Association of prevalence of tuberculin reactions with closeness of contact among household contacts of new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients
Lt. Liu et B. Zhang, Association of prevalence of tuberculin reactions with closeness of contact among household contacts of new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, INT J TUBE, 4(3), 2000, pp. 275-277
Citations number
2
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE
OBJECTIVES: Among household contacts of newly diagnosed smear-positive pulm
onary tuberculosis (TB) patients, to examine the association of apparent tu
berculosis transmission with the closeness and duration of contact.
METHODS: Household contacts of newly diagnosed patients with smear-positive
pulmonary TB were identified, as well as a healthy population sample. Hous
ehold contacts were categorized into three groups based on closeness, regul
arity, and duration of contact with index cases. All subjects underwent tub
erculin testing.
RESULTS: Among the household contacts, 47 of 112 (42%) of very close/intima
te contacts had positive tuberculin tests, compared to 121 of 356 (34%) clo
se/regular contacts and 23 of 178 (13%) not close/sporadic contacts and 55
of 355 (16%) of a healthy population sample.
CONCLUSIONS: Even among household contacts of smear-positive pulmonary TB p
atients, there were major differences in the proximity and duration of cont
act which were strongly associated with differences in the prevalence of po
sitive tuberculin reactions.