Whole-Blood Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for Baseline Tuberculosis Screening of Healthcare Workers at a Swiss University Hospital

Stebler, A.; Iseli, Patricia; Mühlemann, Kathrin; Bodmer, Thomas

doi:10.1086/588587

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, QFT-GIT positive results were higher among HCWs in direct contact with TB patients, as what was reported in Stebler et al (2008) and Mirtskhulava et al (2008) studies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in detection of latent tuberculosis infection in health care contacts in Alexandria, Egypt

Abdel¹,

Aziz²,

Hefnawy³

et al. 2014

Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tuberculosis infection represents a global health problem and a great risk to health care workers. The detection and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection is a key strategy in the control of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the usefulness of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test which is an interferon-gamma release assay for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection, in a group of Egyptian Health Care Workers in comparison to the tuberculin skin test. A total of 100 Health Care Workers were enrolled. Subjects diagnosed as latent tuberculosis infection by tuberculin were 88% as compared to 36% by quantiferon. Higher tuberculin positive results were associated with direct contact to tuberculosis patients and job categories as physicians and nurses, while higher quantiferon positive results were associated with longer duration of employment and absence of BCG vaccination. The overall agreement between the two tests was poor (k=0.109). The negative discordant results (quantiferon negative/tuberculin positive) were 53% and were found among both contacts and non contact group, which could reflect high number of false positive tuberculin skin test. These data suggest that using IFN-γ method to screen new entrant health care workers for latent tuberculosis infection in our population could be more helpful because it is more specific for detecting latent tuberculosis infection compared to tuberculin skin test.

show abstract

“…Moreover, QFT-GIT positive results were higher among HCWs in direct contact with TB patients, as what was reported in Stebler et al (2008) and Mirtskhulava et al (2008) studies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…The rate of detection of LTBI assessed by QFT-GIT in our study was 36%. Low detection rates by QFT-GIT as compared to TST were also reported by other scientists: Harada et al (2006), Soborg et al (2007), Niehaus et al(2008a), Stebler et al (2008) and Ringshausen et al, (2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in detection of latent tuberculosis infection in health care contacts in Alexandria, Egypt

Abdel¹,

Aziz²,

Hefnawy³

et al. 2014

Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Routine TB screening for HCW is considered as a cornerstone for preventing TB in hospitals and it is performed in many highincome countries, for example, USA [9], Japan [21], France [22], Spain [23] and Switzerland [24]. In the UK, TB screening of HCW is mainly performed as a pre-employment screening [25].…”

Section: Tb Screening For Hcwmentioning

confidence: 99%

IFN-γ release assay versus tuberculin skin test for monitoring TB infection in healthcare workers

Nienhaus

Ringshausen

Costa³

et al. 2013

Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The net result of functional T-cell signatures would be detectable by assessing the M. tuberculosisspecific IL-2/IFN-␥ ratio in QFT test plasma supernatants. Thus, the simultaneous analysis of both IFN-␥ and IL-2 in QFT test plasma supernatants might provide (i) a more precise basis for assessing an individual's risk of developing active TB disease and (ii) information concerning the interpretation and clinical significance of weakly positive QFT test results (IFN-␥, Ն0.35 to Ͻ1.0 IU/ml), which, in our program (11), make up almost 50% of all positive IGRA results. The QFT assay was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Significance of Interleukin-2/Gamma Interferon Ratios in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific T-Cell Signatures

Suter‐Riniker

Berger

Mayor

et al. 2011

Clin. Vaccine Immunol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The simultaneous determination of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-␥) in Quanti-FERON-TB test plasma supernatants permitted the detection of shifts in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T-cell signatures. A subset of the 84 subjects tested revealed a significantly elevated IL-2/IFN-␥ ratio, which may be a marker for the successful elimination of M. tuberculosis infection.In countries with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates, such as Switzerland, targeted testing for latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among risk groups, such as health care workers (HCW), is an important measure for preventing active TB disease (3, 7). Occupational health programs are increasingly turning to gamma interferon (IFN-␥) release assays (IGRA), such as the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube test (QFT test; Cellestis Inc., Australia), to screen employees for LTBI (4,5,9). Diel et al. prospectively followed QFT testpositive, recent-TB contacts who had refused isoniazid treatment. All contacts who subsequently developed active TB disease within the follow-up period were strong responders in the QFT assay, with IFN-␥ plasma levels above the 10-IU/ml upper limit for the test's enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (6). These results suggest that a correlation exists between the amount of IFN-␥ released upon M. tuberculosis-specific stimulation of CD4 ϩ T cells and the probability of developing active TB disease.A dynamic relationship between antigen load and distinct IFN-␥ and interleukin-2 (IL-2) profiles of antigen-specific CD4ϩ T cells has been demonstrated in viral infections (10). Typically, antigen clearance is associated with IL-2-dominant functional T-cell signatures. In contrast, high antigen loads are associated with IFN-␥-dominant functional T-cell signatures (10). A similar relationship between the IFN-␥ and IL-2 profiles of M. tuberculosis-specific T cells and antigenic load was reported in patients who were treated for active TB disease (1,2,8). Simultaneous measurement of IFN-␥ and IL-2 secretion at the single-cell level revealed a codominance of CD4 ϩ T cells that secrete only IFN-␥ and those that secrete both IFN-␥ and IL-2 in patients with active TB disease. A shift to dominance of CD4 ϩ T cells secreting both IFN-␥ and IL-2 and of newly detectable CD4 ϩ T cells secreting only IL-2 has been demonstrated both during and following TB treatment. Thus, three main functional patterns were observed: a dominant IL-2 response, a multifunctional (IL-2 and IFN-␥) response, and a dominant IFN-␥ response. Determination of the levels of IL-2 and IFN-␥ secretion has been proposed as an adequate marker for clinical monitoring (10). The net result of functional T-cell signatures would be detectable by assessing the M. tuberculosisspecific IL-2/IFN-␥ ratio in QFT test plasma supernatants. Thus, the simultaneous analysis of both IFN-␥ and IL-2 in QFT test plasma supernatants might provide (i) a more precise basis for assessing an individual's risk of developing active TB disease and (ii) information concerning t...

show abstract

Whole-Blood Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for Baseline Tuberculosis Screening of Healthcare Workers at a Swiss University Hospital

Cited by 18 publications

References 5 publications

Role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in detection of latent tuberculosis infection in health care contacts in Alexandria, Egypt

Role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in detection of latent tuberculosis infection in health care contacts in Alexandria, Egypt

IFN-γ release assay versus tuberculin skin test for monitoring TB infection in healthcare workers

Clinical Significance of Interleukin-2/Gamma Interferon Ratios in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific T-Cell Signatures

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About