Ratnawati1, Erlina Burhan1, Cempaka Nova Intani1, Heni Handayani2, Fariz Nurwidya1
1Departement of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.
2Community Lung Health Center, Balai Besar Kesehatan Paru Masyarakat, Bandung, Indonesia.
DOI: 10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_67_18
ABSTRACT
Background: Health-care workers are groups that are close contact with tuberculosis (TB) patients. As an alternative to the tuberculin skin test (TST), there is interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for the diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI). The objective of this study is to compare TST and IGRA in the diagnosis of LTBI among Indonesian health-care workers. Methods: This study design was a cross-sectional study. TST results are consistent for LTBI if there is induration ≥10 mm in individuals without previous TST, or ≥15 mm in participants with a history of previous TST. Medical history interview, physical examination, chest X-ray, and sputum smear examination were performed to exclude active TB infection. Results: Among 84 healthcare workers, the prevalence of LTBI was 51.2% by IGRA and 29.8% by TST with sufficient agreement (κ = 0.34). Age and low education were significantly correlated with the positive results of IGRA (P < 0.05); meanwhile smoking status was correlated with TST (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of LTBI is higher with IGRA as compared to TST, with sufficient agreement and there is significant correlation between age and low education with the results of IGRA and in smoking status with TST.
Keywords: Interferon-gamma release assay, latent tuberculosis infection, tuberculin skin test.
