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- Title
Assessment of GeneXpert GxAlert platform for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis diagnosis and patients’ linkage to care in Tanzania.
- Authors
Mnyambwa, Nicholaus Peter; Lekule, Issack; Ngadaya, Esther S.; Kimaro, Godfather; Petrucka, Pammla; Kim, Dong-Jin; Lymo, Johnson; Kazwala, Rudovick; Mosha, Fausta; Mfinanga, Sayoki G.
- Abstract
Objective: The gap between patients diagnosed with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and enrolment in treatment is one of the major challenges in tuberculosis control programmes. A 4-year (2013–2016) retrospective review of patients’ clinical data and subsequent in-depth interviews with health providers were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the GeneXpert GxAlert platform for MDR-TB diagnosis and its impact on linkage of patients to care in Tanzania. Results: A total of 782 new rifampicin resistant cases were notified, but only 242 (32.3%) were placed in an MDR-TB regimens. The remaining 540 (67.07%) patients were not on treatment, of which 103 patients had complete records on the GxAlert database. Of the 103 patients: 39 were judged as untraceable; 27 died before treatment; 12 were treated with first-line anti-TBs; 9 repeat tests did not show rifampicin resistance; 15 were not on treatment due to communication breakdown, and 1 patient was transferred outside the country. In-depth interviews with health providers suggested that the pre-treatment loss for the MDR-TB patients was primarily attributed to health system and patients themselves. We recommend strengthening the health system by developing and implementing well-defined interventions to ensure all diagnosed MDR-TB patients are accurately reported and timely linked to treatment.
- Subjects
MULTIDRUG-resistant tuberculosis; RIFAMPIN; TUBERCULOSIS diagnosis; DRUG therapy for tuberculosis; HEALTH outcome assessment; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
BMC Research Notes, 2018, Vol 11, p1
- ISSN
1756-0500
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13104-018-3235-7