Linkage to care and treatment outcomes for patients diagnosed with drug-susceptible tuberculosis using Xpert MTB/RIF assay in Thaba-Tseka district in Lesotho.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To evaluate linkage to care and treatment outcomes of patients with tuberculosis (TB) confirmed by Xpert MTB/RIF assay in Thaba-Tseka district, Lesotho.

Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay at two laboratories in Thaba-Tseka district from January 2016 to December 2020.

Results

Six hundred and fifty-five eligible participants were identified for inclusion in this study. Their median age was 40 [interquartile range (IQR) 32-54] years, and 468 (71.45%) were male. Evidence of linkage to care was found for 459 (70.08%) participants, but there was no documentation on treatment initiation for 196 (29.92%) participants. The median time to treatment initiation was 0 days (same

SUBMITTER: Mabote N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9493056 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature