Diagnosis and Management of Latent TB Infection in Wales
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of Pathways for the Diagnosis and Management of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Wales
IRAS ID
321836
Contact name
Emma Thomas-Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease which is spread by aerosol droplets from the lungs. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with which 1/3rd of the world’s population is currently infected. When a person becomes infected, they may either develop an active and infectious form of the disease, or their immune system can control it, such that it lies dormant until potentially 'activated' later. This is called latent TB infection (LTBI). Identifying and treating people with LTBI is crucial to preventing the spread of TB, and this is done with a blood test that measures how immune cells release specific chemical signals. This study is being done as part of a PhD degree. There are 2 work packages, referred to in this application as WP1 and WP2.
WP1 focusses on screening groups at risk of LTBI. In particular, patients due to receive treatment that suppresses their immune system, which therefore may 'unmask' an underlying latent TB infection. We ask: is it cost effective to screen everyone in this group? To answer this, we will analyse screening data in Wales from the past 7 years and send questionnaires to clinicians using medications that suppress the immune system to ascertain current screening practices. The aim is to create a national screening guideline for LTBI that maximises cost and time effectiveness.
WP2 aims to design a new diagnostic test for LTBI for use here in Wales. This test should be quick, cost-effective and have a minimal environmental impact. We will collect blood samples from adult patients with TB and analyse them using a laboratory device called a flow cytometer, which measures how immune cells respond to infection. We will then compare our data to current commercially-available blood tests for LTBI.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SW/0089
Date of REC Opinion
6 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion