Not everything that can be counted counts: defining and evaluating tuberculosis mortality in Australia

Abstract

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Collection of data regarding TB-associated death by programmatic services is primarily to allow opportunities for improvement of response and reduction in mortality. It follows, then, that to be maximally useful, potentially TB-associated death should not be excluded from classification without a clear basis. This committee therefore takes the view that collection of all-cause mortality, supplemented by expert review regarding likely primary cause and secondary contributors to death, is most appropriate.