Study points to the need for more effective TB screening strategies in people with HIV
For people living with HIV, tuberculosis can be a silent and deadly companion. It may hide behind vague symptoms, and many patients struggle to cough up the mucus sample usually needed for testing.
A new study highlights the need for improved tuberculosis (TB) screening methods for individuals living with HIV. Tuberculosis can present without clear symptoms, making early detection challenging. In a trial involving 1,172 adults with HIV in Tanzania and Mozambique, researchers compared the effectiveness of usual testing methods to broader screening using urine, stool, and mucus samples.
The study found that expanding the testing approach did not result in a higher proportion of patients starting TB treatment within three days, with both groups at approximately 15.3% and 16.0% respectively. Moreover, the death rate within eight weeks was similar for both groups at 25.8% and 28.8%. However, the research uncovered an important insight: collecting urine and stool samples was significantly easier than obtaining lung mucus samples, with urinary testing being widely successful.
The urine test, already recommended for HIV patients, detected the majority of confirmed cases. The study suggests that while adding more tests may not always be beneficial, alternatives like urine or stool samples could be valuable when mucus is difficult to obtain. Additionally, the research uncovered a concerning gap: many patients who tested positive via urine were not promptly initiated on TB treatment.
The researchers emphasize that simply increasing the number of tests is not the solution; instead, hospitals should prioritize simple, trusted tests that can swiftly connect patients to treatment. In practical tuberculosis care, the test that functions well in everyday scenarios might be more crucial than the sheer quantity of tests administered to every patient.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Star BD Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
