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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
The MODS method for diagnosis of tuberculosis and multidrug resistant tuberculosis
Published on: August 11, 2008
Tuberculosis clinical units improve contact tracing
S Brugueras1, À Orcau2, J-P Millet3
1Epidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona, Barcelona.
Introduction:
The Barcelona Tuberculosis Programme was established in 1987, and in 2007 five tuberculosis (TB) clinical units were created to improve the follow-up of cases and contacts. This included the designation of a nurse for case management.
Objective:
To assess the impact of the TB clinical units on the screening programme for TB contacts.
Methods:
Before-after population-based study before (2003-2007) and after (2008-2013) the creation of the clinical units. To determine which factors were related to contact tracing, we fitted a multivariate logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
Following the creation of the clinical units, the proportion of prescriptions for latent tuberculous infection among contacts in the clinical units increased from 40.7% to 57.4% (P < 0.001), and treatment adherence from 75.9% to 80.3% (P = 0.035). One factor associated with contact tracing was receiving care after the creation of the clinical units (2008-2013) (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.0-1.3). During the second period, receiving care outside the clinical units reduced the probability of contact tracing (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5-0.9).
Conclusion:
The creation of the TB clinical units represents an organisational improvement for the study and management of contacts of patients with TB.
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