European Respiratory Journal
Volume 52, Issue 6, 2018

Estimating the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in a low-incidence setting: Australia (Article)

Dale K.D.* , Trauer J.M. , Dodd P.J. , Houben R.M.G.J. , Denholm J.T.
  • a Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health, Peter Doherty Institute, Level 5, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
  • b Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health, Peter Doherty Institute, Level 5, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • c School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
  • d TB Modelling Group, TB Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
  • e Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health, Peter Doherty Institute, Level 5, 792 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia, Dept of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Migration is a key driver of tuberculosis (TB) in many low-incidence settings, with the majority of TB cases attributed to reactivation of latent TB (LTBI) acquired overseas. A greater understanding of LTBI risk in heterogeneous migrant populations would aid health planning. We aimed to estimate the LTBI prevalence and distribution among locally born and overseas-born Australians. Annual risks of TB infection estimates were applied to population cohorts (by country of birth, year of arrival and age) in Australian census data in 2006, 2011 and 2016. Both the absolute number and proportion of Australian residents with LTBI increased from 4.6% (interquartile range (IQR) 4.2-5.2%) in 2006 to 5.1% (IQR 4.7-5.5%) in 2016, due to the increasing proportion of the population born overseas (23.8% in 2006 to 28.3% in 2016). Of all residents estimated to have LTBI in 2016; 93.2% were overseas born, 21.6% were aged <35 years and 34.4% had migrated to Australia since 2007. The overall prevalence of LTBI in Australia is low. Some residents, particularly migrants from highincidence settings, may have considerably higher risk of LTBI, and these findings allow for tailored public health interventions to reduce the risk and impact of future TB disease. Copyright © ERS 2018.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

information processing Australia human middle aged birthplace controlled study priority journal Aged Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent Antitubercular Agents Infant, Newborn tuberculostatic agent latent tuberculosis preschool child Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool communicable disease control newborn high risk population prevalence Incidence Article major clinical study adult migration infection risk age distribution cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration Australian Transients and Migrants Data Collection public health Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85058885141&doi=10.1183%2f13993003.01218-2018&partnerID=40&md5=3b0934235efaa91526975cce7d7ecb2e
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01218-2018
ISSN: 09031936
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English