Front-Loading Sputum Microscopy Services: An Opportunity to Optimise Smear-Based Case Detection of Tuberculosis in High Prevalence Countries. (16th February 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramsay, Andy; Yassin, Mohammed Ahmed; Cambanis, Alexis; Hirao, Susumu; Almotawa, Ahmad; Gammo, Mohamed; Lawson, Lovett; Arbide, Izabel; Al-Aghbari, Nasher; Al-Sonboli, Najla; Sherchand, Jeevan Bahadur; Gauchan, Punita; Cuevas, Luis Eduardo
• Other Names: Tanner Marcel Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of tropical medicine. Volume 2009(2009)
• Publication Date: 2009-02-16
• Subjects: Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1155/2009/398767
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-9686

Abstract

Abstract : Setting . Ethiopia, Nepal, Nigeria, and Yemen. Objective . To reduce the time to complete sputum microscopy. Design . Cross-sectional surveys enrolling 923 patients with chronic cough in the 4 countries and using similar protocols. Spot-morning-spot sputum specimens were collected. An additional sputum specimen (Xspot) was collected one hour after the first, and the yields of the first two or the three specimens collected as spot-morning-spot or spot-Xspot-morning were compared. Results . 216 patients had≥ one positive smear. 210 (97%) were identified by the spot-morning-spot, and 210 (97%) were identified by the spot-Xspot-morning specimens, with 203 and 200 identified by the first 2 specimens of each approach, respectively. Neither difference was significant. Conclusions . The time to complete smear microscopy could be reduced.