A one-day method for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in rural Ethiopia.
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.
Cambanis
A
A
St Elizabeth General Hospital, Shisong, Kumbo, Northwest Province, Cameroon.
Yassin
M A
MA
Ramsay
A
A
Squire
S B
SB
Arbide
I
I
Cuevas
L E
LE
D005002:Ethiopia; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology