Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation as a proved approach for finding new TB cases, is not fully performed in Kyrgyzstan. In 2018, the country started aligning the National Guidelines for tracking contacts with the WHO recommendations by expanding the definition for TB index cases to all close contacts, regardless of their TB risk status. This cross-sectional census aimed to determine the active case detection changes among TB contacts after implementation of a new TB tracing strategy using the National Surveillance data. We compared populations in Chui and Issyk-Kul regions of Kyrgyzstan who had contacts with TB index cases before (2017) and after (2018) strategic changes for the rates of indexes, contacts, screened contacts, and detected TB among screened contacts. New TB tracing strategy resulted in increased numbers of indexes (21%) and contacts (36%). Though the smaller number of contacts (1730 vs. 1590) have been screened in 2018, the proportion of TB diagnosed was substantially higher (95% CI: 0.024-0.005; p = 0.002) in 2018 vs. 2017. The mean numbers of TB contacts per-one-index-case also has increased dramatically by 117% (1.8 vs. 3.9) in Chui and by 43% (3.0 vs. 4.3) in Issyk-Kul regions (95% CI: 3.20-3.37; p < 0.001 and 95% CI: 2.97-3.09; p < 0.001, respectively) between 2018 and 2017. Extending new tracing approach to other regions of Kyrgyzstan will increase the number of identified contacts, leading to better TB control in the country and prevention of more severe TB development among the unidentified contacts.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation as a proved approach for finding new TB cases, is not fully performed in Kyrgyzstan
Statistically significantly more cases who were in contacts with the DS-TB patients were identified in the study group than in the comparison group, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-0.90; p = 0.0001 (Table 2)
Though in majority of cases in both groups, the contact persons diagnosed with TB were males, statistically significantly more male TB cases were detected among the study group than in the comparison group: 44 (97.8%) vs. 16 (69.6%), respectively
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation as a proved approach for finding new TB cases, is not fully performed in Kyrgyzstan. Conclusion: Extending new tracing approach to other regions of Kyrgyzstan will increase the number of identified contacts, leading to better TB control in the country and prevention of more severe TB development among the unidentified contacts. Contact tracing helps to identify new cases at an earlier stage and to start treatment earlier, since the contacts have a higher risk of developing TB than the general population. Late diagnosis and treatment initiation might become a cause for more severe forms of TB development among unidentified contacts [3] It increases TB case detection and prevents further disease transmission [3,4,5]. Systematic reviews of published studies from low- and middle-income countries show that from 3.5% to 5.5% of active TB could be found among previously undiagnosed contact persons [2,4,6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
