Efficiency of a third serial sputum smear examination in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Moldova and Uganda
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Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
he International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Abstract
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
among suspects in Moldova and Uganda, with the reciprocal
of the product of these two fractions providing the
number of examinations required to identify one additional
TB case.
RESULTS: In Moldova, 9% (1141/12 525) and in Uganda
20% (7280/36 054) of suspects met the TB case definition
with at least one positive sputum smear. The incremental
yield from the third examination was 4% in
Moldova and 3% in Uganda. To detect one additional
TB case on a third smear, 273 examinations (95%CI
200–389) in Moldova and 175 (95%CI 153–222) in
Uganda were thus required. This corresponded to an average
of 11 days (8–16) and 7 days (6–9), respectively, to
diagnose one additional case of TB.
CONCLUSION: In both countries, the third serial sputum
smear examination was inefficient in diagnosing
sputum smear-positive TB.
Description
Keywords
Case finding, Incremental yield, Microscopy, Tuberculosis, Workload
Citation
Katamba, A., Laticevschi, D., & Rieder, H. L. (2007). Efficiency of a third serial sputum smear examination in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Moldova and Uganda. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 11(6), 659-664.