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Improving sputum collection processes to increase tuberculosis case finding among HIV-positive persons in Botswana.

ABSTRACT: Setting:Twenty-two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics in Botswana. Objective:To compare sputum collection rates, sputum quality and volume, and tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis rates before and after field efforts to improve sputum collection among individuals newly diagnosed with HIV with TB symptoms. Design:Newly diagnosed individuals living with HIV attending 22 HIV clinics in Botswana were screened for TB from August 2012 to March 2014. Starting in May 2013, a field intervention composed of the introduction of a tracking log for presumed TB patients, and patient instructions and sputum induction to improve sputum collection rates was implemented. Results:Prior to the intervention, sputum collection rates were 44.1% (384/870). Subsequently, sputum collection increased to 58.3% (579/993) (P < 0.001). Sputum quality and volume also improved. Although rates of TB diagnosis increased from 9.7% (84/870) to 12.5% (120/993), this difference was not significant (P = 0.143). Conclusion:Sputum collection rates among presumptive TB cases, as well as sputum quality and volume improved after implementation of the field intervention. To improve sputum collection rates, efforts at the program level should be ongoing.

SUBMITTER: Mathebula U

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7181360 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Improving sputum collection processes to increase tuberculosis case finding among HIV-positive persons in Botswana.

Mathebula U U Emerson C C Agizew T T Pals S S Boyd R R Mathoma A A Basotli J J Rankgoane-Pono G G Serumola C C Date A A Auld A F AF Finlay A A

Public health action 20200301 1

<h4>Setting</h4>Twenty-two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinics in Botswana.<h4>Objective</h4>To compare sputum collection rates, sputum quality and volume, and tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis rates before and after field efforts to improve sputum collection among individuals newly diagnosed with HIV with TB symptoms.<h4>Design</h4>Newly diagnosed individuals living with HIV attending 22 HIV clinics in Botswana were screened for TB from August 2012 to March 2014. Starting in May 2013, a field ...[more]

PMID: 32368518

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Project description:BackgroundThe performance of laboratory tests to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis is dependent on the quality of the sputum sample tested. The relative merits of sputum collection methods to improve tuberculosis diagnosis are poorly characterised. We therefore aimed to investigate the effects of sputum collection methods on tuberculosis diagnosis.MethodsWe did a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether non-invasive sputum collection methods in people aged at least 12 years improve the diagnostic performance of laboratory testing for pulmonary tuberculosis. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Embase up to April 14, 2017, to identify relevant experimental, case-control, or cohort studies. We analysed data by pairwise meta-analyses with a random-effects model and by network meta-analysis. All diagnostic performance data were calculated at the sputum-sample level, except where authors only reported data at the individual patient-level. Heterogeneity was assessed, with potential causes identified by logistic meta-regression.FindingsWe identified 23 eligible studies published between 1959 and 2017, involving 8967 participants who provided 19 252 sputum samples. Brief, on-demand spot sputum collection was the main reference standard. Pooled sputum collection increased tuberculosis diagnosis by microscopy (odds ratio [OR] 1·6, 95% CI 1·3-1·9, p<0·0001) or culture (1·7, 1·2-2·4, p=0·01). Providing instructions to the patient before sputum collection, during observed collection, or together with physiotherapy assistance increased diagnostic performance by microscopy (OR 1·6, 95% CI 1·3-2·0, p<0·0001). Collecting early morning sputum did not significantly increase diagnostic performance of microscopy (OR 1·5, 95% CI 0·9-2·6, p=0·2) or culture (1·4, 0·9-2·4, p=0·2). Network meta-analysis confirmed these findings, and revealed that both pooled and instructed spot sputum collections were similarly effective techniques for increasing the diagnostic performance of microscopy.InterpretationTuberculosis diagnoses were substantially increased by either pooled collection or by providing instruction on how to produce a sputum sample taken at any time of the day. Both interventions had a similar effect to that reported for the introduction of new, expensive laboratory tests, and therefore warrant further exploration in the drive to end the global tuberculosis epidemic.FundingWellcome Trust, Joint Global Health Trials consortium, Innovation For Health and Development, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Project description:BackgroundAxshya SAMVAD is an active tuberculosis (TB) case finding (ACF) strategy under project Axshya (Axshya meaning 'free of TB' and SAMVAD meaning 'conversation') among marginalized and vulnerable populations in 285 districts of India.ObjectivesTo compare patient characteristics, health seeking, delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation among new sputum smear positive TB patients detected through ACF and passive case finding (PCF) under the national TB programme in marginalized and vulnerable populations between March 2016 and February 2017.MethodsThis observational analytic study was conducted in 18 randomly sampled Axshya districts. We enrolled all TB patients detected through ACF and an equal number of randomly selected patients detected through PCF in the same settings. Data on patient characteristics, health seeking and delays were collected through record review and patient interviews (at their residence). Delays included patient level delay (from eligibility for sputum examination to first contact with any health care provider (HCP)), health system level diagnosis delay (from contact with first HCP to TB diagnosis) and treatment initiation delays (from diagnosis to treatment initiation). Total delay was the sum of patient level, health system level diagnosis delay and treatment initiation delays.ResultsWe included 234 ACF-diagnosed and 231 PCF-diagnosed patients. When compared to PCF, ACF patients were relatively older (≥65 years, 14% versus 8%, p = 0.041), had no formal education (57% versus 36%, p<0.001), had lower monthly income per capita (median 13.1 versus 15.7 USD, p = 0.014), were more likely from rural areas (92% versus 81%, p<0.002) and residing far away from the sputum microscopy centres (more than 15 km, 24% versus 18%, p = 0.126). Fewer patients had history of significant loss of weight (68% versus 78%, p = 0.011) and sputum grade of 3+ (15% versus 21%, p = 0.060). Compared to PCF, HCP visits among ACF patients was significantly lower (median one versus two HCPs, p<0.001). ACF patients had significantly lower health system level diagnosis delay (median five versus 19 days, p = 0.008) and the association remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. Patient level and total delays were not significantly different.ConclusionAxshya SAMVAD linked the most impoverished communities to TB care and resulted in reduction of health system level diagnosis delay.

Project description:IntroductionThe scale-up of Universal Test and Treat has resulted in reductions in HIV morbidity, mortality and incidence. However, healthcare system and personal challenges have impacted the levels of treatment coverage achieved. We implemented interventions to improve linkage to care, retention, viral load (VL) coverage and service delivery, and describe the HIV care cascade over the course of the Botswana Combination Prevention Project (BCPP) study.MethodsBCPP was designed to evaluate the impact of prevention interventions on HIV incidence in 30 communities in Botswana. We followed a longitudinal cohort of newly identified and known HIV-positive persons not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) identified through community-based testing activities through BCPP and referred with appointments to local HIV clinics in 15 intervention communities. Those who did not keep the first or follow-up appointments were tracked and traced through phone and home contacts. Improvements to service delivery models in the intervention clinics were also implemented.ResultsA total of 3,657 newly identified or HIV-positive persons not on ART were identified and referred to their local HIV clinic; 90% (3,282/3,657) linked to care and of those, 93% (3,066/3,282) initiated treatment. Near the end of the study, 221 persons remained >90 days late for appointments or missing. Tracing efforts identified 54/3,066 (2%) persons who initiated treatment but died, and 106/3,066 (3%) persons were located and returned to treatment. At study end, 61/3,066 (2%) persons remained missing and were never reached. Overall, 2,951 (98%) persons living with HIV (PLHIV) who initiated treatment were still alive, retained in care and still receiving ART out of the 3,001 persons alive at the end of the study. Of those on ART, 2,854 (97%) had current VL results and 2,784 (98%) of those were virally suppressed at study end.ConclusionsThis study achieved high rates of linkage, treatment initiation, retention and VL coverage and suppression in a cohort of newly identified and known PLHIV not on ART. Tracking and tracing interventions effectively identified those persons who needed more resource intensive follow-up. The interventions implemented to improve service delivery and data quality may have also contributed to high linkage and retention rates. Clinical trial number: NCT01965470.

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Improving sputum collection processes to increase tuberculosis case finding among HIV-positive persons in Botswana.

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Improving sputum collection processes to increase tuberculosis case finding among HIV-positive persons in Botswana.

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