RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnostic Options for Pulmonary Fungal Diseases in Africa
JF ERJ Open Research
JO erjor
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 00397-2022
DO 10.1183/23120541.00397-2022
A1 Martha F. Mushi
A1 Sherif M. Zaki
A1 Richard O. S. Penney
A1 Sanata Bamba
A1 Ngouanom Kuate Marius Paulin
A1 Kasamba L. Eric
A1 Modeste F. Amona
A1 Sara Werkneh
A1 Buntung Ceesay
A1 Bakary Dibba
A1 Bright Ocansey
A1 Ousmane Sy
A1 Mohammed Yahaya
A1 Darlinda Jiba
A1 Tom Boyles
A1 Sixbert I. Mkumbaye
A1 Kwizera Richard
A1 Elopy Sibanda
A1 David Koffi
A1 Yolande Sssinto Savi De Tove
A1 Emma Orefuwa
A1 David W. Denning
YR 2023
UL http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/early/2022/12/22/23120541.00397-2022.abstract
AB Background Fungal lung diseases are global in distribution and require specific tests for diagnosis. We report a survey of diagnostic service provision in Africa.Methods A written questionnaire was followed by a video conference call with each respondent(s) and external validation. To disseminate the questionnaire, a snowball sample was used.Results Data were successfully collected from 50 of 51 African countries with populations >1 million. The questionnaire was completed by respondents affiliated to 72 health facilities, of whom 33 of 72 respondents (45.8%) reported data for the whole country while others reported data for a specific region/province. In the public sector, chest X-ray and CT scan are done often or occasionally in 49 (98%) and 37 (74%) countries, and less often in the private sector. Bronchoscopy and spirometry were often or occasionally done in 28 (56%) and 18 (36%) of countries in the tertiary health facilities of public sector. The most conducted laboratory diagnostic assay is fungal culture (often or occasionally) in 29 (58%) countries.Conclusion This survey has found a huge disparity of diagnostic test capability across the African continent. Some good examples of good diagnostic provision and very high-quality care were seen, but this is unusual. The unavailability of essential testing such as spirometry was noted which has high impact in lung diseases diagnosis. It is important for countries to implement tests basing on the WHO Essential Diagnostic List.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: All authors declare no conflict of interest