OBJECTIVE: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of QuantiFERON TB Gold test (QFTG; Cellestis) in all situations where the tuberculin skin test (TST) is used. In November 2007, our institution replaced its screening-tool TST with the QFTG in-tube assay (QFT-GIT) for annual screening of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study evaluated the effectiveness of QFT-GIT test as screening tool in HCWs at our institution. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed medical records of all HCWs who underwent screening with QFT-GIT from January 2008 through December 2008. RESULTS: Among the 6,530 HCWs screened with QFT-GIT from January through December 2008, 287 had a positive test result. Of the 287, 123 had positive TST results in the past, meaning that 164 HCWs had newly diagnosed latent tuberculosis infection by QFT-GIT. Of the 164 HCWs, 135 were retested by QFT-GIT and were simultaneously tested with TST within 4 weeks after the initial QFT-GIT. Of these 135 HCWs, 66 reverted to negative results and results remained positive for 69 with QFT-GIT. Only 2 HCWs had a positive TST result. CONCLUSIONS: The disagreement between QFT-GIT and TST results and the high reversion rate with QFT-GIT raise concerns about the effectiveness of QFT-GIT as a sole screening test in HCWs.
OBJECTIVE: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of QuantiFERON TB Gold test (QFTG; Cellestis) in all situations where the tuberculin skin test (TST) is used. In November 2007, our institution replaced its screening-tool TST with the QFTG in-tube assay (QFT-GIT) for annual screening of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study evaluated the effectiveness of QFT-GIT test as screening tool in HCWs at our institution. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed medical records of all HCWs who underwent screening with QFT-GIT from January 2008 through December 2008. RESULTS: Among the 6,530 HCWs screened with QFT-GIT from January through December 2008, 287 had a positive test result. Of the 287, 123 had positive TST results in the past, meaning that 164 HCWs had newly diagnosed latent tuberculosis infection by QFT-GIT. Of the 164 HCWs, 135 were retested by QFT-GIT and were simultaneously tested with TST within 4 weeks after the initial QFT-GIT. Of these 135 HCWs, 66 reverted to negative results and results remained positive for 69 with QFT-GIT. Only 2 HCWs had a positive TST result. CONCLUSIONS: The disagreement between QFT-GIT and TST results and the high reversion rate with QFT-GIT raise concerns about the effectiveness of QFT-GIT as a sole screening test in HCWs.
Authors: Saloua Tagmouti; Madeline Slater; Andrea Benedetti; Sandra V Kik; Niaz Banaei; Adithya Cattamanchi; John Metcalfe; David Dowdy; Richard van Zyl Smit; Nandini Dendukuri; Madhukar Pai; Claudia Denkinger Journal: Ann Am Thorac Soc Date: 2014-10
Authors: Madhukar Pai; Claudia M Denkinger; Sandra V Kik; Molebogeng X Rangaka; Alice Zwerling; Olivia Oxlade; John Z Metcalfe; Adithya Cattamanchi; David W Dowdy; Keertan Dheda; Niaz Banaei Journal: Clin Microbiol Rev Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 26.132
Authors: Stefanie J Logothetis; Matthew E Borrego; Melissa H Roberts; Amy Bachyrycz; Graham S Timmins; Bernadette Jakeman Journal: J Am Pharm Assoc (2003) Date: 2018-09-28