Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the results of surveillance, tracking and management of tuberculosis clusters in schools in Beijing from 2013 to 2023, and describe the characteristics of tuberculosis clusters in schools in Beijing, so as to provide reference for the management and prevention of tuberculosis epidemics. Methods: The incidence of tuberculosis reported in schools in the “Periodic Report of Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System” was collected, and the “Monthly Report of Monitoring, investigation and Disposal of Tuberculosis Cluster Outbreaks in Schools of Beijing” reported by tuberculosis prevention and control institutions in each district was summarized, and the monitoring effect of tuberculosis cluster outbreaks in the whole city, as well as the characteristics of cluster outbreaks, cluster outbreaks and public health emergencies was analyzed. Results: From 2013 to 2023, a total of 4428 school tuberculosis cases were reported in Beijing, and a total of 743 suspected school tuberculosis clusters were detected through surveillance. The number of reported school tuberculosis cases (4428) was highly positively correlated with the number of suspected tuberculosis clusters in school (743)(Pearson correlation coefficient=0.699, P=0.017). Among the 743 suspected school tuberculosis clusters, 139 events were confirmed as tuberculosis clusters, accounting for 18.71% (139/743) of the total. Among them, 6 were classified as school tuberculosis public health emergencies. In each school tuberculosis clusters, the number of diagnosed patients was mainly 2 cases, accounting for 51.80% (72/139). The low peak periods for the school tuberculosis clusters were February (2 events) and August (5 events), and the top three districts with the number of clusters were Haidian District (69 events), Changping District (17 events) and Tongzhou District (11 events). Universities (94 events) were the main places of school tuberculosis clusters. Conclusion: The monitoring of tuberculosis clusters in schools conducting in Beijing can timely detect and handle such tuberculosis clusters early. Special attention should be paid to the prevention and control of tuberculosis clusters in colleges and universities to prevent the occurrence and spread of tuberculosis clusters.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Students, public health, Population monitoring