Keywords:
Infection, Outcomes analysis, Conventional radiography, CT, Thorax, Emergency
Authors:
I. Casazza1, M. A. Guglietta2, A. Speranza3, V. David1, C. De Dominicis4; 1Roma/IT, 2Rome, Lazio/IT, 3Roma, RM/IT, 4Rome/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2012/C-1609
Purpose
Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
with a global infection prevalence of about 32%(1).
After inhalation,
droplet nuclei are deposited within the terminal airspaces of the lung(2).
In most cases the infection is successfully limited by alveolar macrophages; in a minority of cases,
however,
the infection progresses to active disease.
The current epidemiological evidence in Italy show a low incidence in the population as a whole,
but also a high concentration in some specific population groups(3,
6).
Hospitalization of TB patients through the emergency room is an indicator of the acuity of the disease and the need for medical care(7).
Emergency ward is a frequent and important point of contact for these patients although the explanation of such a phenomenon,
besides acuity,
can be found in several other variables.
The rapid identification of patients with active tuberculosis is crucial in order to respiratory isolation and early treatment(8).
Pulmonary disease is the most common clinical manifestation of TB,
associated with symptoms as caugh,
chest pain,
dyspnea,
fever,
malaise,
weight loss and hemoptysis(2,
9).
The aim of this work is to analyze TB patients hospitalizations at Sant’Andrea Hospital by chest x-ray (CXR) and/or computed tomography (CT) between 2008 and 2010.