Guiyang

Researchers are studying the rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis MTB infection among students who have been in close contact with active tuberculosis ATB patients at school. The study also aims to identify risk factors related to tuberculosis infection and evaluate the health economics of the screening strategy. This observational study is sponsored by Huashan Hospital and focuses on school contacts of ATB patients aged 13 years and older. Participants will undergo the QuantiFERON-TB Gold QFT test to determine if they have been infected with MTB. Those who test positive will have further assessments including sputum Xpert MTBRIF testing, physical examination, chest CT scan, and if necessary, sputum culture to differentiate latent TB infection from active tuberculosis. For participants over 15 years old with a positive QFT result, a chest X-ray scan may also be performed. During the study, participants will provide baseline information including age, sex, vaccination history, contact patterns, and medical history through checklists. Researchers will monitor the prevalence of tuberculosis infection at baseline and collect other relevant data. The study is observational, meaning no treatment is provided, and participants will be followed to understand the infection status and related factors. The total study duration extends until the end of 2025.