USAID Strengthens Physicians’ Skills to Diagnose TB

Tuberculosis (TB) is difficult to diagnose without a confirmatory smear even among individuals with symptoms as well as those with chest X-ray findings suggestive of TB. Correlation of clinical findings with chest X-ray is usually employed to help physicians decide whether to provide treatment and to reduce the chance of a TB case to progress and become infectious. USAID’s Innovations and Multisectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of Tuberculosis (IMPACT) Project trained a total of 314 physicians and 297 nurses from 25 provinces and cities on TB disease activity assessment (TBDAA). The training sought to sharpen government physicians’ skills to correlate chest X-ray findings with signs and symptoms exhibited by the patient, risk factors, prior treatment if any, laboratory test results, and other possible diseases that may explain the symptoms. Participants found the TBDAA the “most practical” training that would help them readily render a decision and initiate treatment for those found with active TB.

Participants of the workshop on TB disease activity assessment review various chest X-ray plates and correlate their findings with signs and symptoms exhibited by the patient, risk factors, prior treatment if any, and laboratory test results. This correlation will help them decide to initiate treatment for those found with active TB