The influence of ML Flow test in leprosy classification.
This is a descriptive, exploratory study correlating ML Flow, bacilloscopy and classification of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), involving 1,041 new leprosy cases in 13 municipalities of Minas Gerais State, from October 2002 to March 2004. Agreement between ML Flow and the classification of the number of skin lesions and bacilloscopy was moderate (K:0.51 and K:0.48, respectively); and substantial for final classification (K:0.77). From January 2000 to March 2004, the proportion of new MB cases in Minas Gerais decreased from 78.1 to 65.8%. The reduction in the percentage of MB cases was higher in health centers that participated in the ML Flow study (73.1% to 53.3%). The difference between PB and MB in the participating and non-participating health centers from January to March 2004 was statistically significant. Implementation of the ML Flow test influenced the classification of patients, suggesting a direct and beneficial impact on patient treatment and the control of the leprosy endemic in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Grossi
Maria Aparecida de Faria
MA
Post-graduate Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil. cida@grossi.com.br
Leboeuf
Maria Ana Araújo
MA
Andrade
Ana Regina Coelho de
AR
Lyon
Sandra
S
Antunes
Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo
CM
Bührer-Sékula
Samira
S
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae