Active case-finding for tuberculosis in India.

Early identification of presumptive tuberculosis (TB) cases through active case-finding (ACF) would be an important complementary strategy to meet the national urgency in accelerating case detection to achieve the goals of 'End TB' strategy. ACF activities have yielded additional cases in different vulnerable groups in India. The yield of cases depends on the screening tool available, the characteristics of the high-risk population being screened, and most importantly, the linkage between effective diagnostic and treatment facilities. The ACF strategy could be both economically and epidemiologically relevant if it could bring down the level of transmission. This needs long-term research focusing on outcomes such as cases averted and reduction in the prevalence of the disease. Available evidence suggests that ACF is likely to be feasible in Indian settings but needs to be scaled up rapidly to create a good impact

Addressing the challenges in implementing airborne infection control guidelines and embracing the policies

Airborne pathogens not only lead to epidemics and pandemics, but are associated with morbidity and mortality. Administrative or managerial control, environmental control and use of personal protective equipments are the three components in airborne infection control. National and international guidelines for ideal airborne infection control (AIC) practices are available for more than a decade; however the implementation of these need to be looked into, challenges identified and addressed for effective prevention of airborne disease transmission. Commitment of multiple stakeholders from policy makers to patients, budget allocation and adequate fund flow, functioning AIC committees at multiple levels with an inbuilt reporting and monitoring mechanism, adaptation of the AIC practices at various health care levels, supportive supervision, training and ongoing education for health care providers, behaviour change communication to patients to adapt the practices at health care facility level, by health care personnel and patients will facilitate health system preparedness for handling any emergencies, but will also help in reducing the burden of persisting airborne diseases such as tuberculosis. Operational research in this least focused area will also help to identify and address the challenge