In our opinion, it remains questionable whether this issue could be settled without further clarification by conducting tracing studies as also suggested by Kulesza (2008).
However, criteria to decide when to conduct contact tracing are not well established.
A parallel survey was performed at the same time to detect active TB cases and to conduct contact tracing in the patients' villages.
Factors associated with failure to conduct contact tracing for smear-positive cases include to be diagnosed in hospitals B and D (hospitals without any specifics screening services contacts), birthplace in India, Pakistan or North Africa, unknown district of residence, HIV infection, homeless and those without CHW intervention (Table 2).
Factors associated with failure to conduct contact tracing for all forms of TB include male, hospitals B and D, birthplace other than Latin American countries, unknown district of residence, incarceration history, homeless, index who had culture-negative or extra-pulmonary TB or had a normal chest X-ray and no CHW intervention (Table 3).
Field supervisors supported HEWs by delivering smeared slides to the laboratory, feeding back results to the HEWs, initiating treatment, conducting contact tracing and following up smear-negative cases.
It is therefore important to focus diagnostic efforts on specific population groups such as MSM and immigrants and, to find women cases, to conduct thorough contact tracing.
The three non-reporters considered that contact tracing conducted by staff of the GUM clinic was sufficient to control the outbreak.
Rather than backing away from controversy, Father Carter responded by conducting seminars tracing some of Catholicism's roots to Africa.
The results of our study provide guidance for those looking to use TIR for conducting thermal tracing of LGD at the surface of freshwater bodies during winter.
