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Tuberculosis diagnosis cascade in Blantyre, Malawi: a prospective cohort study

Feasey, Helena, Corbett, Elizabeth, Nliwasa, Marriott, Mair, Luke, Divala, T, Kamchedzera, W, Khundi, McEwen, Burchett, Helen, Webb, Emily, Maheswaran, Hendramoorthy, Squire, Bertie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7173-9038 and MacPherson, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0329-9613 (2021) 'Tuberculosis diagnosis cascade in Blantyre, Malawi: a prospective cohort study'. BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol 21, Issue 178.

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Abstract

Background
Tuberculosis (TB) control relies on early diagnosis and treatment. International guidelines recommend systematic TB screening at health facilities, but implementation is challenging. We investigated completion of recommended TB screening steps in Blantyre, Malawi.

Methods
A prospective cohort recruited adult outpatients attending Bangwe primary clinic. Entry interviews were linked to exit interviews. The proportion of participants progressing through each step of the diagnostic pathway were estimated. Factors associated with request for sputum were investigated using multivariable logistic regression.

Results
Of 5442 clinic attendances 2397 (44%) had exit interviews. In clinically indicated participants (n = 445) 256 (57.5%) were asked about cough, 36 (8.1%) were asked for sputum, 21 (4.7%) gave sputum and 1 (0.2%) received same-day results. Significant associations with request for sputum were: any TB symptom (aOR:3.20, 95%CI:2.02–5.06), increasing age (aOR:1.02, 95%CI:1.01–1.04 per year) and for HIV-negative participants only, a history of previous TB (aOR:3.37, 95%CI:1.45–7.81). Numbers requiring sputum tests (26/day) outnumbered diagnostic capacity (8–12/day).

Conclusions
Patients were lost at every stage of the TB care cascade, with same day sputum submission following all steps of the diagnosis cascade achieved in only 4.7% if clinically indicated. Infection control strategies should be implemented, with reporting on early steps of the TB care cascade formalised. High-throughput screening interventions, such as digital CXR, that can achieve same-day TB diagnosis are urgently needed to meet WHO End TB goals.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 200 Tuberculosis (General)
WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 220 Diagnosis. Prognosis
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Clinical Sciences & International Health > Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW)
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-05860-y
Depositing User: Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited: 16 Feb 2021 16:32
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 16:32
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/16984

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