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Chin KL, Anibarro L, Sarmiento ME, Acosta A. Challenges and the Way forward in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis Infection. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8020089. [PMID: 36828505 PMCID: PMC9960903 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8020089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, it is estimated that one-quarter of the world's population is latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), also known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Recently, this condition has been referred to as tuberculosis infection (TBI), considering the dynamic spectrum of the infection, as 5-10% of the latently infected population will develop active TB (ATB). The chances of TBI development increase due to close contact with index TB patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the risk of development of latent MDR-TB has further complicated the situation. Detection of TBI is challenging as the infected individual does not present symptoms. Currently, there is no gold standard for TBI diagnosis, and the only screening tests are tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs). However, these tests have several limitations, including the inability to differentiate between ATB and TBI, false-positive results in BCG-vaccinated individuals (only for TST), false-negative results in children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients, and the inability to predict the progression to ATB, among others. Thus, new host markers and Mtb-specific antigens are being tested to develop new diagnostic methods. Besides screening, TBI therapy is a key intervention for TB control. However, the long-course treatment and associated side effects result in non-adherence to the treatment. Additionally, the latent MDR strains are not susceptible to the current TBI treatments, which add an additional challenge. This review discusses the current situation of TBI, as well as the challenges and efforts involved in its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ling Chin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia
- Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Luis Anibarro
- Tuberculosis Unit, Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Pontevedra, 36071 Pontevedra, Spain
- Immunology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS-GS), 36312 Vigo, Spain
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Maria E. Sarmiento
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
| | - Armando Acosta
- School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (K.L.C.); (L.A.); (A.A.)
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Dalgic N, Sahin A, Torun SH, Kaba O, Onal P, Yilmaz AT, Turel O, Yasar B, Kara M, Aygun D, Kilinc A, Oncel S, Duramaz BB, Urganci N, Somer A, Cokugras H, Arisoy ES. Active and Latent Tuberculosis in Children Treated with Anti-TNF-α: A Retrospective Multicenter Study. J PEDIAT INF DIS-GER 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to investigate the frequency of latent and active tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric patients receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy.
Methods Patients younger than 18 years with various inflammatory diseases and treated with anti-TNF-α agents in the past five years were included in the study. The patients' ages, follow-ups, medications received, clinical and laboratory findings, and treatments applied were recorded retrospectively.
Results Of the 160 patients included in the study, 78 (48.8%) were girls. The mean age was 139.54 ± 48.74 (30–226) months. Sixty (37.5%) patients had inflammatory eye disease, 55 (34.4%) had rheumatologic and autoimmune disease, and 45 (28.1%) had inflammatory bowel disease. As anti-TNF-α treatment, 67 (41.9%) patients received adalimumab, 50 (31.2%) received infliximab, and 43 (26.9%) received etanercept. As a result of TB screening performed prior to the treatment, 44 (25.4%) patients were started on isoniazid treatment with the diagnosis of latent TB. During follow-up, latent TB infection was detected in 16 (9.2%) patients and isoniazid treatment was started. The time to develop latent TB under anti-TNF-α treatment ranged from 3 to 28 months. During the treatment, active TB infection developed in two (1.2%) patients and anti-TB treatment was initiated.
Conclusion It is of vital importance to evaluate patients receiving, or planned to receive, anti-TNF-α treatment, for TB infection and to initiate appropriate treatments if latent or active TB infection is identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazan Dalgic
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Sahin
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Selda Hancerli Torun
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ozge Kaba
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Pinar Onal
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Tekin Yilmaz
- Section of Internal Medical Sciences, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Ozden Turel
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Belma Yasar
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Manolya Kara
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Deniz Aygun
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayse Kilinc
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Selim Oncel
- Section of Internal Medical Sciences, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Burcu Bursal Duramaz
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nafiye Urganci
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ayper Somer
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Haluk Cokugras
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Emin Sami Arisoy
- Section of Internal Medical Sciences, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey
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CCL1 and IL-2Ra differentiate Tuberculosis disease from latent infection Irrespective of HIV infection in low TB burden countries. J Infect 2021; 83:433-443. [PMID: 34333033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of selected host immunological biomarkers in differentiating tuberculosis (TB) disease from latent TB infection (LTBI) in HIV uninfected and infected individuals enrolled in TB low-burden countries. DESIGN Participants with TB disease (N = 85) and LTBI (N = 150) were recruited from prospective cohorts at hospitals in Norway and Denmark. Plasma concentrations of 54 host markers were assessed by Luminex multiplex immunoassays. Using receiver operator characteristic curves and general discriminant analysis, we determined the abilities of individual and combined biomarkers to discriminate between TB disease and LTBI including when patients were stratified according to HIV infection status. RESULTS Regardless of the groups compared, CCL1 and IL-2Ra were the most accurate single biomarkers in differentiating TB disease from LTBI. Regardless of HIV status, a 4-marker signature (CCL1+RANTES+CRP+MIP-1α) derived from a training set (n = 155) differentiated TB disease from LTBI in the test set (n = 67) with a sensitivity of 56.0% (95% CI, 34.9-75.6) and a specificity of 85.7% (95% CI, 71.5-94.6). A 5-marker signature derived from the HIV uninfected group (CCL1+RANTES+MIP-1α+procalcitonin+IP-10) performed in HIV-infected individuals with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 96.7% after leave-one-out cross validation. A 2-marker signature (CCL1+TNF-α) identified in HIV-infected persons performed in HIV-uninfected with a sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% and 100% respectively in the test set. CONCLUSIONS Plasma CCL1 and IL-2Ra have potential as biomarkers for differentiating TB disease from LTBI in low TB burden settings unaffected by HIV infection. Combinations between these and other biomarkers in bio-signatures for global use warrant further exploration.
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Liu S, Wu M, A E, Wu S, Geng S, Li Z, Li M, Li L, Pang Y, Kang W, Tang S. Factors associated with differential T cell responses to antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10 in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Medicine (Baltimore) 2021; 100:e24615. [PMID: 33663071 PMCID: PMC7909155 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000024615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The T-SPOT.TB assay detects cellular immune responses to 2 core Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, early secreted antigenic target of 6-kDa protein (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10). T-SPOT.TB has been recently used for auxiliary diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, testing can produce inconsistent results due to differential PTB patient immune responses to these antigens, prompting us to identify factors underlying inconsistent results.Data were retrospectively analyzed from 1225 confirmed PTB patients who underwent T-SPOT.TB testing at 5 specialized tuberculosis hospitals in China between December 2012 and November 2015. Numbers of spot-forming cells (SFCs) reflecting T cell responses to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens were recorded then analyzed via multivariable logistic regression to reveal factors underlying discordant T cell responses to these antigens.The agreement rate of 84.98% (82.85%-86.94%) between PTB patient ESAT-6 and CFP-10 responses demonstrated high concordance. Additionally, positivity rates were higher for ESAT-6 than for CFP-10 (84.8% vs 80.7%, P < .001), with ESAT-6 and CFP-10 microwell SFC numbers for each single positive group not differing significantly (P > .99), while spot numbers of the single positive group were lower than numbers for the double positive group (P < .001). Elderly patients (aged ≥66 years) and patients receiving retreatment were most likely to have discordance results.ESAT-6 promoted significantly more positive T-SPOT.TB results than did CFP-10 in PTB patients. Advanced age and retreatment status were correlated with discordant ESAT-6 and CFP-10 results. Assessment of factors underlying discordance may lead to improved PTB diagnosis using T-SPOT.TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengsheng Liu
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing
| | | | - Ertai A
- Chest Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi
| | | | | | | | - Mingwu Li
- Kunming 3rd People's Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Liang Li
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing
| | - Yu Pang
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing
| | - Wanli Kang
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing
| | - Shenjie Tang
- Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing
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Bekken GK, Ritz C, Selvam S, Jesuraj N, Hesseling AC, Doherty TM, Grewal HMS, Vaz M, Jenum S. Identification of subclinical tuberculosis in household contacts using exposure scores and contact investigations. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:96. [PMID: 32005136 PMCID: PMC6995184 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-4800-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The goal of tuberculosis elimination put forward in the End TB Strategy prioritizes diagnosis and treatment of incipient and subclinical TB, recently defined by key stakeholders as “asymptomatic, early pre-clinical disease during which pathology evolves”. Regarded as indicative of a high risk of TB progression, considerable efforts have been made to identify these cases through exploration of biomarkers. The present study aimed to evaluate simple scoring systems for TB exposure as screening tools for subclinical TB, the only identifiable of the incipient and subclinical disease states, in a contact investigation (CI) setting of low HIV-prevalence. Methods Nested within a large prospective study in household contacts (HHCs) of smear positive pulmonary TB cases in South-India conducted 2010–2012, we assessed 1) the association between the Tuberculosis Contact Score (TCS) and the Infectivity Score, with established tools for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, corrected for established TB risk factors, and 2) the capability of the TB exposure scores to identify subclinical TB defined by Mtb-culture positivity in sputum or gastric aspirate (subjects < 5 years) specimen. Results Of 525 HHCs, 29 were Mtb-culture positive and 96.6% of these asymptomatic. The TCS and the Infectivity Score associated with positive Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFeron TB-Gold In-tube assay (QFT) results in multivariate analyses (TCS: ORTST 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.33; ORQFT 1.33 95% CI: 1.16, 1.51. Infectivity Score: ORTST 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.76; ORQFT 1.41 95% CI: 1.16, 1.71). The Infectivity Score showed a moderate capability to identify subclinical TB (AUC of 0.61, 95% CI: 0.52, 0.70). Conclusions Although our results did not identify an easily applicable screening tool for subclinical TB, the present study indicates that focusing on TB-related symptoms in CI settings may be of limited value for early identification of HHCs with high risk for TB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gry Klouman Bekken
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Christian Ritz
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sumithra Selvam
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Population Health, St. John's Research Institute, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560 034, India
| | - Nelson Jesuraj
- Paediatrics and Neonatology, Trinity hospital, Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Anneke C Hesseling
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Desmond Tutu TB Center, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Harleen M S Grewal
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, N-5021, Bergen, Norway
| | - Mario Vaz
- Division of Health and Humanities, St. John's Research Institute, Koramangala, Bangalore, 560 034, India
| | - Synne Jenum
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Pb 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
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Shah I, Kathwate J, Shetty NS. Comparison of tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-vaccinated children. Lung India 2020; 37:24-29. [PMID: 31898617 PMCID: PMC6961094 DOI: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_304_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the concordance between QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in children vaccinated with Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG). Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at a pediatric tertiary care center in 33 BCG-vaccinated children aged 6 months–15 years suspected of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection or in contact with a patient with open tuberculosis (TB). All patients were tested for TST with purified protein derivative-S 5 tuberculin units and QFT-GIT assays. Concordance was evaluated between TST and QFT assay by kappa coefficient (k). Agreement between the tests was classified into categories: poor if k < 0.20, fair (k = 0.21–0.40), moderate (k = 0.41–0.60), good (k = 0.61–0.80), and very good (k = 0.81–1.00). Results: Both the TST and QFT assay were positive in 13 and negative in eight children, respectively, resulting in an agreement of 63% (κ = 0.31). Eight children were <4 years of age of which only one patient had a positive TST and QFT-GIT, and TST and QFT-GIT were negative in two patients resulting in an agreement of 37.5% (κ = 0.063). Among children 4 years of age and older, 12 patients had a positive TST and QFT-GIT and 6 patients had a negative TST and QFT-GIT resulting in an agreement of 72% (κ = 0.41). Among 12 children who had been in contact with an adult having open TB, both the TST and QFT-GIT were positive in 6 patients and negative in two patients, respectively, resulting in an agreement of 66% (κ = 0.41). TST specificity was only 29.6% with a positive predictive value of 42.4% as compared to QFT-GIT. Among children <4 years of age, TST specificity was only 28.6% with a positive predictive rate of 16.7%, and among children >4 years of age, TST specificity was 50% with a positive predictive value of 66.7%. In patients with contact with a patient having TB, TST specificity was 33.3%. Considering TST of 15 mm and above as positive, TST specificity increased to 63.2% and a positive predictive value was 56.3%. Conclusion: The concordance of TST and QFT-GIT is low in children with previous BCG vaccination and especially in children <4 years of age. QFT-GIT may help to rule out false-positive TST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira Shah
- Pediatric Tuberculosis Clinic, B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jagdish Kathwate
- Pediatric Tuberculosis Clinic, B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Naman S Shetty
- Pediatric Tuberculosis Clinic, B. J. Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Adams S, Ehrlich R, Baatjies R, Dendukuri N, Wang Z, Dheda K. Predictors of discordant latent tuberculosis infection test results amongst South African health care workers. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:131. [PMID: 30736743 PMCID: PMC6368796 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3745-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma-release-assays (IGRAs) are utilized in screening programmes for presumed latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in health care workers (HCWs). However, inter-test comparison yields high rates of discordance, which is poorly understood. The aim of the study was therefore to identify factors associated with discordance amongst HCWs in a TB and HIV endemic setting. METHODS 505 HCWs were screened for LTBI in South Africa using the TST and two IGRA assays (QuantiFERON-TB-Gold-In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and TSPOT.TB). Factors associated with discordance were analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression model. RESULTS TST-IGRA discordance was negatively associated with longer duration of employment for both TSPOT.TB (OR = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.99) and QFT-GIT (OR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.84-0.96). Marked test discordance occurred in HIV-infected individuals who were more likely to have TSPOT.TB + ve / TST-ve discordance (OR 4.44; 95% CI 1.14-17.27) or TSPOT.TB + ve / QFT-GIT-ve test discordance (OR 5.72; 95% CI 1.95-16.78). Those engaged in home care were less likely to have QFT-GIT + ve/TSPOT.TB -ve / discordance (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.10-0.95). CONCLUSION The marked TST-IGRA and IGRA-IGRA discordance in HIV-infected individuals suggest greater sensitivity of TSPOT.TB in immunocompromised persons or potential greater reactivity of TSPOT.TB in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahieda Adams
- Division of Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rodney Ehrlich
- Division of Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Roslynn Baatjies
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nandini Dendukuri
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre – Research Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Zhuoyu Wang
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre – Research Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Department of Medicine and UCT Lung Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital Observatory, H46.41 Old Main Building, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
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Meier NR, Volken T, Geiger M, Heininger U, Tebruegge M, Ritz N. Risk Factors for Indeterminate Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:208. [PMID: 31192175 PMCID: PMC6548884 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are well-established immunodiagnostic tests for tuberculosis (TB) in adults. In children these tests are associated with higher rates of false-negative and indeterminate results. Age is presumed to be one factor influencing cytokine release and therefore test performance. The aim of this study was to systematically review factors associated with indeterminate IGRA results in pediatric patients. Methods: Systematic literature review guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Studies reporting results of at least one commercially available IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB, T-SPOT.TB) in pediatric patient groups were included. Random effects meta-analysis was used to assess proportions of indeterminate IGRA results. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 value. Risk differences were calculated for studies comparing QuantiFERON-TB and T-SPOT.TB in the same study. Meta-regression was used to further explore the influence of study level variables on heterogeneity. Results: Of 1,293 articles screened, 133 studies were included in the final analysis. These assessed QuantiFERON-TB only in 77.4% (103/133), QuantiFERON-TB and T-SPOT.TB in 15.8% (21/133), and T-SPOT.TB only in 6.8% (9/133) resulting in 155 datasets including 107,418 participants. Overall 4% of IGRA results were indeterminate, and T-SPOT.TB (0.03, 95% CI 0.02-0.05) and QuantiFERON-TB assays (0.05, 95% CI 0.04-0.06) showed similar proportions of indeterminate results; pooled risk difference was-0.01 (95% CI -0.03 to 0.00). Significant differences with lower proportions of indeterminate assays with T-SPOT.TB compared to QuantiFERON-TB were only seen in subgroup analyses of studies performed in Africa and in non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients. Meta-regression confirmed lower proportions of indeterminate results for T-SPOT.TB compared to QuantiFERON-TB only among studies that reported results from non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: On average indeterminate IGRA results occur in 1 in 25 tests performed. Overall, there was no difference in the proportion of indeterminate results between both commercial assays. However, our findings suggest that in patients in Africa and/or patients with immunocompromising conditions other than HIV infection the T-SPOT.TB assay appears to produce fewer indeterminate results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noëmi R Meier
- Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Volken
- School of Health Professions, Zürich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Marc Geiger
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Heininger
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Unit, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Tebruegge
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicole Ritz
- Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology Unit, University of Basel Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.,Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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9
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Meermeier EW, Lewinsohn DM. Early clearance versus control: what is the meaning of a negative tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay following exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis? F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 29904578 PMCID: PMC5974584 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.13224.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The elimination of tuberculosis (TB) cannot reasonably be achieved by treatment of individual cases and will require an improved vaccine or immunotherapy. A challenge in developing an improved TB vaccine has been the lack of understanding what is needed to generate sterilizing immunity against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Several epidemiological observations support the hypothesis that humans can eradicate Mtb following exposure. This has been termed early clearance and is defined as elimination of Mtb infection prior to the development of an adaptive immune response, as measured by a tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay. Here, we examine research into the likelihood of and possible mechanisms responsible for early clearance in household contacts of patients with active TB. We explore both innate and adaptive immune responses in the lung. Enhanced understanding of these mechanisms could be harnessed for the development of a preventative vaccine or immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin W Meermeier
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA
| | - David M Lewinsohn
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA.,Department of Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
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10
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Acuña-Villaorduña C, Jones-López EC, Fregona G, Marques-Rodrigues P, Gaeddert M, Geadas C, Hadad DJ, White LF, Pereira Dutra Molina L, Vinhas S, Ribeiro-Rodrigues R, Salgame P, Palaci M, Alland D, Ellner JJ, Dietze R. Intensity of exposure to pulmonary tuberculosis determines risk of tuberculosis infection and disease. Eur Respir J 2018; 51:1701578. [PMID: 29348181 PMCID: PMC6719538 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01578-2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients are at increased risk of TB infection and disease. However, their risk in relation to the intensity of exposure remains unknown.We studied smear-positive TB cases and their household contacts in Vitória, Brazil. We collected clinical, demographic and radiographic information from TB cases, and obtained tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) results from household contacts. We measured intensity of exposure using a proximity score and sleep location in relation to the TB index case and defined infection by TST ≥10 mm or QFT ≥0.35 UI·mL-1 We ascertained secondary TB cases by reviewing local and nationwide case registries.We included 160 TB index cases and 894 household contacts. 464 (65%) had TB infection and 23 (2.6%) developed TB disease. Risk of TB infection and disease increased with more intense exposures. In an adjusted analysis, the proximity score was associated with TB disease (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.08; p<0.000); however, its diagnostic performance was only moderate.Intensity of exposure increased risk of TB infection and disease among household contacts; however, its diagnostic performance was still suboptimal. A biomarker to target preventive therapy is urgently needed in this at-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Acuña-Villaorduña
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward C Jones-López
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geisa Fregona
- Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | | | - Mary Gaeddert
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carolina Geadas
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Jamil Hadad
- Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Laura F White
- Dept of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Solange Vinhas
- Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ribeiro-Rodrigues
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Padmini Salgame
- Dept of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Moises Palaci
- Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - David Alland
- Dept of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jerrold J Ellner
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Reynaldo Dietze
- Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
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11
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Shimizu H, Mori M. Usefulness of the Combination of Tuberculin Skin Test and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay in Diagnosing Children with Tuberculosis. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2017; 243:205-210. [PMID: 29187669 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.243.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Japan is still designated as a medium incidence country, worldwide. Although the definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis is made by detecting pathogen from tissue specimens, collecting those from children is physically difficult. Therefore, we must frequently depend on the results of tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). However, the value of IGRA in diagnosing tuberculosis in infants remains unclear. We implemented TST and IGRA concurrently and examined the significance of combining these two tests by analyzing cases where conflicting results were evident from other tests. Subjects included 52 children (24 boys, 28 girls) age 15 years or younger (4.0 ± 3.4 years) who visited our hospital for close examination after medical checkup for tuberculosis contact tracing. The children underwent TST, T-SPOT®.TB, chest plain radiography, and chest computed tomography with a view to tuberculosis diagnosis during a 26-months period from January 2013 to March 2015. T-SPOT results were positive in 9/52 cases (17.3%), and TST results were positive in 12/52 cases (23.1%). Conflicting results were observed in 7/52 cases (13.5%), and all cases were treated as latent tuberculosis infection or incident cases of tuberculosis. The value of T-SPOT in tuberculosis diagnosis in children is still being established. However, there are a number of cases where conflicting results for T-SPOT and TST are indicated. Thus, it is currently desirable to use T-SPOT and TST concomitantly for children at an early age, especially for children below the age of 5 years, as a diagnostic measure in complementing other techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Shimizu
- Children's Medical Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center.,Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Yokohama City University Medical Center
| | - Masaaki Mori
- Department of Lifetime Clinical Immunology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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12
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Lewinsohn DM, Leonard MK, LoBue PA, Cohn DL, Daley CL, Desmond E, Keane J, Lewinsohn DA, Loeffler AM, Mazurek GH, O'Brien RJ, Pai M, Richeldi L, Salfinger M, Shinnick TM, Sterling TR, Warshauer DM, Woods GL. Official American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clinical Practice Guidelines: Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Adults and Children. Clin Infect Dis 2016; 64:e1-e33. [PMID: 27932390 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) may develop symptoms and signs of disease (tuberculosis disease) or may have no clinical evidence of disease (latent tuberculosis infection [LTBI]). Tuberculosis disease is a leading cause of infectious disease morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet many questions related to its diagnosis remain. METHODS A task force supported by the American Thoracic Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Infectious Diseases Society of America searched, selected, and synthesized relevant evidence. The evidence was then used as the basis for recommendations about the diagnosis of tuberculosis disease and LTBI in adults and children. The recommendations were formulated, written, and graded using the Grading, Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. RESULTS Twenty-three evidence-based recommendations about diagnostic testing for latent tuberculosis infection, pulmonary tuberculosis, and extrapulmonary tuberculosis are provided. Six of the recommendations are strong, whereas the remaining 17 are conditional. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines are not intended to impose a standard of care. They provide the basis for rational decisions in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the context of the existing evidence. No guidelines can take into account all of the often compelling unique individual clinical circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Philip A LoBue
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - David L Cohn
- Denver Public Health Department, Denver, Colorado
| | - Charles L Daley
- National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado Denver, and
| | - Ed Desmond
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond
| | | | | | - Ann M Loeffler
- Francis J. Curry International TB Center, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | - Madhukar Pai
- McGill University and McGill International TB Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Timothy R Sterling
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Gail L Woods
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock
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13
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Perez-Porcuna TM, Pereira-da-Silva HD, Ascaso C, Malheiro A, Bührer S, Martinez-Espinosa F, Abellana R. Prevalence and Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Young Children in the Absence of a Gold Standard. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164181. [PMID: 27783642 PMCID: PMC5082652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For adequate disease control the World Health Organization has proposed the diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculous infection (LTBI) in groups of risk of developing the disease such as children. There is no gold standard (GS) test for the diagnosis of LTBI. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of LTBI in young children in contact with a household case of tuberculosis (TB-HCC) and determine the accuracy and precision of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube (QFT) used in the absence of a GS. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in children up to 6 years of age in Manaus/Brazil during the years 2009-2010. All the children had been vaccinated with the BCG and were classified into two groups according to the presence of a TB-HCC or no known contact with tuberculosis (TB). The variables studied were: the TST and QFT results and the intensity and length of exposure to the index tuberculosis case. We used the latent class model to determine the prevalence of LTBI and the accuracy of the tests. RESULTS Fifty percent of the children with TB-HCC had LTBI, with the prevalence depending on the intensity and length of exposure to the index case. The sensitivity and specificity of TST were 73% [95% confidence interval (CI): 53-91] and 97% (95%CI: 89-100), respectively, versus 53% (95%CI: 41-66) and 81% (95%CI:71-90) for QFT. The positive predictive value of TST in children with TB-HCC was 91% (95%CI: 61-99), being 74% for QFT (95%CI: 47-95). CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies to estimate the prevalence of LTBI in children and the parameters of the main diagnostic tests using a latent class model. Our results suggest that children in contact with an index case have a high risk of infection. The accuracy and the predictive value of the two tests did not significantly differ. Combined use of the two tests showed scarce improvement in the diagnosis of LTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Maria Perez-Porcuna
- Departament de Salut Pública, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Servei de Pediatria, CAP Valldoreix, Unitat de Investigació Fundació Mútua Terrassa, Hospital Universitari Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Catalunya, Spain
- * E-mail: (RA); (TPP)
| | | | - Carlos Ascaso
- Departament de Salut Pública, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Adriana Malheiro
- Laboratório Multidisciplinar - Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Samira Bührer
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Flor Martinez-Espinosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rosa Abellana
- Departament de Salut Pública, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- * E-mail: (RA); (TPP)
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14
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Agarwal S, Nguyen DT, Lew JD, Teeter LD, Yamal JM, Restrepo BI, Brown EL, Dorman SE, Graviss EA. Differential positive TSPOT assay responses to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 in health care workers. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2016; 101S:S83-S91. [PMID: 27727133 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2016.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TSPOT.TB (TSPOT) diagnostic test for latent tuberculosis infection is based on a cell-mediated response to the Mycobacteria tuberculosis antigens, ESAT-6 and/or CFP-10, producing an "interferon-gamma footprint". We investigated the within-sample and within-subject variability of positive TSPOT assays due to the individual assay antigens' reactivity. METHODS Positive TSPOT assay frequencies due to ESAT-6 or CFP-10 among health care workers (HCWs) at 6-month intervals for 18 months were compared. Differences in result interpretation (positive or negative) for ESAT-6 and CFP10 and potential prognostic factors were investigated. RESULTS There were 576 positive results in 8805 TSPOT assays representing 2418 participants. A significant difference was detected in positive TSPOT results due to a positive response to either ESAT-6, CFP-10 or both antigens at baseline through 12 M (p < 0.001), but not for the 18 M follow-up. Gender, ethnicity, occupation, previous positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and study site were significantly associated with specific antigen positivity. CONCLUSIONS Among our HCW samples with positive TSPOT assays, CFP-10 induced a larger proportion of positive TSPOT results than ESAT-6. Potential causes for this finding include: BCG vaccinated subpopulations, certain jobs, history of positive TST, U.S. birth, and study site. A high proportion of single-positive specimens may reflect false-positives results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saroochi Agarwal
- Houston Methodist Hospital Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases, 1200 Pressler St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Duc T Nguyen
- Houston Methodist Hospital Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Justin D Lew
- Houston Methodist Hospital Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Larry D Teeter
- Houston Methodist Hospital Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Jose-Miguel Yamal
- University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases, 1200 Pressler St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Blanca I Restrepo
- University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases, 1200 Pressler St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Eric L Brown
- University of Texas School of Public Health, Center for Infectious Diseases, 1200 Pressler St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Susan E Dorman
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Edward A Graviss
- Houston Methodist Hospital Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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15
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Van der Zalm MM, van Soelen N, Mandalakas AM, Jacobsen M, Detjen AK, Marx FM, Grewal HMS, Cotton MF, Walzl G, Hesseling AC. The Effect of Deworming on Tests of Tuberculosis Infection in Children With Recent Tuberculosis Exposure: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2016; 35:622-7. [PMID: 26933841 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000001115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helminth infestations are associated with T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) immune responses, leading to suppression of Th1 responses required to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We hypothesized that deworming after documented M. tuberculosis exposure might improve Th1 immune responses. METHODS This was a randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of early versus delayed (after 3 months) deworming on tuberculin skin testing (TST) and Quantiferon-Gold-in-tube responses among children from a setting with a known high burden of M. tuberculosis and helminth co-infection in Cape Town, South Africa. Children aged 6 to 15 years with documented M. tuberculosis exposure were enrolled. Ascaris lumbricoides status was measured by Ascaris-specific IgE and stool microscopy. RESULTS A total of 250 children (mean age, 9.6 years) were enrolled; 11.9% (27/227) were Ascaris stool microscopy positive and 54.2% (135/249) were Ascaris stool and/or IgE positive (Ascaris status). In univariable analysis, deworming at enrollment was not associated with a negative TST at 3 months (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-1.07; P = 0.08). In stratified analysis, children with a positive Ascaris status were more likely to be TST negative at 3 months if dewormed early (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-1.04; P = 0.06). In multivariable analysis, deworming was not associated with TST status (adjusted odds ratios, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-1.10; P = 0.10). There was no association between deworming and Quantiferon-Gold-in-tube status. CONCLUSIONS Deworming in children with recent M. tuberculosis exposure is associated with a trend toward a negative TST result. Timing of deworming might influence interpretation of TST in settings with high burdens of tuberculosis and helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke M Van der Zalm
- From the *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; †Section on Global and Immigration Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; ‡Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Duesseldorf, Germany; §The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France; ¶Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; ‖Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; **Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; ††Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; ‡‡FAM-CRU, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa; and §§Immunology Research Group, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research and MRC Centre for TB Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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16
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Tuberculosis Infection in Early Childhood and the Association with HIV-exposure in HIV-uninfected Children in Rural Uganda. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2016; 35:524-9. [PMID: 26771662 PMCID: PMC4829461 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000001062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, a significant proportion of the latent TB reservoir is established by the age 5 years. There are critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of the age-specific prevalence of TB infection and the influence of HIV exposure on TB infection in the first 5 years of life among HIV-uninfected children in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS We measured TB infection with the Quantiferon Gold-in-Tube (QFT) and tuberculin skin tests (TST) in 447 children ≤60 months and their 284 HIV-infected and IV-uninfected mothers in rural Uganda. RESULTS The overall prevalence of TB infection in children ≤60 months by TST was 24% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 19.9-27.9). The prevalence of TST positivity was highest among children in their first year of life (36%; 95% CI: 26.0-45.9) and declined with age to 19% at 36-60 months of age, χ test for trend P = 0.014. In contrast, 4% (95% CI: 1.9-5.87%) of children had a positive QFT, and there was no trend detected with age, P = 0.576. QFT positivity was detected as early as 5 months. HIV-exposed uninfected children had significantly higher odds of TB infection by QFT (odds ratio [OR]: 21.2; P = 0.008; 95% CI: 2.2-204.7) or positive TST or QFT (OR, 2.4; P = 0.020; 95% CI: 1.2-5.1) compared with HIV-unexposed uninfected children, adjusting for age, BCG vaccination and a positive maternal TST or QFT. CONCLUSIONS An appreciable prevalence of TB infection was detected in early childhood. HIV-exposed uninfected children have a higher risk for TB infection compared with children born to HIV-uninfected mothers.
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17
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Laurenti P, Raponi M, de Waure C, Marino M, Ricciardi W, Damiani G. Performance of interferon-γ release assays in the diagnosis of confirmed active tuberculosis in immunocompetent children: a new systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2016; 16:131. [PMID: 26993789 PMCID: PMC4797356 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1461-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem, causing morbidity and mortality in adults and children. The most reliable diagnostic tools currently available are the in vivo Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and the ex vivo Interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs). Several clinical, radiological, and bacteriological features make the detection of active (overt disease) TB in children difficult. Although recently developed immunological assays such as QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) and T-SPOT®.TB are commonly used to identify active TB in adults, different evidence is required for diagnosis in children. The purpose of this study was to reassess the sensitivity and specificity of IGRAs in detecting microbiologically confirmed active TB in immunocompetent children. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting on the diagnostic accuracy of tests for TB in immunocompetent children aged 0–18 years, with confirmation by positive M. tuberculosis cultures, were undertaken. Electronic databases were searched up to September 2015 and study quality assessment was performed using QUADAS-2. Results Fifteen studies were included in our meta-analysis. Results showed that there were no significant differences in sensitivity between TST (88.2 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 79.4–94.2 %), QFT-IT (89.6 %, 95 % CI 79.7–95.7 %) and T SPOT (88.5 %, 95 % CI 80.4–94.1 %). However, both QFT-IT (95.4 %, 95 % CI 93.8–96.6 %) and T-SPOT (96.8 %, 95 % CI 94.2–98.5 %) have significantly higher specificity than TST (86.3 %, 95 % CI 83.9–88.6 %). Conclusions QFT-IT and T-SPOT have higher specificity than TST for detecting active TB cases in immunocompetent children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Laurenti
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Raponi
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara de Waure
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Marino
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Ricciardi
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Damiani
- Institute of Public Health - Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito, 1-00168, Rome, Italy
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18
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Luabeya KKA, Tameris MD, Geldenhuys HD, Mulenga H, Van Schalkwyk A, Hughes EJ, Toefey A, Scriba TJ, Hussey G, Mahomed H, McShane H, Landry B, Hanekom WA, Hatherill M. Risk of Disease After Isoniazid Preventive Therapy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Exposure in Young HIV-uninfected Children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2015; 34:1218-22. [PMID: 26252568 PMCID: PMC4604652 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000000874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) disease in HIV-uninfected children after isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk of TB disease after IPT in young HIV-uninfected children with a positive QFT-GIT result, or household TB contact. METHODS HIV-uninfected South African infants aged 4-6 months were screened for enrolment in a TB vaccine trial. Baseline household TB contact and positive QFT-GIT result were exclusion criteria, and these infants were referred for IPT. Outcome data are reported for 36 months after IPT referral. RESULTS Four thousand seven hundred forty-nine infants were screened. Household TB contact was reported in 131 (2.8%) infants; 279 (6.0%) were QFT-GIT positive, and 138 of these 410 infants (34.0%) started IPT. Forty-four cases of TB disease (11.0%) were recorded within 991 child years of observation. TB disease incidence was 4.8 versus 3.6 per 100 child years in household exposed versus QFT-GIT-positive children [incidence rate ratio: 1.35; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-2.88] and 2.4 versus 5.5 per 100 child years in children who received versus did not receive IPT, respectively (incidence rate ratio: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.17-0.96). Adjusted hazard ratio (Cox regression) for TB disease was 0.48 (95% CI: 0.21-1.05) for those who received IPT. CONCLUSION In young HIV-uninfected children, the effect of IPT on risk of TB disease is similar, whether TB exposure was defined by household contact history or by positive QFT-GIT result. International IPT guidelines for HIV-uninfected children with a positive QFT-GIT result should be updated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kany Kany A. Luabeya
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Michele D. Tameris
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Hennie D. Geldenhuys
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Humphrey Mulenga
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Amaryl Van Schalkwyk
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth J. Hughes
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Asma Toefey
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Thomas J. Scriba
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Gregory Hussey
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Hassan Mahomed
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Helen McShane
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Bernard Landry
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Willem A. Hanekom
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Mark Hatherill
- From the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town; Western Cape Government; Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and Aeras, Rockville, Maryland
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Rate of tuberculosis infection in children and adolescents with household contact with adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis as assessed by tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays. Epidemiol Infect 2015; 144:712-23. [PMID: 26234295 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268815001727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) infection was evaluated in Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents exposed and unexposed (control group) to adults with active pulmonary TB. Both groups were analysed by clinical and radiological assessment, TST, QFT-IT and T-SPOT.TB. The three tests were repeated after 8 weeks in the TB-exposed group if results were initially negative. Individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) were treated and tests were repeated after treatment. Fifty-nine TB-exposed and 42 controls were evaluated. Rate of infection was 69·5% and 9·5% for the exposed and control groups, respectively. The exposed group infection rate was 61% assessed by TST, 57·6% by T-SPOT.TB, and 59·3%, by QFT-IT. No active TB was diagnosed. Agreement between the three tests was 83·1% and 92·8% in the exposed and control groups, respectively. In the exposed group, T-SPOT.TB added four TB diagnoses [16%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·6-30·4] and QFT-IT added three TB diagnoses (12%, 95% CI 0-24·7) in 25 individuals with negative tuberculin skin test (TST). Risk factors associated to TB infection were contact with an adult with active TB [0-60 days: odds ratio (OR) 6·9; >60 days: OR 27·0] and sleeping in the same room as an adult with active TB (OR 5·2). In Brazilian immunocompetent children and adolescents, TST had a similar performance to interferon-gamma release assays and detected a high rate of LTBI.
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Salgame P, Geadas C, Collins L, Jones-López E, Ellner JJ. Latent tuberculosis infection--Revisiting and revising concepts. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2015; 95:373-84. [PMID: 26038289 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Host- and pathogen-specific factors interplay with the environment in a complex fashion to determine the outcome of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), resulting in one of three possible outcomes: cure, latency or active disease. Although much remains unknown about its pathophysiology, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) defined by immunologic evidence of Mtb infection is a continuum between self-cure and asymptomatic, yet active tuberculosis (TB) disease. Strain virulence, intensity of exposure to the index case, size of the bacterial inoculum, and host factors such as age and co-morbidities, each contribute to where one settles on the continuum. Currently, the diagnosis of LTBI is based on reactive tuberculin skin testing (TST) and/or a positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). Neither diagnostic test reflects the activity of the infectious focus or the risk of progression to active TB. This is a critical shortcoming, as accurate and efficient detection of those with LTBI at higher risk of progression to TB disease would allow for provision of targeted preventive therapy to those most likely to benefit. Host biomarkers may prove of value in stratifying risk of development of TB. New guidelines are required for interpretation of discordance between TST and IGRA, which may be due in part to a lack of stability (that is reproducibility) of IGRA or TST results or to a delay in conversion of IGRA to positivity compared to TST. In this review, the authors elaborate on the definition, diagnosis, pathophysiology and natural history of LTBI, as well as promising methods for better stratifying risk of progression to TB. The review is centered on the human host and the clinical and epidemiologic features of LTBI that are relevant to the development of new and improved diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padmini Salgame
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Carolina Geadas
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Collins
- Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Edward Jones-López
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jerrold J Ellner
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Mandalakas AM, Kirchner HL, Walzl G, Gie RP, Schaaf HS, Cotton MF, Grewal HMS, Hesseling AC. Optimizing the detection of recent tuberculosis infection in children in a high tuberculosis-HIV burden setting. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 191:820-30. [PMID: 25622087 PMCID: PMC4407483 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201406-1165oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Children who are young, malnourished, and infected with HIV have significant risk of tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality following TB infection. Treatment of TB infection is hindered by poor detection and limited pediatric data. OBJECTIVES Identify improved testing to detect pediatric TB infection. METHODS This was a prospective community-based study assessing use of the tuberculin skin test and IFN-γ release assays among children (n = 1,343; 6 mo to <15 yr) in TB-HIV high-burden settings; associations with child characteristics were measured. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Contact tracing detects TB in 8% of child contacts within 3 months of exposure. Among children with no documented contact, tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube positivity was greater than T-SPOT.TB. Nearly 8% of children had IFN-γ release assay positive and skin test negative discordance. In a model accounting for confounders, all tests correlate with TB contact, but IFN-γ release assays correlate better than the tuberculin skin test (P = 0.0011). Indeterminate IFN-γ release assay results were not associated with age. Indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube results were more frequent in children infected with HIV (4.7%) than uninfected with HIV (1.9%), whereas T-SPOT.TB indeterminates were rare (0.2%) and not affected by HIV status. Conversion and reversion were not associated with HIV status. Among children infected with HIV, tests correlated less with contact as malnutrition worsened. CONCLUSIONS Where resources allow, use of IFN-γ release assays should be considered in children who are young, recently exposed, and infected with HIV because they may offer advantages compared with the tuberculin skin test for identifying TB infection, and improve targeted, cost-effective delivery of preventive therapy. Affordable tests of infection could dramatically impact global TB control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Mandalakas
- Section on Retrovirology and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- The Global TB Program, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and
| | | | - Gerhard Walzl
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research and MRC Centre for TB Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert P. Gie
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and
| | - H. Simon Schaaf
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, and
| | - Mark F. Cotton
- Children’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Harleen M. S. Grewal
- Department of Clinical Science, Infection, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; and
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Tieu HV, Suntarattiwong P, Puthanakit T, Chotpitayasunondh T, Chokephaibulkit K, Sirivichayakul S, Buranapraditkun S, Rungrojrat P, Chomchey N, Tsiouris S, Hammer S, Nandi V, Ananworanich J. Comparing interferon-gamma release assays to tuberculin skin test in Thai children with tuberculosis exposure. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105003. [PMID: 25121513 PMCID: PMC4133381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Data on the performance of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), QuantiFERON TB Gold In-tube (QFNGIT) and T-Spot.TB, in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) are limited in Southeast Asia. This study aims to compare the performances of the two IGRAs and TST in Thai children with recent TB exposure. Methods This multicenter, prospective study enrolled children with recent exposure to active TB adults. Children were investigated for active TB. TST was performed and blood collected for T-Spot.TB and QFNGIT. Results 158 children were enrolled (87% TB-exposed and 13% active TB, mean age 7.2 years). Only 3 children had HIV infection. 66.7% had TST≥10 mm, while 38.6% had TST≥15 mm. 32.5% had positive QFNGIT; 29.9% had positive T-Spot.TB. QFNGIT and T-Spot.TB positivity was higher among children with active TB compared with TB-exposed children. No indeterminate IGRA results were detected. No statistically significant differences between the performances of the IGRAs and TST at the two cut-offs with increasing TB exposure were detected. Concordance for positive IGRAs and TST ranged from 42–46% for TST≥10 mm and 62–67% for TST≥15 mm. On multivariable analyses, exposure to household primary/secondary caregiver with TB was associated with positive QFNGIT. Higher TB contact score and active TB were associated with positive T-Spot.TB. Conclusions Both QFNGIT and T-Spot.TB performed well in our Thai pediatric study population. No differences in the performances between tests with increasing TB exposure were found. Due to accessibility and low cost, using TST may more ideal than IGRAs in diagnosing latent and active TB in healthy children in Thailand and other similar settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Van Tieu
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Thanyawee Puthanakit
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sunee Sirivichayakul
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalonglongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Nitiya Chomchey
- SEARCH, The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Simon Tsiouris
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Scott Hammer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Vijay Nandi
- Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalonglongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- SEARCH, The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Bangkok, Thailand
- U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
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Ang M, Kiew SY, Wong WL, Chee SP. Discordance of two interferon-γ release assays and tuberculin skin test in patients with uveitis. Br J Ophthalmol 2014; 98:1649-53. [DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2014-305229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in young children: analyzing the performance of the diagnostic tests. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97992. [PMID: 24879374 PMCID: PMC4039466 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the performance of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Quantiferon-TB Gold in-Tube (QFT) and the possible association of factors which may modify their results in young children (0-6 years) with recent contact with an index tuberculosis case. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study including 135 children was conducted in Manaus, Amazonas-Brazil. The TST and QFT were performed and the tests results were analyzed in relation to the personal characteristics of the children studied and their relationship with the index case. RESULTS The rates of positivity were 34.8% (TST) and 26.7% (QFT), with 14.1% of indeterminations by the QFT. Concordance between tests was fair (Kappa = 0.35 P<0.001). Both the TST and QFT were associated with the intensity of exposure (Linear OR = 1.286, P = 0.005; Linear OR = 1.161, P = 0.035 respectively) with only the TST being associated with the time of exposure (Linear OR = 1.149, P = 0.009). The presence of intestinal helminths in the TST+ group was associated with negative QFT results (OR = 0.064, P = 0.049). In the TST- group lower levels of ferritin were associated with QFT+ results (Linear OR = 0.956, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Concordance between the TST and QFT was lower than expected. The factors associated with the discordant results were intestinal helminths, ferritin levels and exposure time to the index tuberculosis case. In TST+ group, helminths were associated with negative QFT results suggesting impaired cell-mediated immunity. The TST-&QFT+ group had a shorter exposure time and lower ferritin levels, suggesting that QFT is faster and ferritin may be a potential biomarker of early stages of tuberculosis infection.
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Extremes of age are associated with indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB gold assay results. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 52:2694-7. [PMID: 24829238 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00814-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Results from 3,263 QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube (QFT-GIT) assays were analyzed to determine the impact of age on test performance. The proportion of indeterminate results was significantly higher in pediatric and elderly (9.1% and 7.4%, respectively) than in adult (2.6%; chi-square test, P < 0.0001) patients. A detailed analysis of indeterminate QFT-GIT assay results is presented.
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26
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Concordant or discordant results by the tuberculin skin test and the quantiFERON-TB test in children reflect immune biomarker profiles. Genes Immun 2014; 15:265-74. [DOI: 10.1038/gene.2014.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Latent TB infection diagnosis in population exposed to TB subjects in close and poor ventilated high TB endemic zone in India. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89524. [PMID: 24614179 PMCID: PMC3948673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The present study was designed to investigate the utility of Quantiferon TB gold (QFT-G) and Tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) in high crowding TB endemic zone of Nagpur, India and their comparison with associated risk factors. Methods Out of 342 eligible participants, QFT-G and TST were performed in 162 participants. Results The prevalence of LTBI observed according to QFT-G and TST was 48% and 42% respectively, with an agreement of 52.47%. QFT-G positivity was associated with age while TST positivity was associated with body mass index (BMI). Duration of exposure emerged as a key risk factor significantly associated with both the tests. Conclusion The prevalence of LTBI was quite high in the studied zone as detected by both the evaluated tests and thus, the combination of both the tests will be best predictive for LTBI in such high TB endemic regions.
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Chegou NN, Hoek KGP, Kriel M, Warren RM, Victor TC, Walzl G. Tuberculosis assays: past, present and future. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 9:457-69. [DOI: 10.1586/eri.11.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific TNF-α is a potential biomarker for the rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis disease in Chinese population. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79431. [PMID: 24244502 PMCID: PMC3823617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have proven to be useful to accurately detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, but they cannot reliably discriminate between active tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). This study aims to test whether Mtb-specific tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) could be used as a new tool for the rapid diagnosis of active TB disease. The secretion of TNF-α by Mtb-specific antigen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of sixty seven participants was investigated in the study. Our results showed that the total measurement of TNF-α secretion by Mtb-specific antigen-stimulated PBMCs is not a good biomarker for active TB diagnosis. However, we found that calculation of Mtb-specific TNF-α not only distinguish between active and latent TB infection, but also can differentiate active TB from non-TB patients. Using the cutoff value of 136.9 pg/ml for Mtb-specific TNF-α, we were able to differentiate active TB from LTBI. Sensitivity and specificity were 72% and 90.91%. These data suggest that Mtb-specific TNF-α could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of active TB disease.
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Chegou NN, Detjen AK, Thiart L, Walters E, Mandalakas AM, Hesseling AC, Walzl G. Utility of host markers detected in Quantiferon supernatants for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children in a high-burden setting. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64226. [PMID: 23691173 PMCID: PMC3655018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) disease remains a challenge especially in young and HIV-infected children. Recent studies have identified potential host markers which, when measured in Quantiferon (QFT-IT) supernatants, show promise in discriminating between Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection states. In this study, the utility of such markers was investigated in children screened for TB in a setting with high TB incidence. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS 76 children (29% HIV-infected) with or without active TB provided blood specimens collected directly into QFT-IT tubes. After overnight incubation, culture supernatants were harvested, aliquoted and frozen for future immunological research purposes. Subsequently, the levels of 12 host markers previously identified as potential TB diagnostic markers were evaluated in these supernatants for their ability to discriminate between M.tb infection and disease states using the Luminex platform. Of the 76 children included, 19 (25%) had culture confirmed TB disease; 26 (46%) of the 57 without TB had positive markers of M.tb infection defined by a positive QFT-IT test. The potentially most useful analytes for diagnosing TB disease included IFN-α2, IL-1Ra, sCD40L and VEGF and the most useful markers for discriminating between QFT-IT positive children as TB or latent infection included IL-1Ra, IP-10 and VEGF. When markers were used in combinations of four, 84% of all children were accurately classified into their respective groups (TB disease or no TB), after leave-one-out cross validation. CONCLUSIONS Measurement of the levels of IFN-α2, IL-1Ra, sCD40L, IP-10 and VEGF in QFT-IT supernatants may be a useful method for diagnosing TB disease and differentiating between active TB disease and M.tb infection in children. Our observations warrant further investigation in larger well-characterized clinical cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Novel N Chegou
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
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Cavalcanti YVN, de Almeida TM, de Almeida AF, Reis LC, Lucena-Silva N, Pereira VRA. Foxp3 expression and nitric oxide production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of communicants with pulmonary tuberculosis. Scand J Immunol 2013; 78:79-84. [PMID: 23578109 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The understanding of the mechanisms involved in the immune response is of significant relevance to the control of tuberculosis (TB), especially in individuals living with patients with TB. To characterize the nitric oxide (NO) production and the Foxp3 marker expression in this population, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of intradomiciliary contacts of individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis with (CTb, susceptible) and without (STb, resistant) previous history of active infection were stimulated in vitro with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen (TbAg) and with the mitogen Concanavalin A for 24 and 48 h. The groups analysed did not present significant difference in the Foxp3 mRNA expression nor in the NO production. Negative correlation (P = 0.09) between NO and Foxp3 after a 48-h stimulation with TbAg was observed in the STb group. In this group, after a 24-h culture stimulated with TbAg (P = 0.03), this same correlation was observed. In comparison with the cytokines previously studied by our group (Cavalcanti et al., 2009), a positive correlation was observed between IL-10 and Foxp3 after a 48-h culture of cells from communicants susceptible to tuberculosis (STb) stimulated with TbAg (P = 0.04). Evaluating the entire population, a positive correlation was observed between the cytokine TNF-α and the Foxp3 marker in the cultures stimulated for 24 (P = 0.03) and 48 (P = 0.02) hours with TbAg. Therefore, considering the similarity in the exposure and the individual capacity of responding to the contact with M. tuberculosis, the present study contributes to the comprehension of the immune regulation in individuals living with patients with TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V N Cavalcanti
- Departamento de Biologia, Área de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
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Detecting tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected children: a study of diagnostic accuracy, confounding and interaction. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2013. [PMID: 23190784 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e31827d77b7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in young and HIV-infected children could guide delivery of preventive therapy, improve resource utilization and help prevent tuberculosis. METHODS We assessed the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) for identifying M. tuberculosis infection in South African children presenting for outpatient care. Tuberculosis contact was quantified using a standardized measure of M. tuberculosis exposure. Logistic regression assessed the association among test positivity, age, nutritional and HIV status, while controlling for M. tuberculosis exposure, bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination and prior tuberculosis treatment. RESULTS Among 250 (130 HIV infected) children (age 0.25-14.6 years, median 39 months), the proportion positive for each test varied: 34% (TST), 21% (T-SPOT.TB) and 25% (QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube). IGRAs were more likely to be positive in HIV-uninfected compared with HIV-infected children; TST positivity did not differ between these groups. Agreement between tests was good-to-excellent in HIV-uninfected children and poor-to-good in HIV-infected children. In adjusted models, TST and T-SPOT.TB were positively associated with age; this effect varied by HIV status. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube was negatively associated with chronic malnutrition; this effect varied by HIV status. Because 93% of children had received bacille Calmette-Guérin, we could not assess the contribution of bacille Calmette-Guérin to false-positive TST results. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the TST and IGRAs perform similarly for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection in well-nourished HIV-uninfected children, but test performance is differentially affected by chronic malnutrition, HIV infection and age. Similar to TST interpretation, clinicians and researchers should interpret IGRAs in children with caution taking age, nutritional and HIV status into consideration.
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Trajman A, Steffen RE, Menzies D. Interferon-Gamma Release Assays versus Tuberculin Skin Testing for the Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: An Overview of the Evidence. Pulm Med 2013; 2013:601737. [PMID: 23476763 PMCID: PMC3582085 DOI: 10.1155/2013/601737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A profusion of articles have been published on the accuracy and uses of interferon-gamma releasing assays. Here we review the clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays and provide an overview of the most recent systematic reviews conducted for different indications for the use of these tests. We conclude that both tests are accurate to detect latent tuberculosis, although interferon-gamma release assays have higher specificity than tuberculin skin testing in BCG-vaccinated populations, particularly if BCG is received after infancy. However, both tests perform poorly to predict risk for progression to active tuberculosis. Interferon-gamma release assays have significant limitations in serial testing because of spontaneous variability and lack of a validated definition of conversion and reversion, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret changes in category (conversions and reversions). So far, the most important clinical evidence, that is, that isoniazid preventive therapy reduces the risk for progression to disease, has been produced only in tuberculin skin test-positive individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Trajman
- Gama Filho University, 20740-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Montreal Chest Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H2X 2P4
| | - R. E. Steffen
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 21941-913 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - D. Menzies
- Montreal Chest Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H2X 2P4
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Determining Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection among BCG-immunised Ugandan children by T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin testing. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47340. [PMID: 23077594 PMCID: PMC3471887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Children with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) represent a huge reservoir for future disease. We wished to determine Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection prevalence among BCG-immunised five-year-old children in Entebbe, Uganda, but there are limited data on the performance of immunoassays for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in children in endemic settings. We therefore evaluated agreement between a commercial interferon gamma release assay (T-SPOT.TB) and the tuberculin skin test (TST; 2 units RT-23 tuberculin; positive defined as diameter ≥10 mm), along with the reproducibility of T-SPOT.TB on short-term follow-up, in this population. Methodology/Principal Findings We recruited 907 children of which 56 were household contacts of TB patients. They were tested with T-SPOT.TB at age five years and then re-examined with T-SPOT.TB (n = 405) and TST (n = 319) approximately three weeks later. The principal outcome measures were T-SPOT.TB and TST positivity. At five years, 88 (9.7%) children tested positive by T-SPOT.TB. More than half of those that were T-SPOT.TB positive at five years were negative at follow-up, whereas 96% of baseline negatives were consistently negative. We observed somewhat better agreement between initial and follow-up T-SPOT.TB results among household TB contacts (κ = 0.77) than among non-contacts (κ = 0.39). Agreement between T-SPOT.TB and TST was weak (κ = 0.28 and κ = 0.40 for T-SPOT.TB at 5 years and follow-up, respectively). Of 28 children who were positive on both T-SPOT.TB tests, 14 (50%) had a negative TST. Analysis of spot counts showed high levels of instability in responses between baseline and follow-up, indicating variability in circulating numbers of T cells specific for certain M.tb antigens. Conclusions/Significance We found that T-SPOT.TB positives are unstable over a three-week follow-up interval, and that TST compares poorly with T-SPOT.TB, making the categorisation of children as TB-infected or TB-uninfected difficult. Existing tools for the diagnosis of TB infection are unsatisfactory in determining infection among children in this setting.
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van Soelen N, Mandalakas AM, Kirchner HL, Walzl G, Grewal HMS, Jacobsen M, Hesseling AC. Effect of Ascaris Lumbricoides specific IgE on tuberculin skin test responses in children in a high-burden setting: a cross-sectional community-based study. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12:211. [PMID: 22966931 PMCID: PMC3482567 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND M.tuberculosis (M.tb) is associated with enhanced T helper cell type 1 (Th1) immune responses while helminth infection is associated with T helper cell type 2 (Th2) immune responses. Our aim was to investigate whether helminth infection could influence the ability to generate an appropriate Th1 immune response that is characterized by a positive tuberculin skin test (TST), in M.tb exposed children. METHODS We completed a community-based, cross sectional household contact tracing study, using matched enrolment of HIV negative children with and without documented household M.tb exposure. We documented demographics, clinical characteristics, HIV status, M.tb exposure (using a standard contact score) and M.tb infection status (TST > = 10 mm). Ascaris lumbricoides-specific IgE was used as proxy for Ascaris infection/exposure. RESULTS Of 271 children (median age 4 years (range: 4 months to 15 years)) enrolled, 65 participants (24%) were serum positive for Ascaris IgE. There were 168 (62%) children with a documented household tuberculosis contact and 107 (40%) were (TST) positive overall.A positive TST was associated with increasing age (Odds Ratio (OR) =1.17, p < 0.001), increasing M.tb contact score (OR = 1.17, p < 0.001), previous tuberculosis treatment (OR = 4.8, p = 0.06) and previous isoniazid preventive treatment (OR = 3.16, p = 0.01). A visible bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar was associated with reduced odds of being TST positive (OR = 0.42, p = 0.01).Ascaris IgE was not associated with TST status in univariate analysis (OR = 0.9, p = 0.6), but multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested an inverse association between Ascaris IgE status and a positive TST (OR = 0.6, p = 0.08), when adjusted for age, and M.tb contact score. The addition of an age interaction term to the model suggested that the age effect was stronger among Ascaris IgE positive children; the effect of being Ascaris IgE positive significantly reduced the odds of being TST positive amongst younger children while this effect weakened with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary findings highlight a high prevalence of both Ascaris exposure/infection and M.tb infection in children in an urban setting. Helminth exposure/infection may reduce the immune response following M.tb exposure when controlling for epidemiological and clinical covariates. These findings might be relevant to the interpretation of immunological tests of M.tb infection in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelda van Soelen
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Anna M Mandalakas
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
- Section on Retrovirology and Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Global Health, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Gerhard Walzl
- Immunology Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Harleen M S Grewal
- Section of Microbiology and Immunology, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen and Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Marc Jacobsen
- Deptartment of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Childrens Hospital, Duesseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - Anneke C Hesseling
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
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Pérez-Porcuna TM, Ascaso C, Ogusku MM, Abellana R, Malheiro A, Quinco P, Antunes I, Monte R, Tavares M, Garrido M, Bührer-Sékula S, Martinez-Espinosa FE. Evaluation of new strategies for the diagnosis of tuberculosis among pediatric contacts of tuberculosis patients. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2012; 31:e141-6. [PMID: 22572746 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e31825cbb3b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In young children, underdiagnosis and diagnostic delay have an adverse effect on morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis (TB). This study evaluated new strategies for early TB diagnosis using an outpatient protocol in children between 0 and 5 years of age, with a recent household TB contact. METHODS Case recruitment was performed in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, from 2008 to 2009. Epidemiologic and clinical data, tuberculin test, chest radiograph and 2 induced sputum respiratory samples from each participant were obtained. Laboratory diagnosis was based on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) culture, mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) and polymerase chain reaction. We conducted a study of comparison of diagnostic tests and a study of cases and controls to identify the clinical characteristics of the population with positive culture and polymerase chain reaction results. RESULTS A total of 102 children were evaluated. Thirty-two fulfilled criteria of suspicion of TB. MGIT was more sensitive (P = 0.035) and faster (P < 0.001) than LJ. Clinical score, MGIT, LJ and polymerase chain reaction presented no concordance or slight concordance. A positive MGIT culture was only associated with a strong tuberculin test reaction (P = 0.026). The combination of MGIT with the clinical score allowed the diagnosis of 33% more cases with little or no symptomatology compared with the exclusive use of the clinical classification. CONCLUSIONS The sensitivity and speed of MGIT demonstrate the utility of liquid cultures for the diagnosis in children. Furthermore, these results suggest that the use of MGIT in children presenting recent household TB contact and a strong tuberculin test reaction may be a strategy to improve early TB diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomàs M Pérez-Porcuna
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas/Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
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Fox GJ, Barry SE, Britton WJ, Marks GB. Contact investigation for tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Respir J 2012; 41:140-56. [PMID: 22936710 PMCID: PMC3533588 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00070812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 458] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of contacts of patients with tuberculosis (TB) is a priority for TB control in high-income countries, and is increasingly being considered in resource-limited settings. This review was commissioned for a World Health Organization Expert Panel to develop global contact investigation guidelines. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all studies reporting the prevalence of TB and latent TB infection, and the annual incidence of TB among contacts of patients with TB. After screening 9,555 titles, we included 203 published studies. In 95 studies from low- and middle-income settings, the prevalence of active TB in all contacts was 3.1% (95% CI 2.2-4.4%, I(2)=99.4%), microbiologically proven TB was 1.2% (95% CI 0.9-1.8%, I(2)=95.9%), and latent TB infection was 51.5% (95% CI 47.1-55.8%, I(2)=98.9%). The prevalence of TB among household contacts was 3.1% (95% CI 2.1-4.5%, I(2)=98.8%) and among contacts of patients with multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant TB was 3.4% (95% CI 0.8-12.6%, I(2)=95.7%). Incidence was greatest in the first year after exposure. In 108 studies from high-income settings, the prevalence of TB among contacts was 1.4% (95% CI 1.1-1.8%, I(2)=98.7%), and the prevalence of latent infection was 28.1% (95% CI 24.2-32.4%, I(2)=99.5%). There was substantial heterogeneity among published studies. Contacts of TB patients are a high-risk group for developing TB, particularly within the first year. Children <5 yrs of age and people living with HIV are particularly at risk. Policy recommendations must consider evidence of the cost-effectiveness of various contact tracing strategies, and also incorporate complementary strategies to enhance case finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Fox
- Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Glebe, Sydney 2037, Australia.
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Hatemi G, Melikoglu M, Ozbakir F, Tascilar K, Yazici H. Quantiferon-TB Gold in tube assay for the screening of tuberculosis before and during treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists. Arthritis Res Ther 2012; 14:R147. [PMID: 22709461 PMCID: PMC3446532 DOI: 10.1186/ar3882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The usefulness of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assays for tuberculosis screening before tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists and for monitoring during treatment is a contraversial issue. The aims of this study were to determine whether TNF-α antagonists affect the results of the Quantiferon-TB Gold in-tube assay (QTF); to assess how QTF performs in comparison with the tuberculin skin test (TST) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who are about to start treatment with TNF-α antagonists, RA patients who are not candidates for treatment with TNF-α antagonists, rheumatology patients with confirmed current or past tuberculosis infection, and healthy controls, and to determine the specificity of the QTF test to differentiate leprosy patients, another group of patients infected with mycobacteria. Methods The 38 RA patients who were prescribed TNF-α antagonists, 40 RA patients who were not considered for TNF-α antagonist use, 30 rheumatology patients with a history or new diagnosis of tuberculosis, 23 leprosy patients, and 41 healthy controls were studied. QTF and TST were done on the same day, and both were repeated after a mean of 3.6 ± 0.2 months in patients who used TNF-α antagonists. Results Treatment with TNF-α antagonists did not cause a significant change in the QTF or TST positivity rate (34% versus 42%; P = 0.64; and 24% versus 37%; P = 0.22). Patients with leprosy had a trend for a higher mean IFN-γ level (7.3 ± 8.0) and QTF positivity (61%) than did the other groups; however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.09 and P = 0.43). Conclusions Treatment with TNF-α antagonists does not seem to affect the QTF test to an appreciable degree. The higher IFN-γ levels in leprosy patients deserves further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulen Hatemi
- Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Istanbul, Turkey
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Chegou NN, Essone PN, Loxton AG, Stanley K, Black GF, van der Spuy GD, van Helden PD, Franken KL, Parida SK, Klein MR, Kaufmann SHE, Ottenhoff THM, Walzl G. Potential of host markers produced by infection phase-dependent antigen-stimulated cells for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in a highly endemic area. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38501. [PMID: 22693640 PMCID: PMC3367928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2012] [Accepted: 05/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-based studies have identified novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection phase-dependent antigens as diagnostic candidates. In this study, the levels of 11 host markers other than IFN-γ, were evaluated in whole blood culture supernatants after stimulation with M.tb infection phase-dependent antigens, for the diagnosis of TB disease. Methodology and Principal Findings Five M.tb infection phase-dependent antigens, comprising of three DosR-regulon-encoded proteins (Rv2032, Rv0081, Rv1737c), and two resucitation promoting factors (Rv0867c and Rv2389c), were evaluated in a case-control study with 15 pulmonary TB patients and 15 household contacts that were recruited from a high TB incidence setting in Cape Town, South Africa. After a 7-day whole blood culture, supernatants were harvested and the levels of the host markers evaluated using the Luminex platform. Multiple antigen-specific host markers were identified with promising diagnostic potential. Rv0081-specific levels of IL-12(p40), IP-10, IL-10 and TNF-α were the most promising diagnostic candidates, each ascertaining TB disease with an accuracy of 100%, 95% confidence interval for the area under the receiver operating characteristics plots, (1.0 to 1.0). Conclusions Multiple cytokines other than IFN-γ in whole blood culture supernatants after stimulation with M.tb infection phase-dependent antigens show promise as diagnostic markers for active TB. These preliminary findings should be verified in well-designed diagnostic studies employing short-term culture assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Novel N Chegou
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
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Wiseman CA, Gie RP, Starke JR, Schaaf HS, Donald PR, Cotton MF, Hesseling AC. A proposed comprehensive classification of tuberculosis disease severity in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2012; 31:347-52. [PMID: 22315002 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e318243e27b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) in children has conventionally been classified as pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) disease, including disseminated TB (TB meningitis and miliary disease). There is no existing approach that comprehensively characterizes the spectrum and severity of pediatric TB. This limits accurate classification of patients and comparison across cohorts. AIMS To develop a classification of pediatric TB that reflects the spectrum and severity of clinical disease better than currently available approaches. METHODS We propose a framework for the standard classification of TB disease severity in children. From a literature search, the following sources of information were used: clinical data, bacteriologic, histopathologic, and imaging data (including information from chest radiography, computerized tomography, and bronchoscopy). Each individual disease entity was systematically considered. Based on the extent and the presence of complications, each entity was then classified as "severe" or "nonsevere." As an initial application, we compared the proposed classification with the convention (PTB, EPTB) in a cohort of HIV-infected and -uninfected infants with culture-confirmed TB. Agreement between the 2 systems was poor. CONCLUSIONS The proposed comprehensive disease classification system may more accurately reflect the clinical TB disease spectrum in children, is relevant to clinical management, and may be valuable to inform research on diagnostic tools and TB treatment strategies in children. Prospective studies are required to evaluate this approach in representative pediatric populations, correlating TB disease severity with diagnostic yield, treatment response, and application in existing and novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Wiseman
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Seddon JA, Godfrey-Faussett P, Hesseling AC, Gie RP, Beyers N, Schaaf HS. Management of children exposed to multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2012; 12:469-79. [PMID: 22373591 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(11)70366-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Children exposed to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis are at risk of developing MDR tuberculosis. Where treatment is available, it is lengthy, expensive, and associated with poor adherence and notable morbidity and mortality. Preventive treatment effectively lowers the risk of disease progression for contacts of individuals with drug-susceptible tuberculosis, but this strategy is poorly studied for contacts of people with MDR tuberculosis. In this Review we discuss the management of child contacts of source cases with MDR tuberculosis. We pay particular attention to assessment, existing international guidelines, possible preventive treatments, rationales for different management strategies, and the interaction with and implications of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Seddon
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK .
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Legesse M, Ameni G, Mamo G, Medhin G, Bjune G, Abebe F. Association of the level of IFN-γ produced by T cells in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens with the size of skin test indurations among individuals with latent tuberculosis in a highly tuberculosis-endemic setting. Int Immunol 2012; 24:71-8. [PMID: 22298884 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxr102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence showing the potential of T-cell-based gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assays (IGRAs) for predicting the risk of progression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, though there is little information from tuberculosis (TB)-endemic settings. In this study, we assessed the association between the level of IFN-γ produced by T cells in response to Mtb-specific antigens and the size of skin test indurations in 505 adult individuals who were screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube (QFTGIT) assay and tuberculin skin test (TST). There was a strong positive correlation between the level of IFN-γ induced by the specific antigens and the diameter of the skin indurations (Spearman's rho = 0.6, P < 0.001). Body mass index and parasitic infection were not associated with the level of IFN-γ production or the TST reaction. In linear regression analysis, the size of the skin test indurations was significantly associated with the mean level of IFN-γ [coefficient, 0.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.47 to 0.82, P < 0.001]. Similarly, results from logistic regression analysis demonstrated that individuals who had skin test indurations ≥ 10 mm were 6.82 times more likely than individuals who had skin test indurations < 10 mm to have high levels of IFN-γ (i.e. positive QFTGIT result) (adjusted odd ratio = 6.82; 95% CI, 3.67 to 12.69, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the results of this study could provide indirect evidence for the prognostic use of the QFTGIT assay for progression of Mtb infection, though prospective follow-up studies are needed to provide direct evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengistu Legesse
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Chegou NN, Black GF, Loxton AG, Stanley K, Essone PN, Klein MR, Parida SK, Kaufmann SHE, Doherty TM, Friggen AH, Franken KL, Ottenhoff TH, Walzl G. Potential of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection phase-dependent antigens in the diagnosis of TB disease in a high burden setting. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12:10. [PMID: 22260319 PMCID: PMC3282638 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Confirming tuberculosis (TB) disease in suspects in resource limited settings is challenging and calls for the development of more suitable diagnostic tools. Different Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection phase-dependent antigens may be differentially recognized in infected and diseased individuals and therefore useful as diagnostic tools for differentiating between M.tb infection states. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic potential of 118 different M.tb infection phase-dependent antigens in TB patients and household contacts (HHCs) in a high-burden setting. Methods Antigens were evaluated using the 7-day whole blood culture technique in 23 pulmonary TB patients and in 19 to 21 HHCs (total n = 101), who were recruited from a high-TB incidence community in Cape Town, South Africa. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels in culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. Results Eight classical TB vaccine candidate antigens, 51 DosR regulon encoded antigens, 23 TB reactivation antigens, 5 TB resuscitation promoting factors (rpfs), 6 starvation and 24 other stress response-associated TB antigens were evaluated in the study. The most promising antigens for ascertaining active TB were the rpfs (Rv0867c, Rv2389c, Rv2450c, Rv1009 and Rv1884c), with Areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs) between 0.72 and 0.80. A combination of M.tb specific ESAT-6/CFP-10 fusion protein, Rv2624c and Rv0867c accurately predicted 73% of the TB patients and 80% of the non-TB cases after cross validation. Conclusions IFN-γ responses to TB rpfs show promise as TB diagnostic candidates and should be evaluated further for discrimination between M.tb infection states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Novel N Chegou
- DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research and MRC Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa.
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Latent tuberculosis infection in children: diagnostic approaches. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2012; 31:1285-94. [PMID: 22215186 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1524-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem and a leading infectious cause of death. Diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is important for TB control and elimination. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of LTBI in both adults and children remains complex, since there is no gold standard. The development of interferon gamma release assays was a major breakthrough in the diagnosis of LTBI. The evaluation of IGRAs in the diagnosis of LTBI in children is proven to be difficult since childhood TB differs from adults as immune responses vary with age. Separate studies assessing IGRAs performance in children are still limited, and only a few of them divide results by narrow age groups Nevertheless, new approaches are being exploited by the ongoing research for the development of more efficient diagnostic tools. It is likely that many changes in both the diagnosis and management of LTBI will occur in the near future. We believe that better understanding of the immunopathology of latency can ultimately lead to the development of more effective strategies in TB control. In the present review we summarize current data on diagnosis of LTBI in children, underscoring the existing challenges and limitations.
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Diagnostic features associated with culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among young children in a vaccine trial setting. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2012; 31:42-6. [PMID: 22094639 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e31823eeaf9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify diagnostic features associated with culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the standard for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, to inform clinical end point definitions for new TB vaccine trials. METHODS Children <2 years of age (n = 1445) were screened and investigated for TB during a Bacille Calmette Guerin vaccine trial in South Africa. Standardized clinical, radiologic, and microbiologic data were collected, including paired gastric lavage and induced sputum for MTB liquid culture. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS Adjusted odds of positive MTB culture increased by 90% with history of wheezing (AOR, 1.9) and by 4% with each 1-mm increase in Mantoux diameter (AOR, 1.04). Odds of positive MTB culture doubled if the chest radiograph was suggestive of pulmonary TB (AOR, 2.16) and more than tripled if lower chest retraction was observed clinically (AOR, 3.37). Fever, night sweats, and presence of lymphadenopathy were negatively associated with MTB culture (AOR: 0.5, 0.62, and 0.2, respectively). Persistent cough, weight loss, and failure to thrive were not significantly associated with MTB culture in this study population. CONCLUSIONS Wheezing and lower chest retraction, consistent with intrathoracic airway obstruction; chest radiography suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis; and Mantoux diameter were predictive of positive MTB culture. These variables should be considered for inclusion in composite clinical end point definitions for infant TB vaccine trials. Several clinical features, commonly used for TB diagnosis in older children, were not associated with positive MTB culture among children younger than 2 years.
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Hatherill M, Verver S, Mahomed H. Consensus statement on diagnostic end points for infant tuberculosis vaccine trials. Clin Infect Dis 2011; 54:493-501. [PMID: 22144538 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cir823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Definition of clinical trial end points for childhood tuberculosis is hindered by lack of a standard case definition. We aimed to identify areas of consensus or debate on potential end points for tuberculosis vaccine trials among human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected children. METHODS Thirty-eight opinion leaders participated in a Consensus Workshop at the Second Global Forum on TB Vaccines (Estonia, 2010). Outcomes were categorized as unanimity, modified consensus, or lack of consensus. Individual reservations were noted. RESULTS Modified consensus was achieved on 3 issues: (1) unsuitability of historical BCG trial end points as sole primary end points for modern infant trials; (2) symptomatic, complicated intrathoracic tuberculosis as an uncommon but clinically relevant disease phenotype; (3) primary complex tuberculosis in younger children as a common, high-risk phenotype, with a high rate of spontaneous resolution. Participants agreed that radiologic diagnosis of intrathoracic tuberculosis would be based primarily on hilar lymphadenopathy. Lack of consensus was noted for (1) significance of isolated culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and (2) the need for evidence of prior tuberculosis exposure to support a diagnosis of tuberculosis disease. Reservations were expressed regarding use of interferon-γ release assays and the clinical relevance, and potential for misclassification, of primary complex tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS The Workshop did not achieve consensus on a single primary end-point definition. Tuberculosis disease phenotypes with optimal diagnostic certainty will be uncommon in the study population. Criteria for composite or multiple end points were identified, and we propose a hierarchy of end-point criteria, based on rate of occurrence, clinical relevance, and diagnostic certainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Hatherill
- South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
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Abstract
The diagnosis and treatment of TB infection is one of the public health priorities. Until recently, diagnosis of TB infection has been based on the tuberculin skin test (TST). However, this is neither 100% sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis of TB infection owing to its many drawbacks. More recently, T-cell-based IFN-γ release assays (IGRAs) have been developed. In this article, we review the clinical performance of one of the IGRAs, T-SPOT.TB assay, for the diagnosis of TB infection in adults and children. We discuss the principle of the assay, its utility in active TB diseases, latent TB infection and the performance of the test in specialized subgroups of patients, such as immunocompromised individuals. When compared with the TST, the T-SPOT.TB assay has better specificity in bacillus Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated individuals, and data suggest that T-SPOT.TB may be more sensitive than the TST. Data in groups at high risk of progression to disease support the idea that T-SPOT.TB performs better than the TST. In addition, application of T-SPOT.TB by using bodily fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and pleural fluid may offer new diagnostic approaches in extrapulmonary TB disease. Although IGRAs cannot distinguish active TB disease from latent TB infection, these assays perform better than the TST for the detection of TB infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Soysal
- Marmara University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, T.C. Sağlik Bakanlığı Marmara Üniversitesi Hastanesi, Fevzi Çakmak Mahallesi, Mimar Sinan Caddesi, Üst-Kaynarca, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey.
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The utility of an interferon gamma release assay for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection and disease in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2011; 30:694-700. [PMID: 21427627 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e318214b915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The utility of interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) has been assessed in adults, but remains unclear in children. We reviewed the literature on the use of a commercial IGRA in immunocompetent children for the diagnosis of both latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and TB disease. METHODS We searched PubMed for studies published before January 2010 on the diagnosis of TB in children using an IGRA. We compared the specificity and sensitivity of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the IGRA for LTBI and conducted a random effects meta-analysis on sensitivity of the IGRA for TB disease. RESULTS Of 68 studies identified, 20 were included in this review. There was increased specificity of the IGRA for LTBI in children compared with TST, but varying sensitivities. Sensitivity of the IGRA in detecting TB disease in children also varied when compared with TST (mean κ score, 0.57). For all TB cases, the pooled sensitivity was 66% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53%-78%) with heterogeneity (I² = 74.8%). Stratification by background TB incidence highlighted a significantly reduced IGRA sensitivity of 55% (95% CI, 37%-73%) in high incidence settings when compared with low incidence settings, 70% (95% CI, 53%-84%). CONCLUSIONS There was no clear evidence that IGRAs should replace TST for detecting LTBI in children. Sensitivity of the IGRA for TB disease was no different from TST, and a significantly reduced IGRA sensitivity was found in high-burden TB settings compared with low-burden TB settings. Further studies are needed to determine the value of IGRAs in LTBI and TB disease diagnosis in children.
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Mulenga H, Moyo S, Workman L, Hawkridge T, Verver S, Tameris M, Geldenhuys H, Hanekom W, Mahomed H, Hussey G, Hatherill M. Phenotypic variability in childhood TB: Implications for diagnostic endpoints in tuberculosis vaccine trials. Vaccine 2011; 29:4316-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Revised: 03/15/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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