BACKGROUND: The identification and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among immigrants are an effective strategy for TB control in developed countries. A new test for LTBI identification that uses more specific antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is now commercially available under the brand name of QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. OBJECTIVE: To compare QuantiFERON-TB Gold test to tuberculin skin testing (TST) for the detection of LTBI among immigrants from high endemic TB areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Undocumented immigrants attending a district medical center were enrolled if they originated from high endemic TB areas, the time of arrival in Italy was < or = 5 years, had neither active TB disease nor known immunodeficiency status. The TST was applied according to standards and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was performed following the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: Hundred subjects were included in the comparative analysis. TST was positive in 44% of subjects; 15% had a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test result. The total agreement between TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was 71%, for a kappa statistics of 0.37; agreement was 100% for TST negative results, but only 34% for TST positive ones. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, previous BCG vaccination was independently associated with a lower chance of disagreement between the tests. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LTBI among immigrants was lower when determined by QuantiFERON-TB Gold; this may be a consequence of more specific MTB antigens used. Our results suggest that QuantiFERON-TB Gold may be used as confirmatory test for TST positive immigrants candidate to preventive therapy.
BACKGROUND: The identification and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among immigrants are an effective strategy for TB control in developed countries. A new test for LTBI identification that uses more specific antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is now commercially available under the brand name of QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. OBJECTIVE: To compare QuantiFERON-TB Gold test to tuberculin skin testing (TST) for the detection of LTBI among immigrants from high endemic TB areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Undocumented immigrants attending a district medical center were enrolled if they originated from high endemic TB areas, the time of arrival in Italy was < or = 5 years, had neither active TB disease nor known immunodeficiency status. The TST was applied according to standards and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was performed following the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: Hundred subjects were included in the comparative analysis. TST was positive in 44% of subjects; 15% had a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test result. The total agreement between TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was 71%, for a kappa statistics of 0.37; agreement was 100% for TST negative results, but only 34% for TST positive ones. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, previous BCG vaccination was independently associated with a lower chance of disagreement between the tests. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LTBI among immigrants was lower when determined by QuantiFERON-TB Gold; this may be a consequence of more specific MTB antigens used. Our results suggest that QuantiFERON-TB Gold may be used as confirmatory test for TST positive immigrants candidate to preventive therapy.
Authors: Jonathon R Campbell; Wenjia Chen; James Johnston; Victoria Cook; Kevin Elwood; Jane Krot; Fawziah Marra Journal: Mol Diagn Ther Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 4.074
Authors: G Orlando; S Merli; L Cordier; F Mazza; G Casazza; A M Villa; L Codecasa; E Negri; A Cargnel; M Ferrarese; G Rizzardini Journal: Infection Date: 2010-04-22 Impact factor: 3.553
Authors: Manish Pareek; Marion Bond; Jennifer Shorey; Suranjith Seneviratne; Margaret Guy; Peter White; Ajit Lalvani; Onn Min Kon Journal: Thorax Date: 2012-06-12 Impact factor: 9.139
Authors: Gonzalo G Alvarez; Brian Gushulak; Khaled Abu Rumman; Ekkehardt Altpeter; Daniel Chemtob; Paul Douglas; Connie Erkens; Peter Helbling; Ingrid Hamilton; Jane Jones; Alberto Matteelli; Marie-Claire Paty; Drew L Posey; Daniel Sagebiel; Erika Slump; Anders Tegnell; Elena Rodríguez Valín; Brita Askeland Winje; Edward Ellis Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2011-01-04 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Manish Pareek; John P Watson; L Peter Ormerod; Onn Min Kon; Gerrit Woltmann; Peter J White; Ibrahim Abubakar; Ajit Lalvani Journal: Lancet Infect Dis Date: 2011-04-20 Impact factor: 25.071
Authors: Patrick Bodenmann; Paul Vaucher; Hans Wolff; Bernard Favrat; Fanny de Tribolet; Eric Masserey; Jean-Pierre Zellweger Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2009-03-24 Impact factor: 3.090