title: [The tuberculosis control program in Pelotas/RS, Brazil: home contact investigations].
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the investigation actions of home contacts of tuberculosis (TB) index cases in the Tuberculosis Control Program (TCP) of Pelotas/RS - Brazil. This cross-sectional descriptive study was based on data from the records of index cases. The sample consisted of 163 contacts of 68 subjects with pulmonary TB in treatment in the TCP between June and August, 2009. These contacts were predominantly female, over 10 years of age and the daughters of index cases. The requested examination was a chest radiography and bacilloscopy. Active TB was found in 1.8 % of contacts. Results show that assistance for TB patients in Pelotas-Brazil, which is centralized in a single specialized service, hinders the investigation of home contacts. Primary care is required to narrow the gap between professionals and the family, and facilitate early diagnosis and interruption of the TB transmission chain in a timely manner.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Enfermagem da UFPel (PPGEnf - UFPel), Docente da Faculdade de Enfermagem da Anhanguera, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. lima.lilian@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lílian Moura
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Roxana Isabel Cardozo
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Gonzáles
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harter
authors.forename: Julyane Felipette
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011859:Radiography; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D014505:Urban Population