Shaiana Vilella Hartwig, Eliane Ignotti, Beatriz Fátima Alves de Oliveira,
Hellen Caroline de Oliveira Pereira, João Henrique Scatena
Objective: To evaluate surveillance of contacts of new tuberculosis cases in the state of Mato Grosso from 1999 to 2004. Methods: This
was a descriptive epidemiological study based on data from the Tuberculosis Case Registry Database. The number of new tuberculosis cases,
the number of contacts (estimated, investigated, and uninvestigated), and the tuberculosis incidence rate were analyzed by age bracket. The
mean rate of contacts investigated for each case of tuberculosis by age bracket was calculated per year of study. The cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis with and without contacts investigated were analyzed by sputum smear microscopy results. Results: In 2004, there were
41.3 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 inhabitants in the state of Mato Grosso. The south-central region presented the highest incidence
rate (57 cases/100,000 inhabitants) and a 15% rate of contacts investigated. Among those younger than 15 years, 63 contacts (60.5%) were
investigated, whereas among those aged 15 or older, 389 (8.9%) were investigated. In 1999, the mean rate of contacts investigated statewide
was 0.02 (0.5%), and, in 2004, it reached 0.42 (10.5%). The percentage of contacts investigated was 40% higher among the contacts of
contagious cases (OR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.08-1.83). Conclusions: The percentage of contacts investigated is very low, principally among adults.
The adoption of the standards for investigation of tuberculosis contacts proposed by the Brazilian National Ministry of Health Department of
Health Surveillance has not ensured that this group at highest risk of developing active tuberculosis be given priority at health care facilities
in the state of Mato Grosso.
Keywords: Contact tracing; Epidemiologic surveillance; Tuberculosis/prevention & control.