Question for developing countries: Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB)
- How health care workers in the primary care setting can detect the open case of PTB in early visits (to minimise transmission of the disease in the community)
Current routine diagnosis for TB involves chest radiography, sputum acid fast bacillus (AFB) and CBC. These methods are not financially viable for the majority of patients or available to family physicians. Therefore, the development of a simple diagnostic tool, such as a strip of medicated paper to measure AFB from exhaled breath of the patient would be an extremely valuable development in primary care.
- How can GPs act to reduce the development of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB)?
There is growing concern in the developed and developing world about the increase in MDR-TB. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the availability of them over the counter should be evaluated to assess the situation with regard to MDR-TB.
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