Table 2.
Number and proportion of newly diagnosed smear positive TB cases in the suspect register with TB Blue Cards, entries in the TB Register, or noted as died or lost to follow-up prior to treatment initiation (n = 721)
| KwaZulu-Natal n (%) | Mpumpulanga n (%) | Gauteng n (%) | Total n (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total sample smear + TB cases from suspect register | 294 | 174 | 253 | 721 | |
| TB Blue Card | 179 (60.9) | 58 (33.3) | 118 (46.6) | 355 (49.2) | |
| TB Register | 197 (67.0) | 126 (72.4) | 134 (53.0) | 457 (63.4) | |
| a | No Blue Card or Register | 89 (30.3) | 48 (27.6) | 113 (44.7) | 250 (34.7) |
| b | Died before treatment starta | 2 (2.3) | 1 (2.1) | 1 (1.0) | 4 (1.6) |
| c | Lost to follow-up before treatment starta | 2 (2.3) | 1 (2.1) | 1 (1.0) | 3 (1.2) |
| d | Number of smear + TB patients diagnosed and recorded on the suspect register with unknown status after laboratory results were received at the clinic; no notation of treatment or management | 85 (28.9) | 46 (26.4) | 111 (43.9) | 243 (33.7) |
Died before treatment start and lost to follow-up before treatment start (“early defaulters”) as noted on the suspect register
aPercentages are of those without a TB Blue Card or in the TB Register
d = a - (b + c)