@article {Porskrog:2011:1027-3719:459,
title = "Enhanced tuberculosis identification through 1-month follow-up of smear-negative tuberculosis suspects",
journal = "The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease",
parent_itemid = "infobike://iuatld/ijtld",
publishercode ="iuatld",
year = "2011",
volume = "15",
number = "4",
publication date ="2011-04-01T00:00:00",
pages = "459-464",
itemtype = "ARTICLE",
issn = "1027-3719",
eissn = "1815-7920",
url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2011/00000015/00000004/art00008",
doi = "doi:10.5588/ijtld.10.0353",
keyword = "HIV, tuberculosis suspects, active case finding, Guinea-Bissau",
author = "Porskrog, A. and Bjerregaard-Andersen, M. and Oliveira, I. and Joaqu{\’ı}m, L. C. and Camara, C. and Andersen, P. L. and Rabna, P. and Aaby, P. and Wejse, C.",
abstract = "SETTING: Bandim Health Project, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.OBJECTIVE: To conduct tuberculosis (TB) screening among former TB suspects in whom TB had been ruled out on initial consultation and therefore assumed to be TB-negative (aTBneg).DESIGN: In a cohort follow-up study, aTBneg
suspects were screened for symptoms from 1 month after the initial negative sputum smear examination. Symptomatic individuals were referred for clinical re-examination and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.RESULTS: Among 428 TB suspects presenting over a 10-month period
in 2007, 80% (343) were smear-negative. Of these, 21 were subsequently diagnosed with smear-negative TB. Of the remaining 322 aTBneg patients, 212 were followed up and symptoms were examined 1 month after initial examination. Among followed up patients, 89 (42%) were still symptomatic:
five were diagnosed with TB on the basis of repeated sputum smears and chest X-ray. Of 44 symptomatic patients, 39% (n = 17) were HIV-infected. Thirteen (4%) of the 322 aTBneg suspects died before follow-up.CONCLUSION: A large proportion of aTBneg patients remained symptomatic
after 1 month. Several TB cases had initially not been diagnosed, and HIV infection was highly prevalent. aTBneg suspects have a high mortality rate and need increased attention from both TB and HIV programmes.",
}