Screening of college students contacts among tuberculosis index patients in Haidian district, Beijing

Objective To screen college students contacts of tuberculosis index cases among colleges located in Haidian District,Beijing, so as to provide evidence for the modification of screening strategies for college students. Method The purified protein derivative test (PPD) and chest X-ray examination were carried out in colleges, located in Haidian District from March 2015 to March 2016. The basic demographic characteristics, tuberculosis infection and detection of patients, etc were analyzed. Results A total of 88 cases of tuberculosis index cases were diagnosed, and 3 604 college students contacts were detected 16 pulmonary tuberculosis cases were detected among close contacts, and all patients were negative, the detection rate was 443.95/100 000. Among the 3 604 close contacts, the positive rate of PPD was 8.32%. With the increase of the diameter of the PPD reaction, the detection rate of tuberculosis patients increased significantly (χ_trend²=8.06, P<0.001). During the period of outbreak, the PPD positive rate and the detection rate of patients were significantly higher than that of non-outbreak period, and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusions It is necessary to strengthen the screening of tuberculosis among college students, and to find out the infected persons and patients as early as possible, so as to prevent the outbreak of tuberculosis.