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Van't Hoog A, Viney K, Biermann O, Yang B, Leeflang MM, Langendam MW. Symptom- and chest-radiography screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative adults and adults with unknown HIV status. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 3:CD010890. [PMID: 35320584 PMCID: PMC9109771 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010890.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systematic screening in high-burden settings is recommended as a strategy for early detection of pulmonary tuberculosis disease, reducing mortality, morbidity and transmission, and improving equity in access to care. Questioning for symptoms and chest radiography (CXR) have historically been the most widely available tools to screen for tuberculosis disease. Their accuracy is important for the design of tuberculosis screening programmes and determines, in combination with the accuracy of confirmatory diagnostic tests, the yield of a screening programme and the burden on individuals and the health service. OBJECTIVES To assess the sensitivity and specificity of questioning for the presence of one or more tuberculosis symptoms or symptom combinations, CXR, and combinations of these as screening tools for detecting bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis disease in HIV-negative adults and adults with unknown HIV status who are considered eligible for systematic screening for tuberculosis disease. Second, to investigate sources of heterogeneity, especially in relation to regional, epidemiological, and demographic characteristics of the study populations. SEARCH METHODS We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and HTA (Health Technology Assessment) databases using pre-specified search terms and consulted experts for unpublished reports, for the period 1992 to 2018. The search date was 10 December 2018. This search was repeated on 2 July 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Studies were eligible if participants were screened for tuberculosis disease using symptom questions, or abnormalities on CXR, or both, and were offered confirmatory testing with a reference standard. We included studies if diagnostic two-by-two tables could be generated for one or more index tests, even if not all participants were subjected to a microbacteriological reference standard. We excluded studies evaluating self-reporting of symptoms. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We categorized symptom and CXR index tests according to commonly used definitions. We assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the QUADAS-2 instrument. We examined the forest plots and receiver operating characteristic plots visually for heterogeneity. We estimated summary sensitivities and specificities (and 95% confidence intervals (CI)) for each index test using bivariate random-effects methods. We analyzed potential sources of heterogeneity in a hierarchical mixed-model. MAIN RESULTS The electronic database search identified 9473 titles and abstracts. Through expert consultation, we identified 31 reports on national tuberculosis prevalence surveys as eligible (of which eight were already captured in the search of the electronic databases), and we identified 957 potentially relevant articles through reference checking. After removal of duplicates, we assessed 10,415 titles and abstracts, of which we identified 430 (4%) for full text review, whereafter we excluded 364 articles. In total, 66 articles provided data on 59 studies. We assessed the 2 July 2021 search results; seven studies were potentially eligible but would make no material difference to the review findings or grading of the evidence, and were not added in this edition of the review. We judged most studies at high risk of bias in one or more domains, most commonly because of incorporation bias and verification bias. We judged applicability concerns low in more than 80% of studies in all three domains. The three most common symptom index tests, cough for two or more weeks (41 studies), any cough (21 studies), and any tuberculosis symptom (29 studies), showed a summary sensitivity of 42.1% (95% CI 36.6% to 47.7%), 51.3% (95% CI 42.8% to 59.7%), and 70.6% (95% CI 61.7% to 78.2%, all very low-certainty evidence), and a specificity of 94.4% (95% CI 92.6% to 95.8%, high-certainty evidence), 87.6% (95% CI 81.6% to 91.8%, low-certainty evidence), and 65.1% (95% CI 53.3% to 75.4%, low-certainty evidence), respectively. The data on symptom index tests were more heterogenous than those for CXR. The studies on any tuberculosis symptom were the most heterogeneous, but had the lowest number of variables explaining this variation. Symptom index tests also showed regional variation. The summary sensitivity of any CXR abnormality (23 studies) was 94.7% (95% CI 92.2% to 96.4%, very low-certainty evidence) and 84.8% (95% CI 76.7% to 90.4%, low-certainty evidence) for CXR abnormalities suggestive of tuberculosis (19 studies), and specificity was 89.1% (95% CI 85.6% to 91.8%, low-certainty evidence) and 95.6% (95% CI 92.6% to 97.4%, high-certainty evidence), respectively. Sensitivity was more heterogenous than specificity, and could be explained by regional variation. The addition of cough for two or more weeks, whether to any (pulmonary) CXR abnormality or to CXR abnormalities suggestive of tuberculosis, resulted in a summary sensitivity and specificity of 99.2% (95% CI 96.8% to 99.8%) and 84.9% (95% CI 81.2% to 88.1%) (15 studies; certainty of evidence not assessed). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The summary estimates of the symptom and CXR index tests may inform the choice of screening and diagnostic algorithms in any given setting or country where screening for tuberculosis is being implemented. The high sensitivity of CXR index tests, with or without symptom questions in parallel, suggests a high yield of persons with tuberculosis disease. However, additional considerations will determine the design of screening and diagnostic algorithms, such as the availability and accessibility of CXR facilities or the resources to fund them, and the need for more or fewer diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis (depending on screening test specificity), which also has resource implications. These review findings should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations in the included studies and regional variation in sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity and specificity of an index test in a specific setting cannot be predicted with great precision due to heterogeneity. This should be borne in mind when planning for and implementing tuberculosis screening programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Van't Hoog
- Anja van't Hoog, Health Research & Training Consultancy, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kerri Viney
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Biermann
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bada Yang
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mariska Mg Leeflang
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Miranda W Langendam
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Oh JY, Lee SS, Kim HW, Min J, Ko Y, Koo HK, Jeong YJ, Kang HH, Kang JY, Kim JS, Park JS, Kwon Y, Yang J, Han J, Jang YJ, Lee MK, Jegal Y, Kim YC, Kim YS. Additional Usefulness of Bronchoscopy in Patients with Initial Microbiologically Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Retrospective Analysis of a Korean Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:1029-1037. [PMID: 35310369 PMCID: PMC8926010 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s354962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Bronchoscopy is widely used for microbiological diagnosis of patients with minimal sputum production. However, the usefulness of bronchoscopy in patient groups who benefit from subsequent microbiological confirmation has not been established. Patients and Methods We retrospectively analyzed Korean tuberculosis (TB) cohort data from September 2018 to October 2019 to evaluate the usefulness of bronchoscopy in patients with microbiologically negative pulmonary TB (based on initial sputum polymerase chain reaction and culture results). The primary outcome was the proportion of microbiological diagnoses made after bronchoscopy. Secondary outcomes were the predictors of microbiological confirmation and the percentage of additional resistance detection after bronchoscopy. Results A total of 5194 patients were diagnosed with pulmonary TB, 937 of whom were microbiologically negative for pulmonary TB based on the initial sputum findings. Of these, 319 patients underwent bronchoscopy, and further microbiological confirmation was achieved in 157 (49.1%) patients. The predictors of microbiological confirmation after bronchoscopy were age >65 years, female sex, and low body mass index (BMI). The rate of additional resistance detection was 10.5% (multidrug resistant/rifampin-resistant 3.8%; isoniazid-resistant 5.7%). Conclusion Bronchoscopy can be used for the detection of resistant pathogens. Bronchoscopy should be considered for microbiologically negative pulmonary TB in women aged >65 years and with low BMI for subsequent microbiological confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Youn Oh
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Soon Lee
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Woo Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsoo Min
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yousang Ko
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Kyoung Koo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Jeong Jeong
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Hui Kang
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Young Kang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Sang Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Seuk Park
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunhyung Kwon
- Division of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Yang
- Division of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Han
- Division of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jin Jang
- Division of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Ki Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangjin Jegal
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Chul Kim
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Seong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
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George M, Dinant GJ, Kentiba E, Teshome T, Teshome A, Tsegaye B, Spigt M. Evaluation of the performance of clinical predictors in estimating the probability of pulmonary tuberculosis among smear-negative cases in Northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e037913. [PMID: 33148731 PMCID: PMC7640509 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of the predictors in estimating the probability of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) when all versus only significant variables are combined into a decision model (1) among all clinical suspects and (2) among smear-negative cases based on the results of culture tests. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING Two public referral hospitals in Tigray, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS A total of 426 consecutive adult patients admitted to the hospitals with clinical suspicion of PTB were screened by sputum smear microscopy and chest radiograph (chest X-ray (CXR)) in accordance with the Ethiopian guidelines of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program. Discontinuation of antituberculosis therapy in the past 3 months, unproductive cough, HIV positivity and unwillingness to give written informed consent were the basis of exclusion from the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES A total of 354 patients were included in the final analysis, while 72 patients were excluded because culture tests were not done. RESULTS The strongest predictive variables of culture-positive PTB among patients with clinical suspicion were a positive smear test (OR 172; 95% CI 23.23 to 1273.54) and having CXR lesions compatible with PTB (OR 10.401; 95% CI 5.862 to 18.454). The regression model had a good predictive performance for identifying culture-positive PTB among patients with clinical suspicion (area under the curve (AUC) 0.84), but it was rather poor in patients with a negative smear result (AUC 0.64). Combining all the predictors in the model compared with only the independent significant variables did not really improve its performance to identify culture-positive (AUC 0.84-0.87) and culture-negative (AUC 0.64-0.69) PTB. CONCLUSIONS Our finding suggests that predictive models based on clinical variables will not be useful to discriminate patients with culture-negative PTB from patients with culture-positive PTB among patients with smear-negative cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mala George
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Geert-Jan Dinant
- Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School of Public Health and Primary Care/Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Efrem Kentiba
- Department of Sports Science, Arba Minch College of Teachers Education, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Teklu Teshome
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Abinet Teshome
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Behailu Tsegaye
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Mark Spigt
- Department of Family Medicine, CAPHRI School of Public Health and Primary Care/Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- General Practice Research Unit, Department of Community Medicine, Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Divala TH, Fielding KL, Kandulu C, Nliwasa M, Sloan DJ, Gupta-Wright A, Corbett EL. Utility of broad-spectrum antibiotics for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 20:1089-1098. [PMID: 32437700 PMCID: PMC7456780 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30143-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suboptimal diagnostics for pulmonary tuberculosis drive the use of the so-called trial of antibiotics, a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics without activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is given to patients who are mycobacteriology negative but symptomatic, with the aim of distinguishing pulmonary tuberculosis from bacterial lower respiratory tract infection. The underlying assumption-that patients with lower respiratory tract infection will improve, whereas those with pulmonary tuberculosis will not-has an unclear evidence base for such a widely used intervention (at least 26·5 million courses are prescribed per year). We aimed to collate available evidence on the diagnostic performance of the trial of antibiotics. METHODS In this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health databases for studies published up to March 15, 2019, that investigated the sensitivity and specificity of the trial of antibiotics against mycobacteriology tests in adults (≥15 years) with tuberculosis symptoms. We used the QUADAS-2 tool to assess the risk of bias. We estimated pooled values for sensitivity and specificity of trial of antibiotics (as the index text) versus mycobacteriology tests (as the reference standard) using random-effects bivariate modelling, and we used the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity between studies contributing to these estimates. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017083915. FINDINGS Of the 9410 articles identified by our search, eight studies were eligible for inclusion. The studies were from seven countries in Africa, South America, and Asia, and involved 2786 participants. Six studies used mycobacterial culture as the reference standard, and six used penicillins for the trial of antibiotics. The treatment duration, number of antimicrobial courses, and definition of what constituted response to treatment varied substantially between studies. The pooled sensitivity (67%, 95% CI 42-85) and specificity (73%, 58-85) of the trial of antibiotics versus mycobacteriology tests were below internationally defined minimum performance profiles for tuberculosis diagnostics and had substantial heterogeneity (I2 was 96% for sensitivity and 99% for specificity). Each included study failed on one or more domain of the QUADAS-2 tool. INTERPRETATION Current policy and practice regarding the trial of antibiotics appear inappropriate, given the weak evidence base, poor diagnostic performance, potential contribution to the global antimicrobial resistance crisis, and adverse individual and public health consequences from the misclassification of tuberculosis status. Antibiotic strategies during tuberculosis investigations should instead optimise clinical outcomes, ideally guided by clinical trials in both inpatient and outpatient groups. FUNDING Helse Nord RHF, Wellcome Trust, and the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titus H Divala
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi.
| | - Katherine L Fielding
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Chikondi Kandulu
- Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Marriott Nliwasa
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Derek J Sloan
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Ankur Gupta-Wright
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Elizabeth L Corbett
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Helse Nord Tuberculosis Initiative, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi; Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
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Ugarte-Gil C, Icochea M, Llontop Otero JC, Villaizan K, Young N, Cao Y, Liu B, Griffin T, Brunette MJ. Implementing a socio-technical system for computer-aided tuberculosis diagnosis in Peru: A field trial among health professionals in resource-constraint settings. Health Informatics J 2020; 26:2762-2775. [PMID: 32686560 DOI: 10.1177/1460458220938535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A major challenge of tuberculosis diagnosis is the lack of universal accessibility to bacteriological confirmation. Computer-aided diagnostic interventions have been developed to address this gap and their successful implementation depends on many health systems factors. A socio-technical system to implement a computer-aided diagnostic tuberculosis diagnosis was preliminary tested in five primary health centers located in Lima, Peru. We recruited nurses (n = 7) and tuberculosis physicians (n = 5) from these health centers to participate in a field trial of an mHealth tool (eRx X-ray diagnostic app). From September 2018 to February 2019, the nurses uploaded images of chest X-rays using smartphones and the physicians reviewed those images on web-based platforms using tablets. Both completed weekly written feedback about their experience. Each nurse participated for a median duration of 12 weeks (interquartile range = 7.5-15.5), but image upload was only possible at a median of 58 percent (interquartile range = 35.1%-84.4%) of those weeks. Each physician participated for a median duration of 17 weeks (interquartile range = 12-17), but X-ray image review was only possible at a median of 52 percent (interquartile range = 49.7%-57.4%) of those weeks. Heavy workload was most frequently provided as the reason for missing data. Several infrastructural and technological challenges impaired the effective implementation of the mHealth tool, irrespective of its diagnostic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria J Brunette
- Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Perú; University of Massachusetts, USA; The Ohio State University, USA
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Souza Filho JBDOE, Sanchez M, Seixas JMD, Maidantchik C, Galliez R, Moreira ADSR, da Costa PA, Oliveira MM, Harries AD, Kritski AL. Screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis: Development and applicability of artificial neural network models. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2018; 111:94-101. [PMID: 30029922 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, motivated by the diversity of healthcare epidemiological settings, as other factors. Cost-effective screening has substantial importance for TB control, demanding new diagnostic tools. This paper proposes a decision support tool (DST) for screening pulmonary TB (PTB) patients at a secondary clinic. The DST is composed of an adaptive resonance model (iART) for risk group identification (low, medium and high) and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network for classifying patients as active or inactive PTB. Our tool attains an overall sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 92% (95% CI; 79-97) and 58% (95% CI; 47-68), respectively. SE values for smear-positive and smear-negative patients are 96% (95% CI; 80-99) and 82% (95% CI; 52-95), as well as higher than 83% (95% CI; 43-97) in low and high-risk cases. Even in scenarios with prevalence up to 20%, negative predictive values superior to 95% are obtained. The proposed DST provides a quick and low-cost pretest for presumptive PTB patients, which is useful to guide confirmatory testing and patient management, especially in settings with limited resources in low and middle-incoming countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauro Sanchez
- Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil; Centre for Operational Research, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
| | - José Manoel de Seixas
- Electrical Engineering Program, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, COPPE/POLI, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Signal Processing Lab, Electrical Engineering Program, Alberto Coimbra Institute, Polytechnic School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Carmen Maidantchik
- Signal Processing Lab, Electrical Engineering Program, Alberto Coimbra Institute, Polytechnic School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Galliez
- Tuberculosis Academic Program, Medical School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Martha Maria Oliveira
- Tuberculosis Academic Program, Medical School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Anthony David Harries
- Centre for Operational Research, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France.
| | - Afrânio Lineu Kritski
- Tuberculosis Academic Program, Medical School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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de O. Souza Filho JB, de Seixas JM, Galliez R, de Bragança Pereira B, de Q Mello FC, dos Santos AM, Kritski AL. A screening system for smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis using artificial neural networks. Int J Infect Dis 2016; 49:33-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2016.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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Linguissi LSG, Vouvoungui CJ, Poulain P, Essassa GB, Kwedi S, Ntoumi F. Diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis based on clinical signs in the Republic of Congo. BMC Res Notes 2015; 8:804. [PMID: 26683052 PMCID: PMC4684611 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1774-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPT) in resource-limited countries is often solely based on clinical signs, chest X-ray radiography and sputum smear microscopy. We investigated currently used methods for the routine diagnosis of SNPT in the Republic of Congo (RoC) among TB suspected patients. The specific case of HIV positive patients was also studied. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at the anti-tuberculosis center (CAT) of Brazzaville, RoC. Tuberculosis suspects were examined for physical signs of TB. Clinical signs, results from sputum smear microscopy, tuberculin skin test (TST) and chest X-ray were recorded. RESULTS Of the 772 enrolled participants, 372 were diagnosed PTB. Cough was a common symptom for PTB and no PTB patients. Pale skin, positive TST, weight loss and chest X-ray with abnormalities compatible with PTB (PTB-CXR) were significant indicators of PTB. Thirty-six percent of PTB patients were diagnosed SNPT. This category of patients presented less persistent cough and less PTB-CXR. Anorexia and asthenia were significant indicators of SNPT. In the case of HIV+ patients, 57% were SNPT with anorexia, asthenia and shorter cough being strong indicators of SNPT. CONCLUSION Chest X-ray abnormalities, weight loss, pale skin and positive TST were significant indicators of PTB. Anorexia and asthenia showed good diagnostic performance for SNPT, which deserve to be recommended as index indicators of SNPT diagnosis. Duration of cough is also a relevant indicator, especially for HIV+ patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Stella Ghoma Linguissi
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Cité OMS, villa D6, Djoué, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. .,Centre de Recherche Biomoleculaire Pietro Annigoni (CERBA), Labiogene, Université de Ouagadougou, 01 BP 364, Ouaga 01, Burkina Faso.
| | | | - Pierre Poulain
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Cité OMS, villa D6, Djoué, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. .,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U 1134, Paris, France. .,UMR_S 1134, DSIMB, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris, France. .,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, DSIMB, Paris, France. .,UMR_S 1134, Laboratory of Excellence GR-Ex, DSIMB, Paris, France.
| | - Gaston Bango Essassa
- Centre Antituberculeux de Brazzaville, Programme de Lutte contre la Tuberculose, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
| | - Sylvie Kwedi
- Capacity for Leadership Excellence and Research, CLEAR, INC, Yaoundé, Cameroon. .,Faculty of Médecine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Cité OMS, villa D6, Djoué, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. .,Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University Marien Ngouabi, BP 2672, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. .,Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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Mala G, Spigt MG, Gidding LG, Blanco R, Dinant GJ. Quality of diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis in Northern Ethiopia: medical records-based retrospective study. Trop Doct 2015; 45:214-20. [PMID: 25883064 DOI: 10.1177/0049475515581126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine quality of diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response of patients with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) compared with smear-positive cases in Ethiopia. METHODS A retrospective analysis of medical records of newly diagnosed pulmonary TB cases that were registered for taking anti-TB medication and had completed treatment between 2010 and 2012. We evaluated the percentage of cases that were managed according to the International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC) and compared smear-negative with smear-positive cases. RESULTS We analysed 1168 cases of which 742 (64%) were sputum smear-negative cases. Chest radiography examination at diagnosis and microbiological testing at the end of the intensive phase of treatment was performed in a smaller proportion than in smear-positive TB cases (70% vs. 79%, P value <0.001) and (70% vs. 95%, P value <0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Clinical actions recommended in the ISTC are of greatest importance in minimising pitfalls in care of smear-negative TB yet were performed less often in smear-negative than smear-positive TB cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Mala
- MSc, Department of Medicine, Mekelle University, Mek'ele, Ethiopia MSc, Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University/CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Mark G Spigt
- PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University/CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands PhD, Department of General Practice, Tromsø University, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Luc G Gidding
- MD, Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University/CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Roman Blanco
- MD, Department of Surgery, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala, Spain
| | - Geert-Jan Dinant
- MD, PhD, Department of Family Medicine, Maastricht University/CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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10
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Van't Hoog AH, Onozaki I, Lonnroth K. Choosing algorithms for TB screening: a modelling study to compare yield, predictive value and diagnostic burden. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:532. [PMID: 25326816 PMCID: PMC4287425 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To inform the choice of an appropriate screening and diagnostic algorithm for tuberculosis (TB) screening initiatives in different epidemiological settings, we compare algorithms composed of currently available methods. Methods Of twelve algorithms composed of screening for symptoms (prolonged cough or any TB symptom) and/or chest radiography abnormalities, and either sputum-smear microscopy (SSM) or Xpert MTB/RIF (XP) as confirmatory test we model algorithm outcomes and summarize the yield, number needed to screen (NNS) and positive predictive value (PPV) for different levels of TB prevalence. Results Screening for prolonged cough has low yield, 22% if confirmatory testing is by SSM and 32% if XP, and a high NNS, exceeding 1000 if TB prevalence is ≤0.5%. Due to low specificity the PPV of screening for any TB symptom followed by SSM is less than 50%, even if TB prevalence is 2%. CXR screening for TB abnormalities followed by XP has the highest case detection (87%) and lowest NNS, but is resource intensive. CXR as a second screen for symptom screen positives improves efficiency. Conclusions The ideal algorithm does not exist. The choice will be setting specific, for which this study provides guidance. Generally an algorithm composed of CXR screening followed by confirmatory testing with XP can achieve the lowest NNS and highest PPV, and is the least amenable to setting-specific variation. However resource requirements for tests and equipment may be prohibitive in some settings and a reason to opt for symptom screening and SSM. To better inform disease control programs we need empirical data to confirm the modeled yield, cost-effectiveness studies, transmission models and a better screening test. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-532) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Van't Hoog
- Academic Medical Centre, Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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11
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Do high rates of empirical treatment undermine the potential effect of new diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in high-burden settings? THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2014; 14:527-32. [PMID: 24438820 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(13)70360-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In tuberculosis-endemic settings, patients are often treated empirically, meaning that they are placed on treatment based on clinical symptoms or tests that do not provide a microbiological diagnosis (eg, chest radiography). New tests for tuberculosis, such as the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA), are being implemented at substantial cost. To inform policy and rationally drive implementation, data are needed for how these tests affect morbidity, mortality, transmission, and population-level tuberculosis burden. If people diagnosed by use of new diagnostics would have received empirical treatment a few days later anyway, then the incremental benefit might be small. Will new diagnostics substantially improve outcomes and disease burden, or simply displace empirical treatment? Will the extent and accuracy of empirical treatment change with the introduction of a new test? In this Personal View, we review emerging data for how empirical treatment is frequently same-day, and might still be the predominant form of treatment in high-burden settings, even after Xpert implementation; and how Xpert might displace so-called true-positive, rather than false-positive, empirical treatment. We suggest types of studies needed to accurately assess the effect of new tuberculosis tests and the role of empirical treatment in real-world settings. Until such questions can be addressed, and empirical treatment is appropriately characterised, we postulate that the estimated population-level effect of new tests such as Xpert might be substantially overestimated.
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12
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van't Hoog AH, Langendam M, Mitchell E, Cobelens FG, Sinclair D, Leeflang MM, Lönnroth K. Symptom- and chest-radiography screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-negative adults and adults with unknown HIV status. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd010890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna H van't Hoog
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam; Department of Global Health; Pietersbergweg 17 Amsterdam Netherlands 1105 BM
| | - Miranda Langendam
- Academic Medical Center; Dutch Cochrane Centre; Room J1B-108-2 P.O. Box 22700 Amsterdam Netherlands 1100 DE
| | - Ellen Mitchell
- KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation; Parkstraat 17 2501 CC The Hague Netherlands
| | - Frank G Cobelens
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam; Department of Global Health; Pietersbergweg 17 Amsterdam Netherlands 1105 BM
| | - David Sinclair
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine; Department of Clinical Sciences; Pembroke Place Liverpool UK L3 5QA
| | - Mariska M.G. Leeflang
- Academic Medical Center, J1B-207-1; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics; P.O. Box 22700 AMSTERDAM Netherlands 1100 DE
| | - Knut Lönnroth
- World Health Organization; Stop TB Department; 20 Avenue Appia Geneva Switzerland CH-1211
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13
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Soto A, Solari L, Agapito J, Gotuzzo E, Accinelli R, Vargas D, Acurio V, Matthys F, Van der Stuyft P. Algorithm for the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis in high-incidence resource-constrained settings. Trop Med Int Health 2013; 18:1222-30. [DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Soto
- General Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerp; Belgium
| | - Lely Solari
- General Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerp; Belgium
| | - Juan Agapito
- Faculty of Medicine; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Peru
| | | | - Roberto Accinelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Altura; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Peru
| | | | | | - Francine Matthys
- General Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerp; Belgium
| | - Patrick Van der Stuyft
- General Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerp; Belgium
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14
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Peter JG, Theron G, Pooran A, Thomas J, Pascoe M, Dheda K. Comparison of two methods for acquisition of sputum samples for diagnosis of suspected tuberculosis in smear-negative or sputum-scarce people: a randomised controlled trial. THE LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2013; 1:471-8. [PMID: 24429245 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(13)70120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sputum obtained either under instruction from a health-care worker or through induction can improve case detection of active tuberculosis. However, the best initial sputum sampling strategy for adults with suspected smear-negative or sputum-scarce tuberculosis in primary care is unclear. We compared these two methods of sample acquisition in such patients. METHODS In this randomised controlled trial, we enrolled adults (age ≥18 years) with sputum-scarce or smear-negative suspected tuberculosis from three primary care clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either health-care worker instruction or induction to obtain sputum samples. Neither patients nor investigators were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had started treatment after 8 weeks in a modified intention-to-treat population. Secondary outcomes were proportions starting treatment within different time periods, proportion of patients producing sputum for diagnosis, adverse effects, sputum samples' quality, and case detection by diagnostic method. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01545661. FINDINGS We enrolled 481 patients, of whom 213 were assigned to health-care worker instruction versus 268 assigned to induction. The proportion of patients who started treatment in the 8 weeks after enrolment did not differ significantly between groups (53/213 [25%] vs 73/268 [27%]; OR 0·88, 95% CI 0·57-1·36; p=0·56). A higher proportion of instructed versus induced patients initiated empiric treatment based on clinical and radiography findings (32/53 [60%] vs 28/73 [38%]; p=0·015). An adequate sputum sample ≥1 mL was acquired in a lower proportion of instructed versus induced patients (164/213 [77%] vs 238/268 [89%]; p<0·0001), and culture-based diagnostic yield was lower in instructed versus induced patients (24/213 [11%] vs 51/268 [19%]; p=0·020). However, same-day tuberculosis case detection was similar in both groups using either smear microscopy (13/213 [6%] vs 22/268 [8%]; p=0·38) or Xpert-MTB/RIF assay (13/89 [15%] vs 20/138 [14%]; p=0·98). No serious adverse events occurred in either group; side-effects related to sample acquisition were reported in 32 of 268 (12%) patients who had sputum induction and none who had instruction. Cost per procedure was lower for instructed than for induced patients (US$2·14 vs US$7·88). INTERPRETATION Although induction provides an adequate sample and a bacteriological diagnosis more frequently than instruction by a health-care worker, it is more costly, does not result in a higher proportion of same-day diagnoses, and-because of widespread empiric treatment-may not result in more patients starting treatment. Thus, health-care worker instruction might be the preferred strategy for initial collection of sputum samples in adults with suspected sputum-scarce or smear-negative tuberculosis in a high burden primary care setting. FUNDING South African National Research Foundation, European Commission, National Institutes of Health, European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Discovery Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Peter
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; TB Vaccine Group, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Grant Theron
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anil Pooran
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Johnson Thomas
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mellissa Pascoe
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Lung Infection and Immunity Unit, Division of Pulmonology & UCT Lung Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Infection, University College London Medical School, London, UK.
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15
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Huerga H, Varaine F, Okwaro E, Bastard M, Ardizzoni E, Sitienei J, Chakaya J, Bonnet M. Performance of the 2007 WHO algorithm to diagnose smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV prevalent setting. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51336. [PMID: 23284681 PMCID: PMC3526594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The 2007 WHO algorithm for diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture was evaluated in a HIV prevalent area of Kenya. Methods PTB smear-negative adult suspects were included in a prospective diagnostic study (2009–2011). In addition, program data (2008–2009) were retrospectively analysed. At the first consultation, clinical examination, chest X-ray, and sputum culture (Thin-Layer-Agar and Lowenstein-Jensen) were performed. Patients not started on TB treatment were clinically re-assessed after antibiotic course. The algorithm performance was calculated using culture as reference standard. Results 380 patients were included prospectively and 406 analyzed retrospectively. Culture was positive for MTB in 17.5% (61/348) and 21.8% (72/330) of cases. Sensitivity of the clinical-radiological algorithm was 55.0% and 31.9% in the prospective study and the program data analysis, respectively. Specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 72.9%, 29.7% and 88.6% in the prospective study and 79.8%, 30.7% and 80.8% in the program data analysis. Performing culture increased the number of confirmed TB patients started on treatment by 43.3% in the prospective study and by 44.4% in the program data analysis. Median time to treatment of confirmed TB patients was 6 days in the prospective study and 27 days in the retrospective study. Inter-reader agreement for X-ray interpretation between the study clinician and a radiologist was low (Kappa coefficient = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.09–0.12). In a multivariate logistic analysis, past TB history, number of symptoms and signs at the clinical exam were independently associated with risk of overtreatment. Conclusion The clinical-radiological algorithm is suboptimal to diagnose smear-negative PTB. Culture increases significantly the proportion of confirmed TB cases started on treatment. Better access to rapid MTB culture and development of new diagnostic tests is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Huerga
- Clinical Research Department, Epicentre, Paris, France.
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16
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Cobelens F, van Kampen S, Ochodo E, Atun R, Lienhardt C. Research on implementation of interventions in tuberculosis control in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. PLoS Med 2012; 9:e1001358. [PMID: 23271959 PMCID: PMC3525528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several interventions for tuberculosis (TB) control have been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) over the past decade. These include isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for HIV-infected individuals and household contacts of infectious TB patients, diagnostic algorithms for rule-in or rule-out of smear-negative pulmonary TB, and programmatic treatment for multidrug-resistant TB. There is no systematically collected data on the type of evidence that is publicly available to guide the scale-up of these interventions in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the availability of published evidence on their effectiveness, delivery, and cost-effectiveness that policy makers need for scaling-up these interventions at country level. METHODS AND FINDINGS PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and several regional databases were searched for studies published from 1 January 1990 through 31 March 2012 that assessed health outcomes, delivery aspects, or cost-effectiveness for any of these interventions in low- or middle-income countries. Selected studies were evaluated for their objective(s), design, geographical and institutional setting, and generalizability. Studies reporting health outcomes were categorized as primarily addressing efficacy or effectiveness of the intervention. These criteria were used to draw landscapes of published research. We identified 59 studies on IPT in HIV infection, 14 on IPT in household contacts, 44 on rule-in diagnosis, 19 on rule-out diagnosis, and 72 on second-line treatment. Comparative effectiveness studies were relatively few (n = 9) and limited to South America and sub-Saharan Africa for IPT in HIV-infection, absent for IPT in household contacts, and rare for second-line treatment (n = 3). Evaluations of diagnostic and screening algorithms were more frequent (n = 19) but geographically clustered and mainly of non-comparative design. Fifty-four studies evaluated ways of delivering these interventions, and nine addressed their cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS There are substantial gaps in published evidence for scale-up for five WHO-recommended TB interventions settings at country level, which for many countries possibly precludes program-wide implementation of these interventions. There is a strong need for rigorous operational research studies to be carried out in programmatic settings to inform on best use of existing and new interventions in TB control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Cobelens
- Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Cobelens F, van den Hof S, Pai M, Squire SB, Ramsay A, Kimerling ME. Which new diagnostics for tuberculosis, and when? J Infect Dis 2012; 205 Suppl 2:S191-8. [PMID: 22476716 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jis188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, new diagnostic tools for tuberculosis detection and resistance testing have become available. The World Health Organization endorses new tuberculosis diagnostics by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) process. This endorsement process takes place when limited evidence beyond test accuracy is available. There is a need to provide guidance to tuberculosis programs about which new diagnostics to scale up and how best to position them in diagnostic algorithms. To speed adoption of new diagnostics for tuberculosis, the policy recommendation process should be revised to consist of 2 steps: technical recommendation and programmatic recommendation. Technical recommendation would follow the GRADE process and be based on accuracy with limited cost and feasibility data, while programmatic recommendation would include patient-important outcomes, cost-effectiveness when implemented under routine conditions, and factors critical to successful scale-up. The evidence for both steps should be systematically collected, but each requires different study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Cobelens
- Department of Global Health, Academic Medical Center; and Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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18
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Ahmad RA, Matthys F, Dwihardiani B, Rintiswati N, de Vlas SJ, Mahendradhata Y, van der Stuyft P. Diagnostic work-up and loss of tuberculosis suspects in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:132. [PMID: 22333111 PMCID: PMC3338364 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is critical for successful TB control. To assist in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary TB, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of a diagnostic algorithm. Our study evaluated the implementation of the national tuberculosis programme's diagnostic algorithm in routine health care settings in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. The diagnostic algorithm is based on the WHO TB diagnostic algorithm, which had already been implemented in the health facilities. METHODS We prospectively documented the diagnostic work-up of all new tuberculosis suspects until a diagnosis was reached. We used clinical audit forms to record each step chronologically. Data on the patient's gender, age, symptoms, examinations (types, dates, and results), and final diagnosis were collected. RESULTS Information was recorded for 754 TB suspects; 43.5% of whom were lost during the diagnostic work-up in health centres, 0% in lung clinics. Among the TB suspects who completed diagnostic work-ups, 51.1% and 100.0% were diagnosed without following the national TB diagnostic algorithm in health centres and lung clinics, respectively. However, the work-up in the health centres and lung clinics generally conformed to international standards for tuberculosis care (ISTC). Diagnostic delays were significantly longer in health centres compared to lung clinics. CONCLUSIONS The high rate of patients lost in health centres needs to be addressed through the implementation of TB suspect tracing and better programme supervision. The national TB algorithm needs to be revised and differentiated according to the level of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riris Andono Ahmad
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
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