title: Latent tuberculosis infection in a military setting diagnosed by whole-blood interferon-gamma assay.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seung Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheol-In
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jae-Joon
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007371:Interferon-gamma