1. Home
  2. Research
  3. Completed Research Studies
  4. Household Contact Study - DMID 94-118

Household Contact Study - DMID 94-118

Household Transmission of Tuberculosis in a Country with Epidemic HIV Disease and Tuberculosis

Information:

DMID Protocol Number: 94-118

Type of Study

Observational Household Contact Study

Design

Hybrid Cross-sectional / Cohort

Project Site

Kampala, Uganda

Sample Size

Enrolled 1,206 household contacts of index cases/subjects with active tuberculosis and their households

Population

Adults (> 15 years old) with initial case of clinically active tuberculosis, who is smear positive and confirmed by subsequent positive culture. Members of their households with active TB, TB infection, exposure but no infection, and community controls

Study Period

1995-2000

Goal of Study:

The goal is to develop and implement a systematic approach toward the understanding of the epidemiology of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda. The Household Contact Study provides a framework for developing and evaluating innovative methods for diagnosis and treatment that will ultimately lead to improved control of tuberculosis in populations with a high prevalence of TB.

Objectives of Study:

  1. To evaluate the value of contact tracing in an area of high prevalence of tuberculosis.
  2. To determine factors relating to the index case and the household contacts and to identify organisms which are associated with transmission of tuberculous infection and the progression of infection to disease.
  3. To use DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a molecular, epidemiologic tool to confirm the source of infection in secondary cases and to distinguish relapsed infection from re-infection in patients with recurrent disease.
  4. To describe the spectrum of tuberculosis in children exposed to the index case and determine the sensitivity and specificity of new diagnostic strategies such as polymerase chain reaction.

The results of this completed study can be found in:

Guwatudde D, Nakakeeto M, Jones-Lopez EC, Maganda A, Chiunda A, Mugerwa RD, Ellner JJ, Bukenya G, Whalen CC. . Am J Epidemiol 2003; 158:887-898. PMCID: PMC2869090.