Tuberculosis among drug users and homeless persons: impact of voluntary X-ray investigation on active case finding

Infection ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Goetsch ◽  
O. K. Bellinger ◽  
K.-L. Buettel ◽  
R. Gottschalk
BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e045289
Author(s):  
Beatrice Mahler ◽  
Gerard de Vries ◽  
Rob van Hest ◽  
Dan Gainaru ◽  
Dee Menezes ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo implement and assess the mobile X-ray unit (MXU) equipped with digital radiography, computer-aided detection (CAD) software and molecular point of care tests to improve early tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in vulnerable populations in a TB outreach screening programme in Romania.DesignDescriptive study.SettingsPrisons in Bucharest and other cities in the southern part of Romania, homeless shelters and services for problem drug users in Bucharest, and Roma populations in Bucharest and Craiova.Participants5510 individuals attended the MXU service; 5003 persons were radiologically screened, 61% prisoners, 15% prison staff, 11% Roma population, 10% homeless persons and/or problem drug users and 3% other.InterventionsRadiological digital chest X-ray (CXR) screening of people at risk for TB, followed by CAD and human reading of the CXRs, and further TB diagnostics when the pulmonologist classified the CXR as suggestive for TB.Primary and secondary outcome measuresTen bacteriologically confirmed TB cases were identified translating into an overall yield of 200 per 100 000 persons screened (95% CIs of 109 to 368 per 100 000). Prevalence rates among homeless persons and/or problem drug users (826/100 000; 95% CI 326 to 2105/100 000) and the Roma population (345/100 000; 95% CI 95 to 1251/100 000) were particularly high.ResultsThe human reader classified 6.4% (n=317) of the CXRs as suspect for TB (of which 32 were highly suggestive for TB); 16.3% of all CXRs had a CAD4TB version 6 score >50. All 10 diagnosed TB patients had a CAD4TB score >50; 9 had a CAD4TB score >60.ConclusionsGiven the high TB prevalence rates found among homeless persons and problem drug users and in the Roma population, targeted active case finding has the potential to deliver a major contribution to TB control in Romania.


Author(s):  
Shifa Habib ◽  
Kiran Azeemi ◽  
S. M. Asad Zaidi ◽  
Wafa Jamal ◽  
Talha Kazmi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ema Rastoder ◽  
Saher Burhan Shaker ◽  
Matiullah Naqibullah ◽  
Mathilde Marie Winkler Wille ◽  
Mette Lund ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Samarendra Prasanna Burma ◽  
Gunda Jahnavi ◽  
Pappachen Lal ◽  
Pandurang V. Thatkar

Background: Community based active case finding for tuberculosis (TB) is an essential step in the fight forward for eliminating TB. One of the steps in targeting TB intervention is early diagnosis and treatment of patients by reducing the reservoir of infection in the community. Active case finding (ACF) targeting the entire population by house to house survey was done in Nicobar district of these islands.Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with the trained mobile teams from 17.07.2017 to 31.07.2017 in the Nicobar District. The algorithm of the case detection included screening patients by symptoms, then by sputum microscopy for confirmation. X-ray was done in patients who were symptomatic but sputum negative. If both smear and chest X-ray results were negative but still symptomatic, then cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) was done.Results: A total population of 18526 was mapped of which 14784 (79.8) could be screened. A total of 209 people were identified by the mobile teams with symptoms who were examined by sputum microscopy. Among them 7 cases were identified to be sputum smear positive, 2 X-ray positive and 2 were diagnosed by CBNAAT.Conclusions: This study shows that the active case finding method is feasible and acceptable by the community. The results obtained are encouraging for the implementation of ACF through mobile team activity in all these islands in order to meet the target of WHO’s End TB Strategy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Luan Nguyen Quang Vo ◽  
Andrew Codlin ◽  
Thuc Doan Ngo ◽  
Thang Phuoc Dao ◽  
Thuy Thi Thu Dong ◽  
...  

X-ray screening is an important tool in tuberculosis (TB) prevention and care, but access has historically been restricted by its immobile nature. As recent advancements have improved the portability of modern X-ray systems, this study represents an early evaluation of the safety, image quality and yield of using an ultra-portable X-ray system for active case finding (ACF). We reported operational and radiological performance characteristics and compared image quality between the ultra-portable and two reference systems. Image quality was rated by three human readers and by an artificial intelligence (AI) software. We deployed the ultra-portable X-ray alongside the reference system for community-based ACF and described TB care cascades for each system. The ultra-portable system operated within advertised specifications and radiologic tolerances, except on X-ray capture capacity, which was 58% lower than the reported maximum of 100 exposures per charge. The mean image quality rating from radiologists for the ultra-portable system was significantly lower than the reference (3.71 vs. 3.99, p < 0.001). However, we detected no significant differences in TB abnormality scores using the AI software (p = 0.571), nor in any of the steps along the TB care cascade during our ACF campaign. Despite some shortcomings, ultra-portable X-ray systems have significant potential to improve case detection and equitable access to high-quality TB care.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Mohammad Asad Zaidi ◽  
Wafa Zehra Jamal ◽  
Christina Mergenthaler ◽  
Kiran Sohail Azeemi ◽  
Nick Van Den Berge ◽  
...  

Abstract IntroductionTuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of avoidable deaths from an infectious disease globally and a large of number of people who develop TB each year remain undiagnosed. Active case-finding has been recommended by the World Health Organization to bridge the case-detection gap for TB in high burden countries. However, concerns remain regarding their yield and cost-effectiveness. MethodsData from mobile chest X-ray (CXR) supported active case-finding community camps conducted in Karachi, Pakistan from July 2017- March 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. After a CXR screening supported by computer-aided detection, those with presumptive TB were counselled to submit a sputum sample for Xpert MTB/RIF testing. Frequency analysis was carried out at the camp-level and outcomes of interest for the spatial analyses were mycobacterium TB positivity (MTB+) and X-ray abnormality ratios. The Moran’s I statistic was used to test for spatial autocorrelation for MTB+ and abnormal X-rays within Union Councils (UCs) in Karachi. Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation analyses were performed for UCs within Karachi. Point-pattern analyses were carried out utilizing GPS coordinates recorded at the camp sites and were analyzed for spatial autocorrelation using Getis Ord Star tests.ResultsA total of 1,161 (78.1%) camps yielded no MTB+ cases, 246 (16.5%) camps yielded 1 MTB+, 52 (3.5%) camps yielded 2 MTB+ and 27 (1.8%) yielded 3 or more MTB+. A total of 79 (5.3%) camps accounted for 193 (44.0%) of MTB+ cases detected. Statistically significant clustering for MTB positivity (Moran’s I: 0.09) and abnormal chest X-rays (Moran’s I: 0.36) ratios was identified within UCs in Karachi. Clustering of UCs with high MTB positivity were identified in Karachi West district. Clusters of camp locations with high MTB+ ratios were identified in Karachi South and Karachi West districts and in several locations in the north and eastern peripheries of the city. ConclusionStatistically significant spatial variation was identified in yield of bacteriologically positive TB cases and in abnormal CXR through active case-finding in Karachi. Cost-effectiveness of active case-finding programs can be improved by identifying and focusing interventions in hotspots and avoiding locations with no known TB cases reported through routine surveillance.


2021 ◽  
pp. 100776
Author(s):  
Flora Martinez Figueira Moreira ◽  
Renu Verma ◽  
Paulo Cesar Pereira dos Santos ◽  
Alessandra Leite ◽  
Andrea da Silva Santos ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zisimangelos Solomos ◽  
Chrisoula Botsi ◽  
Theano Georgakopoulou ◽  
Theodore Lytras ◽  
Sotirios Tsiodras ◽  
...  

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