Knowledge and acceptability of patient-specific infection control measures for pulmonary tuberculosis

Effective infection control measures are essential to reduce tuberculosis (TB) transmission in domestic, workplace, and health care settings. Acceptability of infection control measures is key to patient adherence.

We used a prospective questionnaire study to determine knowledge and acceptability of potential patient-specific TB infection control measures in a rural South African community. Fifty adult TB suspects were interviewed at investigation, and 50 newly diagnosed TB patients were interviewed at the start and at the end of TB treatment.

TB patients and TB suspects had similar knowledge of infection control measures at baseline. Fifty-seven percent of all participants reported knowing the cause of TB, but only 25% correctly identified microbial etiology. Basic cough hygiene was accepted by 98% of participants. Most participants (89%) accepted wearing of face masks in health facilities, but only 42% of TB suspects and 66% of TB patients (P = .016) would accept wearing face masks at home. Only 68% of participants accepted separate cohorting in health facilities and avoidance of co-sleeping with uninfected household members. At the end of treatment, TB patients demonstrated increased knowledge of TB and increased acceptability of certain household infection control measures.

Acceptability of patient-specific infection control measures within households increases with acquired knowledge of TB. National control programs should maximize early TB education to improve adherence to infection control measures.