• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권4호
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• pp.201-206
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• 2016

Active tuberculosis (TB) has a greater burden of TB bacilli than latent TB and acts as an infection source for contacts. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is the state in which humans are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis without any clinical symptoms, radiological abnormality, or microbiological evidence. TB is transmissible by respiratory droplet nucleus of $1-5{\mu}m$ in diameter, containing 1-10 TB bacilli. TB transmission is affected by the strength of the infectious source, infectiousness of TB bacilli, immunoresistance of the host, environmental stresses, and biosocial factors. Infection controls to reduce TB transmission consist of managerial activities, administrative control, engineering control, environmental control, and personal protective equipment provision. However, diagnosis and treatment for LTBI as a national TB control program is an important strategy on the precondition that active TB is not missed. Therefore, more concrete evidences for LTBI management based on clinical and public perspectives are needed.

• 문화기술의 융합
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.471-478
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• 2021

본 연구는 간호대학생의 잠복결핵 감염관리에 대한 지식, 인식도와 수행도, 예방행위와의 관계를 파악하고, 예방행위에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하고자 시도되었다. 연구대상자는 D광역시에 소재하는 2개 대학에 재학 중인 191명이었다. 자료수집을 위한 설문조사는 2020년 8월 31일부터 11월 30일까지 실시되었다. 자료분석은 SPSS/21.0 프로그램을 이용하여 t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple regression을 이용하였다. 연구결과 대상자의 잠복결핵 감염관리 예방행위와 수행도(r=.21, p=.003), 인식도와 수행도(r=.88, p<.001)는 유의한 양의 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 잠복결핵 감염관리에 대한 예방행위에 영향을 미치는 요인은 학년(β=.29, p<.001), 최종 교육시기(β=.19, p=.004)였으며, 예방행위에 설명력은 11.9%로 나타났다. 본 연구결과에 의하면 간호대학생의 잠복결핵 감염관리에 대한 예방행위를 높이기 위해서는 학년과 최종 교육시기에 따른 잠복결핵 감염관리 교육프로그램 개발이 요구된다.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제21권4호
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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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.519-528
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• 2009

결핵은 아직도 전세계적으로 소아에서 높은 유병률과 사망률을 보이는 질환이다. 아쉽게도 결핵에 대한 새로운 진단법, 치료법, 예방법에 대한 과학적 혹은 임상 연구는 주로 성인에 초점을 맞추어 왔으며 소아 결핵은 상대적으로 등한시되어 왔다. 그러나 특히 소아 결핵은 감염 후 중한 질환으로 진행되기 쉬우며 이는 사망을 초래하기도 한다. 또한 소아청소년기의 잠복결핵 감염은 후일 결핵균의 재활성으로 인하여 미래의 감염원으로 작용한다. 따라서 미래의 결핵 발생을 줄이기 위해서는 잠복결핵 감염에 대한 특징, 진단, 치료에 대해 이해하는 것이 매우 중요한다. 그러나 우리나라의 국가 결핵관리정책에는 이러한 개념들이 완전히 적용되지 않았으므로, 가능한 빨리 포함되고 시행되어져야 한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권2호
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• pp.94-101
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• 2023

A recent understanding of the dynamic continuous spectrum of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection has led to the recognition of incipient tuberculosis, which refers to the latent infection state that has begun to progress to active tuberculosis. The importance of early detection of these individuals with a high-risk of progression to active tuberculosis is emphasized to efficiently implement targeted tuberculosis preventive therapy. However, the tuberculin skin test or interferon-γ release assay, which is currently used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, does not aid in the prediction of the risk of progression to active tuberculosis. Thus, a novel test is urgently needed. Recently, simultaneous and systematic analysis of differentially expressed genes using a high-throughput platform has enabled the discovery of key genes that may serve potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of diseases. This host transcriptional investigation has been extended to the field of tuberculosis, providing promising results. The present review focuses on recent progress and challenges in the field of blood transcriptional signatures to predict progression to active tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권3호
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• pp.127-133
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• 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important occupational risks for healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Korea. Many policies regarding the control and prevention of TB in healthcare settings recommend that HCWs are tested for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in addition to active TB. Moreover, the Korean Tuberculosis Prevention Act also recommends that HCWs receive regular testing for LTBI. However, there are no specific or detailed guidelines for dealing with LTBI in HCWs. Herein, we discuss the diagnosis and treatment of LTBI in HCWs and focus particularly on the baseline screening of hired HCWs, routine follow-up, and contact investigation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제60권5호
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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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제76권6호
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• pp.261-268
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• 2014

Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are increasingly being treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) is recommended in these patients due to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy. Traditionally, LTBI has been diagnosed on the basis of clinical factors and a tuberculin skin test. Recently, interferon-gamma releasing assays (IGRAs) that can detect TB infection have become available. Considering the high-risk of developing TB in patients on anti-TNF therapy, the use of both a tuberculin skin test and an IGRA should be considered to detect and treat LTBI in patients with IMIDs. The traditional LTBI treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid monotherapy for 9 months. However, shorter regimens such as 4 months of rifampicin or 3 months of isoniazid/rifampicin are increasingly being used to improve treatment completion rates. In this review, the screening methods for diagnosing latent and active TB before anti-TNF therapy in patients with IMIDs will be briefly described, as well as the current LTBI treatment regimens, the recommendations for managing TB that develops during anti-TNF therapy, the necessity of regular monitoring to detect new TB infection, and the re-initiation of anti-TNF therapy in patients who develop TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제78권2호
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• pp.56-63
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• 2015

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 for LTBI are important for tuberculosis (TB) control in public and private health, especially in high-risk populations. The updated 2014 Korean guidelines for TB recommend that tuberculin skin tests, interferon-gamma release assays, or a combination of the two can be used for LTBI diagnosis according to age and immune status of the host as well as TB contact history. The regimens for LTBI treatment include isoniazid, rifampicin, or isoniazid/rifampicin. However, results of drug susceptibility test from the index case must be considered in selecting the appropriate drug for recent contacts. Standardized LTBI diagnosis and treatment based on the new 2014 guidelines will contribute to the effective TB control in Korea as well as to the establishment of updated guidelines.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.7-15
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• 2015

목적: 결핵 전파의 주요 원인인 가족 내 2차 감염 관리의 실태를 조사하고 특히 18세 이하 소아청소년에서의 결핵 노출 시의 관리 실태를 분석하는 것이다. 방법: 2011년 10월 1일부터 2012년 9월 30일까지 가천대 길병원에서 결핵균 감염에 의한 질환으로 치료받은 환자들을 대상으로 진단을 받은 시기로부터 1년이 지난 시점에 후향적으로 전화 설문 및 의무 기록을 조사하였다. 결과: 총 321명의 연구 대상자들 중 전화 응답이 가능했던 253명의 새로 진단된 결핵 환자들 중에서 가족 접촉자에 대한 결핵 감염 여부를 확인하기 위해 검사를 받은 경우는 50% 미만 밖에 되지 않았고, 검사의 필요성에 대한 인식이 부족한 경우가 많았다. 총 562명의 가족 내 접촉자 중 2차 환자가 발생한 경우는 7가족 내 8명(1.4%, 8/562)이었고, 가족 내 잠복결핵감염 환자가 발생한 경우는 13가족 내 15명(2.7%, 15/562)이었다. 가족 내 소아 청소년 접촉자 110명 중 2차 환자는 없었으며 잠복결핵감염은 7가족 내 8명으로 전체 소아 청소년 접촉자 중에는 7.3%, 검진을 받은 소아 청소년 접촉자 중에는 20.5%였다. 가족 내에 추가 환자 및 잠복결핵감염자 중 감염원이 폐외 결핵인 경우가 3명(13.0%)이 있었다. 감염원의 폐공동 존재 여부와 객담 도말 검사 결과 및 미생물학적 확진 여부는 가족 내 접촉자의 감염 여부와는 상관 관계가 없었다. 결론: 효과적인 결핵 접촉자 검진을 위해서 환자의 가족 내 접촉자 검진에 대한 인식의 개선이 필요하며 결핵 접촉자 검진 국가 지원 사업 이후 관리 실태 개선 여부에 대한 평가를 위해 지속적인 조사가 필요하다.