Epidemiological Analysis of Tuberculosis Transmission, Risk Factors, and Subclinical Tuberculosis Management in a High School Outbreak, South Korea.

Epidemiological Analysis of Tuberculosis Transmission, Risk Factors, and Subclinical Tuberculosis Management in a High School Outbreak, South Korea.

Publication date: Aug 01, 2025

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in congregate settings such as schools, where adolescents are at increased risk transmission. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, transmission dynamics, and control strategies during a TB outbreak in a South Korean high school. A retrospective epidemiological investigation was conducted using data from the Korea Tuberculosis Network and official outbreak reports. A total of 935 individuals-including students, staff, and household contacts-underwent screening through chest X-rays, interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), and chest computed tomography (CT). Genotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates was performed using spoligotyping and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Logistic regression identified risk factors associated with TB infection. Among 935 contacts, 133 (14. 2%) tested positive for TB infection. In total, 30 cases of TB disease and 66 cases of latent TB infection were identified among 762 student contacts. Prolonged exposure exceeding 10 hours per week was associated with a significantly increased risk of TB infection (adjusted odds ratio = 5. 91, 95% confidence interval: 3. 06-11. 40, P

Concepts Keywords
Beijing epidemiologic investigation
Genotyping school-based transmission
Korea subclinical tuberculosis
Tomography tuberculosis outbreak
Tuberculosis

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Tuberculosis
pathway KEGG Tuberculosis
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
pathway REACTOME Release
disease MESH infection
disease MESH latent tuberculosis infection

Original Article

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