Risk for tuberculosis among children living with adults with sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis as assessed by tuberculin skin test, QuantiFERON and ELISpot

• Grant number: 09/07603-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2010
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Lily Yin Weckx
• Grantee: Lily Yin Weckx
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Tuberculosis is still a major public health problem. Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection is one of the strategies used for control of the disease since it allow the use of prophylaxis for individuals belonging to risk groups for development of the disease. However, diagnosis of tuberculosis infection is still based on tuberculin skin test (TST), which is known for its low sensitivity and specificity. Nowadays, new laboratorial assays based on interferon-gamma production by M. tuberculosis antigen specific T cells have higher sensitivity and specificity than TST. In this study, we intend to evaluate response to TST and to two interferon-gamma producing assays (QuantiFERON - TB Gold ® and T- SPOT.TB®) in children and adolescents younger than 15 years and who were exposed to adults with bacilliferous tuberculosis and to compare them to the response for the same tests among healthy age-matched children and adolescents without known exposure to tuberculosis. Individuals younger than 15 years exposed to 30 HIV-negative adults with bacilliferous tuberculosis (G1) and age-matched controls without exposure to tuberculosis (G2) will be evaluated. They will be submitted to a clinical evaluation and will have a chest X-ray performed. TST will be done, as well a blood sample collection for QuantiFERON - TB Gold ® and T- SPOT.TB®. Children and adolescents who prove to have tuberculosis disease will be treated with the usual therapy with three drugs; those who are diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection will receive chemoprophylaxis with isoniazid. At the end of treatment or prophylaxis, they will be evaluated with TST and QuantiFERON - TB Gold ® and T- SPOT.TB® again. Results will be analysed to assess risk of tuberculosis infection as detected by the three tests among individuals with (G1) and without exposure to bacilliferous tuberculosis (G2) and also the modification of the same three tests after tuberculosis treatment or prophylaxis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERRARINI, M. A. G.; SPINA, F. G.; WECKX, L. Y.; LEDERMAN, H. M.; DE MORAES-PINTO, M. I.. Rate of tuberculosis infection in children and adolescents with household contact with adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis as assessed by tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays. EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION, v. 144, n. 4, p. 712-723, MAR 2016. (09/07603-7)