[Evaluation of tuberculosis detection indicators in a region with high risk of transmission in Peru]

An operational study was conducted to evaluate the tuberculosis detection indicators established in the Technical Standard for Comprehensive Care of Persons Affected by Tuberculosis. Three networks of first level of care facilities with very high risk of tuberculosis transmission from the Tacna region were selected. Using the registry of respiratory symptomatic patients, we analyzed 14,595 respiratory symptomatic subjects (RSS), of which we examined (ExRSS) 14,486 (99.3%). Of the total of ExRSS, 1.5% were BK (+).The average direct smears per RSS was 2.0 and search intensity (ratio between RSS and number of health care visits in more than 15 years) was 2.8%. Males were more likely to have at least one positive smear compared to women, OR 2.0 (95% CI: 1.5 to 2.6). It is concluded that the diagnostic performance of direct smears in respiratory symptomatic subjects is low.