Cost-effectiveness of competing diagnostic-therapeutic strategies for visceral leishmaniasis.

摘要: Reported are the results of a formal decision analysis which facilitated choice most appropriate test-treatment strategy for visceral leishmaniasis in areas where disease is endemic. The following strategies were compared: treatment all suspects (strategy A); testing by means parasitological investigation followed positives B); two-step direct agglutination test (DAT) patients with high titres as well those parasitologically confirmed borderline C); and DAT D). each expressed costs US$ per death averted. effectiveness C D was close to that A far better than B. cost-effectiveness ratio (US$ 465 averted) not substantially higher B), cost-effective at US$448 At current prices antimonial drugs, cost depends more on testing. use sensitive serological such recommended basis