scholarly journals Impact of External Quality Assurance on the Quality of Xpert MTB/RIF Testing in Viet Nam

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidyanidhi Gumma ◽  
Kyle DeGruy ◽  
Davara Bennett ◽  
Thanh Nguyen Thi Kim ◽  
Heidi Albert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Control Program ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
World Health ◽  
External Quality ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACT Following the endorsement of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010, Viet Nam’s National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) began using GeneXpert instruments in NTP laboratories. In 2013, Viet Nam’s NTP implemented an Xpert MTB/RIF external quality assurance (EQA) program in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Proficiency-testing (PT) panels comprising five dried tube specimens (DTS) were sent to participating sites approximately twice a year from October 2013 to July 2016. The number of enrolled laboratories increased from 22 to 39 during the study period. Testing accuracy was assessed by comparing reported and expected results; percentage scores were assigned; and feedback reports were provided to sites. On-site evaluation (OSE) was conducted for underperforming laboratories. The results from the first five rounds demonstrate the positive impact of PT and targeted OSE visits on testing quality. On average, for every additional round of feedback, the odds of achieving PT scores of ≥80% increased 2.04-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.39- to 3.00-fold). Future work will include scaling up PT to all sites and maintaining the performance of participating laboratories while developing local panel production capacity.

scholarly journals The Invention of Geospatial Decision Support System for Malaysian Tuberculosis Surveillance Data Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (SI3) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Abdul Rauf Abdul Rasam ◽  
Noresah Mohd Shariff ◽  
JilorisF Dony
Keyword(s):  
Publishing House ◽  
Control Program ◽  
World Health ◽  
Present System ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the capabilities of a health information tool for disease preparedness and emergency responses. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been using MyTB system to support the national tuberculosis (TB) control program through data decision-making management. However, this present system does not seem to be considering geospatial element which is one of the important factors affecting TB control. Integrating the MyTB system with geospatial functions would enhance the explicit cognitive and behavior analyses of TB by proposing a MyGeoTBIS© to assist the local health authorities in exploring TB dynamics and multi-level infection control. Keywords: Geospatial, GIS, MyGeoTBIS, MyTB, tuberculosis disease eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2564

scholarly journals Implementation of quality management systems and progress towards accreditation of National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Albert ◽  
Jean De Dieu Iragena ◽  
Kekeletso Kao ◽  
Donatelle Erni ◽  
Teferi Mekonen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Drug Susceptibility ◽  
Drug Susceptibility Testing ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
External Quality ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Line Drug

Background: Laboratory services are essential at all stages of the tuberculosis care cascade, from diagnosis and drug resistance testing to monitoring response to treatment. Enabling access to quality services is a challenge in low-resource settings. Implementation of a strong quality management system (QMS) and laboratory accreditation are key to improving patient care.Objectives: The study objective was to determine the status of QMS implementation and progress towards accreditation of National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (NTRLs) in the African Region.Method: An online questionnaire was administered to NTRL managers in 47 World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa member states in the region, between February and April 2015, regarding the knowledge of QMS tools and progress toward implementation to inform strategies for tuberculosis diagnostic services strengthening in the region.Results: A total of 21 laboratories (43.0%) had received SLMTA/TB-SLMTA training, of which 10 had also used the Global Laboratory Initiative accreditation tool. However, only 36.7% of NTRLs had received a laboratory audit, a first step in quality improvement. Most NTRLs participated in acid-fast bacilli microscopy external quality assurance (95.8%), although external quality assurance for other techniques was lower (60.4% for first-line drug susceptibility testing, 25.0% for second-line drug susceptibility testing, and 22.9% for molecular testing). Barriers to accreditation included lack of training and accreditation programmes. Only 28.6%of NTRLs had developed strategic plans and budgets which included accreditation.Conclusion: Good foundations are in place on the continent from which to scale up accreditation efforts. Laboratory audits should be conducted as a first step in developing quality improvement action plans. Political commitment and strong leadership are needed to drive accreditation efforts; advocacy will require clear evidence of patient impact and cost-benefit.

scholarly journals Proficiency of WHO Global Foodborne Infections Network External Quality Assurance System participants in the identification and susceptibility testing of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter spp. from 2003-2012

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Karlsmose Pedersen ◽  
Jaap A. Wagenaar ◽  
Håkan Vigre ◽  
Louise Roer ◽  
Matthew Mikoleit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Quality Assurance System ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Assurance System ◽  
And Control ◽  
Foodborne Infections

AbstractCampylobacter spp. are food- and water borne pathogens. While rather accurate estimates for these pathogens are available in industrialized countries, a lack of diagnostic capacity in developing countries limits accurate assessments of prevalence in many regions. Proficiency in the identification and susceptibility testing of these organisms is critical for surveillance and control efforts. The aim of the study was to assess performance for identification and susceptibility testing of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter among laboratories participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN) External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) over a nine year period.Participants (primarily national level laboratories) were encouraged to self-evaluate performance as part of continuous quality improvement.The ability to correctly identify Campylobacter spp. varied by year and ranged from 61.9 % (2008) to 90.7 % (2012), and the ability to correctly perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for Campylobacter spp. appeared to steadily increase from 91.4 % to 93.6 % in the test period (2009-2012).Poorest performance (60.0 % correct identification and 86.8 % correct AST results) was observed in African laboratories.Overall, approximately 10 % of laboratories reported either an incorrect identification or antibiogramme. As most participants were (supra)-national reference laboratories, these data raise significant concerns regarding capacity and proficiency at the local, clinical level. Addressing these diagnostic challenges is critical for both patient level management and broader surveillance and control efforts.

scholarly journals Proficiency of WHO Global Foodborne Infections Network External Quality Assurance System Participants in Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. from 2003 to 2012

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Karlsmose Pedersen ◽  
Jaap A. Wagenaar ◽  
Håkan Vigre ◽  
Louise Roer ◽  
Matthew Mikoleit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
External Quality Assurance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Assurance System ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Assurance System ◽  
And Control ◽  
Foodborne Infections

ABSTRACT Campylobacter spp. are foodborne and waterborne pathogens. While rather accurate estimates for these pathogens are available in industrialized countries, a lack of diagnostic capacity in developing countries limits accurate assessments of prevalence in many regions. Proficiency in the identification and susceptibility testing of these organisms is critical for surveillance and control efforts. The aim of the study was to assess performance for identification and susceptibility testing of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. among laboratories participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN) External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) over a 9-year period. Participants (primarily national-level laboratories) were encouraged to self-evaluate their performance as part of continuous quality improvement. The ability to correctly identify Campylobacter spp. varied by year and ranged from 61.9% (2008) to 90.7% (2012), and the ability to correctly perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for Campylobacter spp. appeared to steadily increase from 91.4% to 93.6% in the test period (2009 to 2012). The poorest performance (60.0% correct identification and 86.8% correct AST results) was observed in African laboratories. Overall, approximately 10% of laboratories reported either an incorrect identification or antibiogram. As most participants were supranational reference laboratories, these data raise significant concerns regarding capacity and proficiency at the local clinical level. Addressing these diagnostic challenges is critical for both patient-level management and broader surveillance and control efforts.

Preventing Premature Weaning: Management Options for Common Lactation Conditions, Including OMT

2020 ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Denise Sackett ◽  
Tala Dajani ◽  
David Shoup ◽  
Uzoma Ikonne
Keyword(s):  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Family Physician ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
World Health ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Pharmacological Management ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Lactational Mastitis ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Organization

The benefits of breastfeeding are well established. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that mothers breastfeed infants for at least one year, but most children are not breastfed that long because of many factors. Breastfeeding mothers face many challenges to continued breastfeeding, including medical conditions that arise during this period, such as postpartum depression and lactational mastitis. Because of a perceived lack of consistent guidance on medication safety, it can be difficult for the family physician to treat these conditions while encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding. The purpose of the current review is to summarize and clarify treatment options for the osteopathic family physician treating lactating mothers. We specifically focus on the pharmacological management of contraception, postpartum depression, and lactational mastitis.

scholarly journals Exploring the mechanisms of collaboration between the Tuberculosis and Diabetes Programs for the control of TB-DM Comorbidity in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Suhuyini Salifu ◽  
Khumbulani W. Hlongwana
Keyword(s):  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Local Health ◽  
National Tuberculosis Control Program ◽  
National Tuberculosis ◽  
Local Health Facility ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Objectives To explore the mechanisms of collaboration between the stakeholders, including National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and the Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Program (NCDCP) at the national, regional, and local (health facility) levels of the health care system in Ghana. This is one of the objectives in a study on the “Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of the Collaborative Framework for the Care and Control of Tuberculosis and Diabetes in Ghana” Results The data analysis revealed 4 key themes. These were (1) Increased support for communicable diseases (CDs) compared to stagnant support for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), (2) Donor support, (3) Poor collaboration between NTP and NCDCP, and (4) Low Tuberculosis-Diabetes Mellitus (TB-DM) case detection.

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