Impact of Choice of Test for Latent Tuberculosis Infection on Treatment Acceptance and Completion.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess whether choice of test for tuberculosis (TB) infection affects decisions to accept and complete treatment among contacts to TB cases.

METHODS

Retrospective study is conducted in which TB contacts, ⩾15 years old during 2005 and 2009, were tested for infection with either a tuberculin skin test (TST) or an interferon-gamma release assay test, the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT).

RESULTS

Of 658 persons with valid test results, 185 (28%) had positive results, including 128 of 406 (32%) who had TST and 57 of 252 (23%) who received QFT-GIT. Treatment acceptance was 43 of 57 (75%) among QFT-GIT-positive and 97 of 128 (76%) among TST-positive persons (risk ratio [RR] = 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-1.2). Treatment completion was 56% among QFT-GIT-positive (32 of 57) and 59% (75 of 128) among TST-positive persons (RR = 0.96, 95% CI, 0.73-1.26).

DISCUSSION: Our study showed no difference in proportions of TB contacts ⩾15 years old with positive TST results who accepted or completed LTBI treatment compared with those with positive QFT-GIT results. Future studies should include high-risk persons with no known TB exposure, who constitute the main reservoir for TB cases in the United States.