ACTIVE SEARCH FOR TUBERCULOSIS IN THREE YOUTH DETENTION CENTERS IN PERU

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the rate of tuberculosis (TB) found by using the active search strategy in teenagers and youths in three youth detention centers. TB was screened through the active search algorithm with chest X-ray, the automated reading was carried out by artificial intelligence software, the GeneXpert Ultra MTB/RIF molecular test, and clinical evaluation. A total of 640 individuals were screened, 94 (14.6%) had an abnormal chest X-ray. Of those screened, we obtained 105 GeneXpert tests of which 94 had abnormal X-rays, 9 were respiratory symptomatic and 2 were on antiretroviral treatment with TB clinical picture. We obtained 8 (8.5%) cases of TB detected with GeneXpert, 7 with abnormal radiography and 1 with normal radiography. Finally, of these 8 cases, 3 were cases of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) (42.8%). The rate of screening by active search was 1250 per 100,000 screened, 10 times higher than the rate in the general population. We recommend the inclusion of youth detention centers as target groups for systematic screening and the development of interventions to reduce the risk of TB infection.