The screening, diagnostics and treatment of latent tuberculosis infections (LTBI) as well as of active TB among immigrants is a particular challenge. Language and other communication problems in practices and specialized clinics must be overcome in order to ensure TB treatment and to improve adherence to preventive therapy (PT) of LTBI. Acceptance of preventive chemotherapy can only be increased by an extensive care of persons with LTBI by the public health services. Although active TB can currently only be found in approximately 0.1% of immigrants by chest X‑ray (CXR) screening and despite its limited sensitivity, CXR screening on entry according to § 36 of the German Infectious Diseases Act remains indispensable. The additional use of real-time PCR procedures in cases of clinically suspected TB is helpful to detect infectious pulmonary TB disease. © 2017, Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH.

Chemotherapy Preventive medicine Infectious disease Mycobacterium tuberculosis Latent tuberculosis infection

chemotherapy thorax radiography human latent tuberculosis tuberculosis immigrant Review public health service screening prophylaxis