Prevention and control of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: The role of IGRA (interferon‐γ release assay) tests in Occupational Surveillance Programs for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in an oilfield operation in a highly endemic area.

摘要

Pulmonary TB disease remains a major public health concern despite global efforts deployed by various stake holders. A number of strategies have emerged in the effort to control the scourge of TB, ranging from BCG vaccination, screening and treatment of active forms and, more recently “diagnosing” and treating the latent form of the disease. The traditional Tuberculin skin test (TST) has limitations in its use as a screening tool for TB (Latent and active).The emergence of IGRA (interferon-γ release assay) tests as an alternative to the TST opened a new chapter in latent TB diagnosis and, by extension, introduced potential strategies for TB control in certain population groups. One of such IGRA tests introduced across several populations (expatriated and national workforce of an oil service company in West Africa) is the Quantiferon TB Gold test. The implementation has rapidly raised a number of questions such as the rationale of its use in low versus high disease burden populations, but also concerning its benefits in helping to identify active TB and trace contacts.