Abstract:
Objective To investigate the current status of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and influencing factors in contacts of tuberculosis (TB) cases in school epidemics in Longgang district, Shenzhen, and provide reference for the development and improvement of school TB prevention and control strategies.
Methods Based on the screening data of contacts of TB cases in schools in Longgang in 2022, the latent M. tuberculosis infection rate in the contacts was calculated, the differences in the latent infection among the contacts with different characteristics were analyzed, and the influencing factors for the latent infection were identified with logistic regression model.
Results In 2022, a total of 2074 TB case contacts in schools in Longgang district were identified, of whom 1 891 were screened for the latent infection (91.18%). The latent infection rate in the TB case contacts was 8.69% (164/1 887). Four contacts were diagnosed with active tuberculosis after further examination, and 1 887 contacts were included in the study. In the TB case contacts, girl students odds ratio (OR)=0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46−0.98, contacts of etiological negative TB cases (OR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.27−0.88), students (OR=0.14, 95%CI: 0.04−0.47), students or staff in private schools (OR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.12−0.41) had lower risk for the latent infection, but boarding school students (OR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.25−4.62) had higher risk for the latent infection.
Conclusion The latent M. tuberculosis infection rate in TB case contacts was low in schools in Longgang district of Shenzhen in 2022. It is necessary to pay close attention the TB prevention and control in boy students, contacts of etiological positive TB cases, school staff other than teacher, students or staff in public schools, and boarding school students. Schools should take measures to improve environmental hygiene, increase health education and physical education courses to reduce the incidence of TB in schools.