The QFT-test, a new tool for control of nosocomial infection of tuberculosis
Sakatani, M.
Kekkaku 83(1): 33-37
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-9776 PMID: 18283913 Document Number: 619684
In Japan, nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis from patients to hospital workers is not rare yet. The morbidity rate of tuberculosis among workers in national hospitals is higher (45.7 in 2003-2005) than the Japanese average rate (24.8 in 2003). The rate is especially high among nurses, indicating 73.2 in 3 years from 2003 to 2005. Although the indivisuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are usually detected by tuberculin skin test in contact investigation, determination is not strict in BCG-vaccinated indivisuals. A novel diagnostic method (QFT-2G; QFT-test) can detect TB infection regardless past history of BCG vaccination. The tuberculin skin test and QFT-test were concurrently studied with 259 workers in National Hospital Organization Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center. It is conjectured from the study-results that the QFT-test is a more accurate tool for detecting LTBI. Similar studies as 3 contact investigations in Kobe-city also came to the same inference. Although QFT-test is still new, and some questions remain to be answered, that is a useful test in medical examination for hospital workers, providing a new tool for control of nosocomial infection of TB.