Accelerating TB diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global healthcare systems, impacting routine diagnostics.
• Understanding the effects on tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is vital for maintaining public health surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on TB diagnosis rates in Singapore.
• To identify factors aiding early TB detection among screened individuals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of nationwide TB testing data (2018-2020).
• Case-control study of adult inpatients with COVID-19, TB, or co-infection (Jan-May 2020).

Main Results:

• Nationwide TB testing increased by 24.2% from 2018 to 2020.
• Among 253 inpatients, 53% had TB, 42.3% had COVID-19, and 4.7% had co-infection.
• TB patients showed higher rates of chest X-ray abnormalities and prolonged cough compared to COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• Early TB screening, including in COVID-19 patients, facilitates timely diagnosis and treatment.
• Prompt intervention can effectively interrupt TB transmission pathways.