Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on contact tracing of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis
Por:
Godoy, P, Parron, I, Barrabeig, I, Cayla, JA, Clotet, L, Follia, N, Carol, M, Orcau, A, Alseda, M, Ferrus, G, Plans, P, Jane, M, Millet, JP, Dominguez, A
Publicada:
1 ago 2022
Ahead of Print:
1 mar 2022
Resumen:
Background The COVID-19 pandemic could have negative effects on tuberculosis (TB) control. The objective was to assess the impact of the pandemic in contact tracing, TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in contacts of patients with pulmonary TB in Catalonia (Spain). Methods Contact tracing was carried out in cases of pulmonary TB detected during 14 months in the pre-pandemic period (1 January 2019 to 28 February 2020) and 14 months in the pandemic period (1 March 2020 to 30 April 2021). Contacts received the tuberculin skin test and/or interferon gamma release assay and it was determined whether they had TB or LTBI. Variables associated with TB or LTBI in contacts (study period and sociodemographic variables) were analyzed using adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results The pre-pandemic and pandemic periods showed, respectively: 503 and 255 pulmonary TB reported cases (reduction of 50.7%); and 4676 and 1687 contacts studied (reduction of 36.1%). In these periods, the proportion of TB cases among the contacts was 1.9% (84/4307) and 2.2% (30/1381) (P = 0.608); and the proportion of LTBI was 25.3% (1090/4307) and 29.2% (403/1381) (P < 0.001). The pandemic period was associated to higher LTBI proportion (aOR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.5), taking into account the effect on LTBI of the other variables studied as sex, age, household contact and migrant status. Conclusions COVID-19 is affecting TB control due to less exhaustive TB and LTBI case detection. An increase in LTBI was observed during the pandemic period. Efforts should be made to improve detection of TB and LTBI among contacts of TB cases.
Filiaciones:
Godoy, P:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Recerca Biomed Lleida IRBLLeida, Lleida, Spain
Consorcio Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Pub, Madrid, Spain
Parron, I:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Barrabeig, I:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Cayla, JA:
Fdn TB Res Unit Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Clotet, L:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Follia, N:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Carol, M:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Orcau, A:
Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Alseda, M:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Recerca Biomed Lleida IRBLLeida, Lleida, Spain
Ferrus, G:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Plans, P:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Consorcio Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Pub, Madrid, Spain
Jane, M:
Agencia Salut Publ Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Consorcio Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Pub, Madrid, Spain
Millet, JP:
Consorcio Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Pub, Madrid, Spain
Agencia Salut Publ Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Dominguez, A:
Consorcio Invest Biomed Red Epidemiol & Salud Pub, Madrid, Spain
Univ Barcelona, Dept Med, Barcelona, Spain
Green Published
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