Latent Tuberculosis Infection Management in Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients: A National Snapshot

• Published in: Thoracic research and practice 2024-05, Vol.25 (3), p.130
• Main Authors: Alpaydın, Aylin Özgen, Turunç, Tuba Yeter, Avkan-Oğuz, Vildan, Öner-Eyüboğlu, Füsun, Tükenmez-Tigen, Elif, Hasanoğlu, İmran, Aydın, Güle, Tezer-Tekçe, Yasemin, Şenbayrak, Seniha, Kızılateş, Filiz, Aypak, Adalet Altunsoy, Toplu, Sibel Altunışık, Ergen, Pınar, Kurtaran, Behice, Taşbakan, Meltem Işıkgöz, Yıldırım, Ayşegül, Yıldız, Serkan, Çalışkan, Kenan, Ayvazoğlu, Ebru, Dulundu, Ender, Şeref Parlak, Ebru Şengül, Akdemir, İrem, Kara, Melih, Türkkan, Sinan, Demir-Önder, Kübra, Yenigün, Ezgi, Turgut, Aslı, Ecder, Sabahat Alışır, Paydaş, Saime, Yamazhan, Tansu, Egeli, Tufan, Özelsancak, Rüya, Velioğlu, Arzu, Kılıç, Mehmet, Azap, Alpay, Yekeler, Erdal, Çakır, Tuğrul, Bayındır, Yaşar, Kanbay, Asiye, Kuşcu, Ferit, Memikoğlu, Kemal Osman, Şen, Nazan, Kabasakal, Erhan, Ersöz, Gülden
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2979-9139; 2979-9139
• DOI: 10.5152/ThoracResPract.2024.23110.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening is strongly recommended in the pre-transplant evaluation of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, although it remains inadequate in many transplant centers. We decided to investigate pre-transplant TB risk assessment, LTBI treatment, and registry rates in Turkey.OBJECTIVE Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening is strongly recommended in the pre-transplant evaluation of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, although it remains inadequate in many transplant centers. We decided to investigate pre-transplant TB risk assessment, LTBI treatment, and registry rates in Turkey. Adult SOT recipients who underwent tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) from 14 centers between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. An induration of ≥5 mm on TST and/or probable/positive IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB) was considered positive for LTBI. Demographic features, LTBI screening and treatment, and pre-/post-transplant TB history were recorded from the electronic database of transplantation units across the country and pooled at a single center for a unified database.MATERIAL AND METHODS Adult SOT recipients who underwent tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) from 14 centers between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. An induration of ≥5 mm on TST and/or probable/positive IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB) was considered positive for LTBI. Demographic features, LTBI screening and treatment, and pre-/post-transplant TB history were recorded from the electronic database of transplantation units across the country and pooled at a single center for a unified database. TST and/or IGRA were performed in 766 (33.8%) of 2266 screened patients most of whom were kidney transplant recipients (n = 485, 63.4%). LTBI screening test was positive in 359 (46.9%) patients, and isoniazid was given to 203 (56.5%) patients. Of the patients treated for LTBI, 112 (55.2%) were registered in the national registry, and 82 (73.2%) completed the treatment. Tuberculosis developed in 6 (1.06%) of 563 patients who were not offered LTBI treatment.RESULTS TST and/or IGRA were performed in 766 (33.8%) of 2266 screened patients most of whom were kidney transplant recipients (n = 485, 63.4%). LTBI screening test was positive in 359 (46.9%) patients, and isoniazid was given to 203 (56.5%) patients. Of the patients treated for LTBI, 112 (55.2%) were registered in the national registry, and 82 (73.2%) comp