Epidemiology and Infection
Volume 128, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 37-45

Predictors of tuberculin reactivity among prospective Vietnamese migrants: The effect of smoking (Article)

Plant A.J.* , Watkins R.E. , Gushulak B. , O'Rourke T. , Jones W. , Streeton J. , Sang D.
  • a Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Australia, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
  • b Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Australia
  • c International Organization for Migration, Geneva, Switzerland
  • d International Organization for Migration, Zagreb, Croatia
  • e International Organization for Migration, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
  • f [Affiliation not available]
  • g Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence and predictors of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results among prospective Vietnamese migrants. We interviewed and medically screened 1395 Vietnamese people aged over 15 years who had applied to migrate to Australia. Approximately 44% of applicants had an induration of 10 mm or more, and 18.6% had an induration of 15 mm or more. A positive tuberculin skin test at 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm of induration cut-points was significantly associated with age (OR 1.01-1.02 per year) and duration of smoking (OR 1.03-1.12 per year). Smoking appears to be an important factor associated with increased susceptibility to mycobacterial infection. It is not yet clear whether the increased tuberculin reactivity associated with smoking reflects an increased risk of tuberculosis among these migrants.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Vietnam mycobacteriosis Australia mass screening human middle aged controlled study Aged screening interview Humans smoking Adolescent male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary female Aged, 80 and over Viet Nam tuberculosis prediction Risk Factors prevalence Article major clinical study tuberculin test adult migration Predictive Value of Tests age infection risk Emigration and Immigration infection sensitivity tuberculin
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036194448&partnerID=40&md5=ed00141cd202b2b2ad2173f48118e218
ISSN: 09502688
Cited by: 35
Original Language: English