Field Applicable Biomarker Assays. Which Sample is Reflective of Active Tuberculosis?

Rabia Hussain

doi:10.4172/2161-1068.1000e109

Abstract

Field Applicable Biomarker Assays. Which Sample is Reflective of Active Tuberculosis?

Highlights

The conventional diagnosis of tubercle infection in contact investigation was mainly based on the tuberculin reaction
In the Osaka City Public Health Office, whether or not tuberculosis contact group investigation is necessary has been decided by an evaluation committee consisting of multiple physicians, public health nurses, and office workers [6]
The major evaluation items include the grade of sputum smear positivity, coughing period, and disease type on chest XP images in index patients, the time of contact with index patients, frequency of ventilation in the main contact place, and the contact space volume

Summary

Methods

The subjects consisted of 686 contacts, who were considered to require contact investigation by the Osaka City Public Health Office Evaluation Committee for Group Investigation (evaluation committee) and examined for tubercle infection using QFT between March 2008 and September 2011. As factors in index patients possibly associated with infection in contacts, the sex, age, disease type on chest XP images, the grade of sputum smear positivity, and coughing period were investigated. As the status of contact with index patients, the contact time and floor area of the contact space as an environmental factor were investigated. To compare factors between the presence and absence of infection, the t-test was used for continuous quantities and the χ2 test for discrete quantities. To clarify factors associated with the presence or absence of infection, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. SPSS13.0J for Windows was used, and p < 0.05 was regarded as significant

Discussion

Introduction

Background of index patients

Background of contacts and QFT