Integrating molecular and radiological screening tools during community-based active case-finding for tuberculosis and COVID-19 in southern Africa

ObjectivesTo evaluate diagnostic yield and feasibility of integrating testing for TB and COVID-19 using molecular and radiological screening tools during community-based active case-finding (ACF).MethodsCommunity-based participants with presumed TB and/or COVID-19 were recruited using a mobile clinic. Participants underwent simultaneous point-of-care (POC) testing for TB (sputum; Xpert-Ultra) and COVID-19 (nasopharyngeal swabs; Xpert-SARS-CoV-2). Sputum culture and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR served as reference standards. Participants underwent ultra-portable POC chest-radiography with computer-aided detection (CAD). TB infectiousness was evaluated using smear microscopy, cough aerosol sampling studies (CASS), and chest radiographic cavity detection. Feasibility of POC testing was evaluated via user-appraisals.Results601 participants were enrolled, with 144/601 (24.0%) reporting symptoms suggestive of TB and/or COVID-19. 16/144 (11.1%) participants tested positive for TB, while 10/144 (6.9%) tested positive for COVID-19 (2/144 1.4% had concurrent TB/COVID-19). 7/16 (43.8%) individuals with TB were probably infectious. Test-specific sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were: Xpert-Ultra 75.0% (42.8-94.5) and 96.9% (92.4-99.2); Xpert-SARS-CoV-2 66.7% (22.3-95.7) and 97.1% (92.7-99.2). Area-under-the-curve (AUC) for CAD4TB was 0.90 (0.82-0.97). User appraisals indicated POC Xpert to have 'good' user-friendliness.ConclusionsIntegrating TB/COVID-19 screening during community-based ACF using POC molecular and radiological tools is feasible, has a high diagnostic yield, and can identity probably infectious persons.