TY - JOUR
T1 - Tuberculosis contact investigation in low prevalence countries
T2 - A European consensus
AU - Erkens, C. G M
AU - Kamphorst, M.
AU - Abubakar, I.
AU - Bothamley, G. H.
AU - Chemtob, D.
AU - Haas, W.
AU - Migliori, G. B.
AU - Rieder, H. L.
AU - Zellweger, J. P.
AU - Lange, C.
PY - 2010/10/1
Y1 - 2010/10/1
N2 - Contact investigation to identify individuals with tuberculosis and latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important component of tuberculosis control in low tuberculosis incidence countries. This document provides evidence-based and best-practice policy recommendations for contact tracing among high- and medium-priority contacts in a variety of settings. It provides a basis for national guidelines on contact investigation and tuberculosis outbreak management, and should support countries and tuberculosis control managers in evaluating and revising national policies. A review of existing guidelines, a literature search, several meetings and consultation with experts were used to formulate and grade recommendations for action during contact investigation. Available tests to identify individuals with latent infection with M. tuberculosis are designed to identify immune response against mycobacterial antigens and have variable predictive value for the likelihood to develop active tuberculosis in different populations. Contact investigation should therefore be limited to situations with a clear likelihood of transmission or to those with a higher probability of developing active tuberculosis, for instance, young children and immunocompromised persons. A risk assessment-based approach is recommended, where the need to screen contacts is prioritised on the basis of the infectiousness of the index case, intensity of exposure and susceptibility of contacts. Copyright
AB - Contact investigation to identify individuals with tuberculosis and latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important component of tuberculosis control in low tuberculosis incidence countries. This document provides evidence-based and best-practice policy recommendations for contact tracing among high- and medium-priority contacts in a variety of settings. It provides a basis for national guidelines on contact investigation and tuberculosis outbreak management, and should support countries and tuberculosis control managers in evaluating and revising national policies. A review of existing guidelines, a literature search, several meetings and consultation with experts were used to formulate and grade recommendations for action during contact investigation. Available tests to identify individuals with latent infection with M. tuberculosis are designed to identify immune response against mycobacterial antigens and have variable predictive value for the likelihood to develop active tuberculosis in different populations. Contact investigation should therefore be limited to situations with a clear likelihood of transmission or to those with a higher probability of developing active tuberculosis, for instance, young children and immunocompromised persons. A risk assessment-based approach is recommended, where the need to screen contacts is prioritised on the basis of the infectiousness of the index case, intensity of exposure and susceptibility of contacts. Copyright
KW - Active case finding
KW - Consensus statement
KW - Contact investigation
KW - Latent tuberculosis infection
KW - Preventive chemotherapy
KW - Tuberculosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956599594&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956599594&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1183/09031936.00201609
DO - 10.1183/09031936.00201609
M3 - Article
C2 - 20889463
AN - SCOPUS:77956599594
VL - 36
SP - 925
EP - 949
JO - European Journal of Respiratory Diseases
JF - European Journal of Respiratory Diseases
SN - 0903-1936
IS - 4
ER -