Analysis on aggregation outbreaks of pulmonary tuberculosis in a private middle school in Minhang District of Shanghai / 复旦学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of aggregation outbreaks of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a private middle school in Minhang District of Shanghai.Methods Symptom and radiographic screening were performed on the students of Grade 3 in this senior high school.Epidemiological survey,sputum smear,culture and molecular epidemiological examination were conducted on suspected patients.Whole genome sequencing was completed on positive strains.Results In the screening of 49 close contacts with one TB patient (index case) in the school,a total of 10 patients with pulmonary TB were diagnosed,of which 3 cases were positive for culture.Another case was diagnosed and positive for culture after expanding the scope of screening.The genotype of the isolated strains from index case and the 4 patients positive for culture was identical to that of the first case of the classoneyear before,suggesting the transmission within the grade of Senior Three.Conclusions This is an aggregation outbreak that may be attributable to the first patient with positive bacteria.Therefore,timely diagnosis and effective treatment of pulmonary TB patients,as well as timely screening of close contacts with pulmonary TB patients are significant to control potential outbreaks in schools.