Xerinda S1, Oliveira O2, Lucas R3, Fonseca JE4, Varela P5, Cotter J6, Duarte R7.
1Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto.
2Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Predictive Medicine and Public Health, University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal / EPIUnit.
3Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
4Rheumatology Research Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa.
5Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia Portuguese Society of Dermatology and Venereology.
6Portugal Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Br.
7National Reference Centre for MDRTB Medical School, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
ABSTRACT
Delegates from the Tuberculosis Committee of the Portuguese Pulmonology Society, the Portuguese Rheumatology Society, the Portuguese Dermatology and Venereology Society and the Portuguese Gastroenterology Society, have revised and updated, in 2012, their guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis in patients that are candidates for therapy with biologic drugs. In order to identify perceived barriers to tuberculosis screening among patients candidate to anti-TNF treatment, we performed a cross-sectional survey including rheumatologists, gastroenterologists and dermatologists who prescribed anti-TNF agents, identified by the respective Scientific Societies, throughout Portugal. Ninety-five physicians (85 specialist and 10 trainees with more than 3 years of practice) participated in the survey, including 42 rheumatologists (response rate 28%), 32 dermatologists (12% response) and 21 gastroenterologists (4% response). No information was collected on non-respondents. This study showed that most of the participants were aware of tuberculosis risk and that they screened patients for tuberculosis following guidelines.
