T Cell Responses After Latent Tuberculosis Treatment in Indian Health Workers
Author Information
Author(s): Madhukar Pai, Rajnish Joshi, Sandeep Dogra, Deepak K Mendiratta, Pratibha Narang, Keertan Dheda, Shriprakash Kalantri
Primary Institution: Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, India
Hypothesis
Can T cell responses to tuberculosis antigens be monitored after treatment for latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers?
Conclusion
Health care workers in India showed persistently elevated T cell responses even after treatment for latent tuberculosis infection.
Supporting Evidence
- All participants had direct contact with TB patients.
- Most participants started treatment with high baseline immune responses.
- The second test showed a decline in immune responses, but it was not statistically significant.
- The third test showed persistently elevated immune responses.
Takeaway
The study found that even after treatment for tuberculosis, health workers still had strong immune responses, which might mean they are still at risk of infection.
Methodology
A cohort of health care workers was tested for tuberculosis using skin tests and blood assays before and after treatment, with follow-up measurements of immune responses.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and lacked an untreated control group.
Participant Demographics
All participants were female nursing students with a median age of 19 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.10
Statistical Significance
p=0.10
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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