Lessells R.J., Cooke G.S., Newell M.-L., Godfrey-Faussett P.
Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom; Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
Lessells, R.J., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom, Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Cooke, G.S., Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Newell, M.-L., UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom, Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Godfrey-Faussett, P., Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
The limitations of existing tuberculosis diagnostic tools are significantly hampering tuberculosis control efforts, most noticeably in areas with high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and antituberculosis drug resistance. However, renewed global interest in tuberculosis research has begun to bear fruit, with several new diagnostic technologies progressing through the development pipeline. There are significant challenges in building a sound evidence base to inform public health policies because most diagnostic research focuses on the accuracy of individual tests, with often significant limitations in the design, conduct, and reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies. Diagnostic accuracy studies may not be appropriate to guide public health policies, and clinical trials may increasingly be required to determine the incremental value and cost-effectiveness of new tools. The urgent need for new diagnostics should not distract from pursuing rigorous scientific evaluation focused on public health impact. © The Author 2011.
rifampicin; tuberculostatic agent; antibiotic resistance; antibiotic sensitivity; article; bacterium culture; bacterium identification; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic procedure; evidence based medicine; health care policy; human; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; information processing; medical research; methodology; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; point of care testing; prevalence; priority journal; public health service; randomized controlled trial (topic); research ethics; retrospective study; sensitivity and specificity; sputum smear; tuberculosis; tuberculosis control; Bacteriological Techniques; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Health Policy; Humans; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Public Health; Tuberculosis