In Practice

Hospital-based evaluation of tuberculosis-exposed neonates: An approach to complement the South African national guidance

A van der Westhuizen, A Dramowski, H S Schaaf, M Groenewald, A Bekker

Abstract


The South African National Department of Health published updated guidelines in 2019 for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of communicable diseases. The proposed management of a neonate born to a mother with tuberculosis (TB) was included, and recommended referral of all symptomatic TB-exposed neonates to hospital for TB evaluation. However, no standard approach exists for evaluating hospitalised, symptomatic TB-exposed neonates, including preterm and low-birthweight (LBW) neonates born to mothers with TB. We use a clinical case report to illustrate a suggested approach to hospital-based evaluation of TB-exposed neonates, including preterm and LBW neonates. Guidance for the interpretation of different TB screening investigations in this population is also provided.


Authors' affiliations

A van der Westhuizen, Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals, East London, South Africa

A Dramowski, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

H S Schaaf, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

M Groenewald, Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

A Bekker, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa; Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

Full Text

PDF (171KB)

Keywords

Tuberculosis; Neonate; Preventive therapy; Treatment

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2021;111(8):724-728. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i8.15575

Article History

Date submitted: 2021-08-02
Date published: 2021-08-02

Article Views

Abstract views: 3402
Full text views: 1967

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here