A Wali1,2, N Safdar3, R Manair4, M D Khan5, A Khan6, S A Kurd7, L Khalil8. 1. Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Government of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 2. Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. 3. Interactive Research and Development, Singapore. 4. Interactive Research and Development, Karachi, Pakistan. 5. Provincial AIDS Control Programme, Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Government of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 6. Planning and Development Department, Government of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 7. Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Government of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan. 8. Human Resource Development, Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Government of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
Abstract
SETTING: This survey was conducted at 35 sites of 20 cities in 15 districts with low programmatic TB case notifications in the past years in Balochistan. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of the systemic community-based screening and diagnosis for early detection of TB; and 2) to describe the characteristics and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention in Balochistan, and sociodemographic factors associated with it. DESIGN: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a mobile van equipped with a digital X-ray machine with computer-aided detection for TB (CAD4TB) software for screening, followed by confirmatory high sensitivity Xpert® MTB/RIF assay testing. RESULTS: A total of 236 (3.4%) TB cases was detected out of 6,899 screened. About 1,168 (17%) presumptive TB cases were identified and 1,065 (91%) sputum samples were tested on Xpert. Among those diagnosed, 166 (70%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive and 70 (30%) were with clinical suspicion. Of the sputum samples tested, 87% (923/1065) had a probability score of >70 on CAD4TB. CONCLUSION: Community-based screening with innovative activities, comprising sensitive screening and diagnostic tools, effectively improves TB case detection, which might suffice to reduce the prevalence of TB and break the chain of infection transmission in the at-risk population.
SETTING: This survey was conducted at 35 sites of 20 cities in 15 districts with low programmatic TB case notifications in the past years in Balochistan. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of the systemic community-based screening and diagnosis for early detection of TB; and 2) to describe the characteristics and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the intervention in Balochistan, and sociodemographic factors associated with it. DESIGN: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a mobile van equipped with a digital X-ray machine with computer-aided detection for TB (CAD4TB) software for screening, followed by confirmatory high sensitivity Xpert® MTB/RIF assay testing. RESULTS: A total of 236 (3.4%) TB cases was detected out of 6,899 screened. About 1,168 (17%) presumptive TB cases were identified and 1,065 (91%) sputum samples were tested on Xpert. Among those diagnosed, 166 (70%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive and 70 (30%) were with clinical suspicion. Of the sputum samples tested, 87% (923/1065) had a probability score of >70 on CAD4TB. CONCLUSION: Community-based screening with innovative activities, comprising sensitive screening and diagnostic tools, effectively improves TB case detection, which might suffice to reduce the prevalence of TB and break the chain of infection transmission in the at-risk population.
Authors: Daniel C Oshi; Joachim C Omeje; Sarah N Oshi; Isaac N Alobu; Ngozi E Chukwu; Chukwuemeka Nwokocha; Obiageli F Emelumadu; Chidubem L Ogbudebe; Anthony O Meka; Kingsley N Ukwaja Journal: Int J Mycobacteriol Date: 2017 Jul-Sep
Authors: F Madhani; R A Maniar; A Burfat; M Ahmed; S Farooq; A Sabir; A K Domki; L Page-Shipp; S Khowaja; N Safdar; A J Khan; P Y Khan Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 2.373
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