Open AccessOn the causes of ocular tuberculosis morbidity rate decrease in Russia over the last years
Author(s) -
Yelena Ivanovna Ustinova,
Vladimir Mihailovich Bataev
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
oftalʹmologičeskie vedomosti
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2412-5423
pISSN - 1998-7102
DOI - 10.17816/ov2013166-72
Subject(s) - saint petersburg , tuberculosis , medicine , ocular tuberculosis , staffing , russian federation , pediatrics , optometry , surgery , pathology , nursing , geography , regional science
The results of an investigation of 2055 patients with confirmed and suspected ocular tuberculosis referred to the Saint-Petersburg Phtisiopulmonology Scientific-Research Institute during different time periods (1986-1991; 2004-2010; and 2012) were analyzed. A system of differential diagnosis and a verification method for ocular tuberculosis were used, which were worked out by the Institute phtisioophthalmologists. Over the last two time periods, in comparison with 1986–1991, the frequency of detection of ocular tuberculosis in patients with suspected tuberculosis significantly decreased; the use of tuberculinodiagnostics and of test-therapy also substantially decreased. Also it was discovered that there was an absence of phtisioophthalmologists in many dispensaries. Altogether, the decrease of ocular tuberculosis morbidity rate in Russian Federation over the last time periods was determined both by insufficient staffing level of phtisioophthalmologists in antituberculous dispensaries, and by the decrease of the quality of ocular tuberculosis diagnosis in antituberculous facilities.