A L Lopez1, J G Aldaba1, C G Ama2, P G Sylim1, X D Geraldino1, J N Sarol3, A M Salonga1. 1. National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, The Philippines. 2. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, The Philippines. 3. National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, The Philippines.
Abstract
SETTING: Estimates of the tuberculosis (TB) burden in the Philippines are largely dependent on prevalence surveys. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a prospective community-based survey to generate epidemiological data on TB among patients seeking care in public health centres in a rural municipality in the Philippines. DESIGN: Prospective surveillance and follow-up of presumptive TB cases from May 2013 to July 2015. RESULTS: Of 1622 participants with presumptive TB, 468 (28.8%) (95%CI 26.6-31.1) were diagnosed with TB. The annual TB case notification rate in San Juan was 212 (95%CI 184-242) per 100 000 population. There were nine TB-attributable deaths during the study period. Only 8.8% (95%CI 6.2-11.32) of the cases were children aged <15 years; 274 (58.5%) cases were bacteriologically confirmed. Of 210 isolates tested for antimicrobial resistance, 49 (23.3%, 95%CI 17.58-29.02) were resistant. Resistance to isoniazid (INH) was common (n = 33, 15.7%); multidrug-resistant TB was 1.9%. CONCLUSION: TB remains an important health problem in the Philippines. We identified low case detection of TB in children and high INH resistance rates in this rural community.
SETTING: Estimates of the tuberculosis (TB) burden in the Philippines are largely dependent on prevalence surveys. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a prospective community-based survey to generate epidemiological data on TB among patients seeking care in public health centres in a rural municipality in the Philippines. DESIGN: Prospective surveillance and follow-up of presumptive TB cases from May 2013 to July 2015. RESULTS: Of 1622 participants with presumptive TB, 468 (28.8%) (95%CI 26.6-31.1) were diagnosed with TB. The annual TB case notification rate in San Juan was 212 (95%CI 184-242) per 100 000 population. There were nine TB-attributable deaths during the study period. Only 8.8% (95%CI 6.2-11.32) of the cases were children aged <15 years; 274 (58.5%) cases were bacteriologically confirmed. Of 210 isolates tested for antimicrobial resistance, 49 (23.3%, 95%CI 17.58-29.02) were resistant. Resistance to isoniazid (INH) was common (n = 33, 15.7%); multidrug-resistant TB was 1.9%. CONCLUSION: TB remains an important health problem in the Philippines. We identified low case detection of TB in children and high INH resistance rates in this rural community.