Emerging Infectious Diseases
Volume 18, Issue 9, 2012, Pages 1422-1429

Evaluation of immigrant tuberculosis screening in industrialized countries (Article) (Open Access)

Pareek M. , Baussano I. , Abubakar I. , Dye C. , Lalvani A.*
  • a Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
  • b Univeristà degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
  • c Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
  • d World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • e Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

In industrialized countries, tuberculosis (TB) cases are concentrated among immigrants and driven by reactivation of imported latent TB infection (LTBI). We examined mechanisms used to screen immigrants for TB and LTBI by sending an anonymous, 18-point questionnaire to 31 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Twenty-nine (93.5%) of 31 responded; 25 (86.2%) screened immigrants for active TB. Fewer countries (16/29, 55.2%) screened for LTBI. Marked variations were observed in targeted populations for age (range <5 years of age to all age groups) and TB incidence in countries of origin of immigrants (>20 cases/100,000 population to >500 cases/100,000). LTBI screening was conducted in 11/16 countries by using the tuberculin skin test. Six countries used interferon-γ release assays, primarily to confirm positive tuberculin skin test results. Industrialized countries performed LTBI screening infrequently and policies varied widely. There is an urgent need to define the cost-effectiveness of LTBI screening strategies for immigrants.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant demography human industrialization interferon gamma release assay screening Adolescent clinical examination latent tuberculosis female tuberculosis Infant newborn gamma interferon questionnaire Incidence Article tuberculin test adult thorax radiography Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865321900&doi=10.3201%2feid1809.120128&partnerID=40&md5=7e43befe589bfd33ed5b6a0418d494c5
DOI: 10.3201/eid1809.120128
ISSN: 10806040
Cited by: 70
Original Language: English