The ACE Active TB Study
Improving the detection of active tuberculosis (TB) in accident and emergency (A&E) departments and evaluation of health protection service interventions against tuberculosis.
Project Summary
This study is focused upon early diagnosis, referral and treatment of active tuberculosis (TB), which has two key components:
1) ensuring optimal outcome for individuals;
2) contributing to disease control in public health terms by preventing further spread.
A&E Departments are an important point of testing and referral for the client group that constitute those at greatest risk, as for many this will be their only interaction with the health service. Currently, A&E Departments contribute about 20% of those diagnosed with TB. The majority of these individuals are most likely to have presented with symptoms indicative of disease, compared to those attending for other reasons who would have been unlikely to have been tested or referred.
The ACE Study seeks to evaluate specific measures currently being undertaken by Public Health England and the NHS to control TB, as well as investigate whether case finding for active TB in A&E departments would improve TB control. The economic impact of these interventions are evaluated, providing a measure of its value for money.
Key project information
Dates: 01/07/2016 - 31/12/2017
Status: Completed
UCL lead/Principal Investigator: Professor Ibrahim Abubakar
Partners: Public Health England
Location: UK
Funding: Department of Health
Chief Investigator – Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, UCL
Project Manager – Jo Southern, PHE
Research Administrator – Sarah Sterlini, UCL
Administrative Assistant – Kay Musonda, UCL
Barts Health NHS Trust
Principal Investigator, Barts Health – Dr Heinke Kunst
Registrar, Barts Newham Hospital - Devan Vaghela
Registrar, Barts Newham Hospital - Rahman, Ananna
Research Nurse, Royal London Hospital - Imogen Skene & Olivia Bolton
Research Nurse, Barts Newham Hospital - Nirmala Ghimere
Research Nurse, Whipps Cross Hospital – Georgia Norman, Shelley Page & Rhys Thomas
London Northwest Healthcare NHS Trust
Principal Investigator, Northwick Park Hospital – Dr William Lyn
Consultant, Northwick Park Hospital - Dr Ibrahim Nazar
Research Nurse - Thembi Mpofu
West Middlesex Hospital
Principal Investigator, West Middlesex Hospital - Dr Helen Burgess
Research Nurse – Ambreen Imran