Email Alert | RSS

Chinese Journal of Antituberculosis ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (11): 1454-1458.doi: 10.19982/j.issn.1000-6621.20250131

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Investigation and analysis of a tuberculosis cluster outbreak in a primary elderly care facility

Ma Yingzi1, Dai Xiaoqi2(), Zhang Yang3, He Tao4, Geng Haiyang3, Li Renzhong5   

  1. 1Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Department, Chengde City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hebei Province, Chengde 067000, China
    2Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Department, Qingdao Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Province, Qingdao 266000, China
    3Immunization Planning Department, Chengde City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hebei Province, Chengde 067000, China
    4Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Department, Chengde County Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hebei Province, Chengde 067000, China
    5Chinese Antituberculosis Association,Beijing 100710, China
  • Received:2025-04-01 Online:2025-11-10 Published:2025-10-30
  • Contact: Dai Xiaoqi E-mail:daixiaoqi28@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Hebei Medical Science Research Project Plan 2026(20261276)

Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and response measures of a tuberculosis (TB) cluster outbreak in a grassroots nursing home, and summarize the experience in managing TB outbreaks among special populations in key settings, and provide references for TB prevention and control in similar institutions. Methods: On April 15, 2021, the disease control agency identified two pulmonary tuberculosis cases in a grassroots nursing home through the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System, prompting immediate on-site epidemiological investigation and outbreak response. The outbreak was monitored for 40 months, during which 11 rounds of screening were performed. The screening included assessments for suspected pulmonary tuberculosis symptoms, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection testing, chest X-ray examinations, and laboratory tests. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze case characteristics and intervention processes. Results: Among 324 elderly residents and staff in the nursing home, 36 active pulmonary tuberculosis cases were identified, along with 116 latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cases. The first screening round after the initial two index cases detected 23 additional pulmonary tuberculosis cases (69.44%, 25/36), while 11 more cases were identified during 18 months of follow-up. No further cases were detected after 18 months. Comorbidities were common among residents, and the uptake of preventive chemotherapy was low (51 cases, 43.97%). Conclusion: Grassroots nursing homes were places with high incidence of tuberculosis. Active monitoring should be carried out every day in grassroots nursing homes. Epidemiological investigation and epidemic situation disposal should be carried out immediately when pulmonary tuberculosis patients were found. Preventive treatment should be actively carried out for those with LTBI, and follow-up observation time should be extended.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/prevention and control, Homes for the aged, Aged, Cluster outbreak, Contact tracking

CLC Number: