Adzic-Vukicevic, Tatjana (56888756300)Tatjana (56888756300)Adzic-VukicevicStosic, Maja (57203866961)Maja (57203866961)StosicAntonijevic, Gordana (6506073767)Gordana (6506073767)AntonijevicJevtic, Miroslav (57214026067)Miroslav (57214026067)JevticRadovanovic-Spurnic, Aleksandra (57191847101)Aleksandra (57191847101)Radovanovic-SpurnicVelickovic, Jelena (29567657500)Jelena (29567657500)Velickovic2025-06-122025-06-122022https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.971008https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85143218188&doi=10.3389%2ffmed.2022.971008&partnerID=40&md5=f7b5abf39c9360e6b1d5eeb88bd1fb2ahttps://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3188Introduction: COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) represent global threats to the public health system. The impact of COVID-19 on TB results in a reduction in the number of notified TB cases, delayed diagnosis and treatment, and increased case fatality and mortality rates. The aim of the study was to analyze the TB/COVID-19 co-infected cohort in Serbia as a low-burden country and compare it to the global TB/COVID-19 cohort. Methods: A retrospective analysis was done on 53 TB and COVID-19 co-infected patients treated in COVID hospital “Batajnica” in Belgrade and Special Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases “Ozren” Sokobanja in the period from 6 March 2020 to 1 April 2022. A comparative analysis with the global cohort published recently was also performed. Results: TB/COVID-19 cohort in Serbia included significantly fewer migrants and diabetes cases, but more cases with chronic respiratory diseases compared to the global. Descriptive analysis of TB cases in the Serbian TB/COVID-19 cohort showed fewer cases diagnosed with sputum smear and Gene Xpert/HAIN, fewer EPTB and mono-resistant cases, and more cases diagnosed with solid culture, unilateral pulmonary infiltrate (with bilateral cavity lesions), and bilateral pulmonary infiltrate (no cavities) compared to TB/COVID-19 cases worldwide. Nasal congestion and fever were more common COVID-19 symptoms in the global cohort. Radiology was more commonly used for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in Serbia. Typical bilateral ground opacities were less common among Serbian patients. Serbian patients spent fewer days in the hospital and achieved a higher PCR conversion rate and TB treatment success rate. Conclusion: The Serbian TB/COVID-19 cohort achieved a higher treatment success rate compared to the global cohort. Encouraging vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 for people with a current or past TB disease, as well as rapid diagnosis and targeted treatment of TB in highly specialized pulmonology institutions, presents key points to avoid excessive morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2022 Adzic-Vukicevic, Stosic, Antonijevic, Jevtic, Radovanovic-Spurnic and Velickovic.co-infectionCOVID-19pandemicSerbiatuberculosis