Screening situation analysis on close contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients from 2013 to 2017, in Jing'an District, Shanghai

ObjectiveTo make analysis on screening situation of close contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)patients from 2013 to 2017, so as to provide experience and evidence for improving the work on close contacts of PTB patients.

MethodsThe data from TB case detection results through investigating close contacts of PTB patients from Jan 2013 to Jan 2017 were retrospectively exported from Jing'an District TB information and management platform, and retrospective analysis was performed through analyzing the data to understand the basic characteristics of the subjects, screening results of the subjects for different relationships between patients and contacts, the differences of the screening results between the contacts with or without suspected tuberculosis symptoms and between close contacts of different types of PTB patients, the relationship between patients' transmission time and screening results of the subjects.

ResultsThe total screening rate of the contacts were 89.07%(1 051/1 180); fifteen patients were detected to be with active tuberculosis, the positive rate being 1.427%(15/1 051). From 2013 to 2017 in Jing'an District, the screening rates for suspected TB symptoms of close contacts were 87.08%(155/178), 73.66%(165/224), 82.97%(190/229), 89.14%(156/175)and 93.85%(351/374), respectively. The chest radiography examination rates and sputum smear examination rates were down from 28.65%(51/178)to 16.84%(63/374), and from 12.36%(22/178)to 3.209%(12/374), respectively. The positive rate of siblings relationship contacts was the highest(4.651%); The positive rates of symptomatic, asymptomatic and no symptom screening contacts were 15.38%(8/52), 0.622%(6/965)and 2.941%(1/34); The subjects that contacted but with no sputum test had the highest positive rate(3.448%, 2/58); The screening results of the subjects were 1.911%, 1.351% and 1.090% according to the patients' transmission time(less than 15 days, 15 to 30 days and more than 30 days), but the differences were not statistically significant(χ²=0.834, P=0.659).

ConclusionClose contacts with suspected TB symptoms, or relationship of siblings should have chest radiographs or sputum smears tests, so as to improve the detection rate. Community management doctors should do a good job in publicizing education to improve the screening awareness of close contacts, and ensure the screening effect.