Transmission Network Analysis to Complement Routine Tuberculosis Contact Investigations

André, McKenzie; Ijaz, Kashef; Tillinghast, Jon D.; Krebs, Valdis; Diem, Lois; Metchock, Beverly; Crisp, Theresa; McElroy, Peter D.

doi:10.2105/ajph.2005.071936

Cited by 62 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…As a consequence, vertices with high degree are overrepresented in the early iterations. Even though this effect is undesired for network parameter estimation, it interestingly is of advantage for, say, immunisation strategies: Randomly select a person to immunise, but also immunise her friends since it is likely that one reaches persons with higher connectivity than average [45].…”

Section: Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into a spatially embedded social network from a large-scale snowball sample

et al. 2011

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Much research has been conducted to obtain insights into the basic laws governing human travel behaviour. While the traditional travel survey has been for a long time the main source of travel data, recent approaches to use GPS data, mobile phone data or the circulation of bank notes as a proxy for human travel behaviour are promising. The present study proposes a further source of such proxy-data: the social network. We collect data using an innovative snowball sampling technique to obtain details on the structure of a leisure-contacts network. We analyse the network with respect to its topology, the individuals' characteristics, and its spatial structure. We further show that a multiplication of the functions describing the spatial distribution of leisure contacts and the frequency of physical contacts results in a trip distribution that is consistent with data from the Swiss travel survey.

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Section: Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights into a spatially embedded social network from a large-scale snowball sample

et al. 2011

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“…18 However, real-time use of genomics is costly and not widely available, and use of this approach provides retrospective insight into outbreaks rather than preventing transmission from a case. 18,22,23 With challenges faced in conducting contact investigation for population groups who have increased mobility and more casual contacts, a risk-oriented model that prioritizes contacts, or else regular enhanced surveillance for active TB may be alternative strategies to the traditional concentric circle approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contact investigation outcomes of Canadian-born adults with tuberculosis in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Alberta

Eisenbeis

Gao

Heffernan

et al. 2016

Can J Public Health

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OBJECTIVES: Contact investigations are a critical component of tuberculosis control in high-income countries. However, the relative success of conventional methods by population group and place of residence is unknown. This study compares outcomes of contact investigations of Canadian-born Indigenous tuberculosis cases living on-and off-reserve with other Canadian-born cases. METHODS:In a retrospective analysis, Canadian-born adult culture-positive pulmonary TB cases (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010) were identified. Characteristics of source cases and their contacts were compared by population group. Outcomes of contact investigations, including completion of recommended investigations and preventive therapy, were compared in multivariable analysis. RESULTS:Of 171 cases of tuberculosis identified, 49 (29%) were Indigenous on-reserve, 62 (36%) Indigenous off-reserve, and 60 (35%) non-Indigenous or Canadian-born, "other". Indigenous people had more contacts identified per case compared to non-Indigenous patients. Case population group and smear status were the main predictors of the success of contact investigations. Of those recommended preventive therapy, close contacts of Indigenous cases onreserve had the highest rate of completion, at 54%, vs. 41% and 37% for close contacts of Indigenous living off-reserve and Canadian-born "other" respectively (p = 0.02). Contacts of Indigenous cases living off-reserve had the greatest delay in assessment and the lowest rates of completion of assessment and preventive therapy. In multivariable analysis, population group, smear status of source case and proximity of contact were predictors of preventive therapy acceptance and/or completion.CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in outcomes of contact investigations were observed between population groups. The higher priority of contacts of smear-positive cases appears to influence efficiency of service delivery, regardless of population group. Jurisdictional differences in program delivery, resource availability and perceived risk of transmission likely influence outcomes of contact investigations.KEY WORDS: Tuberculosis in Canada; tuberculosis in Indigenous peoples; contact investigations La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

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“…Related research in this area has covered epidemic contact investigations, substance abuse, hospital networks, etc. (17,(39)(40)(41)(42). With regard 1.…”

Section: History and Growth Of Applications Of Ss In Biomedical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Systems Science in Biomedical Research Regarding Obesity and Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases: Opportunities, Promise, and Challenges

Wang

Xue

Liu

2015

Advances in Nutrition

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Interest in the application of systems science (SS) in biomedical research, particularly regarding obesity and noncommunicable chronic disease (NCD) research, has been growing rapidly over the past decade. SS is a broad term referring to a family of research approaches that include modeling. As an emerging approach being adopted in public health, SS focuses on the complex dynamic interaction between agents (e.g., people) and subsystems defined at different levels. SS provides a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches that address complex problems. SS has unique advantages for studying obesity and NCD problems in comparison to the traditional analytic approaches. The application of SS in biomedical research dates back to the 1960s with the development of computing capacity and simulation software. In recent decades, SS has been applied to addressing the growing global obesity epidemic. There is growing appreciation and support for using SS in the public health field, with many promising opportunities. There are also many challenges and uncertainties, including methodologic, funding, and institutional barriers. Integrated efforts by stakeholders that address these challenges are critical for the successful application of SS in the future.

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Transmission Network Analysis to Complement Routine Tuberculosis Contact Investigations

Abstract: A network-informed approach to TB contact investigations provided a novel means to examine large quantities of data and helped focus TB control.

Cited by 62 publications

References 25 publications

Insights into a spatially embedded social network from a large-scale snowball sample

Insights into a spatially embedded social network from a large-scale snowball sample

Contact investigation outcomes of Canadian-born adults with tuberculosis in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Alberta

Applications of Systems Science in Biomedical Research Regarding Obesity and Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases: Opportunities, Promise, and Challenges

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