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Risk factors for positive tuberculin skin test in Guinea-Bissau

Gustafson, Per LU ; Lisse, Ida ; Gomes, Victor ; Vieira, Cesaltina S. ; Lienhardt, Christian ; Nauclér, Anders LU ; Jensen, Henrik and Aaby, Peter (2007) In Epidemiology 18(3). p.340-347
Abstract
Background: The tuberculin skin test is used for tracing of tuberculosis transmission and identifying individuals in need of prophylactic treatment. Methods: Using a case-control study design, we recruited 220 smear-positive tuberculosis cases and 223 randomly selected healthy community controls in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, during 1999-2000. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on family members of cases and controls (n = 1059 and n = 92 1, respectively). Induration of 10 mm or greater was considered positive. Risk factors were calculated for children (< 15 years) and adults separately in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test was 41% in case-contacts compared with 22% in... (More)
Background: The tuberculin skin test is used for tracing of tuberculosis transmission and identifying individuals in need of prophylactic treatment. Methods: Using a case-control study design, we recruited 220 smear-positive tuberculosis cases and 223 randomly selected healthy community controls in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, during 1999-2000. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on family members of cases and controls (n = 1059 and n = 92 1, respectively). Induration of 10 mm or greater was considered positive. Risk factors were calculated for children (< 15 years) and adults separately in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test was 41% in case-contacts compared with 22% in control-contacts, resulting in a prevalence ratio of 1.48 (95% confidence interval = 1.37-1.60). Positive skin tests among case-contacts increased with age for children, as well as with proximity to a case during the night, for both children and adults. A Bacille Calmette Guerin scar increased the likelihood of having a positive tuberculin skin test for adults in case households, but not in other categories of contacts. Among control-contacts the prevalence of positive skin test was associated with older age in children, history of tuberculosis in the family, and a positive tuberculin skin test of the control person. Conclusions: Risk factors for a positive tuberculin skin test among case- and control-contacts are closely related to tuberculosis exposure. Having a BCG scar did not increase the risk of positive skin test in unexposed individuals. Tuberculin skin testing remains a useful tool for diagnosing tuberculosis infection. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Epidemiology
volume
18
issue
3
pages
340 - 347
publisher
Wolters Kluwer
external identifiers
  • wos:000245993300007
  • scopus:34247251473
ISSN
1531-5487
DOI
10.1097/01.ede.0000259987.46912.2b
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7517c151-f643-44ef-87a3-d8986b6135df (old id 663625)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:12:11
date last changed
2022-03-13 06:44:58
@article{7517c151-f643-44ef-87a3-d8986b6135df,
  abstract     = {{Background: The tuberculin skin test is used for tracing of tuberculosis transmission and identifying individuals in need of prophylactic treatment. Methods: Using a case-control study design, we recruited 220 smear-positive tuberculosis cases and 223 randomly selected healthy community controls in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, during 1999-2000. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on family members of cases and controls (n = 1059 and n = 92 1, respectively). Induration of 10 mm or greater was considered positive. Risk factors were calculated for children (&lt; 15 years) and adults separately in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of positive tuberculin skin test was 41% in case-contacts compared with 22% in control-contacts, resulting in a prevalence ratio of 1.48 (95% confidence interval = 1.37-1.60). Positive skin tests among case-contacts increased with age for children, as well as with proximity to a case during the night, for both children and adults. A Bacille Calmette Guerin scar increased the likelihood of having a positive tuberculin skin test for adults in case households, but not in other categories of contacts. Among control-contacts the prevalence of positive skin test was associated with older age in children, history of tuberculosis in the family, and a positive tuberculin skin test of the control person. Conclusions: Risk factors for a positive tuberculin skin test among case- and control-contacts are closely related to tuberculosis exposure. Having a BCG scar did not increase the risk of positive skin test in unexposed individuals. Tuberculin skin testing remains a useful tool for diagnosing tuberculosis infection.}},
  author       = {{Gustafson, Per and Lisse, Ida and Gomes, Victor and Vieira, Cesaltina S. and Lienhardt, Christian and Nauclér, Anders and Jensen, Henrik and Aaby, Peter}},
  issn         = {{1531-5487}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{340--347}},
  publisher    = {{Wolters Kluwer}},
  series       = {{Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Risk factors for positive tuberculin skin test in Guinea-Bissau}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.ede.0000259987.46912.2b}},
  doi          = {{10.1097/01.ede.0000259987.46912.2b}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}