Tuberculosis Contact Investigations Conducted in New York City Adult Day Care and Senior Centers,2011–2018

Abstract

Objectives:

Multiple tuberculosis (TB) exposures have been reported in New York City (NYC) adult day care and senior centers. Strategies to identify TB transmission at such locations are needed.

Method:

Review of the NYC TB Registry identified 12 contact investigations (CIs) at adult day care or senior centers (2011–2018).

Results:

Median age of the 12 index patients was 81 years. Of 148 contacts identified who had no history of TB infection or disease, 141 (95%) were tested for TB, primarily with interferon gamma release assays; 46 (33%) tested positive. Transmission was probable (n = 3) or possible (n = 1) at 4 (33%) centers; at all of these, the index patient had an acid-fast bacilli–positive sputum smear. Transmission was not found from index patients with negative sputum smears.

Discussion:

We found evidence of transmission of smear-positive respiratory TB disease to contacts in adult day care or senior centers, underscoring the importance of CI.