PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Xhevat Kurhasani
AU  - Hasan Hafizi
AU  - Genc Burazeri
AU  - Rukije Mehmeti
AU  - Brahim Beqiri
AU  - Bahri Tigani
TI  - Evaluation of contact investigation expansion in Kosovo
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P1617
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1617.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P1617.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - INTRODUCTIONContact investigation has recently started to be implemented in Kosovo, by TB diagnostic centers through patronage nurses system. Contacts of all TB cases are examined, in order to identify secondary cases of active TB and latent TB infection and to initiate therapy as needed in these contacts. Little is known about the results and actual procedures followed.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of tuberculosis (TB) contact investigations in Kosovo, assess its effectiveness, and identify performance gaps.METHODS: Contact investigation reports and questionnaires used to examine all TB cases contacts reported from 1 January and 31 December 2012, were analyzed and the findings are used to assess the effectiveness of this intervention, and its impact on detection yield of NTP response.RESULTS: A total of 283 out of 968 (30%) TB cases were covered with contact investigations, 1536 contacts were elicited, and 1302 were evaluated, evaluation rate was 84.8%. Mean contacts per case was 4.6, and 1262 (97%) were within family compared with 40 contacts (3%) outside family. TB disease was diagnosed in 40 (3%) contacts, while only in 21 contacts the LTBI have been identified. The national notification rate was increased by 4%.CONCLUSIONS:Initial analysis of one third of TB patients covered by contact investigation, shows encouraging results with expected optimal evaluation rate of contacts, and higher detection yield by increasing the national notification rate.The effectiveness of contact investigations in Kosovo can be further increased by expanding the investigation of contacts countrywide, standardization of protocols and more advanced training of field staff.