forum is accessible via a link on the home page of the BTS website OR directly at the url below: http://forums.brit-thoracic.org.uk/ After an on line registration is approved by the forum administrator, users are prompted to provide anonymised case details according to a pre-set questionnaire template. There is also a free text box and an opportunity to post X-ray and CT images.