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Tuberculosis incidence and latent tuberculosis infection prevalence in high schools in Korea
- Date2018-02-09 14:03
- Update2018-02-14 16:19
- DivisionDivision of Strategic Planning for Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Tel043-719-7271
Tuberculosis incidence and latent tuberculosis infection prevalence in high schools in Korea
Cho Kyung Sook
Division of TB＆HIV Control, Center for Disease Prevention, KCDC
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate tuberculosis (TB) incidence and latent TB infection (LTBI) prevalence among high school students in Korea.
Methods: With the concerned literature review, data were retrieved from notified new TB cases through the Integrated Disease and Health Control System from the year 2010-2016, and from contact investigations and screening for LTBI during 2012-2017.
Results: In the Republic of Korea, the notification rate of new TB cases among individuals aged 16-18 years markedly decreased from 62.5 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 23.5 per 100,000 population in 2016(an annual decrease rate of 10.6%), whereas that among all age groups decreased from 72.8 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 60.4 per 100,000 population in 2016(an annual decrease rate of 2.8%). Furthermore, the fraction of TB cases among 16-18-year-old individuals declined from 3.8% (1,382 cases) in 2010 to 1.5% (449 cases) in 2016. In the targeted contact investigations, the prevalence of LTBI among high school students ranged from 2.1% to 5.9%, with a mean rate of 4.8% during 2013-2016 (6.8% at a high school in 2016: 30% among close contacts and 4.6% among casual contacts), whereas the positivity rates in the LTBI screening program for general high school population ranged from 1.2% to 2.1% during 2014-2017.
Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that LTBI screening and treatment based on contact investigation, especially for close contacts, in schools should be prioritized in national TB control program.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis incidence, Latent tuberculosis infection, Contact investigation, High school, Latent tuberculosis infection screening
Cho Kyung Sook
Division of TB＆HIV Control, Center for Disease Prevention, KCDC
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate tuberculosis (TB) incidence and latent TB infection (LTBI) prevalence among high school students in Korea.
Methods: With the concerned literature review, data were retrieved from notified new TB cases through the Integrated Disease and Health Control System from the year 2010-2016, and from contact investigations and screening for LTBI during 2012-2017.
Results: In the Republic of Korea, the notification rate of new TB cases among individuals aged 16-18 years markedly decreased from 62.5 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 23.5 per 100,000 population in 2016(an annual decrease rate of 10.6%), whereas that among all age groups decreased from 72.8 per 100,000 population in 2010 to 60.4 per 100,000 population in 2016(an annual decrease rate of 2.8%). Furthermore, the fraction of TB cases among 16-18-year-old individuals declined from 3.8% (1,382 cases) in 2010 to 1.5% (449 cases) in 2016. In the targeted contact investigations, the prevalence of LTBI among high school students ranged from 2.1% to 5.9%, with a mean rate of 4.8% during 2013-2016 (6.8% at a high school in 2016: 30% among close contacts and 4.6% among casual contacts), whereas the positivity rates in the LTBI screening program for general high school population ranged from 1.2% to 2.1% during 2014-2017.
Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that LTBI screening and treatment based on contact investigation, especially for close contacts, in schools should be prioritized in national TB control program.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis incidence, Latent tuberculosis infection, Contact investigation, High school, Latent tuberculosis infection screening
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