Diagnosing tuberculosis in four hours instead of three weeks

Tuberculosis remains a devastating global disease, impacting approximately 11 million individuals worldwide. Lithuania faces a particularly severe challenge, reporting 23 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a rate significantly higher than the seven cases per 100,000 found in France. This elevated incidence is largely attributed to the collapse of health infrastructures following the fall of the Soviet Union, which facilitated the spread of tuberculosis. In 1998, the country recorded 87 cases per 100,000, but since then, Lithuania has been dedicated to reducing these numbers and aligning them with Western European standards.

To combat the spread of tuberculosis, the European Union has provided substantial investment for the renovation of the Romainiai hospital in Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city. This facility is an integral part of Kauno klinikos, the largest hospital complex in the Baltic States. The Romainiai hospital has a long history of treating tuberculosis patients, dating back to 1937. While it once housed 500 beds dedicated to tuberculosis care, approximately 150 beds are currently available, with a majority occupied by patients suffering from the disease.

Between 2016 and 2020, the hospital underwent extensive renovation, a four-year project costing over €13 million. The European Union's cohesion policy funded 85% of this significant investment. These upgrades have resulted in modern patient rooms and the implementation of state-of-the-art medical equipment. The hospital is now equipped with fibrescopes for performing bronchoscopies, a crucial examination of the bronchial tubes that aids in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Furthermore, the hospital has embraced digital technology by digitizing its X-ray services. These digitized images are stored in a secure database, accessible to doctors across Lithuania, facilitating prompt consultations and diagnoses. The most groundbreaking advancement, however, is the introduction of a genetic test that can provide a diagnosis in as little as four hours and simultaneously detect drug resistance. Samples for this test are collected from patients throughout Lithuania, enabling the rapid initiation of appropriate treatment.

Treating tuberculosis is often a protracted and challenging process, especially when patients exhibit resistance to standard treatments like Rifampicin or other drugs. In cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, treatment durations can extend up to two years, a significant increase from the typical six months. A major hurdle in managing tuberculosis is its often subtle presentation; Dr. Greta Musteikiene highlights common symptoms such as coughing, fever, weight loss, and fatigue.

Alma, a patient at the hospital for six months, faces a potential treatment duration of 18 months, with the hope of completing her therapy at home. Her initial days at the hospital, located 100 km from her residence, were particularly difficult due to concerns about social stigma. While her colleagues were supportive and underwent testing, Alma will not be returning to her previous job sorting vegetables in cold environments, as she can no longer tolerate low temperatures. Tuberculosis is a disease that can infect an individual without causing illness; out of the two billion people infected globally, only about 5% become symptomatic. The disease disproportionately affects disadvantaged populations and individuals with alcoholism, but anyone can contract it through close contact with an infected, coughing person.

The Kaunas hospital continues its dedicated efforts to reduce tuberculosis rates. Over the past 60 years, the number of tuberculosis patients in Lithuania has decreased by an impressive 90%, demonstrating the progress made in combating the disease.