Abstract
Objectives: Longitudinal studies in household contacts to identify subgroups at risk of active tuberculosis are lacking. Methods: Household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients were prospectively enrolled to receive chest radiography, sputum studies, and T-SPOT.TB assay at initial visit. Repeat examinations every 6 months for 3 years, and 4-month rifampin preventive therapy for T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts were provided. We investigated factors predicting T-SPOT.TB-positivity and active pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: 583 contacts were enrolled with a follow-up duration of 20.7±9.4 months. 176 (30.2%) were T-SPOT.TB-positive initially and 32 (18.2%) of them received preventive therapy. Old age, living in the same room/house with the index case, the index case having a high smear grade (3+~4+) and pulmonary cavitation were associated with T-SPOT.TB-positivity. Active tuberculosis developed in 9T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts; risk factors included T-SPOT.TB-positivity without preventive therapy, living in the same room, and the index case being ≤50 years or female. 108 (61.4%) T-SPOT.TB-positive contacts had repeat examinations. Forty-five had T-SPOT.TB reversion and none of them developed active tuberculosis. Conclusion: Household contacts who are T-SPOT.TB-positive and live in the same room as the index case are at risk of active tuberculosis and require preventive therapy and close follow-up.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 291-298 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Infection |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Household contact
- Latent tuberculosis infection
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Risk factor
- T-SPOT.TB
- Taiwan
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases