Consistency in pulmonary tuberculosis cases data registered in two network reporting systems in Guangxi

Objective To analyze the status and causes of inconsistency in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases data reported by Infectious Disease Reporting System (IDRS) and Tuberculosis Mnagement Information System (TBMIS)in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi).Methods The data on TB patients reported by both IDRS and TBMIS in Guangxi during 2014 were collected and individual-based comparison was performed to explore the difference between the two datasets and reasons of the inconsistency.Results The general consistency of the data from the two systems was 65.45%.Of the all the TB cases reported by IDRS but unregistered in TBMIS,6 794 (37.74%) were followed-up but not treated in referral hospitals; 5 398 (29.98%) were with follow-up information but could not be traced; and 3 326 (18.47%) were without information for follow-up.The mean successfully referral rate of diagnosed or suspected TB patients seeking medical service in most large-scale general hospitals was 54.95% and there was a significant difference in the rate among the general hospitals in Guangxi (P<0.05).With field surveys,we found that floating status of TB cases,seeking cross-region medical service,and being treated in non-designated hospitals were main reasons for the TB patients being traced but not treated or lost to follow-up.Conclusion The inconsistency in TB cases data registered in IDRS and TBMIS in Guangxi results mainly from unsuccessful referral,poor collaboration between general hospitals and TB dispensaries,and the lack of convergence management for TB cases.