Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate active pulmonary tuberculosis detection situation in family close contacts exposed to patients with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis.MethodsAmong 771 close contacts, children less than 15 years old received tuberculin skin test(TST), and X-ray was carried out for children whose TST was no less than 10mm or less than 10mm with blister, and for people aged no less than 15 years old sputum smear and culture were carried out for patients with suspectable X-ray shadow. ResultsOf close contacts exposed to patients with smear positive in family, the detection rate of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and with smear positive were 3.8% and 0.8% respectively. The detection rate was high in close contacts exposed to patients with pulmonary cavity and high bacterial load in family. The detection rate in group of contacts aged 60 years older was also higher than those age ranged from 15 to 60 years old with statistically significant difference. ConclusionsIt is helpful to increase TB case detection rate via X-ray screening in close contacts exposed to family patients with smear positive. This is an effective way to find new case of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Key words: tuberculosis,pulmonary/prevention & control, contact tracing, radiography,thoracic