Although sputum microscopy
and chest radiography were
available in all programs, among the
146 children diagnosed with TB during
the study period, chest radiography
was used in 86%, sputum microscopy
in 52%, induced sputum microscopy in
26%, culture in 17%, and Xpert MTB/
RIF in 8% of children. Only 86% of the
sites provided treatment of TB disease,
and 30% never provided isoniazid preventive
therapy to HIV-infected children.
Recent studies have found that
HIV-infected pregnant women are at
increased risk of transmitting both
HIV and TB to their infants.5 Although
WHO guidelines6 recommend integration
of TB/HIV activities into prevention
of mother-to-child HIV transmission
programs, this integration is inadequate
or totally lacking in most programs in
countries with a high TB burden.7