K Viney1, K Bissell2, K Tabutoa3, T Kienene3, N N Linh4, K Briand5, A D Harries6. 1. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia. 2. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 3. Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Tarawa, Republic of Kiribati. 4. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 5. Ministry of Health, Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands. 6. International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France ; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
SETTING: National tuberculosis programmes (NTPs) in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, 2006-2010. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of all tuberculosis (TB) cases that were pulmonary smear-negative, and for these patients to determine how many sputum smears were examined and the time from sputum smear examination to registration. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study involving a record review of national TB and laboratory registers. RESULTS: Of 2420 TB cases identified, 709 (29%) were registered as smear-negative pulmonary TB. Of the 695 (98%) with information on smear examination, 222 (32%) had no smear recorded, 61 (9%) had one smear, 86 (12%) two smears and 326 (47%) three smears. Among the 473 patients who had at least one smear, 238 (50%) were registered before sputum examination, 131 (28%) within 1 week, 72 (15%) between 1 and 4 weeks, and 34 (7%) >4 weeks after sputum examination. CONCLUSION: NTPs in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are diagnosing 29% of all TB patients as smear-negative pulmonary TB. Many patients do not have smears done or are registered before undergoing smear examination. Corrective measures are needed.
SETTING: National tuberculosis programmes (NTPs) in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, 2006-2010. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of all tuberculosis (TB) cases that were pulmonary smear-negative, and for these patients to determine how many sputum smears were examined and the time from sputum smear examination to registration. DESIGN: A retrospective cross-sectional study involving a record review of national TB and laboratory registers. RESULTS: Of 2420 TB cases identified, 709 (29%) were registered as smear-negative pulmonary TB. Of the 695 (98%) with information on smear examination, 222 (32%) had no smear recorded, 61 (9%) had one smear, 86 (12%) two smears and 326 (47%) three smears. Among the 473 patients who had at least one smear, 238 (50%) were registered before sputum examination, 131 (28%) within 1 week, 72 (15%) between 1 and 4 weeks, and 34 (7%) >4 weeks after sputum examination. CONCLUSION: NTPs in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are diagnosing 29% of all TB patients as smear-negative pulmonary TB. Many patients do not have smears done or are registered before undergoing smear examination. Corrective measures are needed.
Authors: B Samb; P S Sow; S Kony; M Maynart-Badiane; G Diouf; S Cissokho; D Bâ; M Sané; F Klotz; M A Faye-Niang; S Mboup; I Ndoye; E Delaporte; A A Hane; A Samb; J P Coulaud; A M Coll-Seck; B Larouzé; J F Murray Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 1999-04 Impact factor: 2.373