A Mekonnen1, J M Collins2, A Aseffa3, G Ameni4, B Petros1. 1. Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 3. Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa. 4. Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abstract
SETTINGS: Three universities located in eastern Ethiopia: Haramaya University, Haramaya; Dire-Dawa University, Dire-Dawa; and Jigjiga University, Jigjiga. OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among university students and to identify risk factors for the development of TB disease. DESIGN: All full-time university students were screened for symptoms of PTB and sputum was collected for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of 35 344 students screened, we identified 153 PTB cases that occurred over the 1-year study period, or 433/100 000 students. Of these, 117 (76%) PTB cases were found through passive case finding at student health centres, while 36 (24%) previously undiagnosed patients were identified through active case finding. Sixteen cases detected using active case finding (44%) were smear-positive. Living in a dormitory with 5 students and attending university for 2 years were both significantly associated with PTB (adjusted OR 2.49 and 3.79, respectively, P < 0.001). In persons who underwent drug susceptibility testing, 11 (30.5%) had resistance to at least one first-line anti-tuberculosis drug. CONCLUSION: We found a high burden of TB among university students in eastern Ethiopia. Screening for PTB upon university admission and at regular intervals should be considered to minimise TB transmission on university campuses.
SETTINGS: Three universities located in eastern Ethiopia: Haramaya University, Haramaya; Dire-Dawa University, Dire-Dawa; and Jigjiga University, Jigjiga. OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among university students and to identify risk factors for the development of TB disease. DESIGN: All full-time university students were screened for symptoms of PTB and sputum was collected for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of 35 344 students screened, we identified 153 PTB cases that occurred over the 1-year study period, or 433/100 000 students. Of these, 117 (76%) PTB cases were found through passive case finding at student health centres, while 36 (24%) previously undiagnosed patients were identified through active case finding. Sixteen cases detected using active case finding (44%) were smear-positive. Living in a dormitory with 5 students and attending university for 2 years were both significantly associated with PTB (adjusted OR 2.49 and 3.79, respectively, P < 0.001). In persons who underwent drug susceptibility testing, 11 (30.5%) had resistance to at least one first-line anti-tuberculosis drug. CONCLUSION: We found a high burden of TB among university students in eastern Ethiopia. Screening for PTB upon university admission and at regular intervals should be considered to minimise TB transmission on university campuses.
Authors: N Sarita Shah; Sara C Auld; James C M Brust; Barun Mathema; Nazir Ismail; Pravi Moodley; Koleka Mlisana; Salim Allana; Angela Campbell; Thuli Mthiyane; Natashia Morris; Primrose Mpangase; Hermina van der Meulen; Shaheed V Omar; Tyler S Brown; Apurva Narechania; Elena Shaskina; Thandi Kapwata; Barry Kreiswirth; Neel R Gandhi Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2017-01-19 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Solomon Ali; Patrick Beckert; Abraham Haileamlak; Andreas Wieser; Michael Pritsch; Norbert Heinrich; Thomas Löscher; Michael Hoelscher; Stefan Niemann; Andrea Rachow Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2016-11-21 Impact factor: 3.090