Influence of COVID-19 on the notification of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis cases.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process of diagnosis and monitoring of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from 2015 to 2020. METHODS: Ecological study with quantitative approach. This study was based on diagnosed cases of pulmonary TB reported in the Notifiable Disease Information System in residents of Paraná; as well as through the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state epidemiological bulletin for the year 2020. The study data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: It was found that, although the number of reported pulmonary TB cases (drug-resistant and general) increased between 2015 and 2019, there was a drop in notification in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The notification of TB cases was also influenced monthly during the year according to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. For cases of drug-resistant pulmonary TB, the provision of diagnostic tests and Directly Observed Treatment decreased by more than half in 2020, especially when compared to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: In view of these findings, the influence of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and monitoring of drug-resistant and general pulmonary TB cases is evident, showing that the pandemic has compromised the advances of recent decades in achieving the goals established for its eradication by 2035.

Care production for tuberculosis cases:analysis according to the elements of the Chronic Care Model.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the care provided to tuberculosis cases in primary health care services according to the elements of the Chronic Care Model. METHOD: Cross-sectional study conducted in a capital city of the northeastern region of Brazil involving 83 Family Health Strategy professionals.A structured tool adapted to tuberculosis-related care in Brazil was applied.Analysis was based on the development of indicators with capacity to produce care varying between limited and optimum. RESULTS: The organization of care for tuberculosis and supported self-care presented reasonable capacity.In the coordination with the community, the presence of the community agent presented optimum capacity.Partnership with organizations of the community and involvement of experts presented limited capacity.The qualification of professionals, the system for scheduling and monitoring tuberculosis in the community, and the clinical information system presented basic capacity. CONCLUSION: The capacity of the primary health care services to produce tuberculosis-related care according to the elements of the Chronic Care Model is still limited.Overcoming the fragmentation of care and prioritizing a systemic operation between actions and services of the health care network remains as a major challenge. OBJETIVO: Analisar,segundo os elementos doChronicCareModel,a produção do cuidado aos casos de tuberculose nos serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, realizado em capital do nordeste brasileiro, envolvendo 83 profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família. Aplicou-se um instrumento estruturado, adaptado para atenção à tuberculose no Brasil. A análise pautou-se na construção de indicadores, cujacapacidade para produção de cuidados variou entre limitada a ótima. RESULTADOS: A organização da atenção à tuberculose e o autocuidado apoiado apresentaram capacidade razoável. Na articulação com a comunidade, a presençadoagente comunitário de saúde apresentou capacidade ótima. A parceria com organizações da comunidade e o envolvimento de especialistas obtiveram capacidade limitada. A capacitação dos profissionais, o sistema de agendamento e monitoramento da tuberculose na comunidade e o sistema de informação clínica alcançaram capacidade básica. CONCLUSÃO: A capacidade dos serviços da Atenção Primária à Saúde para produção do cuidado aos casos de tuberculose,segundo os elementos doChronicCareModel,ainda é limitada.Superar a fragmentação do cuidado e priorizar um funcionamento sistêmico entre ações e serviços da rede de atenção à saúde é ainda um grande desafio.

[Nursing practices in the attention to a chronic condition (tuberculosis): analysis of secondary sources]. / Atuação da enfermagem na atenção a uma condição crônica (tuberculose): análise de fontes secundárias.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze nursing practiced in the treatment of tuberculosis, based on secondary data records. METHOD: Descriptive study of the retrospective survey kind, conducted in Ribeirão Preto, from August to December 2013. The data of 109 electronic and clinical medical records, and a TB reporting system in the state of São Paulo for residents in the municipality monitored in the reference clinics. Descriptive statistic techniques were used. RESULTS: The median of 46.0 (IQ: 17.0 to 96.0) calls throughout the treatment shows the patient's proximity to the health service and professionals, of which the primary persons responsible for follow-ups were nursing assistants (99.1%), which perform the House Visits (71.5%) for patients under a supervision regime (75.2%). CONCLUSION: The actions developed with the patients were mostly focused on the nursing staff, making the importance of this category to achieve the indicators related to the Millennium Development Goals for tuberculosis visible.

[Performance evaluation of primary care services for the treatment of tuberculosis]. / Avaliação de desempenho de serviços da atenção básica para o tratamento da tuberculose.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the performance of primary care services for the treatment of tuberculosis according to the assessment referential of health services (structure/process) in Cabedelo, a port city in the state of Paraíba. METHOD: An evaluation quantitative, cross-sectional study, in which were carried out 117 interviews with health professionals using a structured instrument. The analysis was based on the construction of indicators using a standardized value for the reduced variable (z=1). RESULTS: The structural indicators showed regular performance for the following variables: professional training, access to record instruments and coordination with other services. The process indicators related to external actions and information about the disease had unsatisfactory performance. The directly observed treatment and the flows of reference/counter-reference had regular performance. CONCLUSION: The focused professional qualification, the fragmentation of practices and the unsystematic home care constitute obstacles for carrying out actions aimed at providing expanded, continuous and resolute care.



[The discourse of health managers on aspects related to the delay in tuberculosis diagnosis]. / A discursividade de gestores sobre aspectos relacionados ao retardo do diagnóstico de tuberculose.

The aim of this study was to analyze the discourse of health managers on aspects related to delay in tuberculosis diagnosis. This was a qualitative research study, conducted with 16 Family Health Unit managers. The empirical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The analysis was based on the theoretical framework of the French school of discourse analysis. According to the managers' statements, the delay in tuberculosis diagnosis is related to patient and health service aspects. As for patient aspects, managers report fear, prejudice and lack of information as factors that may promote a delayed diagnosis. Regarding health service aspects, structural problems and lack of professional skills were reported. The discourse of managers should be considered to qualify tuberculosis control actions and to prevent delays in diagnosis.

[Delay in seeking initial care for tuberculosis diagnosis]. / Atraso na procura pelo primeiro atendimento para o diagnóstico da tuberculose.

Descriptive study, which aimed to analyze the time between the perception of TB symptoms onset and the first search for health services, according to TB patient characteristics in São José do Rio Preto - SP. 97 TB patients in treatment were interviewed with a structured instrument. The delay was identified by the median time between the perception of TB symptom's onset and the patients demand for care (> 15 days). To identify the variables related to delay the prevalence ratio were calculated. There was a delay seeking care among: male patients, aged 18 to 29 and 50 to 59 years, lower education and higher family income, pulmonary cases without HIV co-infection, presenting milder symptoms, users of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, those who did not perform preventive health control, and who sought health services closer to home. The recognition of users' profiles in the search for care is paramount for defining strategies that favor the use of services in a timely manner.

[Tuberculosis diagnosis in the aged: barriers to accessing health services]. / Diagnóstico da tuberculose em pessoas idosas: barreiras de acesso relacionadas aos serviços de saúde.

This study was performed with the objective to analyze the barriers to diagnosing tuberculosis in the aged and access to health services in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. This qualitative study included the participation of seven aged women with tuberculosis. Interviews were used for data collection. The empirical material was organized using Atlas.ti 6.0, and analyzed according to the techniques of discourse analysis. The identified barriers related to the access to health services to confirm the diagnosis were: the operating hours of family health units; transferred responsibilities; home visits without controlling communicants; delay of the health service in suspecting the disease and the patient's repeated visits to the health center before being informed about the diagnosis. Despite the identification of common barriers that tuberculosis patients of all ages must deal with, because of the vulnerability of the elderly, health services should implement control actions so as to prevent the disease becoming a common condition in this population.

[Effectiveness in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Foz do Iguaçu, the triple-border area of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina]. / Efetividade no diagnóstico da tuberculose em Foz do Iguaçu, tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina.

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of health services in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Foz do Iguaçu-PR, the triple border region of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In this epidemiologic, cross-sectional study, 101 persons with tuberculosis were interviewed in 2009 by using an instrument based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool . The analysis was based on proportions and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%) and means. Emergency units (37%) and primary health care units (26%) were the most sought units. Access to medical consultation on the same day reached 70%, but tuberculosis was suspected in less than 47% of patients; bacilloscopy was conducted in 50% of patients. We conclude that although these services provide rapid care, they do not determine the true diagnosis and lead the patient to seek specialized services. Specialty services are more effective in establishing the correct diagnosis. In the triple border region, seeking care at a primary health care unit led to extra time and more returns to the hospital for a tuberculosis diagnosis.

[Delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a town at the triple border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina]. / Retardo no diagnóstico da tuberculose em município da tríplice fronteira Brasil, Paraguai e Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors linked to patients and health services in delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. METHODS: Epidemiological study in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil, 2009. The Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for appraising tuberculosis treatment, was the instrument used. Descriptive statistics techniques were used, such as frequency distributions, central tendency and dispersion measurements (median and interquartile intervals), and odds ratios. RESULTS: There were greater delays in seeking health services for those in the age group 60 years and older, for females, for patients with low levels of education, and for patients with poor knowledge of the disease. Clinical variables (being a new case and HIV infection) and behavioral variables (use of tobacco and alcohol consumption) were not linked with delays in diagnosis. The median time delays before diagnosis attributable to patients and to the health services were 30 days and 10 days, respectively. Emergency 24-hour medical services and primary health care services were not effective in identifying suspicious cases of tuberculosis and requesting tests to confirm the diagnosis, with a high percentage of referrals to the Tuberculosis Control Program clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Going to primary health care services for diagnosis increased the time before diagnosis of the disease was reached. The Tuberculosis Control Program clinic was more effective in diagnosis of tuberculosis, due to the training of the staff and to an organized process for receiving patients, including the availability of tests to support the diagnosis.

[Caring for tuberculosis patients in the Family Health Strategy: the nurses' perceptions]. / Cuidado ao doente de tuberculose na Estratégia Saúde da Família: percepções de enfermeiras.

The objective of this study was to analyze the nurses' perceptions regarding tuberculosis control, according to the theoretical axis of comprehensive healthcare and the concepts of attachment and teamwork. This qualitative study involved 13 nurses from the Family Health Strategy of a priority city in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Data were collected in focal groups and subjected to thematic content analysis. Factors that strengthen tuberculosis control were: supervised treatment, free medication and the provision of supplies. Weakening factors were: worker's turnover, the lack of encouragement for patients and incipient educational actions. The factors that, according to the nurses, weaken tuberculosis patient care should be reviewed by administrators, workers, users and educators with a view to redefining healthcare activities that strengthen attachment, comprehensive healthcare and teamwork.

[Assessment of tuberculosis treatment accessibility for patients co-infected or not with the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Avaliação do acesso ao tratamento de tuberculose por coinfectados ou não pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana.

This study aimed to evaluate accessibility to treatment for people with TB co-infected or not with HIV. This cross-sectional study addressed issues regarding accessibility to treatment in a city in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil. The instrument Primary Care Assessment Tool was utilized with 95 people. To evaluate access to treatment, Student's t test was used. The mean scores of variables were analyzed separately and compared between two groups (people with TB co-infected with HIV and people with TB not co-infected with HIV ). Mean scores showed that HIV co-infected people presented greater difficulties in gaining access than those not co-infected. Professionals visited co-infected people more often when compared to those not co-infected; the co-infected people almost never accessed treatment for their disease in the Health Unit nearest their home. There is, therefore, the need for greater integration and communication between the programs for treatment of Tuberculosis and STD/AIDS.

[Access to healthcare services for tuberculosis: analysis of patient satisfaction]. / Acesso aos serviços de atenção à tuberculose: análise da satisfação dos doentes.

Tuberculosis remains a pubic health challenge. Uncountable efforts are made to control the disease, and patient treatment and accessibility to healthcare can hinder reaching a cure. The objective of this article is to analyze the satisfaction of tuberculosis patients regarding tuberculosis control services. This is an epidemiological, prospective study, using both a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants included 77 patients. The quantitative data were positively evaluated, and the qualitative data permitted an understanding of the patients' experience regarding their accessibility and treatment. Aspects such as the criteria for performing Directly Observed Treatment and the proximity of the healthcare facility to the patients' residence affected their satisfaction, which implies the need to reorganize healthcare services in order to provide more appropriate care to tuberculosis patients.

[The coordination of care for tuberculosis control]. / A coordenação da assistência no controle da tuberculose.

This descriptive epidemiological study analyzed the coordination of tuberculosis (TB) patient care in primary healthcare services according to 23 patients, 16 professionals, and 17 administrators from Ribeirão Preto, Sao Paulo, using an instrument adapted to evaluate TB. According to the informants, the coordination of healthcare provided to patients under the treatment of the Tuberculosis Control Program team was considered satisfactory; however, when there is a need to refer the patient to other care units there are weak points in the coordination of healthcare, which include: interruption of communication flow; and patients' incipient participation in the care process, with a need to increase the sense of responsibility for patient care and encourage patients to become active agents in the process.

Reducing care time after implementing protocols for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of acute ischemic stroke with cerebral reperfusion therapy requires rapid care and recognition of symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of implementing protocols for acute ischemic stroke in reducing care time. METHODS: Systematic review, which was performed with primary studies in Portuguese, English, and Spanish published between 2011 and 2020. INCLUSION CRITERIA: study population should comprise people with acute ischemic stroke and studies should present results on the effectiveness of using urgent care protocols in reducing care time. The bibliographic search was conducted in June 2020 in the LILACS, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier, and SocINDEX databases. The articles were selected, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers; the synthesis of the results was performed narratively. The methodological quality of articles was evaluated through specific instruments proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: A total of 11,226 publications were found, of which 35 were included in the study. Only one study reported improvement in the symptoms-onset-to-door time after protocol implementation. The effectiveness of the therapeutic approach protocols for ischemic stroke was identified in improving door-to-image, image-to-needle, door-to-needle and symptoms-onset-to-needle times. The main limitation found in the articles concerned the lack of clarity in relation to the study population. CONCLUSIONS: Several advances have been identified in in-hospital care with protocol implementation; however, it is necessary to improve the recognition time of stroke symptoms among those who have the first contact with the person affected by the stroke and among the professionals involved with the prehospital care.

ANTECEDENTES: O tratamento do acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) isquêmico com terapia de reperfusão requer rápido atendimento e reconhecimento dos sintomas. OBJETIVO: Analisar a efetividade da implementação de protocolos para AVC isquêmico agudo na redução do tempo de atendimento. MéTODOS: Revisão sistemática realizada com estudos primários em português, inglês e espanhol publicados entre 2011 e 2020. Critérios de inclusão: a população do estudo foi constituída por pessoas com AVC isquêmico agudo e estudos que apresentassem resultados sobre a efetividade da implantação de protocolos no tempo de atendimento. A pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada em junho de 2020 nas bases de dados LILACS, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Academic Search Premier e SocINDEX. A seleção dos artigos e a extração dos dados foram feitas por dois revisores independentes; a síntese dos resultados foi feita de forma narrativa. A qualidade metodológica dos artigos foi avaliada por meio de instrumentos do Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas 11.226 publicações, das quais 35 foram incluídas no estudo. Apenas um estudo relatou melhora no tempo início dos sintomas-porta após a implementação do protocolo, no entanto, foi efetiva na melhora dos tempos porta-imagem, imagem-agulha, porta-agulha e início dos sintomas-agulha. A principal limitação encontrada nos artigos diz respeito à falta de clareza quanto à população de estudo. CONCLUSõES: Vários avanços foram identificados no atendimento intra-hospitalar com implantação de protocolo; porém, é necessário melhorar o tempo de reconhecimento dos sintomas do AVC entre aqueles que têm o primeiro contato com a pessoa acometida e entre os profissionais envolvidos com o atendimento pré-hospitalar.

[The front door of the Ribeirão Preto health system for diagnosing tuberculosis]. / A porta de entrada para o diagnóstico da tuberculose no sistema de saúde de Ribeirão Preto/SP.

The first contact of TB (tuberculosis) patients with the health system occurs at the front door and is essential to access to diagnosis. The objective of this study was to identify and analyze patients' first contact with the health system for TB diagnosis in Ribeirão Preto. The study was based on an instrument of the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted for TB care in Brazil. Structure interviews were conducted with 100 TB patients diagnosed between June 2006 and July 2007. Of all patients, 61% were referred to the diagnosis place and only 29% sought the service spontaneously; 66% sought for primary care services, and 34% for secondary and tertiary services. Public services diagnosed 89% of all cases, 44% of which were diagnosed in emergency services. A total 88% of patients were not from the area covered by the service. Although patients have sought for primary care services, close to their houses, the diagnosis occurred in secondary and tertiary health care.

[Financial challenges to access tuberculosis treatment in Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo]. / Barreiras econômicas na acessibilidade ao tratamento da tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo.

The objective of this study was to analyze the financial challenges that patients have to deal with to access the Tuberculosis (TB) Care Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Adjustments were made to the Primary Care Assessment (PCAT) and an opinion poll was made with one-hundred patients following treatment and 16 health care professionals working at TB Reference Centers in Ribeirão Preto. Anova, Kruskall Wallis and chi-square tests were used. Most patients were males and most health care professionals were female. Differences were found between Centers C and A, in that Center C (p=0.028) offers a bus pass, and in A (p=0.010) patients paid for their own transportation. The indicator medical appointment in 24 hours showed a satisfactory level. There were disagreements between the reports from patients and health professionals as to the center offering the bus pass. Patients face challenges in their treatment, such as costs with transportation or being late for work, which result in losses in the family income.

Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: sociodemographic and clinical profile in Brazilian municipalities.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical profile of tuberculosis cases with Diabetes Mellitus in Brazilian municipalities in the states of São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Norte. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study, whose population consisted of tuberculosis cases notified between 2010 and 2014. Data were collected from secondary sources. In the data analysis, descriptive analysis and multiple correspondence analysis techniques were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes among tuberculosis cases ranged from 4.5% to 13.4% in the municipalities. Evidence of an association was observed between tuberculosis/diabetes comorbidity and female population, age of 61 years or more, low schooling, negative HIV/AIDS, longer treatment time, self-administered treatment and cure. CONCLUSION: The study showed a greater cure outcome in the profile of people with tuberculosis/diabetes comorbidity, even among those on a self-administered regime, which could favor the development of specific guidelines for the management of tuberculosis in these people.

Information system on tuberculosis: data completeness spatial analysis in the state of Paraná, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spatiality of completeness of the Information System on Diseases of Compulsory Declaration of tuberculosis in Paraná state, focusing on the border region. METHOD: A study composed by the notified cases of the disease treated in Paraná between 2008 and 2017. The variable completeness was classified as excellent (<5% of incompleteness), good (5 to <10%), regular (10 to <20%), poor (20% to 50%), and very poor (>50%). Moran global was used for the spatial correlation and local association was analyzed. Logistic regression was employed to assess the spatial association of the variables with the border and, for the significant variables, multiple logistic regression was used. The study abides by the resolution 510/2016 of the National Health Council. RESULTS: There was a "high-high" correlation for education level, 2- and 6-month sputum smear in the Eastern health macroregional and "high-high" correlation in the Northwestern macroregional for 2-month sputum smear and antibiotic sensitivity testing. There was no spatial association with the border. CONCLUSION: Unsatisfactory completeness was identified in the database and conglomerates, indicating spatial association of incompleteness of some variables, but with no relation with the border. There was no worsening of completeness nor of the case outcomes related to these regions.

Determinants of coinfection tuberculosis and HIV in prisons in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Prisons context has the potential for the spread of infectious diseases, like HIV and tuberculosis, which prevalence is higher in the people deprived of liberty compared to the general population. OBJECTIVE: to analyze which are the determinants of coinfection tuberculosis and HIV in prisons. METHODOLOGY: Case-control study conducted in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. New cases of tuberculosis in the population deprived of liberty in the period between 2015 and 2017 were considered. Data were obtained through the notification and monitoring system for tuberculosis cases in the state of São Paulo and included sociodemographic and clinical variables and diagnosis and treatment information. The data were analyzed through frequency distribution and bivariate analysis, testing the association of the dependent variable (tuberculosis/HIV coinfection vs. tuberculosis/HIV non-coinfection) with independent variables (sociodemographic, clinical and diagnostics variables) by calculating the odds ratio and p-value. RESULTS: Among the determinants of tuberculosis/HIV coinfection in prisons, we identified: age between 26-35, 36-55 and 56-84 years, notification in hospitals, negative sputum smear microscopy and culture, X-ray suggestive of another pathology, extrapulmonary and mixed clinical form, and alcoholism. A high percentage of death was also identified among coinfected people. CONCLUSIONS: identifying the determinants of the tuberculosis/HIV coinfected individual can assist in the development and implementation of guidelines aimed at controlling both infections in the prison environment.

Tuberculosis control: patient perception regarding orientation for the community and community participation.

To evaluate, from the patient's perspective, actions of orientation for the community and community participation carried out in tuberculosis control in health services in Ribeirão Preto-SP. This was an evaluative quantitative exploratory study which used part of the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted and validated for tuberculosis care, applied through interview, with 100 patients. Indicators of the instrument and analysis of variance were used. The realization of social partnerships for delivery of the sputum pot together with the community, the delivery of the sputum pot to the community by professionals, and the participation of the community to discuss the problem of tuberculosis were identified, 5%, 6% and 5%, respectively. The health services with fewer patients in treatment showed the best indicators. The actions of social partnerships, searching for respiratory symptomatics in the community and community participation in tuberculosis control are poorly incorporated by health services.