Patient Diagnostic Rate as Indicator of Tuberculosis Case Detection, South Africa

Abstract

To address the uncertainty of the indirectly measured tuberculosis case detection rate, we used survey data stratified by HIV status to calculate the patient diagnostic rate, a directly measurable indicator, in 8 communities in South Africa. Rates were lower among HIV-negative than HIV-positive persons. Tuberculosis programs should focus on HIV-negative persons.

Keywords

• Tuberculosis
• HIV infections
• South Africa
• case detection
• tuberculosis and other mycobacteria
• bacteria