Preferences of healthcare workers using tongue swabs for tuberculosis diagnosis during COVID-19

We've been saying for years that non-invasive TB screening using tongue swabs could transform the global fight against TB, by enabling broader and easier TB screening. What we HADN'T done was ask healthcare workers how they feel about the method. We finally got around to it with this mixed-methods study led by UW Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences graduate student Renée Codsi. ~Dr. Gerard Cangelosi, PhD, University of Washington

Spoiler: They generally prefer it over sputum collection.

The collection and handling of sputum samples for TB diagnosis poses exposure risks to healthcare workers (HCWs). An alternative sample collection method, tongue swabbing, was designed to help mitigate this risk, and is under evaluation in multiple settings. This study assessed risk perceptions among South African HCWs who used tongue swabbing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were HCWs with experience using experimental tongue swabbing methods at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI). We used key informant semi-structured interviews to assess attitudes toward two strategies: Provider-collected swabbing (PS) and supervised self-swabbing (SSS). Facilitators included aversion to sputum (PS and SSS), perceived safety of the method (SSS), and educational resources to train patients (SSS). Barriers included cultural stigmas, as well as personal security and control of their work environment when collecting swabs in community settings. COVID-19 risk perception was a significant barrier to the PS method. Motivators for HCW use of tongue swabbing varied by use case. These findings point to a need for contextually specific educational resources to enhance safety of and adherence to these novel methods.

Read the full article here: Preferences of healthcare workers using tongue swabs for tuberculosis diagnosis during COVID-19 - PubMed (nih.gov)