RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Reversing the tuberculosis upwards trend: a success story in Romania
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 168
OP 170
DO 10.1183/09031936.00104308
VO 33
IS 1
A1 C. Marica
A1 C. Didilescu
A1 N. Galie
A1 D. Chiotan
A1 J. P. Zellweger
A1 G. Sotgiu
A1 L. D'Ambrosio
A1 R. Centis
A1 L. Ditiu
A1 G. B. Migliori
YR 2009
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/33/1/168.abstract
AB At present, no published evidence is available on the effectiveness of the DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) strategy in reducing the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) within a country in the European “hot spots”. The present study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy implementation in reversing the epidemiological TB trend in Romania based on programmatic data analysis. Key programme indicators were analysed from 1998 to 2007, and included DOTS coverage, case-detection rate, treatment success and overall incidence of notified cases. Internationally agreed definitions were used. The key programme indicators began declining and the World Health Assembly targets were reached (79% case-detection of new sputum-smear positive cases and 85.5% success rate in new culture-positive TB cases), 7 yrs after initiation of the DOTS expansion. The success story in Romania suggests that other middle-income, high-incidence countries (i.e. those belonging to the former Soviet Union) might be able to reach the World Health Assembly Targets and curb the burden of tuberculosis.