Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate before and after the introduction of the line Probe Assay (LPA) the overall time to MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment initiation; the step-by-step time lapse at each stage of patient management; and the lost to follow-up rates.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis was done using data on MDR-TB patients diagnosed during 2009–2012 under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme at the institute.

Results

Following the introduction of the LPA in 2011, the overall median time from identification of patients suspected for MDR-TB to the initiation of treatment was reduced from 157 days to 38 days. This reduction was attributed mainly to a lower diagnosis time at the laboratory. Lost to follow-up rates were also significantly reduced after introduction of the LPA (12% versus 39% pre-PLA).

Conclusion

Introduction of the LPA was associated with a major reduction in the delay between identification of patients suspected for MDR-TB and initiation of treatment, attributed mainly to a reduction in diagnostic time in the laboratory.

Authors

Neeta Singla, Srinath Satyanarayana, Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, Rafael Van den Bergh, Tony Reid, Katherine Tayler-Smith, V. P. Myneedu, Engy Ali, Donald A. Enarson, Digamber Behera, Rohit Sarin