Determinants of losses in the latent tuberculosis cascade of care in Brazil: A retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The present study evaluated factors associated with losses in the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cascade of care in contacts of tuberculosis (TB) patients, in a referral center from a highly endemic region in Brazil.

Methods

Contacts of 1672 TB patients were retrospectively studied between 2009 and 2014. Data on TB screening by clinical investigation, radiographic examination and tuberculin skin test (TST) were extracted from medical records. Losses in the cascade of care and TB incidence within 2-year follow-up were calculated.

Results

From a total of 1180 TB contacts initially identified, only 495 were examined (58% loss), and 20 were diagnosed with active TB at this stage. Furthermore, 435 persons returned for TST result interpretation and 351 (∼81

SUBMITTER: Araujo NCN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7245517 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature