Operational research on tuberculosis screening feasibility and outcomes in patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19 in Belarus: project report

Abstract

To address a decrease in notifications for tuberculosis (‎TB)‎, Belarus introduced Xpert MTB/RIF testing, which is a rapid diagnosis test for TB and for rifampicin sensitivity, in patients with COVID-19 admitted to repurposed departments at TB hospitals. The WHO Regional Office for Europe together with the National Tuberculosis Programme performed a mixed-methods operational research study evaluating outcomes and feasibility of this intervention, particularly the proportions of those testing positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for rifampicin resistance and the COVID-19-related mortality in patients with TB. The study demonstrated the feasibility of laboratory TB testing among patients with COVID-19 at these repurposed departments of tuberculosis hospitals considering the available human, material and financial resources. The intervention may help to improve TB case-finding during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be recommended for routine practice in Belarus and in similar settings with high TB burden.