Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in healthy young adults in a country with high tuberculosis burden and BCG vaccination at birth

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Abstract

Background: One third of the worlds population is thought to have latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) with the potential for subsequent reactivation of disease. To better characterize this important population, studies comparing Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and the new interferon- release assays including QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) have been conducted in different parts of the world, but most of these have been in countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the use of QFT-GIT assay as compared with TST in the diagnosis of LTBI in Ethiopia, a country with a high burden of TB and routine BCG vaccination at birth. Methods. Healthy medical and paramedical male students at the Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia were enrolled into the study from December 2008 to February 2009. The TST and QFTG-IT assay were performed using standard methods. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 20.9 years. From a total of 107 study participants, 46.7% (95%CI: 37.0% to 56.6%) had a positive TST result (TST10 mm), 43.9% (95%CI: 34.3% to 53.9%) had a positive QFT-GIT assay result and 44.9% (95%CI: 35.2% to 54.8%) had BCG scar. There was strong agreement between TST (TST 10mm) and QFT-GIT assay (Kappa=0.83, p value=0.000). Conclusion: The TST and QFT-GIT assay show similar efficacy for the diagnosis of LTBI in healthy young adults residing in Ethiopia, a country with high TB incidence. © 2012 Dagnew et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Figures

  • Table 1 Characteristics of study participants (n =107), students from Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
  • Table 2 Results of logistic regression for a positive TST (TST≥10 mm) result
  • Table 3 Results of logistic regression for a positive QFT-GIT assay result
  • Table 4 Agreement between TST (at two cut-offs) and QFT-GIT assay results stratified by BCG scar status
  • Figure 1 Scatter plot of TST measurement and QFT-GIT assay (IU/ml) Tuberculin PPD RT 23 intradermally on the ventral aspect of the left forearm measured using a plastic ruler graduated in millimeters. A positive TST resu In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay was performed according to the manufacturer’s ins QuantiFERONW-TB Gold IT Analysis Software and reported as Negative, Pos latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) test results, TST in mm and QFT-GIT in IU coefficient = 0.81, p<0.05.

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APA

Dagnew, A. F., Hussein, J., Abebe, M., Zewdie, M., Mihret, A., Bedru, A., … Aseffa, A. (2012). Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in healthy young adults in a country with high tuberculosis burden and BCG vaccination at birth. BMC Research Notes, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-415

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