A one-day method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in rural Ethiopia

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2006
Country:
Ethiopia
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Health
Authors:
Squire, S.B., Ramsay, A., Cambanis, A., Yassin, M.A., Arbide, I., Cuevas, L.E.

Abstract

Smear diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) requires three sputum examinations over 2 days. We evaluated the performance of two sputum specimens obtained on a single day (the second specimen submitted 1 h after the first) against the standard 2-day method in rural Ethiopia. A total of 243 suspects were enrolled; 52 had confirmed PTB: 49 (94%) were detected by the same-day method and 51 (98%) by the standard method (P > 0.5). The same-day approach would reduce the number of visits required for diagnosis, save resources for the health system and the patient, and ultimately improve case detection in poorer countries.

Citation

Cambanis, A.; Yassin, M.A.; Ramsay, A.; Squire, S.B.; Arbide, I.; Cuevas, L.E. A one-day method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in rural Ethiopia. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (2006) 10 (27) 230-232.

A one-day method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in rural Ethiopia

Published 1 January 2006
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