title: [Search for tuberculosis in patients with the respiratory symptoms in four hospitals of Bogotá D.C].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify individuals with the respiratory symptoms who receive different medical services in third level hospitals of Bogotá D.C. for early diagnosis of Tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An active search for individuals with Tuberculosis respiratory symptoms through promotion and prevention activities was realized utilizing a format for obtaining social, demographic and clinical data. 566 samples of sputum from 354 individuals with respiratory symptoms were investigated in four Bogota hospitals. By means of positive smear and bacillus culture the tuberculosis patients were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gender distribution was 39 % male and 61 % female, with an average age of 57,4 years. 48,5 % had respiratory symptoms for more than two months, 53,3 % presented BCG scar, 50 % belonged to socioeconomic level 2 and 72,8 % had an education level equal to or less than basic elementary school. The percentage detected by positive smear was of 3,67 % and by positive smear and/or culture was of 4,2 %. 11 cases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 2 cases of non tuberculosis mycobacterium were found. The majority of patients with tuberculosis belonged to the masculine gender, presented coughing symptoms and expectoration greater than two months and 54,5 % had BCG vaccination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The active search patients with the respiratory symptoms detected cases of patients with positive smear, a source of contamination among the population, which facilitates the anti-tuberculosis therapy applying the DOTS strategy. The success of tuberculosis control will depend on government policies that follow the OMS recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. easanchezm@unal.edu.co
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Henao-Riveros
authors.forename: Claudia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sierra-Parada
authors.forename: Edgar A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Morales
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saavedra Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology