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. 2022 May-Jun;28(3):210-219.
doi: 10.1016/j.pulmoe.2022.01.015. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services

I Rodrigues  1 , A Aguiar  2 , G B Migliori  3 , R Duarte  4
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services

I Rodrigues et al. Pulmonology. 2022 May-Jun.

Abstract

Background: In Portugal, Outpatient Tuberculosis Centres (OTBC) are responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, screening and prevention of tuberculosis (TB), and only severe or resistant cases are hospitalized.

Aim: To understand how infection control norms and standards were applied and how these centres responded during the pandemic.

Method: We sent an electronic questionnaire to all coordinators of OTBC. The questionnaire included questions on infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluation of the functioning of the OTBC in two periods: during the 1st National State of Emergency and after 1 year.

Results: Thirty-two responses were obtained (52.5%). The infection control norms were globally applied; diagnosis, treatment, and prevention were kept, and contact screening was only affected during the 1st State of Emergency. However, half of the respondents (53.1%) believed that there were diagnostic delays during the 1st State of Emergency, rising to 68.8% after 1 year. Only 31.3% performed Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) in all patients during the 1st State of Emergency, and 59.4% after 1 year. Half the inquiries expected an increase in TB incidence in the near future.

Conclusion: The pandemic affected OTBC functioning, although the services were kept open; diagnostic delay and DOT appliance were the most affected.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic delay; Directly observed therapy (DOT); Infection control; Tuberculosis; Workplace safety.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Map of Portugal's Region Health Administrations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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