Latent tuberculosis infection in a military setting diagnosed by whole-blood interferon-gamma assay.
OBJECTIVE
Rapid and accurate diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial in military settings. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of LTBI using a whole-blood interferon-gamma assay based on Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens, and to identify risk factors for LTBI among military personnel in contact with patients with active pulmonary TB.


METHODS
This prospective study investigated contacts in military camps in South Korea of soldiers with active pulmonary TB. The whole-blood interferon-gamma assay was performed using QuantiFERON TB-Gold.


RESULTS
Among the 175 contacts, 25 (14.3%) showed positive results to the assay. Long duration of exposure (OR 2.83; 95% CI: 1.63-4.91), laryngeal TB (OR 6.04; 95% CI: 1.54-23.67) and intensive exposure (OR 5.13; 95% CI: 1.63-16.12) were associated with a positive result.


CONCLUSIONS
A relatively small number of TB contacts in a military setting had LTBI.
Choi
Chang-Min
CM
Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Hwang
Seung Sik
SS
Lee
Chang-Hoon
CH
Lee
Hye Won
HW
Kang
Cheol-In
CI
Kim
Chang-Hoon
CH
Han
Sung Koo
SK
Shim
Young-Soo
YS
Yim
Jae-Joon
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014387:Tuberculosis, Laryngeal / Q000175:diagnosis; D018088:Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / Q000175:diagnosis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007371:Interferon-gamma