[THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS IN TUBERCULOSIS CONTACT INVESTIGATION]

[Aim] To explore the possible role of social network analysis (SNA) in identifying infected contacts and visualizing data in a tuberculosis (TB) contact investigation. [Method] We analyzed TB contact investigation data from an outbreak in a Japanese language school in Tokyo, Japan, in 20XX. Information on places which the index case and his contacts commonly shared was collected in line with the data collected routinely in contact investigation. Average hours of exposure to the index case were calculated for each contact by using SNA software, and the relationship to the index case via commonly shared places was visualized as a sociogram. Statistical analysis was performed to. compare the exposure hours and TB infection statuses, between those . infected, including active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI), and non- infected contacts. [Result] The data on the index TB case and 41 contacts, of whom 5 and 10 were diagnosed with active TB and LTBI, were analyzed. Contacts with active TB and LTBI had 12.5 and 11.5 times longer median hours of exposure, which were significantly longer compared to non-infected contacts. The sociogram summarized the network of index TB case, contacts characterized by exposure hours and infection statuses, and the places shared by the index case and the contacts. [Discussion] SNA analysis was considered to be useful in prioritizing contacts in a TB contact investigation, in assisting interpretation of indeterminate Interferon-Gamma release assay test results, in estimating places where transmission occurred, and visualizing data accrued in TB contact inves- tigations.