International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume 7, Issue 12 SUPPL. 3, 2003, Pages S412-S416

Tuberculosis screening among immigrants holding a hunger strike in churches (Article)

García De Olalla P.* , Caylà J.A. , Milá C. , Jansà J.M. , Badosa I. , Ferrer A. , Ros M. , Gómez I Prat J. , Armengou J.M. , Alonso E. , Alcaide J.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Servicio de Epidemiología, Agencia de Salut Pub. de Barcelona, PI Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • c DAP Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, TB Investigation Unit of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • d Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain
  • f Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain
  • g DAP Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, TB Investigation Unit of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • h DAP Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, TB Investigation Unit of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • i Department of Epidemiology, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain
  • j DAP Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, TB Investigation Unit of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • k DAP Ciutat Vella, Institut Català de la Salut, TB Investigation Unit of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

SETTING: In January 2001, approximately 600 immigrants held a sit-down and hunger strike in several churches in Barcelona to force the Spanish government to comply with demands to regulate their immigration status. Following the diagnosis of a case of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in one of the immigrants, we performed a large contact investigation. OBJECTIVES: To describe contact investigation procedures used in this setting and to evaluate contact investigation results. METHODS: Demographic variables were collected, and tuberculin skin tests (TST) and chest radiograph examinations were performed. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and logistic regression was used for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 541 TSTs were performed. Of these, 86% were read and 40.5% yielded a positive reaction with an induration >14 mm. In a multivariate analysis, the risk of presenting a TST induration >14 mm was found to be three times higher among those aged >35 years compared to those <24 years (OR 3.40; 95%CI 1.76-6.59), and for immigrants from Bangladesh (OR 3.14; 95%CI 1.16-6.10) and Pakistan (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.11-3.73) compared to those from India. A total of 314 chest radiographs examinations were performed and three additional cases of TB were identified, yielding a TB prevalence of 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: By focusing efforts and conducting targeted TB screening in this high-risk population, it was possible to complete the intervention in only 3 days. A high prevalence of TB infection and TB disease was found.

Author Keywords

Tuberculosis screening immigrants Tuberculin skin test

Index Keywords

Pakistan immigrant sputum smear India mass screening logistic regression analysis poverty human controlled study Mycobacterium tuberculosis priority journal Humans Adolescent male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary Spain female tuberculosis acid fast bacterium Multivariate Analysis contact examination high risk population prevalence Contact Tracing Article program evaluation tuberculin test adult major clinical study thorax radiography Emigration and Immigration Bangladesh hunger
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-10744227779&partnerID=40&md5=e83ba20d777bdb79e22d8405e267cb7f
ISSN: 10273719
Cited by: 10
Original Language: English