Pulmonary tuberculosis among patients visiting a voluntary confidential counseling and testing center, Cambodia

Voluntary counseling and confidential testing center (VCCT), Battambang District, Cambodia.

To determine newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) prevalence and predicting factors, and assess the utility of TB-related symptoms and yield of sputum microscopy and culture.

Cross-sectional survey using interview, sputum smears and cultures and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.

Of 496 participants, 29 (5.8%) had culture-confirmed PTB while 19 (65.5%) were acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive. PTB prevalence was higher (P < 0.001) in HIV-positives (20/124, 16.1%) than in HIV-negatives (9/372, 2.4%). On multivariable analysis, being HIV-positive, underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2)), rapid weight loss and age > or =35 years were predictors of PTB. Fever (93%) and hemoptysis (86%) had the highest sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The symptom complex of rapid weight loss, fever and hemoptysis detected all PTB cases (sensitivity 100%). Examination of three sputum smears with culture of the first sample detected 95% (19/20) of the HIV-associated PTB cases and 90% (26/29) overall.

TB is common in the VCCT setting, regardless of HIV status. The high prevalence of HIV and PTB among the participants warrants consideration of TB screening for all HIV suspects. Such screening through VCCT is feasible. Adding a single culture test to the evaluation of an initial sputum sample set will substantially increase case detection.