• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.300-307
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on the infection prevention management program, which is one of the infectious disease control program by identifying the prevalence and risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in healthcare workers. Methods: We surveyed a total of 3,046 LTBI test results, including those of 2,269 existing staff and 777 new employees. An interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for the diagnosis of LTBI was performed using QuantiFERON^®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT). The risk factors of LTBI were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of LTBI was 16.0% (487/3,046). The prevalence of LTBI in the existing staff was 17.9% (406/2,269) and the prevalence of LTBI in new employees was 10.4% (81/777). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection among the existing staff were gender, age and work period wheres, the risk factor amongst the new employees depended on their age. Conclusion: The LTBI was not related to the type of occupation and work unit. Therefore, while establishing an infection control program for the prevention of tuberculosis infection at medical institurions, institutional heads and infection control experts should encompass a policy for all the employees.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.497-509
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• 2006

Until recently, the tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the only tool available for diagnosing a latent TB infection. However, the development of new diagnostic tools, using the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific early secreted antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) antigens, should improve the control of tuberculosis (TB) by allowing a more accurate identification of a latent TB infection (LTBI). Antigen-specific interferon-gamma ($IFN-{\gamma}$) assays have greater specificity in BCG-vaccinated individuals, and as less biased by nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Many comparative studies have suggested that those assays have a higher specificity than the TST, and the sensitivity of these assays are expected to remarkably improved if more MTB-specific antigens can become available. Nevertheless, the major obstacle to the widespread use of these tests is the limited financial resources. Similar to other diagnostic tests, the predictive value of $IFN-{\gamma}$ assays depends on the prevalence of a MTB infection in the population being tested. Therefore, prospective studies will be meeded to establish the applicability of these new assays at multiple geographic locations among patients of different ethnicities, and to determine if the $IFN-{\gamma}$ responses can indicate those with a high risk of progressing to active TB.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2009

Tuberculosis is a disease with high morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Despite significant improvements in diagnostic methods, scientific researches and clinical trials for new regimens of treatment or prevention in adult tuberculosis, childhood tuberculosis has been relatively neglected. Children are at high risk of severe disease, and reactivation of latent infection in adulthood perpetuates the epidemic. Therefore, a policy of tuberculosis control in childhood should be emphasized to improve control in the total population. To understand the new view of childhood tuberculosis, this article describes changes in the disease's national epidemiology, new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies, and multi-drug resistance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2017

Objectives: The major objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among employees at a workers' compensation hospital. Methods: Among the 394 employees at Incheon Hospital, 362 were enrolled in the study. An interferon-gamma release assay(IGRA) for diagnosis of LTBI was performed using QuantiFERON$^{(R)}$ TB Gold In-Tube(QFT-IT). Risk factors for LTBI were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of LTBI was 32.0%(116/362). The non-medical departments have a significantly high prevalence compared to medical departments(39.7% vs 23.2%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, experience working in the pneumoconiosis hospital(OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.3) was associated with development of LTBI. Conclusions: Korean guidelines for the management of tuberculosis recommend annual regular health examinations for TB and LTBI for health care workers(HCWs). Considering the high prevalence of and risk factors for LTBI among non-HCWs, it suggests a need for annual regular health examinations for TB and LTBI for all employees at workers' compensation hospitals, including pneumoconiosis hospitals.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.509-517
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• 2018

A small number of viable tuberculosis bacilli can reside in an individual with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) without obvious clinical symptoms or abnormal chest radiographs. Diagnosis and treatment of LTBI are important for tuberculosis (TB) control in public and private healthcare facilities, particularly in high-risk populations. The updated 2017 Korean guidelines for TB recommend that tuberculin skin tests, interferon-gamma release assays, or a combination of them can be used for the diagnosis of LTBI, depending on the age and immune status of the patient as well as their TB contact history. For diagnosis of LTBI, exclusion of active TB is essential, and the possibility of healed TB in those without a history of treatment for TB but at risk of its development must be considered. The treatment options for LTBI include isoniazid, rifampicin, isoniazid/rifampicin, and isoniazid/rifapentine. The benefits and risks of these agents based on the age of the patient and their hepatotoxicity must be considered when selecting the appropriate drug. Standardized diagnosis and treatment of LTBI based on the updated 2017 guidelines will contribute to the control of TB in Korea as well as to further revisions of the guidelines.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.120-130
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of tuberculosis (TB) drugs in health care workers diagnosed with latent tuberculosis Infection (LTBI). Methods: This study was a descriptive correlation study. Data were collected by using a self-report questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by -test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: There were involved 160 participants, 35 (21.9%) who took the TB drugs, and 125 (73.8%) who did not take the TB drugs. The predictors on taking TB drugs in health care workers with LTBI were subjective norms (OR=3.33, p<.001), perceived sensitivity (OR=2.67, p=.026), perceived barrier (OR=0.14, p=.014), and unmarried (OR=4.69, p=.006) than married, health care worker category 2 group (OR=5.84, p=.015) and 1 group (OR=4.25, p=.022) than 3, 4 group, sleep over 7 hours (OR=4.11, p=.022) than less 7 hours sleep. Conclusion: In order to promote the use of TB drugs in health care workers with LTBI, it is necessary that take intervention strategies to increase the subjective norms and perceived sensitivity and to decrease the perceived barriers.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate secondary infections within the households of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. Methods: We collected data on household infections of tuberculosis patients by retrospective review of medical records and telephone surveys. Results: Out of 321 newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases, a total of 253 patients who received telephone surveys were enrolled in this study. Less than 50% of the patients had household contacts screened for tuberculosis infection, and most of the patients were not aware of the necessity of testing. Out of 562 household contacts, there were 8 cases of secondary tuberculosis (1.4%, 8/562) in 7 households. There were 15 cases of latent infection (2.7%, 15/562) in 13 households. Out of 110 child and adolescent household contacts, there were no cases of secondary tuberculosis, and there were 8 cases of latent infection (7.3%) in 7 households, which was 20.5% among child and adolescent contacts screened for tuberculosis infection. In 3 of the cases (13.0%) that had secondary tuberculosis or latent infection in their households, the source of infection was extrapulmonary tuberculosis. There was no correlation between the frequency of household infections and the presence of pulmonary cavities, sputum AFB smear results, and microbiologically confirmed results. Conclusions: For effective investigation of tuberculosis contacts, it is necessary to raise general awareness on the necessity of investigating household contacts, and there should also be a continued assessment on tuberculosis contact investigation since government-supported programs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.163-165
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• 2018

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.214-221
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• 2022

Diagnosing and treating latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an important part of efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB). The Korean guidelines for TB published in 2020 recommend 2 LTBI regimens for children and adolescents: 9 months of daily isoniazid (9H) and 3 months of daily isoniazid plus rifampicin. Isoniazid for 6-12 months has been used to effectively treat LTBI in children for over 50 years. However, a long treatment period results in poor patient compliance. This review summarizes pediatric data on the treatment completion rate, safety, and efficacy of 4 months of daily rifampicin (4R) and evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rifampicin in children. The 4R regimen has a higher treatment completion rate than the 9H regimen and equivalent safety in children. The efficacy of preventing TB is also consistent with that of 9H when summarizing reports published to date. A shorter treatment period could increase patient compliance and, therefore, prevent TB in more patients. By using an effective, safe, and highly compliant regimen for the treatment of children with LTBI, we would become one step closer to our goal of eradicating TB.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.225-229
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• 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a chronic infectious agent known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is transmitted in airborne particles, called droplet nuclei which was generated by cough, sneeze, shout, or sing of persons who have TB disease. Most infections of TB do not have symptoms, well known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, about 10% of LTBI progress to active disease a one or two years after infection. To investigate the LTBI rate of college students who were in contacted with TB patients, we performed chest X-ray, tuberculin skin test (TST) and Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) to 74 college students. At a results, 65 students were showed negative and 9 students positive results at chest X-ray and 1st TST test. When confirmed the 65 students who were showed negative by 2st TST, the results showed correctly. But, 9 students who were showed positive results on chest X-ray and 1st TST by IGRA, the only 3 students (4.05%) showed positive results. In conclusion, the LTBI rate in this study showed 4.05% (3/74) and we suggest to investigate other students LTBI rate for decreasing tuberculosis.