Open AccessIntegrated screening and testing for TB and COVID-19 in Peru
Author(s) -
Marco A. Tovar,
Daniela Puma,
Santiago Palomino,
Jesús Peinado,
Fernando Llanos,
C. Martinelli,
Judith Jiménez,
Roger Calderón,
Courtney M. Yuen,
Leonid Lecca
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
public health action
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2220-8372
DOI - 10.5588/pha.21.0077
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , virology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
We describe the experience of integrating COVID-19 screening and testing into a mobile TB screening unit in Lima, Peru. All attendees received chest radiographs, which were analysed using CAD4TB and CAD4COVID; Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra was used to test for TB, and antibody and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SARS-CoV-2. One Xpert-positive TB case was diagnosed per 168 people screened, one person with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies per 3 people screened, and one PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection per 8 people screened. Integrated screening can help to avoid delays in the diagnosis of both TB and COVID-19.