Active case-finding for tuberculosis by mobile teams in Myanmar: yield and treatment outcomes
Descriptive study using routine programme data between October and December 2014
Abstract
Background
Since 2005, the Myanmar National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) has been implementing active case finding (ACF) activities involving mobile teams in hard-to-reach areas. This study revealed the contribution of mobile team activities to total tuberculosis (TB) case detection, characteristics of TB patients detected by mobile teams and their treatment outcomes.
Methods
This was a descriptive study using routine programme data between October 2014 and December 2014. Mobile team activities were a one-stop service and included portable digital chest radiography (CXR) and microscopy of two sputum samples. The algorithm of the case detection included screening patients by symptoms, then by CXR followed by sputum microscopy for confirmation. Diagnosed patients were started on treatment and followed until a final outcome was ascertained.
Conclusions
This study confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of ACF by mobile teams in hard-to-reach contexts, especially when equipped with portable, digital CXR machines that provided immediate results. However, the follow-up process of sputum examination created a significant barrier to confirmation of the diagnosis. In order to optimize the ACF through mobile team activity, future ACF activities were needed to be strengthened one stop service including molecular diagnostics or provision of sputum cups to all presumptive TB cases prior to CXR and testing if CXR suggestive of TB.
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Myint O, Saw S, Isaakidis P, Khogali M, Reid A, Hoa NB, Kyaw TT, Zaw KK, Khaing TMM, Aung ST. Active case-finding for tuberculosis by mobile teams in Myanmar: yield and treatment outcomes. Infectious Diseases of poverty. 2017;6(1):77.
Links
Active case-finding for tuberculosis by mobile teams in Myanmar: yield and treatment outcomes