To evaluate the accuracy of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay
(QFT-IT) in children with suspected active or latent TB infection (LTBI).
A retrospective study was conducted on 621 children (0–14
years old) evaluated for TB infection or disease. Following clinical
assessment, children were tested with the QFT-IT assay.
Among the 140 active TB suspects, we identified 19 cases of
active disease. The overall sensitivity for active TB was 87.5%, ranging from
62.5% in children 25–36 months old to 100% in children older than 49 months.
The overall specificity for active TB was 93.6%. Among the 481 children tested
for LTBI screening, 38 scored positive and all but 2 had at least one risk
factor for TB infection. Among the 26 children with indeterminate results,
bacterial, viral or fungal pneumonia were later diagnosed in 11 (42.3%) cases
and non-TB related extra-pulmonary infections in 12 (46.1%).
Our results indicate that the children's response to QFT-IT
associates to active TB and risk factors for LTBI. Moreover, we show that
mitogen response is also found in children of 1 year of age, providing support
for QFT-IT use also in young children.
Below: Quantitative response to QuantiFeron TB Gold-In Tube in relationship to age
Full article at:
By:
Michela Sali, Pamela D’Alfonso, Antonella Zumbo, Giovanni
Fadda, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Giovanni Delogu
Institute of Microbiology,
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
Danilo Buonsenso, Piero Valentini
Institute of Pediatrics,
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
Delia Goletti
Translational Research Unit,
Department of Epidemiology and Preclinical Research, "Lazzaro
Spallanzani" National Institute for Infectious Diseases (INMI), IRCCS,
Rome, Italy
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