National Paediatric TB Project has increased detection by 300%

Nagpur: Availability of diagnostic facility in the form of molecular test using the CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) or GeneXpert machines in last two years has increased the detection rate of tuberculosis by 300% compared to the smear microscopy test in the country. Better detection has thus resulted in better treatment of TB patients.
Dr Neeraj Raizada, medical officer with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), an international NGO, said the GeneXpert machines had helped detect TB cases, especially TB in children at the national level under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) and reach the masses.Some 6-7% of all TB cases are children. Of these 9.3% are drug resistant.
He was speaking after the launch of the paediatric TB project by Union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari. The programme was organized by the Intermediate Referral Laboratory (IRL) in the State TB Control and Demonstration Centre (STCDC).
Dr Deepty Jain, professor and head of the paediatrics department at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC), Dr Milind Mane, north Nagpur MLA and a paediatrician, Dr Radha Munje from IGMCH, Dr Nilofar Mujawar, head paediatrics at the NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr C M Bokade, president of Indian Academy of Paediatrics and head paediatrics department Government Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sanjeev Kamble, State TB Officer, Dr Sunil Khaparde, deputy director general of central TB Division, government of India participated in the project launch.
In the last two and half years 43,002 TB suspects (children) were screened in the country using the GeneXpert and 3,354 cases were found positive (7.8%). The programme also found 298 cases of drug resistance (8.9%). However, Dr Raizada said that this was not the right reflection of national paediatric TB burden as this data were generated from only 574 GeneXpert machines installed across the country by FIND. This was for the first time that Rifampicin resistance was documented in children.
At present, the paediatric TB Project is being implemented in nine cities covering 436 lakh population. In the next step, the project would be scaled up. The project has also covered extra-pulmonary TB (TB of organs other than lungs) by taking samples from the lymph nodes, cerebrospinal fluid, gastric lavage etc
Dr Shankar Dapekekar, WHO representative, said Nagpur was one of the three cities in country to have Universal Access to TB Care under which every TB patient would be treated free of cost. The programme had improved the TB notification rate. Dr Nadeem Khan, director IRL, said it was one of the only projects where the private sector doctors as well as patients were being involved directly and rendered free diagnosis and treatment.