Clinical and imaging factors that can predict contagiousness of pulmonary tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on predicting pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) contagiosity in the hospital admission setting is limited. The objective was to assess clinical and radiological criteria to predict PTB contagiosity. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 7 clinical, 4 chest X-ray (CXR) and 5 computed tomography (CT) signs in 299 PTB patients admitted to an urban tertiary hospital from 2008 to 2016. If the acid fact bacilli stain was positive (AFB+) on admission, the case was considered high contagiosity. RESULTS: Best predictors for high PTB contagiosity (AFB+) were haemoptysis (OR 4.33), cough (3.00), weight loss (2.96), cavitation in CT (2.75), cavitation in CXR (2.55), tree-in-bud-sign in CT (2.12), German residency of the patient (1.89), and abnormal auscultation findings (1.83). A previous TB infection reduced the risk of contagiosity statistically (0.40). Radiographic infiltrates, miliary picture, and pleural effusion were not helpful in predicting high or low contagiosity. 34% of all patients were clinically asymptomatic (20% of the highly contagious group, 50% of the low contagious group). CONCLUSION: Haemoptysis, cough and weight loss as well as cavitation and tree-in-bud sign in CXR/CT can be helpful to predict PTB contagiosity and to improve PTB management. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-023-02617-y.