RT Journal Article
T1 Factors associated with unreported tuberculosis cases in Spanish hospitals.
A1 Morales-García, Concepción
A1 Rodrigo, Teresa
A1 García-Clemente, Marta M
A1 Muñoz, Ana
A1 Bermúdez, Pilar
A1 Casas, Francisco
A1 Somoza, María
A1 Milá, Celia
A1 Penas, Antón
A1 Hidalgo, Carmen
A1 Casals, Martí
A1 Caylá, Joan A
K1 Notifications
K1 Under-reporting
K1 Reporting
K1 Tuberculosis
K1 Spain
K1 Intervalos de confianza
K1 Trazado de contacto
K1 Demografía
K1 Grupo de ascendencia continental europea
K1 Instituciones de Salud
K1 Humanos
K1 Modelos logísticos
K1 Oportunidad relativa
K1 Salud pública
K1 Estudios retrospectivos
K1 España
K1 Tuberculosis
AB BACKGROUNDUnder-reporting of tuberculosis (TB) cases complicates disease control, hinders contact tracing and alters the accuracy of epidemiological data, including disease burden. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the proportion of unreported TB cases in Spanish healthcare facilities and to identify the associated factors.METHODSA multi-center retrospective study design was employed. The study included TB cases diagnosed in 16 facilities during 2011-2012. These cases were compared to those reported to the corresponding public health departments. Demographic, microbiological and clinical data were analyzed to determine the factors associated with unreported cases. Associated factors were analyzed on a bivariate level using the x(2) test and on a multivariate level using a logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.RESULTSOf the 592 TB cases included in the study, 85 (14.4 %) were not reported. The percentage of unreported cases per healthcare center ranged from 0-45.2 %. The following variables were associated to under-reporting at a multivariate level: smear-negative TB (OR = 1.87; CI:1.07-3.28), extrapulmonary disease (OR = 2.07; CI:1.05-4.09) and retired patients (OR = 3.04; CI:1.29-7.18). A nurse case manager was present in all of the centers with 100 % reporting. The percentage of reported cases among the smear-positive cases was 9.4 % and 19.4 % (p = 0.001) among the rest of the study population. Smear-positive TB was no associated to under-reporting.CONCLUSIONSIt is important that TB Control Programs encourage thorough case reporting to improve disease control, contact tracing and accuracy of epidemiological data. The help from a TB nurse case manager could improve the rate of under-reporting.
PB BioMed Central
YR 2015
FD 2015-07-29
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2372
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2372
LA en
NO Morales-García C, Rodrigo T, García-Clemente MM, Muñoz A, Bermúdez P, Casas F, et al. Factors associated with unreported tuberculosis cases in Spanish hospitals. BMC Infect. Dis.2015; 15:295
NO Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
DS RISalud
RD Apr 11, 2025