Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Testing in Children Younger Than 2 Years in a US-Based Health System

Gaensbauer, James; Young, Janine; Harasaki, Cara; Aiona, Kaylynn; Belknap, Robert; Haas, Michelle

doi:10.1097/inf.0000000000002711

“…This implies the assumption that even premature infants may have reached a certain maturity of the immune system by the chronological age of 6 months, otherwise no positive control would be expected. These results may support previous literature, establishing T-Spot as a technically operational test in infants [ 5 , 34 ]. Although our results should be eventually confirmed with samples from infants with TB infection, positive TST and a positive T-Spot.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Low secondary attack rate after prolonged exposure to sputum smear positive miliary tuberculosis in a neonatal unit

Pop

¹

,

Kaelin

²

,

Kuster

³

et al. 2022

Antimicrob Resist Infect Control

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Background Several neonatal intensive care units (NICU) have reported exposure to sputum smear positive tuberculosis (TB). NICE guidelines give support regarding investigation and treatment intervention, but not for contact definitions. Data regarding the reliability of any interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) in infants as a screening test for TB infection is scarce. We report an investigation and management strategy and evaluated the viability of IGRA (T-Spot) in infants and its concordance to the tuberculin skin test (TST). Methods We performed an outbreak investigation of incident TB infection in a NICU after prolonged exposure to sputum smear positive miliary TB by an infant’s mother. We defined individual contact definitions and interventions and assessed secondary attack rates. In addition, we evaluated the technical performance of T-Spot in infants and compared the results with the TST at baseline investigation. Results Overall, 72 of 90 (80%) exposed infants were investigated at baseline, in 51 (56.7%) of 54 (60%) infants, follow-up TST at the age of 6 months was performed. No infant in our cohort showed a positive TST or T-Spot at baseline. All blood samples from infants except one responded to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), which was used as a positive control of the T-Spot, demonstrating that cells are viable and react upon stimulation. 149 of 160 (93.1%) exposed health care workers (HCW) were investigated. 1 HCW was tested positive, having no other reason than this exposure for latent TB infection. 5 of 92 (5.5%) exposed primary contacts were tested positive, all coming from countries with high TB incidences. In total, 1 of 342 exposed contacts was newly diagnosed with latent TB infection. The secondary attack rate in this study including pediatric and adult contacts was 0.29%. Conclusion This investigation highlighted the low transmission rate of sputum smear positive miliary TB in a particularly highly susceptible population as infants. Our expert definitions and interventions proved to be helpful in terms of the feasibility of a thorough outbreak investigation. Furthermore, we demonstrated concordance of T-Spot and TST. Based on our findings, we assume that T-Spot could be considered a reliable investigation tool to rule out TB infection in infants.

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“…Annual screening for TB can pose problems for children and families. Insurers or institutions may require a specific method that is potentially problematic (44,45). For example, TB screening may be done by questionnaire; however, this depends on knowledge of exposure.…”

Section: Tuberculosis (Tb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Recommendations for Nonpharmacologic Therapies, Medication Monitoring, Immunizations, and Imaging

Onel

¹

,

Horton

²

,

Lovell

³

et al. 2022

Arthritis & Rheumatology

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Objective To provide recommendations for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with a focus on nonpharmacologic therapies, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging, irrespective of JIA phenotype. Methods We developed clinically relevant Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes questions. After conducting a systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to rate the quality of evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low). A Voting Panel including clinicians and patients/caregivers achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. Results Recommendations in this guideline include the use of physical therapy and occupational therapy interventions; a healthy, well‐balanced, age‐appropriate diet; specific laboratory monitoring for medications; widespread use of immunizations; and shared decision‐making with patients/caregivers. Disease management for all patients with JIA is addressed with respect to nonpharmacologic therapies, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging. Evidence for all recommendations was graded as low or very low in quality. For that reason, more than half of the recommendations are conditional. Conclusion This clinical practice guideline complements the 2019 American College of Rheumatology JIA and uveitis guidelines, which addressed polyarthritis, sacroiliitis, enthesitis, and uveitis, and a concurrent 2021 guideline on oligoarthritis, temporomandibular arthritis, and systemic JIA. It serves as a tool to support clinicians, patients, and caregivers in decision‐making. The recommendations take into consideration the severity of both articular and nonarticular manifestations as well as patient quality of life. Although evidence is generally low quality and many recommendations are conditional, the inclusion of caregivers and patients in the decision‐making process strengthens the relevance and applicability of the guideline. It is important to remember that these are recommendations. Clinical decisions, as always, should be made by the treating clinician and patient/caregiver.

show abstract

“…Annual screening for TB can pose problems for children and families. Insurers or institutions may require a specific method that is potentially problematic (44,45). For example, TB screening may be done by questionnaire; however, this depends on knowledge of exposure.…”

Section: Results/recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Recommendations for Nonpharmacologic Therapies, Medication Monitoring, Immunizations, and Imaging

Onel

¹

,

Horton

²

,

Lovell

³

et al. 2022

Arthritis Care & Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective To provide recommendations for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with a focus on nonpharmacologic therapies, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging, irrespective of JIA phenotype. Methods We developed clinically relevant Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes questions. After conducting a systematic literature review, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to rate the quality of evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low). A Voting Panel including clinicians and patients/caregivers achieved consensus on the direction (for or against) and strength (strong or conditional) of recommendations. Results Recommendations in this guideline include the use of physical therapy and occupational therapy interventions; a healthy, well‐balanced, age‐appropriate diet; specific laboratory monitoring for medications; widespread use of immunizations; and shared decision‐making with patients/caregivers. Disease management for all patients with JIA is addressed with respect to nonpharmacologic therapies, medication monitoring, immunizations, and imaging. Evidence for all recommendations was graded as low or very low in quality. For that reason, more than half of the recommendations are conditional. Conclusion This clinical practice guideline complements the 2019 American College of Rheumatology JIA and uveitis guidelines, which addressed polyarthritis, sacroiliitis, enthesitis, and uveitis, and a concurrent 2021 guideline on oligoarthritis, temporomandibular arthritis, and systemic JIA. It serves as a tool to support clinicians, patients, and caregivers in decision‐making. The recommendations take into consideration the severity of both articular and nonarticular manifestations as well as patient quality of life. Although evidence is generally low quality and many recommendations are conditional, the inclusion of caregivers and patients in the decision‐making process strengthens the relevance and applicability of the guideline. It is important to remember that these are recommendations. Clinical decisions, as always, should be made by the treating clinician and patient/caregiver.

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Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Testing in Children Younger Than 2 Years in a US-Based Health System

Cited by 12 publications

References 25 publications

Low secondary attack rate after prolonged exposure to sputum smear positive miliary tuberculosis in a neonatal unit

Low secondary attack rate after prolonged exposure to sputum smear positive miliary tuberculosis in a neonatal unit

2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Recommendations for Nonpharmacologic Therapies, Medication Monitoring, Immunizations, and Imaging

2021 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Recommendations for Nonpharmacologic Therapies, Medication Monitoring, Immunizations, and Imaging

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