Risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts in Bangkok, Thailand

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts aged less than 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand, between August 2002 and September 2003. During the study period, 342 index cases with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients were recruited into the study and their 500 household contacts aged under 15 years were identified. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among household contacts was found to be 47.80% (95%CI = 43.41-52.19). In multivariate analysis, a generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to determine the risk factors for tuberculosis infection among household contacts. The results indicated that the risk of tuberculosis infection was significantly associated with close contact (adjusted OR = 3.31, 95%CI = 1.46-7.45), exposure to female index case (adjusted OR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.25-6.08), exposure to mother with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 3.82, 95%CI = 1.44-10.14), exposure to father with tuberculosis (adjusted OR = 2.55, 95%CI = 1.19-5.46), exposure to index case with cavitation on chest radiograph (adjusted OR = 4.43, 95%CI = 2.43-8.05), exposure to index case with 3+ sputum smear grade (adjusted OR = 3.85, 95%CI = 1.92-7.70), and living in crowded household (adjusted OR = 2.63, 95%CI = 1.18-5.85). The distribution of tuberculosis infection and risk factors among contact cases are significant for health care staff in strengthening and implementing tuberculosis control programs in Thailand.