Solomon A Yimer1,2,3,4, Carol Holm-Hansen1, Dag G Storla5, Gunnar A Bjune2. 1. Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. 2. Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 3. Amhara Regional State Health Bureau, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. 4. Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 5. Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the application of TB management time as an alternative parameter to estimate the size of the tuberculosis infectious pool in West Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. METHODS: In this study, we used the TB management time, i.e. the number of days from start of cough until start of treatment, to determine the infectious period. Patients with sputum smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary TB, retreatment and an estimated number of undetected cases were included. The infectious pool was then estimated as the annual number of infectious person days in a defined population. RESULTS: The TB management time of presently undiagnosed TB cases and sputum smear-positive patients contributed significantly to the infectious pool with 151,840 and 128,750 infectious person days per year, respectively. The total infectious pool including sputum smear-negative TB cases and retreatment patients in the study area was estimated at 325,410 person days or 15,447 person days per 100,000 population during the study year. CONCLUSION: Recording TB management time may be used to estimate the infectious pool of TB and to monitor programme performance in the community.
OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the application of TB management time as an alternative parameter to estimate the size of the tuberculosis infectious pool in West Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. METHODS: In this study, we used the TB management time, i.e. the number of days from start of cough until start of treatment, to determine the infectious period. Patients with sputum smear-positive and smear-negative pulmonary TB, retreatment and an estimated number of undetected cases were included. The infectious pool was then estimated as the annual number of infectious person days in a defined population. RESULTS: The TB management time of presently undiagnosed TB cases and sputum smear-positive patients contributed significantly to the infectious pool with 151,840 and 128,750 infectious person days per year, respectively. The total infectious pool including sputum smear-negative TB cases and retreatment patients in the study area was estimated at 325,410 person days or 15,447 person days per 100,000 population during the study year. CONCLUSION: Recording TB management time may be used to estimate the infectious pool of TB and to monitor programme performance in the community.