SETTING Twenty-four and 30 tuberculosis (TB) microscopy laboratories in Moldova and Uganda, respectively. OBJECTIVE To estimate the workload required to identify one additional case of TB with a third serial sputum smear examination. METHODS Retrospective laboratory register study to determine the prevalence and the incremental yield of TB cases from a third serial sputum smear examination ...

BACKGROUND Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive sputum is usually an initial clue in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB); however, the test is not disease-specific. Nontuberculous mycobacterium-related colonization or lung disease often has AFB smear-positive sputum results, and physicians may prescribe unnecessary antituberculous drugs for these patients. The aim of this study was t...

discussion isoniazid chemoprophylaxis dose not completely prevent from tb development. therefore, we should observe and evaluate all the cases that have a history of close contact with smear positive ptb using isoniazid prophylaxis. introduction children, especially those younger than six years old are very susceptible to tuberculosis (tb); therefore, there is need for preventive intervention t...

BACKGROUND Multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses formidable challenges to TB control due to its complex diagnostic and treatment challenges and often associated with a high rate of mortality. Accurate and rapid detection of MDR-TB is critical for timely initiation of treatment. Line Probe Assay (LPA) is a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test based on DNA-STRIP technology for the iden...

BACKGROUND In Pakistan, patients with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis (TB) seek care from a wide array of health care providers, many of whom do not notify cases to the National TB Programme (NTP). SETTING We evaluated an active case detection intervention in five randomly selected districts in urban slums of Sindh Province, Pakistan. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the increase in case notificat...

BACKGROUND Both smoking and diabetes can increase the risk and influence the manifestations and outcomes of tuberculosis (TB). It is not clear whether the influence of smoking on pulmonary TB differs between non-diabetic and diabetic patients. Herein, we assessed the manifestations and outcomes of TB in relation to smoking in both diabetic and non-diabetic TB patients. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL F...

SETTING This study determined the number of slides required to identify one additional case of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) from the third smear. The study hypothesis was that not more than 100 and 75 slides, respectively, in Mongolia and Zimbabwe, need to be examined to find one additional case of TB with a third serial diagnostic sputum smear examination. METHODS In a retrospecti...

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization has endorsed the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for investigation of patients suspected of having tuberculosis (TB). However, its utility for routine TB screening and detection of rifampicin resistance among HIV-infected patients with advanced immunodeficiency enrolling in antiretroviral therapy (ART) services is unknown. METHODS AND FINDINGS Consecutive adult HI...

OBJECTIVE To determine the time from diagnosis to start of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) treatment in Lima, Peru. METHODS We studied new smear-positive TB adults that were started on MDR TB treatment or that were switched to it between June 2008 and December 2011. RESULTS Time from the first positive smear to MDR-TB treatment was >30 days in 35% (13/37) of patients. Among the 27...

BACKGROUND Detection of active tuberculosis (TB) before antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is important, but optimal diagnostic methods for use in resource-limited settings are lacking. We assessed the prevalence of TB, evaluated the diagnostic yield of Xpert MTB/RIF in comparison with smear microscopy and culture, and the impact of Xpert results on clinical management in HIV-positive adul...