title: [Quality control in the follow-up of pulmonary tuberculosis contacts in Camagüey, Cuba (2008-2011)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis is currently a health problem in the municipality of Camagüey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess compliance of guidelines issued by the National Program for the Control of Tuberculosis for the follow-up of contacts of positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in the municipality of Camagüey, Cuba.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross-sectional design.
  
  
  METHODS
  1,242 contacts resulting from 39 reported cases of tuberculosis during the study period were included in the municipality of Camagüey between 2008 and 2011. Epidemiological surveys and records of reported cases were reviewed. The results were processed and analyzed in SPSS 17.0 statistical software and subsequently presented in tables and graphs. The results were summarized by percentages. The follow-up form for contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis was used as main guideline, which was created by experts of the Investigation and Monitoring of Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory Infections, and Leprosy Workshop of Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kourí.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contacts that had an initial examination and four checkups had 96.2% of acceptability. Contacts that had fewer than four checkups showed less than 10% acceptability (3.3%). All contacts were assessed from the outset and were treated, in accordance with program guidelines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found adequate compliance of National Program for the Control of the Tuberculosis guidelines for follow-up of contacts of positive cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. Compliance is greater in younger age groups and in the actively employed (25 to 54 years). This evaluation contributed to identify existing weaknesses in follow-up, such as low interest of this population to undergo appropriate testing in the National Program of Control of Tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Higiene y Epidemiología, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay, Camagüey, Cuba. Address: Carretera Central (Oeste) km 3½, Camagüey CP 70100 Cuba. Email: dair@finlay.cmw.sld.cu.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dair
authors.affiliation: Hospital Provincial Manuel Ascunce Domenech, Camagüey, Cuba.
authors.forename: Etelivar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Vicedirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles, Unidad Municipal de Higiene y Epidemiología Camagüey, Cuba.
authors.forename: Odalys
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Vicedirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles, Unidad Municipal de Higiene y Epidemiología Camagüey, Cuba.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Higiene y Epidemiología, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay, Camagüey, Cuba.
authors.forename: Lizzie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult