Pulmonary tuberculosis among patients visiting a voluntary confidential counseling and testing center, Cambodia.
METHODS
Voluntary counseling and confidential testing center (VCCT), Battambang District, Cambodia.


OBJECTIVE
To determine newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) prevalence and predicting factors, and assess the utility of TB-related symptoms and yield of sputum microscopy and culture.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey using interview, sputum smears and cultures and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.


RESULTS
Of 496 participants, 29 (5.8%) had culture-confirmed PTB while 19 (65.5%) were acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive. PTB prevalence was higher (P < 0.001) in HIV-positives (20/124, 16.1%) than in HIV-negatives (9/372, 2.4%). On multivariable analysis, being HIV-positive, underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2)), rapid weight loss and age > or =35 years were predictors of PTB. Fever (93%) and hemoptysis (86%) had the highest sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The symptom complex of rapid weight loss, fever and hemoptysis detected all PTB cases (sensitivity 100%). Examination of three sputum smears with culture of the first sample detected 95% (19/20) of the HIV-associated PTB cases and 90% (26/29) overall.


CONCLUSIONS
TB is common in the VCCT setting, regardless of HIV status. The high prevalence of HIV and PTB among the participants warrants consideration of TB screening for all HIV suspects. Such screening through VCCT is feasible. Adding a single culture test to the evaluation of an initial sputum sample set will substantially increase case detection.
Chheng
P
P
Gorgas Tuberculosis Initiative, William C Gorgas Center for Geographic Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Tamhane
A
A
Natpratan
C
C
Tan
V
V
Lay
V
V
Sar
B
B
Kimerling
M E
ME
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035141:Voluntary Programs