[Current situation of contacts examination and chemoprophylaxis for persons exposed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in ordinance-designated cities in Japan].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the current situation of contacts examination and chemoprophylaxis for those who were exposed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Japan.

OBJECT AND METHOD:

The questionnaire survey was conducted about the MDR-TB patients and their contacts examination enforced in the ordinance-designated cities in Japan from 1998 to 2002.

RESULT:

Nine cities out of total 13 ordinance-designated cities replied to the questionnaire (69.2%). The cases newly diagnosed as MDR-pulmonary tuberculosis were 189 cases from 1998 to 2002. Out of 189 cases, 34 MDR pulmonary tuberculosis patients were the source of MDR-TB infection. Among 659 individuals who were exposed to 34 MDR-TB, 58 persons (8.8%) were diagnosed as the contacts who were infected with MDR-TB. Out of 58 persons, 41 had chemoprophylaxis; 18 with isoniazid (INH), 3 with Ethionamide (TH), 2 with INH + Rifampin (RFP) + Ethambutol (EB), and each one with EB + Pyrazinamide (PZA) + TH, PZA + TH, PZA + Levofloxacin, PZA + EB. In 6 persons, INH was changed to other medicines, and 8 persons were treated with unknown prescription. Thirteen contacts developed MDR-TB, and out of them, 9 cases had several problems when they developed MDR-TB. Those problems were the delay in detection, infection from hospitalization refused cases, infection at the time of bacteriological relapse, and no use of chemoprophylaxis.

CONCLUSION:

MDR-TB bacilli produce the tuberculosis infection similarly as the sensitive tubercle bacilli, and it is necessary to re-examine the action plan of contacts examination including chemoprophylaxis.

• Authors: Yuka Sasaki, Fumio Yamagishi, Takenori Yagi
• Journal: Kekkaku : [Tuberculosis] (Kekkaku) Vol. 80 Issue 10 Pg. 637-42 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0022-9776 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 16296391 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antitubercular Agents (administration & dosage)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Community Health Centers
• Female
• Humans
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sex Factors
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Time Factors
• Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant (epidemiology, prevention & control, transmission)