Naslov
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection using interferon-gamma assay

Autori
Zrinski Topić, Renata ; Dodig, Slavica ; Živčić, Jadranka ; Zoričić-Letoja, Ivka ; Nogalo, Boro

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Izvornik
Clin Chem Lab Med / G. Siest - Berlin : Walter de Gruyter, 2008

Skup
3rd Slovenian Congress of Clinical Chemistry with International Participation and 18th International Symposium of Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry and Croatian Society of Medical Biochemists

Mjesto i datum
Ljubljana, Slovenija, 13.11.2008. - 15.11.2008

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
latentna tuberkulozna infekcija; interferon-gama
(latent tuberculosis infection; interferon-gamma)

Sažetak
Healthcare workers (HCW) are at an increased risk of tuberculosis infection due to their exposure to tuberculous patients. The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HCW from low- and middle-income countries ranges between 33% and 79% and in those from high-income countries from 5% to 55%. Tuberculin skin test (TST) which is used for the detection of LTBI has many disadvantages such as false-negative results in immuno compromised and false positivities due to cross reactions between environmental mycobacteria and bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) strains. The new approach in the detection of LTBI is based on ex vivo whole blood tests to determine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ ) released from T lymphocytes upon stimulation with specific antigens to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of the present study was to compare IFN-γ and TST findings in BCG vaccinated HCW in a middle-income country with an intermediate prevalence of tuberculosis. Fifty-four HCW were divided into groups according to their exposure to tuberculous patients and IFN-γ findings. IFN-γ determination (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube) and TST (RT23) were performed in parallel. Positive IFN-γ results were recorded in 31% of study HCW. The rate of HCW with positive TST results varied in dependence of the cut off value applied (83%, 63% and 35% for the cut off values of 5, 10 and 15 mm, respectively). The two tests showed highest compatibility (74% ; kappa 0.418) at TST cut off value of 15 mm. The higher exposure to tuberculous patients did not lead to a statistically significant increase in the rate of positive IFN-γ findings but did increase the number of hyperreactors. Our data suggest that IFN-γ is the appropriate test when screening a population of BCG vaccinated HCW for LTBI.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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