Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41082546›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Prevalence and factors associated with tuberculosis infection (TBI) among residents of a monastery situated in a high-TB burden area: A cross-sectional study, Sikkim, India.

Mohammad K Siddiqui, Shagufta Khan, Rinchenla Bhutia, Vivek Nair, Ashok Rai, Nirmal Gurung, Tseten Yamphel, Peggy K Dadul, Debya S Kerongi, Karma Doma Bhutia and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Prevalence of Tuberculosis Infection among Various Risk Groups in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Mohammad K SiddiquiIntermediate Reference Laboratory, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Shagufta KhanIntermediate Reference Laboratory, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Rinchenla BhutiaIntermediate Reference Laboratory, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Vivek NairInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
Ashok RaiState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Nirmal GurungState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Tseten YamphelState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Peggy K DadulState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Debya S KerongiState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Karma Doma BhutiaIntermediate Reference Laboratory, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Jagat PradhanIntermediate Reference Laboratory, STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Kabita KhatiState TB Cell, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Sreenivas A NairStop TB Partnership, Geneva, Switzerland.
Shamim MannanWHO-India Country Office, New Delhi, India.
Kiran K RadeWHO-India Country Office, New Delhi, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7601-0780
Dinesh GuptaInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
Pawan MalhotraInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
L Masae KawamuraVital Strategies Board of Directors, New York, New York, United States of America.
Shikha DhawanInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.
Asif MohmmedInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0239-1979

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMonasteries in India house individuals from childhood to advanced age. These congregate settings amplify tuberculosis (TB) transmission and exposure when the disease is present, especially in the high burden areas like Sikkim, India. However, the prevalence of active-TB disease (ATB), tuberculosis infection (TBI), and their associated risk factors have not been studied. The diagnosis and treatment of TBI remain a major bottleneck in eradicating TB. ATB and TBI risk among residents living in the congregate setting of monasteries in Sikkim, India, a high-TB burden area, may be high due to high-density living quarters, public interaction and their frequent travel history but has never been illustrated.

methodA cross-sectional screening of the monks and residents of Rumtek Monastery (Sikkim, India) was carried out to assess extent of ATB and TBI in a congregate setting. TrueNat MTB and GeneXpert MTB/Rif systems were utilized for ATB diagnosis, whereas QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-plus) Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) analysis was used for TBI detection. Follow-up sputum testing by TrueNat MTB was performed on IGRA-positive individuals to exclude ATB.

resultsAmong the 350 inhabitants of the monastery, 7% (25/350) were found to be symptomatic for TB, whereas 93% (325/350) were asymptomatic. Out of them, 189 participants, including symptomatic cases, agreed to participate in the study and were screened for TBI; however, 15 participants were excluded from the study due to result discrepancies. None of the participant were diagnosed with active tuberculosis (ATB), although, 44.2% (77/174) were found to be positive for TBI; however, none of those with TBI progressed to ATB during one year follow-up. Risk factors for TBI included: advancing age, frequent travel history, family history of TB or having contacts with TB patients and abnormal Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤18.5- ≥ 25.

conclusionThis study confirms the high prevalence of TBI among residents in the congregate setting of monasteries, and justify TB prevention strategies by targeted screening, TBI testing and preventive treatment in congregate settings of high TB burden areas.

Indexed as

TuberculosisAdolescentAdultAgedChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIndiaMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceRisk FactorsSikkimYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41082546
PMCPMC12517524

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.