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Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 19, Number 6

Can the number of patients with presumptive tuberculosis lost in the general health services in Pakistan be reduced?

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The frequency of patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) who are not investigated by sputum smear microscopy is unknown in Pakistan. Using a simple intervention comparing patient and laboratory registers, patients with presumptive TB were identified in two districts from July to December 2013, a list of missing patients was prepared and the patients traced. The intervention significantly reduced the number of patients with presumptive TB lost, from 8.5% before the intervention to 6.9% after. A systematic comparison of out-patient and laboratory registers, followed by tracing missing persons, can reduce the proportion of patients with presumptive TB lost before diagnosis.

Keywords: Pakistan; TB; case detection; health facilities; loss to follow-up; patients with presumptive TB

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: National Tuberculosis Control Program Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan 2: University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway 3: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa 4: Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

Publication date: 01 June 2015

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  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

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