title: Passenger contact investigation associated with a transport driver with pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In October 2008, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in a driver who had transported 762 passengers in the District of Columbia metropolitan area during his infectious period. A passenger contact investigation was conducted by the six public health jurisdictions because of concern that some passengers might be infected with HIV or have other medical conditions that put them at increased risk for developing TB disease if infected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Authorities evaluated 92 of 100 passengers with at least 90 minutes of cumulative exposure. Passengers with fewer than 90 minutes of cumulative exposure were evaluated if they had contacted the health department after exposure and had a medical condition that increased their risk of TB. A tuberculin skin test (TST) result of at least 5 millimeters induration was considered positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 153 passengers who completed TST evaluation, 11 (7%) had positive TST results. TST results were not associated with exposure time or high-risk medical conditions. No TB cases were identified in the passengers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The investigation yielded insufficient evidence that Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission to passengers had occurred. TB-control programs should consider transportation-related passenger contact investigations low priority unless exposure is repetitive or single-trip exposure is long.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, GA, USA. duf8@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Molly M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Mary K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sisk
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Federline
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seechuk
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001336:Automobiles; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D004219:District of Columbia; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult