Hospital Control and Multidrug-Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Female Patients, Lima, Peru
Author Information
Author(s): Field F. Willingham, Tracy L. Schmitz, Macbeth Contreras, Sheela E. Kalangi, Aldo M. Vivar, Luz Caviedes, Eduardo Schiantarelli, Paola Maurtua Neumann, Caryn Bern, Robert H. Gilman
Primary Institution: University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among hospitalized patients in Lima, Peru?
Conclusion
The study found a high prevalence of tuberculosis among hospitalized patients, with significant rates of multidrug-resistant strains, particularly among those not suspected of having TB upon admission.
Supporting Evidence
- 40 out of 250 patients tested positive for TB, indicating a prevalence of 16%.
- 8 patients had multidrug-resistant TB, representing 20% of culture-positive cases.
- 75% of patients with MDRTB were not suspected of having TB at admission.
Takeaway
In a hospital in Lima, many patients had tuberculosis, and some had a type that is hard to treat. A lot of these patients didn't even know they were sick when they came to the hospital.
Methodology
The study assessed the prevalence of TB and MDRTB among hospitalized female patients through sputum cultures and questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the exclusion of patients who declined to participate.
Limitations
The study did not perform HIV tests on all patients, which may affect the understanding of TB prevalence.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on female patients admitted to a general medicine ward in an urban public hospital in Lima, Peru.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.009
Statistical Significance
p=0.009
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