Latent tuberculosis infection among university students

Abstract

Objective: to study the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among university students, to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive treatment in students with LTBI.Subjects and methods. In 2016-2019, the three-stage study was conducted that enrolled all university students in the city of Stavropol.In 2016-2017 during the first stage of the study, 4,139 students had tests with tuberculous recombinant allergen (TRA).At the second stage of the study, 141 medical files of students with positive results of TRA tests were retrospectively analyzed, all students were followed up and 133 of them underwent preventive treatment.In 2018-2019 at the third stage of the study, the long-term results of preventive treatment were evaluated.Results. Tests with TRA allowed detecting LTBI and defining indications for preventive treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs. Among 133 students with LTBI who had preventive treatment, there were no cases of tuberculosis; sensitivity to TRA decreased, which manifested by a decreased induration size during the control test. Thus, in 36 months of follow-up over 83 patients with hyperergic reaction, it persisted only in 4 of them.

Keywords

• туберкулез
• студенты
• латентная туберкулезная инфекция
• проба с аллергеном туберкулезным рекомбинантным
• превентивное лечение