Characteristics of pulmonary TB cases diagnosed at Parramatta Chest Clinic, Sydney, Australia (2013)
| Characteristics of PTB cases | PTB cases (n=53) with close contacts | Contacts (n=171) | ||
| Any close contacts n (%) | No declared contacts n (%) | Contacts <5 years n (%) | ||
| Age group (years) | ||||
| <5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5–14 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| 15–24 | 6 (11) | 1 (2) | 2 (4) | 46 (27) |
| 25–49 | 21 (40) | 4 (7) | 5 (9) | 59 (34) |
| ≥50 | 18 (34) | 2 (4) | 4 (8) | 66 (39) |
| Gender | ||||
| Female | 19 (36) | 5 (9) | 6 (11) | 87 (51) |
| Male | 26 (49) | 3 (6) | 5 (9) | 84 (49) |
| Immigration status | ||||
| Permanent visa | 34 (64) | 5 (9) | 7 (13) | 138 (81) |
| Student visa | 5 (9) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 14 (8) |
| Other | 6 (11) | 1 (2) | 3 (6) | 19 (11) |
| PTB type | ||||
| Sputum smear-positive | 15 (28) | 1 (2) | 3 (6) | 57 (33) |
| Sputum smear-negative | 30 (57) | 7 (13) | 8 (15) | 112 (65) |
| Culture-positive* | 33 (62) | 5 (9) | 9 (17) | 140 (82) |
| Culture-negative | 11 (21) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | 29 (17) |
| Active TB surveillance† | ||||
| Current | 4 (8) | 5 (9) | 1 (2) | 10 (6) |
| Previous | 5 (9) | 2 (4) | 1 (2) | 15 (9) |
| Never | 35 (66) | 1 (2) | 9 (17) | 146 (85) |
| Cough at presentation‡ | ||||
| Yes | 30 (57) | 3 (6) | 6 (11) | 121 (71) |
| No | 14 (26) | 5 (9) | 5 (9) | 49 (29) |
*No cultures performed or no data in two cases.
†Refers to people who are, or have previously been, on a so-called ‘TB undertaking’. This involves active TB surveillance (for up to 2 years) after migration to Australia in people who had an abnormal chest radiograph at immigration screening, but no signs or symptoms suggestive of active TB.
‡No symptoms recorded at presentation in one case.
PTB, pulmonary tuberculosis; TB, tuberculosis.