BackgroundQuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube® (QFT-GIT) test is used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Besides, QFT-GIT test could allow tracking changes in immune response among TB patients and their contacts. In high TB burden settings, reports on QFT-GIT conversions and reversions among TB patients and their contacts are limited. As part of a major project to study immune responses to TB infection, we investigated QFT-GIT test conversions and reversions among smear positive pulmonary TB patients and their household contacts over 12 months.MethodsWe followed a total of 107 HIV negative participants (33 patients and 74 contacts) in Addis Ababa. We did QFT-GIT test at baseline and 12 months later according to the manufacturer’s instructions.ResultsAt baseline, 25/33 (75.8%) of the patients and 50/74 (67.6%) of the contacts were QFT-GIT positive. At 12 months, 2 more patients (1 test negative and 1 indeterminate) became test positive. Besides, 11/24 (45.8%) test negative contacts became positive. Only one patient and one contact who were test positive at baseline became test negative 12 months later. At 12 months, the proportions of QFT-GIT test positives for patients and contacts were, therefore, 78.8% and 81.1%, respectively. Among contacts, the proportion of QFT-GIT test positives at 12 months was significantly higher compared to the corresponding proportion at baseline (McNemar, p = 0.006); similarly, the median IFN-γ response significantly increased at 12 months compared with the baseline level (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test, p = 0.01). Patients, however, had comparable median IFN-γ levels at baseline and 12 months later (p = 0.56).ConclusionNearly half of QFT-GIT negative household contacts at baseline became positive at 12 months. This suggests that repeated screening of QFT-GIT negative contacts may be needed for epidemiological studies and interventions of latent TB in an endemic setting. A large longitudinal study may be needed to confirm our observations.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0654-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background Antiretroviral treatment (ART) is aimed for complete suppression of viral replication but it fails for a variety of reasons. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of treatment failure among people on first line ART in Amhara region, North east Ethiopia.Methods A cross sectional study was conducted from March, 2018 to July, 2018. Questionnaire survey using a pre-structured questionnaire was taken focusing on demographic data and possible risk factors of antiretroviral treatment failure. Clinical history including baseline characteristics was extracted by reviewing medical records using data abstraction sheet and data was analyzed using STATA version 14.Results A total of 640 clients of all age from 16 health facilities were enrolled in the study. The overall antiretroviral treatment failure was 16.45% from which clinical, immunologic and virologic failure were 0.47%, 13.59% and 3.13% respectively. The viral suppression was 91.09%, but more than half, 29 (50.88%) study participants with high first viral load (>1000copies/ml) were defaulted and not tested for the 2 nd viral load testing. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis showed significance association of treatment failure with age at treatment initiation (OR, 1.029), duration on ART (OR, 0.87) and adherence (AOR, 4.22). High proportion of treatment failure was also found in females (62.75%) and in those below primary education (76.47%).Conclusions In conclusion increased viral suppression is observed but the rate of default during 3 month of enhanced adherence counseling is high. The overall magnitude of treatment failure in Amhara region is 16.45%. Fair/poor adherence, older age at treatment initiation and shorter duration on ART are significantly independent factors of treatment failure. Therefore improving client follow up to adherence to treatment should be strengthened.