{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T15:45:28Z","timestamp":1786117528542,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"South African Medical Association NPC","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785974400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["S Afr Med J"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Tuberculosis (TB) remains the deadliest infectious disease globally, with gaps in case detection hindering its control. Active case-finding (ACF) comprises active screening of at-risk populations, including asymptomatic individuals, who constitute over half of TB prevalence in high-burden areas and who may contribute to community-based transmission. Common ACF models in community settings include door- to-door screening or mobile, vehicle-based screening using chest X-ray and\/or molecular testing modalities. Other forms include healthcare facility-based screening and mass screening in congregate settings. The World Health Organization recommends ACF for communities with a TB prevalence of \u22650.5%, and its implementation is most effective in TB \u2018hot spots\u2019. ACF can also be focused on specific at-risk groups such as household contacts and people living with HIV. Despite resource and logistical challenges, community-based ACF trials have demonstrated significant reductions in TB prevalence with repeated rounds of screening. In practice, however, community-based ACF is rarely undertaken by TB programmes in endemic countries, owing to limited funding (\u2018willingness to pay\u2019) and a lack of context-specific, evidence-based operational guidance on ACF implementation. Therefore, the real-world effect of ACF will likely depend on implementation intensity, the use of scalable and accurate screening and diagnostic tools, and engagement with communities and health systems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.7196\/samj.2026.v116i6b.4036","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T14:09:57Z","timestamp":1786025397000},"page":"e4036","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["What\u2019s new in TB diagnosis? A spotlight on active case-finding"],"prefix":"10.7196","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0647-607X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"A J","family":"Scott","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"T","family":"Perumal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S","family":"Oelofse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A","family":"Esmail","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"K","family":"Dheda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"4425","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"container-title":["South African Medical Journal"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T14:09:58Z","timestamp":1786025398000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/samajournals.co.za\/index.php\/samj\/article\/view\/4036"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7196\/samj.2026.v116i6b.4036","relation":{},"ISSN":["2078-5135","0256-9574"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2078-5135","type":"electronic"},{"value":"0256-9574","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]}}}