Addressing constraints to informal providers’ involvement in tuberculosis control: a qualitative study of patent medicine dealers and tuberculosis programme managers

Background A major constraint to tuberculosis control is low case finding with under-reporting to national authorities. Evidence shows that Patent Medicine Dealers are first port of call for most people with symptoms of tuberculosis, yet there is poor referral of such clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities for further evaluation. This study investigated constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. Methods This was a cross-sectional qualitative study among Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers in Ebonyi State Nigeria. Sixty-four Patent Medicine Dealers and five Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers were interviewed using Focus Group Discussion and In-Depth Interview respectively. Data was collected with electronic audio-recording device and analyzed using thematic approach. Results There are some knowledge gaps about tuberculosis signs, symptoms, free-treatment policy and mode of operation of care service among Patent Medicine Dealers. Patent Medicine Dealers and Tuberculosis Control Programme Managers are willing to collaborate in tuberculosis control effort but constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to keep up with such demands are obvious constraints. Conclusions Knowledge gaps in tuberculosis, its control, constant demand for incentives by Patent Medicine Dealers and inability of National Tuberculosis Control Programme to satisfy such demands are constraints to involvement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control. More robust engagement of Patent Medicine Dealers in tuberculosis control with clear job description through tuberculosis education and provision of incentives to support them are recommended policy approaches to improve linkage of clients to tuberculosis treatment facilities.

Analysis of the Factors Leading to Causation of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis among Cases Registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in East Sikkim – A Case Control Study

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is a curable and preventable disease. Emergence of multi drug resistance TB (MDR TB) threatens to undo the progress made towards control of TB. While treatment is available for MDR TB, it is of a long duration and is also more expensive and toxic. Understanding the various factors that are associated with MDR TB may help to formulate and implement effective preventive practices for control of MDR TB. We wanted to assess the various epidemiological factors among MDR TB cases registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in East Sikkim and study the current & past TB treatment including adverse drug reactions. METHODS A community-based case control study was conducted over 4 months in the eastern district of Sikkim. MDR TB cases registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in the first two quarters of 2019 were compared with matched healthy controls. Data was collected by a door to door survey using a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire and analysed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20. RESULTS A total of 62 cases (14 non-respondents) of MDR TB were identified and were matched with 63 controls. 30.5 % cases were young adults in the age group 15 to 25 years, 66 % of the cases reported being currently unemployed, 16 % were homemakers, 11 % of cases fell below poverty line. A higher proportion of cases as compared to controls reported a habit of skipping a meal, poor housing conditions and comorbidities than controls. A known history of contact with a case of tuberculosis was given by 11.3 % cases; 18 % cases gave a previous history of TB; about 51 % cases reported a delay in diagnosis which delayed treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS Previous history of TB with history of relapse / failure, contact of MDR TB emerged as the most significant risk factors and presence of comorbid conditions like diabetes & hypertension can be used to indicate higher risks of drug resistance. KEYWORDS Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, MDR TB, Case control, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Sikkim

Impact and operational feasibility of TrueNat™ MTB/Rif under India’s RNTCP

Background: The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in Andhra Pradesh, India, introduced TrueNat™ MTB/Rif, a rapid molecular test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance at 193 TB units (TUs) in October 2018. We evaluated its impact on TB diagnosis and assessed the operational feasibility of its deployment at point-of-care (POC) settings.Methods: We compared the number of presumptive TB cases tested and the number (proportion) of microbiologically positive before (January–August 2018) and after (January–August 2019) the deployment of TrueNat. We interviewed laboratory technicians and Senior TB Laboratory Supervisor from 25 randomly selected TUs to assess operational feasibility.Results: In 2018, 10.5% (range 8.9–13.1) of 245,989 presumptive cases tested were positive. In 2019, of the 185,435 presumptive cases tested, 13.7% (range 9.6–18.9) were positive. The proportion of presumptive TB cases in whom MTB was detected using TrueNat was 14.4% (range 10.0–21.2). TrueNat significantly increased case detection (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.30; 95%CI 1.15–1.46), yielding an additional 18 TB cases per 100 000 population. Laboratory technicians became comfortable in performing TrueNat after a median of 10 tests (interquartile range 5–17.5). Invalid reports declined from 6.8% to 3.6%.Conclusion: The deployment of TrueNat as POC diagnostic test improved case detection and was operationally feasible under RNTCP.