Objectives We conducted a study on usefulness of the\ntuberculin skin test (TST) and the Quantiferon-TB Gold IT\n(QFT) tests as predictors of radiological changes after\ncontact with tuberculosis.\nMaterials and Methods The study group consisted of TBexposed\nHCWs working in the Military Institute of Medicine\n(Warsaw, Poland). The usefulness of TST, QFT, and\na combination of both tests was assessed for prediction of\nsilent radiological findings.\nResults 83 previously TB-exposed participants were\nrecruited. None of the participants had a history of active\ntuberculosis. Positive TST results were reported in 72\n(86.8 %) participants, and positive QFTs were observed in\n27 (32.5 %) cases. Chest radiographs revealed 23 findings\nspecific for non-active tuberculosis in 18 (21.7 %) participants.\nThe results of the QFTs were associated with the\nhighest negative predictive value, positive predictive value,\nand positive likelihood ratio of silent chest X-ray findings\nsuggestive of latent tuberculosis infection. Positive QFT\nwas the only statistically significant variable that increases\nthe odds ratio (ORââ?¬â??8.3) of the presence of typical of\ntuberculosis radiological changes in the lung.\nConclusion A positive QFT result in an individual with\nno TB history who was exposed to tuberculosis in the past\nis associated with a significantly higher risk of clinically\nsilent parenchymal lesions in lungs suggestive of previous\ntuberculosis.
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