Public health outcome of Tuberculosis Cluster Investigations, England 2010–2013

Public Health England TB Strain Typing Board

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2018.12.004

Public health outcome of Tuberculosis Cluster Investigations, England 2010–2013

Public Health England TB Strain Typing Board

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious re-emergent public health problem in the UK. In response to rising case incidence a National TB Strain-Typing Service based on molecular strain-typing was established. This facilitates early detection and investigation of clusters, targeted public health action, and prevention of further transmission. We review the added public health value of investigating molecular TB strain-typed (ST) clusters. Methods: A structured questionnaire for each ST cluster investigated in England between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013 was completed. Questions related to epidemiological links and public health action and the perceived benefits of ST cluster investigation. Results: There were 278 ST cluster investigations (CIs) involving 1882 TB cases. Cluster size ranged from 2 to 92. CIs identified new epidemiological links in 36% of clusters; in 18% STs were discordant refuting transmission thought to have occurred. Additional public health action was taken following 23% of CI. Conclusions: We found positive benefits of TB molecular ST and CI, in identifying new epidemiological links between cases and taking public health action and in refuting transmission and saving resources. This needs to be translated to a decrease in transmission to provide evidence of public health value in this low prevalence high resource setting.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	269-274
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Infection
Volume	78
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2018.12.004
Publication status	Published - Apr 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank; the PHE TB Strain Typing Project Board (Prof John Watson, Dr Philip Monk, Prof Francis Drobniewski, Prof John Magee, Dr Grace Smith), Claire Catherall, Shanel Reshat and Natasha Ratna for administrative support, the NHS TB services for completion of cluster questionnaires and participation in cluster investigations, local health protection team TB leads for support to the TB Strain Typing Service, all those who completed cluster outcome forms and Regional TB leads for encouraging their return.

Keywords

Cluster Investigations
Epidemiology
Outbreaks
Public Health
Tuberculosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.jinf.2018.12.004

Cite this

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title = "Public health outcome of Tuberculosis Cluster Investigations, England 2010–2013",

abstract = "Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious re-emergent public health problem in the UK. In response to rising case incidence a National TB Strain-Typing Service based on molecular strain-typing was established. This facilitates early detection and investigation of clusters, targeted public health action, and prevention of further transmission. We review the added public health value of investigating molecular TB strain-typed (ST) clusters. Methods: A structured questionnaire for each ST cluster investigated in England between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013 was completed. Questions related to epidemiological links and public health action and the perceived benefits of ST cluster investigation. Results: There were 278 ST cluster investigations (CIs) involving 1882 TB cases. Cluster size ranged from 2 to 92. CIs identified new epidemiological links in 36% of clusters; in 18% STs were discordant refuting transmission thought to have occurred. Additional public health action was taken following 23% of CI. Conclusions: We found positive benefits of TB molecular ST and CI, in identifying new epidemiological links between cases and taking public health action and in refuting transmission and saving resources. This needs to be translated to a decrease in transmission to provide evidence of public health value in this low prevalence high resource setting.",

keywords = "Cluster Investigations, Epidemiology, Outbreaks, Public Health, Tuberculosis",

author = "{Public Health England TB Strain Typing Board} and Hamblion, {E. L.} and A. Burkitt and Lalor, {M. K.} and Anderson, {L. F.} and Helen Thomas and I. Abubakar and S. Morton and Helen Maguire and Anderson, {S. R.}",

note = "Funding Information: We would like to thank; the PHE TB Strain Typing Project Board (Prof John Watson, Dr Philip Monk, Prof Francis Drobniewski, Prof John Magee, Dr Grace Smith), Claire Catherall, Shanel Reshat and Natasha Ratna for administrative support, the NHS TB services for completion of cluster questionnaires and participation in cluster investigations, local health protection team TB leads for support to the TB Strain Typing Service, all those who completed cluster outcome forms and Regional TB leads for encouraging their return.",

year = "2019",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.jinf.2018.12.004",

language = "English",

volume = "78",

pages = "269--274",

journal = "Journal of Infection",

issn = "0163-4453",

publisher = "W.B. Saunders Ltd",

number = "4",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Public health outcome of Tuberculosis Cluster Investigations, England 2010–2013

AU - Public Health England TB Strain Typing Board

AU - Hamblion, E. L.

AU - Burkitt, A.

AU - Lalor, M. K.

AU - Anderson, L. F.

AU - Thomas, Helen

AU - Abubakar, I.

AU - Morton, S.

AU - Maguire, Helen

AU - Anderson, S. R.

N1 - Funding Information: We would like to thank; the PHE TB Strain Typing Project Board (Prof John Watson, Dr Philip Monk, Prof Francis Drobniewski, Prof John Magee, Dr Grace Smith), Claire Catherall, Shanel Reshat and Natasha Ratna for administrative support, the NHS TB services for completion of cluster questionnaires and participation in cluster investigations, local health protection team TB leads for support to the TB Strain Typing Service, all those who completed cluster outcome forms and Regional TB leads for encouraging their return.

PY - 2019/4

Y1 - 2019/4

N2 - Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious re-emergent public health problem in the UK. In response to rising case incidence a National TB Strain-Typing Service based on molecular strain-typing was established. This facilitates early detection and investigation of clusters, targeted public health action, and prevention of further transmission. We review the added public health value of investigating molecular TB strain-typed (ST) clusters. Methods: A structured questionnaire for each ST cluster investigated in England between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013 was completed. Questions related to epidemiological links and public health action and the perceived benefits of ST cluster investigation. Results: There were 278 ST cluster investigations (CIs) involving 1882 TB cases. Cluster size ranged from 2 to 92. CIs identified new epidemiological links in 36% of clusters; in 18% STs were discordant refuting transmission thought to have occurred. Additional public health action was taken following 23% of CI. Conclusions: We found positive benefits of TB molecular ST and CI, in identifying new epidemiological links between cases and taking public health action and in refuting transmission and saving resources. This needs to be translated to a decrease in transmission to provide evidence of public health value in this low prevalence high resource setting.

AB - Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious re-emergent public health problem in the UK. In response to rising case incidence a National TB Strain-Typing Service based on molecular strain-typing was established. This facilitates early detection and investigation of clusters, targeted public health action, and prevention of further transmission. We review the added public health value of investigating molecular TB strain-typed (ST) clusters. Methods: A structured questionnaire for each ST cluster investigated in England between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2013 was completed. Questions related to epidemiological links and public health action and the perceived benefits of ST cluster investigation. Results: There were 278 ST cluster investigations (CIs) involving 1882 TB cases. Cluster size ranged from 2 to 92. CIs identified new epidemiological links in 36% of clusters; in 18% STs were discordant refuting transmission thought to have occurred. Additional public health action was taken following 23% of CI. Conclusions: We found positive benefits of TB molecular ST and CI, in identifying new epidemiological links between cases and taking public health action and in refuting transmission and saving resources. This needs to be translated to a decrease in transmission to provide evidence of public health value in this low prevalence high resource setting.

KW - Cluster Investigations

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Outbreaks

KW - Public Health

KW - Tuberculosis

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AN - SCOPUS:85060754653

SN - 0163-4453

VL - 78

SP - 269

EP - 274

JO - Journal of Infection

JF - Journal of Infection

IS - 4

ER -

Public health outcome of Tuberculosis Cluster Investigations, England 2010–2013

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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