Molecular Detection of Airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis in South African High Schools

South African adolescents carry a high tuberculosis disease burden. It is not known if schools are high-risk settings for (MTB) transmission. To detect airborne MTB genomic DNA in classrooms. We studied 72 classrooms occupied by 2,262 students in two South African schools. High-volume air filtration...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2022-02, Vol.205 (3), p.350-356
Main Authors: Bunyasi, Erick W, Middelkoop, Keren, Koch, Anastasia, Hoosen, Zeenat, Mulenga, Humphrey, Luabeya, Angelique K K, Shenje, Justin, Mendelsohn, Simon C, Tameris, Michele, Scriba, Thomas J, Warner, Digby F, Wood, Robin, Andrews, Jason R, Hatherill, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Air Microbiology
Classrooms
Cross-Sectional Studies
DNA, Bacterial - analysis
Female
Genomics
Humans
Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects
Inhalation Exposure - analysis
Inhalation Exposure - statistics & numerical data
Male
Medical research
Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics
Mycobacterium tuberculosis - isolation & purification
Original
Risk
Schools
South Africa
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis - diagnosis
Tuberculosis - transmission
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Summary:South African adolescents carry a high tuberculosis disease burden. It is not known if schools are high-risk settings for (MTB) transmission. To detect airborne MTB genomic DNA in classrooms. We studied 72 classrooms occupied by 2,262 students in two South African schools. High-volume air filtration was performed for median 40 (interquartile range [IQR], 35-54) minutes and assayed by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR)-targeting MTB region of difference 9 (RD9), with concurrent CO concentration measurement. Classroom data were benchmarked against public health clinics. Students who consented to individual tuberculosis screening completed a questionnaire and sputum collection (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra) if symptom positive. Poisson statistics were used for MTB RD9 copy quantification. ddPCR assays were positive in 13/72 (18.1%) classrooms and 4/39 (10.3%) clinic measurements (  = 0.276). Median ambient CO concentration was 886 (IQR, 747-1223) ppm in classrooms versus 490 (IQR, 405-587) ppm in clinics (  
ISSN:1073-449X
1535-4970
DOI:10.1164/rccm.202102-0405OC