[An alternative for improving the diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis and other bronchopulmonary disorders in Cuba].

Objective: The diagnosis of tuberculosis in patients with negative acid-fast bacillus smears poses a challenge to both clinicians and public health authorities. In an attempt to aid diagnosis in such cases, an expert committee was established in Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba in 1995. The aim of this study was to describe the progress of the committee's work and the corresponding results for the period 1996 through 2003.

[Costs estimation of tuberculosis cases detection. La Habana Vieja Municipality, Cuba. 2002].

Background: The Cuban Tuberculosis Control Program has been able to significantly reduce the tuberculosis cases incidence in all its forms. La Habana Vieja municipality has maintained the highest incidence in Havana City province during 5 years and one of the highest in the country.

Objective: To estimate the cost of Tuberculosis cases detection in Habana Vieja municipality, in the year 2002.

[Pulmonary tuberculosis in persons from 4 municipalities in the City of Havana and diagnosed at university hospitals].

A retrospective, descriptive and exploratory study on the frequency of tuberculosis diagnosis in patients from 4 municipalities of the City of Havana was undertaken. Of a total number of 195 TB-suspected cases, 25 showed enough evidence recorded in their medical histories and 10 of them were finally diagnosed with tuberculosis: 5 BAAR(+) and 5 BAAR(-). Delay in getting acid-fast bacilli test results was 3 days or less in 75% of cases, being two days the mean value.