Introduction I. Epidemiology II. Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis III. Pathogenesis of Tuberculosis IV. Clinical Manifestations of Tuberculosis A. Systemic Effects of Tuberculosis B. Pulmonary Tuberculosis C. Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis V. Diagnostic Microbiology A. Laboratory Services for Mycobacterial Diseases B. Collection of Specimens for Demonstration of Tubercle Bacilli C. Trans...

The aim of the present study was to compare the direct costs of three models for detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in routine clinical practice in Switzerland. Comparison of the overall costs of screening for LTBI, including medical and radiological examination, and preventive treatment associated with three screening models was carried out. Model 1 relies only on the tuberculin...

solution available in clinical settings, especially when current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that only solutions of PPD containing 5 TU/0.1 mL should be used.1 We have discontinued the 250 TU formulation in our institution. We urge caution in the interpretation of tuberculin tests and suggest careful examination of the strength of the solution before administration.

Interferon-gamma release assays for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) can give indeterminate results. The prevalence of indeterminate test results (ITRs) among T-SPOT.TB tests was assessed. A retrospective analysis of samples processed in 2005 was performed. ITRs were assessed by age, sex, immunosuppression, distance to the laboratory and season. A subgroup of tests performed for specific indi...

CONTEXT Universal tuberculin skin testing of children has been shown to be costly and inefficient. In response, several authorities have recommended targeted screening based on epidemiological risk. In 1996, the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) developed questions to identify children who require a tuberculin skin test. OBJECTIVE To determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predi...

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a antagonists, such as infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept, are widely used to treat immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. These drugs increase the risk of latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) reactivation [1, 2]. Tuberculosis (TB) preventative chemotherapy significantly reduces this risk (74%); hence, in the UK, patients are screened for LTBI ...

background according to several studies, diabetes mellitus has been recognized as one of the main risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis (ptb). objectives the main purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (tb) in patients with diabetes. materials and methods this cross-sectional study was conducted from april 2010 to december 2011 in ali asg...

Although there is a wide consensus on the efficacy of paratuberculosis vaccination to limit economic losses, its use has been restricted because of its interference in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Data from a vaccine clinical trial in the Basque Country (Spain) has been evaluated in relationship with bovine tuberculosis intradermal test results. The trial included two herds applying a Test an...

BACKGROUND Interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) for TB have the potential to replace the tuberculin skin test (TST) in screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The higher per-test cost of IGRAs may be compensated for by lower post-screening costs (medical attention, chest x-rays and chemoprevention), given the higher specificity of the new tests as compared to that of the conventional...

Current tests of tuberculosis (TB) infection (tuberculin skin test (TST), interferon (IFN)-γ-release assays (IGRAs) and IFN-γ-induced protein (IP)-10) have limitations and their value when used consecutively to identify infected children has not been explored. This study describes TST, IGRA and IP-10 responses in children in contact with adults with TB, the agreement of the tests and whether us...