BACKGROUND: The accuracy of tuberculosis (TB) surveillance systems is paramount in TB control. In South Africa, information from the laboratory is not directly linked to the Electronic TB Register (ETR). OBJECTIVE: To validate smear results recorded in the ETR with those recorded in the laboratory. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was conducted among all sputum smear-positive TB patients recorded in the ETR during the fourth quarter of 2009 in KwaZulu-Natal Province. RESULTS: Of 1036 smear-positive patients recorded in the ETR, 683 (65.9%) had positive results recorded in the laboratory register. Only 364 (53.2%) had their smear results recorded in the ETR at the end of the intensive phase of treatment; of 326 (89.6%) recorded as converted to smear-negative, 224 (61.5%) were confirmed as smear-negative in the laboratory. Of 331 patients with end-of-treatment results in the ETR, 302 (91.2%) were recorded as cured, but only 105 (34.8%) were confirmed in the laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: Over a third of TB patients registered as smear-positive in the ETR could not be confirmed based on laboratory results. Many patients did not have a laboratory record, lending to uncertainty as to the validity of the smear results and treatment outcomes recorded in the ETR.
BACKGROUND: The accuracy of tuberculosis (TB) surveillance systems is paramount in TB control. In South Africa, information from the laboratory is not directly linked to the Electronic TB Register (ETR). OBJECTIVE: To validate smear results recorded in the ETR with those recorded in the laboratory. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was conducted among all sputum smear-positive TB patients recorded in the ETR during the fourth quarter of 2009 in KwaZulu-Natal Province. RESULTS: Of 1036 smear-positive patients recorded in the ETR, 683 (65.9%) had positive results recorded in the laboratory register. Only 364 (53.2%) had their smear results recorded in the ETR at the end of the intensive phase of treatment; of 326 (89.6%) recorded as converted to smear-negative, 224 (61.5%) were confirmed as smear-negative in the laboratory. Of 331 patients with end-of-treatment results in the ETR, 302 (91.2%) were recorded as cured, but only 105 (34.8%) were confirmed in the laboratory. CONCLUSIONS: Over a third of TB patients registered as smear-positive in the ETR could not be confirmed based on laboratory results. Many patients did not have a laboratory record, lending to uncertainty as to the validity of the smear results and treatment outcomes recorded in the ETR.
Authors: R Dunbar; K Lawrence; S Verver; D A Enarson; C Lombard; J Hargrove; J Caldwell; N Beyers; J M Barnes Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 2.373
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Authors: Rifqah A Roomaney; Victoria Pillay-van Wyk; Oluwatoyin F Awotiwon; Edward Nicol; Jané D Joubert; Debbie Bradshaw; Lyn A Hanmer Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2017-04-01 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Muatsim Ahmed Mohammed Adam; Rasha Sayed Mohammed Ebraheem; Shahinaz Ahmed Bedri Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2022-05-06 Impact factor: 5.640
Authors: Victor Abiola Adepoju; Olusola Adedeji Adejumo; Oluwatoyin Elizabeth Adepoju; Marius Olusola Adeniyi; Victoria Etuk; Iheoma Nzekwe; Jude O Inegbeboh; Ademola Adelekan; Olanrewaju Oladimeji Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-09-21