Strengthening tuberculosis diagnosis in a low-resource setting: experience learned in Dodoma, Tanzania

Introduction: Diagnosing tuberculosis in low-resource settings mostly relies on sputum smear microscopy. Improvement through capacity building is a priority. This project aimed to strengthen tuberculosis diagnosis at an intermediate level laboratory. Methodology: The Italian National Institute fo...

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Main Authors: Angela Cannas, Maria Grazia Paglia, Dominick Calistus Sakhoo, Francesco Vairo, Basra Doulla, Boniface Nguhuni, Zainab Chaula, Raphael Mlumba, Maurizio Mirrione, Nazario Bevilacqua, Emanuele Nicastri, Pasquale De Nardo, Silvia Meschi, Enrico Girardi, Vincenzo Racalbuto, Giuseppe Ippolito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2013-09-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3366
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Summary:Introduction: Diagnosing tuberculosis in low-resource settings mostly relies on sputum smear microscopy. Improvement through capacity building is a priority. This project aimed to strengthen tuberculosis diagnosis at an intermediate level laboratory. Methodology: The Italian National Institute for Infectious Diseases and the Italian Development Cooperation closely collaborated with regional and national institutions and reference laboratories to provide laboratory setup, equipment and reagents, personnel training, and the implementation of culture and quality assessment programs at Dodoma Regional Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania. Results: Microscopy sensitivity was increased, personnel were trained, and culture techniques and quality assessment programs were introduced. Conclusions: Implementing tuberculosis diagnosis in resource-constrained settings is feasible and represents a basis for further strengthening.
ISSN:1972-2680