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Is Tuberculin Skin Testing Effective in Screening for Latent Tuberculosis (TB) in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes?

NCT00756808 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 135

Last updated 2014-02-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

In face of the increased rates of tuberculosis in residents of long term care facilities, annual screening for latent tuberculosis is recommended. Tuberculin skin testing using purified protein derivative (PPD) is used for this purpose. Sensitivity of the PPD testing is, however, dependent on a normal T cell function. It is now evident that the immune system undergoes age-associated alteration known as immune senescence. The depressed T-cell responses may clinically manifest as attenuated delayed-type hypersensitivity. This attenuated reaction may affect the sensitivity of the PPD in detection of latent TB in the elderly.

This prospective study will examine the utility of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) based assay, T-SPOT.TB, for detection of latent tuberculosis in nursing home patients who are 65 years of age or older.

Conditions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Staten Island University Hospital

    collaborator OTHER

  • Northwell Health

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Donna Seminara, MD · Staten Island University Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2007-10-31
Primary Completion
2010-07-31
Completion
2010-07-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00756808 on ClinicalTrials.gov