Boonthanapat N, Soontornmon K, Pungrassami P, Sukhasitwanichkul J, Mahasirimongkol S, Jiraphongsa C, Monkongdee P, Angchokchatchawal K, Wiratsudakul A. Use of network analysis multidrug-resistant tuberculosis contact investigation in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
Trop Med Int Health 2019;
24:320-327. [PMID:
30549377 DOI:
10.1111/tmi.13190]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To characterise MDR-TB outbreak and incorporate social network analysis with contact investigation to detect case-contact linkages and clusters.
METHODS
MDR-TB cases registered in the district hospital between October 2012 and September 2015 were interviewed and their contacts were investigated. A relationship-based weighted network was constructed.
RESULTS
Among 43 interviewed MDR-TB cases, 20 (47%) were male, five (12%) were asymptomatic (and discovered incidentally) and 22 (51%) had underlying diseases. From the documented 115 contacts, 61 (53%) were household contacts and 49 (43%) were close (non-household) contacts; 70 (61%) were screened for TB using various tests. In this network, we prioritised 37 contacts connected with more than one MDR-TB patient. The largest cluster was identified in the pharmacy unit of the hospital.
CONCLUSION
This investigation yielded a significant number of MDR-TB contacts, and social network analysis facilitated the prioritisation for screening. Social network analysis is useful and feasible in this program setting and complements MDR-TB contact investigation.
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