[The QFT-test, a new tool for control of nosocomial infection of tuberculosis].
In Japan, nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis from patients to hospital workers is not rare yet. The morbidity rate of tuberculosis among workers in national hospitals is higher (45.7 in 2003-2005) than the Japanese average rate (24.8 in 2003). The rate is especially high among nurses, indicating 73.2 in 3 years from 2003 to 2005. Although the indivisuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are usually detected by tuberculin skin test in contact investigation, determination is not strict in BCG-vaccinated indivisuals. A novel diagnostic method (QFT-2G; QFT-test) can detect TB infection regardless past history of BCG vaccination. The tuberculin skin test and QFT-test were concurrently studied with 259 workers in National Hospital Organization Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center. It is conjectured from the study-results that the QFT-test is a more accurate tool for detecting LTBI. Similar studies as 3 contact investigations in Kobe-city also came to the same inference. Although QFT-test is still new, and some questions remain to be answered, that is a useful test in medical examination for hospital workers, providing a new tool for control of nosocomial infection of TB.
Sakatani
Mitsunori
M
National Hospital Organization, Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center, 1180 Nagasone-cho, Kita-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka 591-8555, Japan. sakatani@kch.hosp.go.jp
D000328:Adult; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014374:Tuberculin Test
D007371:Interferon-gamma