Abstract:
Objective To investigate the performance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in school or college freshmen in Yangzhou based on recombinant M.tuberculosis fusion protein (EC) test, and provide data support and scientific evidence for the improvement of TB prevention and control strategy in schools in Yangzhou.
Methods The EC screening was conducted in freshmen of boarding junior high schools, senior high schools/vocational high schools and colleges in Yangzhou in autumn 2023, and the students with positive EC test results were examined by chest computed tomography. The positive EC test and the detection results of pulmonary TB in freshmen were analyzed and compared.
Results In EC screening of 17 093 freshmen, 173 were positive (1.01%), and 18 M. tuberculosis infection cases were detected (10.53/10000). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the freshmen in central region odds ratio(OR)=2.31, 95%confidence interval(CI): 1.22−4.37 and western region (OR=5.99, 95%CI: 3.07−11.68) had higher risk for M. tuberculosis infection compared with those in eastern region. The detection possibility of pulmonary TB was higher in the freshmen in western region (OR=18.31, 95% CI: 2.43−138.05) than in eastern region. Previous history of TB (OR=7.47, 95%CI: 1.43−39.00) and TB case contact history (OR=6.79, 95%CI: 2.13−21.72) were risk factors for M. tuberculosis infection in the freshmen. The students with TB history (OR=31.77, 95%CI: 3.50−288.60) ) and TB case contact history (OR=13.62, 95%CI: 1.63−113.66) had higher possibility of TB detection.
Conclusion The application of EC test for TB screening is an important way to find the source of M. tuberculosis infection in school or college freshmen in Yangzhou. It is suggested to take appropriate prevention and control measures targeting M. tuberculosis infection and pulmonary TB cases to effectively reduce the risk of TB transmission in schools or colleges in Yangzhou. Freshmen from central and western regions and with TB history of and TB exposure history are the key population for TB screening.