BACKGROUND Globally, tuberculosis (TB) lasts a major public health concern. Using feasible strategies to estimate TB infectious periods is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of TB infectious period and associated factors in East Gojjam zone. METHODS An institution-based prospective study was conducted among 348 pulmonary TB (PTB) cases between December 2017 and December 2018. TB cases were recruited from all health facilities located in Hulet Eju Enesie, Enebse Sarmider, Debay Tilatgen, Dejen, Debre-Markos town administration, and Machakel districts. Data were collected through an exit interview using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by IBM SPSS version25. The TB infectious period of each patient category was determined using the TB management time and sputum smear conversion time. The sum of the infectious period of each patient category gave the infectious pool of the study area. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the magnitude of TB infectious period. RESULTS Of the total participated PTB cases, 209(60%) were male, 226(65%) aged < 30 years, 205(59%) were from the rural settings, and 77 (22%) had comorbidities. The magnitude of the TB infectious pool in the study area was 78,031 infectious person-days. The undiagnosed TB cases (44,895 days), smear-positive (14,625 days) and smear-negative (12,995 days) were major contributors to the infectious pool. The overall average median TB management time was 142.4 days (IQR, 98-238 days). Similarly, the average sputum smear conversion time of PTB cases (new and repeat) was 46 days. Residence, knowledge, form of TB, smoking, alcohol history, distance from the facility, comorbidity history and stigma were statistically significant factors TB infectious period (p-value< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The magnitude of the TB infectious pool is high even if it is lower than the findings of previous studies. This might be an indicator of poor access to TB services, service delays, low community awareness, impaired facility readiness, and poor transportation. Improving personal awareness and behavior, timely management of commodities, and using the TB management time in TB control are crucial to improving TB control activities.

中文翻译：

---

埃塞俄比亚西北部东戈杰姆地区的结核病感染库及其相关因素。

背景技术在全球范围内，结核病（TB）持续存在着重大的公共卫生问题。使用可行的策略来估计结核病的传染期至关重要。这项研究的目的是确定东戈杰姆地区的结核病感染期的大小和相关因素。方法在2017年12月至2018年12月之间，对348例肺结核（PTB）病例进行了基于机构的前瞻性研究。从位于Hulet Eju Enesie，Enebse Sarmider，Debay Tilatgen，Dejen，Debre-Markos镇的所有医疗机构招募了TB病例行政和Machakel区。使用结构化问卷通过出口访谈收集数据，并通过IBM SPSS 25版进行分析。使用TB管理时间和痰涂片转换时间确定每个患者类别的TB感染期。每个患者类别的感染期总和为研究区域的感染池。使用多变量logistic回归分析来确定与结核病感染期大小相关的因素。结果在参与调查的所有PTB病例中，男性209例（60％），年龄<30岁的226例（65％），来自农村的205例（59％），合并症77例（22％）。研究区域的结核病感染库数量为78,031个感染人日。未诊断的结核病病例（44,895天），涂片阳性（14,625天）和涂片阴性（12,995天）是感染源的主要来源。总体平均结核病管理时间中位数为142.4天（IQR，98-238天）。同样，PTB病例（新的和重复的）的平均痰涂片转换时间为46天。居住，知识，结核病形式，吸烟，饮酒史，距医疗机构的距离，合并症史和耻辱感是结核病感染期的统计学显着因素（p值<0.05）。结论结核病感染池的规模很高，即使它低于以前的研究结果。这可能表明无法获得结核病服务，服务延误，社区意识低下，设施就绪性受损以及交通不便。提高个人意识和行为，及时管理商品以及在结核病控制中利用结核病管理时间对于改善结核病控制活动至关重要。结论结核病感染池的规模很高，即使它低于以前的研究结果。这可能表明无法获得结核病服务，服务延误，社区意识低下，设施就绪性受损以及交通不便。提高个人意识和行为，及时管理商品以及在结核病控制中利用结核病管理时间对于改善结核病控制活动至关重要。结论结核病感染池的规模很高，即使它低于以前的研究结果。这可能表明无法获得结核病服务，服务延误，社区意识低下，设施就绪性受损以及交通不便。提高个人意识和行为，及时管理商品以及在结核病控制中利用结核病管理时间对于改善结核病控制活动至关重要。