Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to tuberculosis (TB) services, leading to an increase in TB deaths for the first time in a decade. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients attending the Kayes Reference Health Center for tuberculosis diagnosis and anti-tuberculosis treatment monitoring. This was a cross-sectional and prospective study conducted at the Reference Health Center (CSREF) laboratory in Kayes from December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. Sputum and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from all patients suspected of tuberculosis and those undergoing anti-tuberculosis follow-up. The search for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and the detection of SARS-CoV-2 were performed using fluorescence microscopy and the GeneXpert Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test, respectively. A total of 463 patients were included in the study, with males representing the majority at 67% (N=308), and the age group of 35 to 44 being the most represented at 19% (N=86). SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 70 patients, with 69% (N=48) being male and 31% (N=22) female. The age group of 65 and over was the most affected by SARS-CoV-2, followed by the age group of 55 to 64, with 21% and 17% of cases detected, respectively. In this study, 16% of patients undergoing tuberculosis diagnosis and 12% of patients undergoing microscopic monitoring of anti-tuberculosis treatment tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1.9% (N=9) of patients were co-infected, with 7 cases detected during tuberculosis diagnosis and 2 during treatment monitoring. Based on these results, bidirectional screening for COVID-19 and tuberculosis should be integrated into our health system.
Key words: Tuberculosis, Covid-19, CSREF, Kayes, Mali.
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