Follow-up of DRTB contacts should be conducted through?

Following up with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) contacts is crucial to ensure early detection and treatment of any potential infection. The correct approach is symptom screening every 6 months for 2 years. This method allows for regular monitoring of individuals who have been in contact with DRTB patients, ensuring that any emerging symptoms indicative of tuberculosis can be promptly identified and addressed.

This approach is preferred over other methods such as chest x-rays or frequent testing. Chest x-rays, while useful in diagnosis, do not need to be performed monthly as the risk of developing active disease in contacts isn't typically high enough to warrant such frequent imaging. Similarly, the Xpert MTB/Rif test is a valuable diagnostic tool, but conducting it every month is not practical or necessary for monitoring asymptomatic contacts. Lastly, physical examinations every year would lack the frequency needed to catch new cases early, as tuberculosis may manifest sooner than that.

Overall, the protocol of conducting symptom screenings every 6 months for 2 years provides a balanced and effective strategy for early detection while minimizing unnecessary procedures for individuals without symptoms.