Community-Based Active Case Finding to Increase Tuberculosis Case Detection and Treatment Success Rate in High Tuberculosis Burden Areas of Arsi Zone, Oromia

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: More than 9 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) occur per year and about two million people die of TB. The probable cause of death is delay in diagnosis, low case detection rate and treatment success rate. Due to the low potential of tuberculosis (TB) microscopic examination and the need to increase rate of new TB case identification is also increased. <i>Objective</i>: To determine magnitude of active tuberculosis cases, evaluate the performance of LED-FM and X-pert MTB/RIF assay and characterize treatment outcome <i>Methods</i>: The door-to-door survey for TB in high TB burden areas of Arsi zone was performed. The participants were screened based on typical TB symptoms. The sputum samples were collected and transported to the laboratories. Culture, LED-FM and X-pert MTB/RIF assay were performed to confirm tuberculosis infection. Result was communicated through cell phone or short message system (SMS) for issuing of positive results. The health extension worker would contact diagnosed patients referred to their local health center for care. Finally, the performance of diagnostic tests, case detection rate and treatment success were determined. <i>Result</i>: In this study 344 pulmonary TB suspected study participants were involved from the three study sites. Based on the LED microscope results the general prevalence of pulmonary TB among the current study participants was 2.3%. On the other hand Gene X-pert MTB/RIF assay could show that 9 (2.6%) of the study participants became positive for pulmonary TB cases. There was 1 (0.3%) discordant result between the two assay methods. LED microscope missed one TB suspected case which was detected by Gen X-pert MTB/RIF assay and then confirmed by LJ culture media and become positive for pulmonary TB. Hence, the overall prevalence of pulmonary TB in our current study became 2.6% with 95% CI (1.2-4.5) using LJ culture media as tiebreaker. Of 344 study participants in this study, 9 (2.6%) were positive for pulmonary TB and given first line anti-TB drugs. Of the nine pulmonary TB test positive study participants who had prescribed with first line anti-TB drugs in which 2 (22.2%) were known to be cured as well as 7 (77.8%) had completed the treatment regimen prescribed for them.