Comparison of latent tuberculosis infection rate between contacts with active tuberculosis and non-contacts. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoo, Jung-Wan; Jo, Kyung-Wook; Park, Gu Young; Shim, Tae Sun
• Is Part Of: Respiratory medicine. Volume 111(2016)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Latent tuberculosis infection -- Tuberculin skin test -- QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube -- Close contacts; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Chest -- Diseases -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Thorax -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.12.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6111

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) rate is usually high in contacts with infectious TB patients. In TB-prevalent country, however, background LTBI rate is already high in general population. Aim: To compare the LTBI rate between controls and recognized close contacts. Method: Between February 2010 and January 2014, 183 controls and 376 contacts with TB infection were enrolled. The tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON ® -TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) were used to diagnose LTBI. Results: Higher TST positivity was found in the control group than in the contact group (37.7% vs. 29.9%, P = 0.073). The positive QFT-GIT rate was higher in contacts than in controls (32.6% vs . 24.1%, P = 0.054). A significantly higher positive QFT-GIT rate was found in contacts under 30 years of age than in controls (16.1% vs . 0%, P = 0.005). Conclusion: In a TB-prevalent country, both TST and QFT-GIT were limited in the diagnosis of recent LTBI in adult contacts probably due to the high background LTBI rate. However, QFT-GIT seems to be better than TST in differentiating LTBI status in contacts younger than 30 year old. Highlights: In a TB-prevalent country, TST and QFT-GIT were limited in the diagnosis of LTBI. Positive TST rate was not different between controls and contacts aged <30. Positive QFT-GIT rate was higher among contacts aged <30 than in controls. QFT-GIT seems to be better than TST in differentiating LTBI in contacts aged <30.