Authors: Golub, J.E.¹; Mohan, C.I.¹; Comstock, G.W.²; Chaisson, R.E.¹

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 9, Number 11, November 2005 , pp. 1183-1203(21)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

Despite a history of remarkable scientific achievements in microbiology and therapeutics, tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose an extraordinary threat to human health. Case finding and treatment of TB disease are the principal means of controlling transmission and reducing incidence. This review presents a historical perspective of active case finding (ACF) of TB, detailing case detection strategies that have been used over the last century. This review is divided into the following sections: mass radiography, house-to-house surveys, out-patient case detection, enhanced case finding, high-risk populations and cost-effectiveness. The report concludes with a discussion and recommendations for future case finding strategies. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these methods will help inform and shape ACF as a TB control policy in the twenty-first century.

Keywords: tuberculosis; active case finding

Document Type: Review article

Affiliations: 1: School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 2: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Publication date: 2005-11-01

More about this publication?

• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

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