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. 2020 Sep 25:37:87.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.87.21102. eCollection 2020.

Latent tuberculosis among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Nairobi, Kenya

Susan Odera  1 , Marianne Mureithi  1   2 , Andrew Aballa  3 , Noel Onyango  4 , Omu Anzala  1   2 , Julius Oyugi  1   5
Affiliations

Latent tuberculosis among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Nairobi, Kenya

Susan Odera et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Household Contacts (HHCs) of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) patients have a higher risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, its prevalence and risk factors among adults living with PTB patients are poorly documented in Kenya.

Objective: to determine the prevalence and risk factors for LTBI among adult HHCs of PTB patients in Kenya.

Methods: this was an analytical cross-sectional study of HHCs of PTB patients in Nairobi, Kenya. Socio-demographic data was captured on questionnaires and blood samples drawn for Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) quantification. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) was used to determine the prevalence of LTBI and risk factors at 95% Confidence Interval (CI).

Results: a total of 166 PTB patients yielded 175 HHCs of whom 29.7% (52/125) were males and 70.3% (123/125) were females. A majority of HHCs [65.7% (115/175)] lived in a single-room house with the patient and [37.7% (66/175)] were in the age group 30-39-years. The overall prevalence of LTBI was 55.7%, peaking among spouses of the patients [70.0% (14/20) and the 30-39 year age group [63.5% (42/66)]. Potential risk factors for LTBI included cohabiting with a PTB patient for 8 to 12 weeks [OR = 3.6 (0.70-18.5), p = 0.107], being a spouse of the patient [OR = 2.0 (0.72-5.47), p = 0.173] and sharing a single room with the patient [OR = 1.58 (0.84 - 2.97), p = 0.158].

Conclusion: the high prevalence of LTBI among adult HHCs of PTB patients in this population demonstrates the need for targeted contact-screening programs in high TB transmission settings.

Keywords: Kenya; Latent TB infection; TB household contacts; prevalence; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
distribution of ELISA test values for the QFT-GIT test among household contacts
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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