Enhancing tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis among hospitalized patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a before-and-after study of a lay health worker-driven intervention

Background Tuberculosis (TB) among hospitalized patients is underdiagnosed. This study assessed systematic TB-screening, followed by an enhanced TB-diagnostic package for hospitalized patientsimplemented by trained lay health workers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods In this before-and-after study we included patients ≥ 18 years. The intervention consisted of systematic clinical screening for TB, HIV and diabetes mellitus by lay health workers and provision of an enhanced TB-diagnostic package including sputum Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra, urine lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM), chest x-ray, and sputum culture. We compared TB case findings with people hospitalized one year preceding the intervention. Results In the pre-intervention phase, 5217 people were hospitalized. Among 4913 (94.2%) people not on TB treatment, 367 (7.5%) were diagnosed with TB. In the intervention phase, 4015 eligible people were hospitalized. Among 3734 (93.0%) people not on TB treatment, 560 (15.0%) were diagnosed with TB. The proportion of patients diagnosed with TB was higher in the intervention phase (15.0% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001). Overall in-hospital mortality was lower in the intervention phase [166/3734(4.5%) vs. 336/4913(6.8%), p < 0.001]. Conclusion Lay health worker-led implementation of systematic TB-screening, coupled with provision of an enhanced TB-diagnostic package significantly improved TB case detection and mortality among hospitalized adults.