SETTING: Thirteen primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Stellenbosch District, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of a sputum register to evaluate the tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic process and the initiation of TB treatment in selected PHC facilities in a country with a centralised laboratory system. DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted between April 2004 and March 2005. The names of all individuals submitting sputum samples for TB testing were noted in a newly introduced sputum register. We classified all TB suspects with two positive smears as TB cases and consulted TB treatment registers until 3 months after sputum submission to determine how many had started treatment. RESULTS: A total of 4062 persons aged > or =15 years submitted sputum samples, of whom 2484 were TB suspects. There were 2037 suspects with at least two results, 367 (18%) had at least two positive smears and 64 (17%) of these did not start treatment (initial defaulters). Over the entire diagnostic process, up to 5% of TB cases were missed, and up to 26% did not start treatment and were not reported. CONCLUSION: By correcting diagnostic weaknesses identified in the sputum register, PHC facilities will be able to detect, treat and cure a higher percentage of TB patients.
SETTING: Thirteen primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Stellenbosch District, South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of a sputum register to evaluate the tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic process and the initiation of TB treatment in selected PHC facilities in a country with a centralised laboratory system. DESIGN: This prospective study was conducted between April 2004 and March 2005. The names of all individuals submitting sputum samples for TB testing were noted in a newly introduced sputum register. We classified all TB suspects with two positive smears as TB cases and consulted TB treatment registers until 3 months after sputum submission to determine how many had started treatment. RESULTS: A total of 4062 persons aged > or =15 years submitted sputum samples, of whom 2484 were TB suspects. There were 2037 suspects with at least two results, 367 (18%) had at least two positive smears and 64 (17%) of these did not start treatment (initial defaulters). Over the entire diagnostic process, up to 5% of TB cases were missed, and up to 26% did not start treatment and were not reported. CONCLUSION: By correcting diagnostic weaknesses identified in the sputum register, PHC facilities will be able to detect, treat and cure a higher percentage of TB patients.
Authors: A Wali; A M V Kumar; S G Hinderaker; E Heldal; E Qadeer; R Fatima; A Ullah; N Safdar; A Yaqoob; K Anwar; M Ul Haq Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2017-03-21
Authors: Adithya Cattamanchi; Laurence Huang; William Worodria; Saskia den Boon; Nelson Kalema; Winceslaus Katagira; Patrick Byanyima; Samuel Yoo; John Matovu; Philip C Hopewell; J Lucian Davis Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2010-09-17 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Jlucian Davis; Achilles Katamba; Josh Vasquez; Erin Crawford; Asadu Sserwanga; Stella Kakeeto; Fred Kizito; Grant Dorsey; Saskia den Boon; Eric Vittinghoff; Laurence Huang; Francis Adatu; Moses R Kamya; Philip C Hopewell; Adithya Cattamanchi Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2011-03-11 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Jennifer M Ross; Adithya Cattamanchi; Cecily R Miller; Andrew J Tatem; Achilles Katamba; Priscilla Haguma; Margaret A Handley; J Lucian Davis Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2015-07-27 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Peter MacPherson; Rein M G J Houben; Judith R Glynn; Elizabeth L Corbett; Katharina Kranzer Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2013-11-22 Impact factor: 9.408