Abstract: Objective To analyze the referral and tracing status of PTB patients reported through internet-based infectious disease reporting system by non-TB institutions in Chaohu city, to evaluate the status of cooperation and coordination between TB and non-TB institutions, and provide evidence for increasing TB case finding.Methods TB control monthly reports of 5 counties of Chaohu city from 2007 to 2009 were collected to analyze the status of referral and tracking in place of TB patients reported by non-TB institutions.  Results The number of TB patients and suspicious TB referral by non-TB institutions were 1 697, 1 793 and 1 738 cases respectively from 2007 to 2009. The number of referral in place patients was 688, 677 and 543 cases respectively. The corresponding referral in place rate was 40.5%, 37.8% and 31.2%. A total of 785, 957 and 961 patients visited TB control institution after tracking, the tracking in place rate was 80.4%,87.2% and 82.2%, which was significantly statistical higher than the referral in place rate (P<0.05). Conclusions There are still some problems in referral in patients reported by non-TB institutions through internet-based infectious disease reporting system, therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the cooperation between TB institutes and medical agencies in order to improve the overall in place rate of TB patients.

Key words: tuberculosis,pulmonary/prevention and control, patient transfer, contact tracing, computer communication networks, Chaohu city