Usage of artificial intelligence tools in community-level X-ray triaging for tuberculosis in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Background: The end tuberculosis (TB) strategy emphasises early and correct diagnosis of TB. Chest X-ray (CXR) is an essential tool for triaging and screening TB and confirming the diagnosis in fewer situations. Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) implemented Mobile Diagnostic Units (MDUs) retrofitted...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J Prabakaran, S Sangeetha, Kiran Kumar Desamani, P Sakthivel, K Ravishankar, J Lavanaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Current Medicine Research and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cmrpjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2352-0817;year=2023;volume=13;issue=6;spage=280;epage=285;aulast=Prabakaran
Description
Summary:Background: The end tuberculosis (TB) strategy emphasises early and correct diagnosis of TB. Chest X-ray (CXR) is an essential tool for triaging and screening TB and confirming the diagnosis in fewer situations. Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) implemented Mobile Diagnostic Units (MDUs) retrofitted with X-rays with artificial intelligence (AI). Objectives: The study's objectives were to determine the X-ray triaging performance in MDU vans using AI tools in GCC, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: AI is to increase access to quality TB screening diagnostics in high-risk locations. Genki AI-powered Public Health Screening Solution from Deeptek used for TB triaging after uploading CXR images from MDU. X-ray has been uploaded in AI software once taken, and the results were available immediately after uploading. The radiologist reports helped to take further courses of action. Results: A total of 79,462 CXR was taken from April 2019 to April 2022 from 7 MDU vans. Amongst 3.4% were identified as suggestive of TB, 1.4% old TB, 0.89% COVID (from 2020) and 7.2% other chest abnormalities. The sensitivity of CXR-AI was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.97, 0.98), and the specificity was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.96, 0.97). Conclusion: AI helps in faster triage for further public health action and eliminates the challenges of the availability of functional X-rays, interpretation and reporting.
ISSN:2352-0817
2352-0825