1. School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2. Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3. School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran.
4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran.
5. Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri - IRCCS - Tradate, Italia.
6. Public Health Consulting Group, Lugano, Switzerland.
7. Servizio di Malattie Infettive, Hospital Galliera, Genova, Italia.
Submitted: 27 November 2024.
Accepted: 19 December 2024.

Correspondence to:
Mohammad Javad Nasiri. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Avenue, Daneshjoo Blvd, Velenjak, 19839-63113, Tehran, Iran.
Tel.: 98 21 23 87 25 56. E-mail: mj.nasiri@hotmail.com
Giovanni Battista Migliori. Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (IRCCS), Via Roncaccio 16, 21049, Tradate, Italia.
Tel.: 39 0331 829404. E-mail: giovannibattista.migliori@icsmaugeri.it
Financial support: This study is part of the research activities of the Global Tuberculosis Network and was supported by the Italian National Ministry of Health Fondo Ricerca Corrente. MJN received financial support from the Research Department of the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran (Grant no.