M Piri, Aa Haghdioost, F Gadari, M Moradi, M Karamouzian, H Sharifi,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: At present, investigation of extensive contact of tuberculosis (TB) patients’ families is not a routine part of TB control efforts in most countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the effective contacts of TB cases to assess the potential risk of transmission and its determinants in their families.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, registered TB cases in Kerman, Iran provided information about their family size and type and frequency of unprotected effective contacts with their families from 2014 to 2015. The unprotected effective contact was defined using the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) classification (2005) based on the close, frequent, and long-term contact of TB cases. The demographic variables and the frequency of effective contact were analyzed using a logistic regression model with Stata version 12 with 95% confidence intervals.
Results: Overall, among 407 contacts of 74 TB cases, 73% had effective contacts. Having an effective contact was significantly higher among females (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=5.1; 95% CI:1.9-13.7); those with a lower education level (AOR=4.0; 95% CI: 1.4-15.1), lower income (AOR=7.7; 95% CI: 2.2-27.0), and a house size ≤80 m2 (AOR=16.6; 95% CI: 5.1-54.3); Afghan patients (AOR=30.2; 95% CI: 3.4-272.1); and those living in the rural areas (AOR=4.9; 95% CI: 1.8-21.9).
Conclusion: It seems that unprotected effective contact with the family members is high among TB patients, which can be a serious concern for the control of TB in this area. Reducing these unprotected effective contacts through educating patients and their families besides screening of the family members can help the health sector to decrease the burden of TB in Iran.
Ali Hasanabadi, Shirin Nasri, Elaheh Salarpour, Naser Nasiri, Hamid Sharifi,
Volume 18, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Screening for home contact with TB patients is essential to identify new infections. This study aimed to evaluate the tuberculosis status in family members of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Bam.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a census of patients' family members whose records are registered during 2013-2019 in Bam Health Center. Patients' information was collected based on a checklist, and then sputum smear-positive patients were identified using tuberculin and sputum smear tests.
Results: Ninety-seven of the patients had a positive sputum smear test result. Based on the records of these patients, 237 members of their families were examined as contact persons. Most of the patients were female and in the age group of 40-50 years; 76.8% of them had unprotected close contact, and 78.9% had a history of permanent contact with patients. Five (2.1%; 95% confidence intervals: 0.7-4.9) sputum-positive smear pulmonary tuberculosis cases were found in contacts of patients, most of them were over 50 years old and primarily women. 40% of these people had unprotected close contact, and 80% had a house with less than 70 square meters.
Conclusion: in this study, 2.0% of the family members of patients were sputum smear-positive. Identifying patients and following them up is essential to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in those people around them. Therefore, screening the patient's family members can significantly help ease the disease burden in Iran.
