Evaluation of TB case finding through systematic contact investigation, Chhattisgarh, India
In a contact investigation, people who were exposed to someone with infectious TB are evaluated for TB infection
Abstract
Rationale
Contact investigation is an established tool for early case detection of tuberculosis (TB). In India, contact investigation is not often conducted, despite national policy, and the yield of contact investigation is not well described.
Objective
To determine the yield of evaluating household contacts of sputum smear-positive TB cases in Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh, India. Methods. Among 14 public health care facilities with sputum smear microscopy services, home visits were conducted to identify household contacts of all registered sputum smear-positive TB cases. We used a standardized protocol to screen for clinical symptoms suggestive of active TB with additional referral for chest radiograph and sputa collection.
Results
From December 2010 to May 2011, 1,556 household contacts of 312 sputum smear-positive TB cases were identified, of which 148 (9.5%) were symptomatic. Among these, 109 (73.6%) were evaluated by sputum examination resulting in 11 cases (10.1%) of sputum smear-positive TB and 4 cases (3.6%) of smear-negative TB. Household visits contributed additional 63% TB cases compared to passive case detection alone.
Conclusion
A standard procedure for conducting household contact investigation identified additional TB cases in the community and offered an opportunity to initiate isoniazid chemoprophylaxis among children.
This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)
Citation
Kshitij Khaparde, Pawan Jethani, Puneet K. Dewan, Sreenivas A. Nair, Madhav Rao Deshpande, Srinath Satyanarayana, Shamim Mannan,Patrick K. Moonan (2015) Evaluation of TB case finding through systematic contact investigation, Chhattisgarh, India Tuberculosis Research and Treatment Volume 2015 (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/670167
Links
Evaluation of TB case finding through systematic contact investigation, Chhattisgarh, India