An approach to the situation of pulmonary tuberculosis in indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent disease in Colombian indigenous communities of the Orinoquia.  The prevalence and incidence of TB in these communities may be underestimated due to an inadequate detection and treatment, and the lack of reliable information. Objective: To explore the situation of pulmonary tuberculosis in selected indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan.Materials and Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan, Meta, Colombia from June 2015 to November 2015. Socio-demographic surveys were applied, and 200 sputum samples from symptomatic patients with respiratory diseases were collected and analyzed with GeneXpert® (real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR).Results: The surveys showed that the indigenous population is exposed to deteriorating conditions in their quality of life, which expose them to a greater risk of suffering from tuberculosis. Two of the samples analyzed showed to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2/191 (1.04%).Conclusions: It is required to implement a differential surveillance system for tuberculosis in indigenous population according to their living conditions, health, and culture, prioritizing a fast and sensitive diagnosis. Keywords: Tuberculosis, indigenous population, health conditions, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p

Aproximación a la situación de la tuberculosis pulmonar en comunidades indígenas del municipio Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent disease in Colombian indigenous communities of the Orinoquia. The prevalence and incidence of TB in these communities may be underestimated due to an inadequate detection and treatment, and the lack of reliable information. Objective: To explore the situation of pulmonary tuberculosis in selected indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan. Materials and Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan, Meta, Colombia from June 2015 to November 2015. Socio-demographic surveys were applied, and 200 sputum samples from symptomatic patients with respiratory diseases were collected and analyzed with GeneXpert® (real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR). Results: The surveys showed that the indigenous population is exposed to deteriorating conditions in their quality of life, which expose them to a greater risk of suffering from tuberculosis. Two of the samples analyzed showed to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2/191 (1.04%). Conclusions: It is required to implement a differential surveillance system for tuberculosis in indigenous population according to their living conditions, health, and culture, prioritizing a fast and sensitive diagnosis. © 2018 Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de La Hab. All rights [email protected]

Aproximación a la situación de la Tuberculosis pulmonar en comunidades indígenas del municipio Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly prevalent disease in Colombian indigenous communities of the Orinoquia.  The prevalence and incidence of TB in these communities may be underestimated due to an inadequate detection and treatment, and the lack of reliable information. Objective: To explore the situation of pulmonary tuberculosis in selected indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan.Materials and Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in indigenous communities of Puerto Gaitan, Meta, Colombia from June 2015 to November 2015. Socio-demographic surveys were applied, and 200 sputum samples from symptomatic patients with respiratory diseases were collected and analyzed with GeneXpert® (real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR).Results: The surveys showed that the indigenous population is exposed to deteriorating conditions in their quality of life, which expose them to a greater risk of suffering from tuberculosis. Two of the samples analyzed showed to be positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2/191 (1.04%).Conclusions: It is required to implement a differential surveillance system for tuberculosis in indigenous population according to their living conditions, health, and culture, prioritizing a fast and sensitive diagnosis. Keywords: Tuberculosis, indigenous population, health conditions, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Introducción: La tuberculosis es altamente prevalente en comunidades indígenas de la Orinoquia colombiana. La prevalencia y la incidencia de esta enfermedad en estas comunidades puede ser subestimada debido a la detección y tratamiento inadecuados, y a falta de información confiable. Objetivo: Explorar la situación de la tuberculosis pulmonar en población indígena en comunidades seleccionadas del municipio de Puerto Gaitán.Materiales y método: Estudio exploratorio de corte transversal realizado entre junio y noviembre de 2015 en resguardos indígenas del municipio de Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia. Se aplicaron encuestas socio demográficas y se recolectaron 200 muestras de esputo de pacientes sintomáticos respiratorios que se analizaron con GeneXpert® (Reacción de en cadena de polimerasa PCR en tiempo real).Resultados: Las encuestas evidencian que la población indígena está expuesta a condiciones de deterioro en su calidad de vida que las exponen a mayor riesgo de padecer tuberculosis. De las muestras analizadas, dos fueron positivas para Mycobacterium tuberculosis 2/191 (1,04%).Conclusiones: Se requiere implementar un sistema de vigilancia diferencial en tuberculosis para la población indígena acorde a sus condiciones de vida, salud y cultura, y priorizar un diagnóstico rápido y sensible.Palabras claves: Tuberculosis, población indígena, condiciones de salud, reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR)