Surveillance of Employees of Swiss Federal Asylum Centres for Latent Tuberculosis Infection

Respiration ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 369-373
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Zellweger ◽  
Ariane Zellweger-Landry ◽  
Jean-Marie Egger ◽  
Annette Koller-Doser ◽  
Axel Jeremias Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Release Assay ◽  
Latent Tb ◽  
Latent Tb Infection

Background: Asylum seekers in Switzerland have to register in federal asylum centres (FACs) before formal permission to enter the country. Some of them may have active tuberculosis (TB), exposing fellow refugees and employees. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of TB infection among employees of Swiss FACs. Methods: Between 2010 and 2018, a free interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was offered to all employees of 8 FACs, at employment and at yearly intervals. We defined latent TB infection as IGRA conversion from negative to positive. IGRA-positive employees were referred to a medical centre for further clinical follow-up. Results: 1,427 tests were performed among 737 employees (54.6% male). 403 (55%) persons were tested only once; 330 (44.5%) were tested several times; for 4 (0.5%) persons, the number of IGRA tests is unknown. Twenty employees (2.7%) had a positive IGRA at baseline, 2 (0.6%) converted from negative to positive during follow-up, resulting in an incidence of 22/10,000 person-years. We observed no case of active TB among employees. Conclusions: The prevalence of latent TB among employees to Swiss FACs and the risk of acquiring TB infection through work-related exposure are low. Yearly IGRA controls in the absence of documented TB exposure seem unnecessary.

scholarly journals Interferon Gamma Release Assay After BCG Vaccination Among Newborns and Family Members Living in an Overcrowded Area in Jakarta, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisca Srioetami Tanoerahar ◽  
Indri Rooslamiati ◽  
Natalie Kipuw ◽  
Hadiyanto ◽  
Soegianto Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Pulmonary Tb ◽  
Bcg Vaccination ◽  
Release Assay ◽  
Latent Tb ◽  
Poor Area ◽  
Latent Tb Infection

Abstract IntroductionActive tuberculosis (TB) patient is a potential source of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in an overcrowded and poor area. Family members living in the same house may have been infected or latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) may develop. The aim of the study was to explore LTBI among newborns and their family members living in an overcrowded area in Jakarta, Indonesia. MethodsA prospective analytical study was conducted among newborns from October 2016 to March 2017. Interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) was examined before BCG vaccination and after 12 weeks. In parallel, TB active case finding was performed among family members of the newborns.ResultsOf 135 newborns, only 117 (86.7%) came for BCG vaccination. Of 346 family members screened, 8 (2.3%) were detected as untreated active pulmonary TB, confirmed by positive sputum and/or MTB culture. Family members living in the same house with active TB individuals (p=0.011, OR 2.69) as well as being males (p = 0.025; OR 1.68) had a significant higher risk of having a positive IGRA. ConclusionsUntreated pulmonary TB infection in overcrowded areas infects the surrounding neighbors, resulting in latent TB infection. An active program for detecting pulmonary TB cases and preventive measures need to be taken seriously to contain the potential spreading of the infection.

scholarly journals Recent Progress in Diagnosis Methods for Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Its Clinical Applications

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Ling Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Latent Tb ◽  
Latent Tb Infection

AbstractMost people with latentMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection can partly develop active tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis of this condition bears significance in early TB prevention. To date, the main methods for diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) include tuberculin skin test and interferon γ release test. These two methods feature their own advantages and disadvantages. Although new diagnostic markers continually emerge, no uniform diagnostic criteria are available for TB detection. This study summarizes several methods for diagnosis of LTBI and new related markers and their application value in clinical practice.

5-Year Follow-up of Active Tuberculosis Development From Latent Infection in Rural China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henan Xin ◽  
Haoran Zhang ◽  
Shumin Yang ◽  
Jianmin Liu ◽  
Wei Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latent Infection ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis Infection ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Follow Up Study ◽  
Release Assay

Abstract A 5-year follow-up study found declining disease development rates from latent tuberculosis infection. In the latter 3 years, the incidence, per 100 person-years, was 0.26 for interferon-γ release assay positives and 0.19 for tuberculin skin test positives (P = .28). In addition, all round have been checked.

scholarly journals Performance of an interferon-gamma release assay for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection in children

2007 ◽  
Vol 136 (9) ◽  
pp. 1179-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. OKADA ◽  
T. E. MAO ◽  
T. MORI ◽  
T. MIURA ◽  
T. SUGIYAMA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Mycobacterial Infection ◽  
Sputum Smear ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Release Assay ◽  
Latent Tb ◽  
Latent Tb Infection

SUMMARYNewly developed interferon-gamma release assays have become commercially available to detect tuberculosis (TB) infection in adults. However, little is known about their performance in children. We compared test results between the QuantiFERON-TB® Gold test (QFT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in young children living with pulmonary TB patients in Cambodia. Of 195 children tested with both QFT and TST, the TST-positive rate of 24% was significantly higher than the QFT-positive rate of 17%. The agreement between the test results was considerable (κ-coefficient 0·63). Positive rates increased from 6% to 32% for QFT and from 15% to 43% for TST, according to the sputum smear grades of the index cases. The presence of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scars did not significantly affect the results of TST or QFT in a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, QFT can be a substitute for TST in detecting latent TB infection in childhood contacts aged ⩽5 years, especially in those who may have a false-positive TST due to BCG vaccination or non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection.

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