Background: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a significant public health issue globally. Alcohol use is a known risk factor for TB, and while it can increase transmission risk, the dynamics within households may be complex due to factors like time spent at home.
Objective: To assess the proportion of TB infection among household contacts of male pulmonary TB patients with and without alcohol use in Puducherry, India.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Puducherry district of India. The study population consisted of 227 household contacts of 106 index TB cases. The Mantoux test was employed to diagnose tuberculosis infection, with a cutoff value of 10 mm or greater. The risk factors associated with tuberculosis infection were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: The proportion of TB infection was marginally lower in household contacts of TB patients with alcohol use (15.2%) than in those without alcohol use (16.4%). It is noted that index cases who consumed alcohol spent less time at home, which implies that there may be potential transmission risks beyond the household. An independent risk factor for tuberculosis infection was identified, which includes underweight, cross ventilation, and sharing a bed with TB patients.

Conclusion: The risk of TB infection among household contacts is lower in TB patients who consume alcohol. The potential for increased transmission beyond the household is underscored by the lessened time spent at home by alcohol-using index cases. Targeted intervention needed to control alcohol consumption among TB patients, so as to mitigate potential extra-household transmission.

Dr. Charutha R has completed her BDS and MPH graduation and currently pursuing PhD from JIPMER University, Pondicherry. Her area of interest is infectious disease with special interest in tuberculosis. She has published more than 12 papers in reputed journals.