Abstract:

Objective: To explore the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and the influencing factors among student contacts after the epidemic of tuberculosis in the school of Fujian Province, to provide reference for tuberculosis prevention and control strategies in school. Methods: Through the Quarterly Report of Contacts Screening of School Tuberculosis Patients of Fujian Province, data of 31589 student contacts routinely screened from 362 schools (included nursery and kindergarten) where active pulmonary patients were found in 2021 in Fujian were collected, including gender, age, boarding or not, LTBI occurrence, and pathogenic results and occupation of exposed patients. The LTBI of student contacts was analyzed, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of latent infection in students. Results: There were 3785 LTBI students among 31589 student contacts, the rate was 12.0%. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the LTBI rates of female students, boarders and students exposed to patients with positive etiology were relatively higher (OR (95%CI): 1.139 (1.063-1.221), 1.325 (1.181-1.486), and 1.093 (1.017-1.172), respectively). Compared with group aged <5 years, the risk of LTBI in other age groups increased with the age, and the highest were group aged 20-24 years (OR (95%CI): 4.633 (2.557-8.395)). Conclusion: The incidence of LTBI among students exposed to active pulmonary tuberculosis patients in school in Fujian was at a low level. Female, boarding, contact patients with positive etiology and the increase of age were the risk factors of LTBI among students.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Mycobacterium, Infectious disease incubation period, Student, Factor analysis, statistical