Publication date: Jul 01, 2025
Tuberculosis (TB) transmission in crowded health care settings poses considerable risks in high-burden regions. We assessed how COVID-19 pandemic-related infection prevention and control (IPC) measures might impact TB transmission in a South African primary care clinic. In 2019 (prepandemic) and 2021 (pandemic), we collected clinical data, patient tracking data (person-time and spatial density), indoor CO levels, and concentrations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) DNA in bio-aerosol samples. We estimated the risk of Mtb transmission during a 1-hour visit based on ventilation rate and duration of exposure. During the pandemic, clinics were less crowded, with lower mean person-time per day (209 vs 258 hours; P < 0. 001). TB prevalence among patients also declined (1. 1% vs 4. 7%; P = 0. 052). Environmental indicators suggested improved air quality, with lower CO₂ levels (555 vs 856 parts-per-million; P < 0. 001) and higher ventilation rates (15. 8 vs 6. 3 air changes per hour; P < 0. 001). These changes corresponded with a reduction in modeled Mtb transmission risk (0. 04% vs 1. 36%; P = 0. 046). Airborne Mtb DNA was detected in both periods. Pandemic-related IPC measures to control COVID-19 transmission were rigorously implemented and likely reduced transmission of airborne respiratory infections, supporting their continued implementation in healthcare settings postpandemic.
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | Infection |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
| disease | MESH | tuberculosis |
| pathway | KEGG | Tuberculosis |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Medical air |
| disease | IDO | quality |
| disease | MESH | respiratory infections |
| drug | DRUGBANK | Carbon dioxide |