title: Tuberculosis contact investigation in low- and middle-income countries: standardized definitions and indicators.
abstract: There is a need for better utilization of program data for global tuberculosis (TB) control. Significant information could be gained from data collected by TB programs that could supplement traditional sources of evidence and contribute to policy development. For this operational information to be useful, it must be collected in a uniform manner, using standardized definitions and approaches to evaluation. As an example of an approach to uniformity in generating useful program data, we present recommendations for the standardization of definitions and indicators for the investigation of contacts of persons with infectious TB in low- and middle-income countries.
authors: <sup>*</sup>Curry International Tuberculosis Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Fair
authors: <sup>*</sup>Curry International Tuberculosis Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors: C R
authors: CR
authors: Miller
authors: <sup>†</sup>Global TB Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland;
authors: S-E
authors: SE
authors: Ottmani
authors: <sup>‡</sup>Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Respiratory Division, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Fox
authors: <sup>*</sup>Curry International Tuberculosis Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Hopewell
mesh_terms: D016358:Contact Tracing; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003906:Developing Countries; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*