PP6 LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AMONG CONTACTS OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN MALAYSIA

Peter Seah Keng Tok¹, Aslene Siu Tjing Yeoh¹, Patrick Wee Yao Peng¹, Mugilan Ganason², Siti Hafsah Abdul Halim²

¹ Institute for Clinical Research, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam, Malaysia
² TB/Leprosy Sector, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia

Introduction
Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an essential part of the WHO End TB Strategy, as it substantially reduces the risk of TB disease. In Malaysia, contacts of bacteriologically confirmed TB patients are identified as one of the at-risk populations for the programmatic management of LTBI.

Objectives
To assess the LTBI treatment initiation and completion rates, and their associated factors, among contacts of TB patients in Malaysia.

Methodology
Secondary data from the national LTBI surveillance database were extracted for analysis. All contacts of TB patients in Malaysia who were diagnosed with LTBI from 2021 to 2022 were included in this study.

Results
A total of 8,675 contacts of TB patients were diagnosed with LTBI and captured in the surveillance database during the study period. Of this total, 6,500 contacts (74.9%) initiated treatment. Contacts who were tested using interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA), were Malaysians, belonged to the younger (<18 years old) or older (≥65 years old) age groups, had a history of diabetes mellitus, lived in congregate settings, and were non-healthcare workers were more likely to initate treatment. Of the 6,500 contacts who initiated treatment, 4,512 contacts (69.4%) completed the treatment. Contacts who were tested using IGRA, were Malaysians, and lived in congregate settings had higher odds of treatment completion.

Conclusion
Study findings on treatment initiation and completion rates, together with associated factors, provide feedback to the LTBI programmatic management and guide future strategies to improve these outcomes.